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A hearty feast of free readings, lectures, presentations, workshops and showcases celebrating our culture, community and the wild blue yonder.
 Where inquiring minds gather.
Okanagan Institute
at Hanna's Lounge
Click here for schedule
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Arts Council of the Central Okanagan is a resource centre and advocate for the arts in Kelowna and Central Okanagan. Find us at:
8-1304 Ellis Street
Kelowna BC V1Y 1Z8
Phone: 250.861.4123
Fax: 250.861.4155
Email: Click here
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Literary Arts
How Many Fruits from a Single Seed? How Much Joy from a Single Deed? Barbara J. Shave
There is a remote place in El Salvador where villagers wear brilliantly coloured T-shirts. Over the heart on each shirt is the logo of a tennis ball that frames a barren tree. Around the ball appear varying dates and the words, "Barrie Shave Memorial Tennis Classic." I have never been to this place and likely never will go, but I imagine that these colourful shirts would be especially prized in this colourful culture. I also imagine that these villagers frequently puzzle: "Who was Barrie Shave?"
Barrie Shave was my husband. He died of pancreatic cancer on August 1, 1999. In that year, on Father's Day weekend in June, tennis friends staged a doubles tournament in his honour. They chose the tree to symbolize his struggle with the emaciating disease. With business sponsorship and generous contributions from Barrie's friends, these organizers were able to amass a hefty donation to the Canadian Cancer Society for pancreatic cancer research. Barrie was able to make that presentation. He was thrilled.
Furthermore, the doubles tournament was a huge success, and in his final days, Barrie was assured that it would be annual. Consequently his personal tragedy was transformed into a means to help others. With the awareness that his suffering had purpose, he and his family were able to bear unbearables with peace of mind.
And in his name, on Father's Day weekend every year since, tennis players have come from afar to compete in that tournament in Medicine Hat, Alberta. The focus remains upon family involvement with many father-son and mother-daughter teams. The highest levels of sportsmanship and fellowship are the norm. Barrie would like that.
It would delight him to learn that his tournament has rekindled tennis enthusiasm in that place. While the Canadian Cancer Society continues to benefit substantially each year, the expanding roster of players has generated additional revenue for more courts and a clubhouse. A junior tennis program has also been funded.
Every year our son and daughter join me in this place where Barrie made such an impression. I wonder if we would have managed annual reunions from such great distances without the motivation of this tournament on Father's Day weekend. Sometimes our son competes. One of the family gives little a speech at the banquet where our daughter sings upon request, and all weekend I am treated like royalty by old friends and family alike. This too would please Barrie.
Since the tournament's inception, players have received brightly-coloured T-shirts for souvenirs, a different colour each year. The shirts were printed with the date and the occasion. Each year, leftovers were stored. Eventually the accumulation was a nuisance, and it so happened that someone from the tennis club knew someone who was collecting clothing for a mission. That's why those tournament T-shirts are now worn by needy souls in a remote village of El Salvador. Barrie would especially like that.
Me too.
We invite submissions from writers.
» The story or poem should not be over 2000 words and must be your own original work. All submissions must be word processed and emailed to us at our email address.
» Submissions must include your complete contact information: Name, Telephone, Email, Mailing Address.
» Please also include a short biography and if possible a small photo of yourself.
» The anonymity of all that submit a story or poem will be respected. Contact details supplied as part of your submission will not be disclosed to any third party.
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