There are few more pleasant ways to spend a Sunday afternoon in mid-February than to get in the Valentine mood with a concert called An Affair of the Heart.
Sponsored by L’Arche Comox Valley, it will bring together harpist, balladeer and humourist Roger Helfrick of the Winter Harp ensemble and a unique music group from Campbell River called Inclusion.
Along with music to stir the soul, those attending will tuck in to scrumptious desserts donated by Locals Restaurant and other talented chefs.
The event takes place Feb. 10 from 2:30 to 4:30 in the Kómoks Band Hall behind the I-Hos Gallery on Comox Road on the outskirts of Comox.
All proceeds raised go to L’Arche Comox Valley’s capital campaign to build apartments for people with developmental disabilities and a new creative arts centre.
Inclusion is a band whose music consistently wins hearts and whose unique feature is its diversity. Four members are individuals with developmental disabilities but variety moves beyond this to include age, ethnicity and race. Their aim is to entertain and show that people are more alike than different.
Helfrick is well known in the Valley for his performances with Winter Harp and his solo appearances. He has several CDs to his credit.
His expansive repertoire includes medieval and Renaissance music as well as folk music from across Europe and Japan. He works with improvisation and intuition to create new works that deal with the passing of the seasons, love, joy, silence and living in the present.
L’Arche Comox Valley creates relationships where people with and without developmental disabilities have the opportunity to come to know and value each other for their unique attributes. It does this by creating residences where they live together in family-like relationships.
In its Outreach and Creative Arts Centre, they mingle socially, learn from each other and create art of all kinds. L’Arche’s Capital Campaign will finance the building of five new apartments for people with disabilities and a new and expanded Creative Arts Centre in Courtenay.
Tickets for the concert are available at Blue Heron on Comox Avenue in Comox, Laughing Oyster on Fifth Street in Courtenay and at the L’Arche Outreach Centre at 1001B Fitzgerald Ave. in Courtenay. Phone 250-871-6288.
— L’Arche Comox Valley