News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By LeRae Haynes

The American Idol show sailed through auditions in Pittsburgh last night: a city where industry and history meet with a mighty metallic clang and where 38 more ‘hopefuls’ were selected for the next round. There seemed to be more background stories twined around the audition footage, with everything from coal dust, dad-in-dialysis and drug addition used to explain why this experience for these singers is often more than simply the desire to be the next Kris Allen or Scotty McCreery.

Thompson Rivers University in Williams Lake hosted a concert on Saturday that featured three musicians on acoustic instruments who delighted and inspired the audience with their skill and expertise, and entertained the crowd with their humour and personable stage presence.

(Calvin Vollrath, joined by Mark Sullivan and Trent Freeman, played at a concert at TRU that welcomed the entire community. Photo by Candice Magnowski)

A new film festival showcasing local wildlife-inspired short films and documentaries, The Paws and Claws Film Festival, presented by the BC SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre, (Wild ARC), will make its debut October 31 and run until November 5 in Victoria.

“We are really excited about the launch of this first ever annual film festival,” says Gina Bugslag, BC SPCA events coordinator for Vancouver Island. “The purpose of the festival is to promote awareness, knowledge and understanding of wildlife, habitat, people and nature, through excellence in film, television, and other media. We are inviting all Western Canadian filmmakers, first time, amateur or pros of any age to submit their take on the diversity of wildlife in this part of the world and the challenges they face. We’re eagerly looking forward to reviewing the submissions and showcasing them at a special soiree when the festival wraps up November 5.”

'Children of Soldiers' is an incisive portrait of the daily lives of children and teens from four military families reveals the particular circumstances of life at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa.

Every day, each must come to grips with absence, an uncertain future and the looming perspective of death. In a world where giving expression to fear or grief is taboo, young and old alike try to find balance between loyalty to the troops and staying true to themselves.

Shot over the course of an entire troop deployment to Afghanistan, this film lifts the veil on a reality shared by thousands of young Canadians.

The film is presented by the Cariboo Regional Library on February 9 at 7:00pm in the Program Room at the Library.  Popcorn and admission are free.