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Horticultural Society’s Plantasia kicks off spring with full weekend of events

Horticultural Society's Plantasia kicks off spring with full weekend of events

As spring enters full bloom in the Lowcountry, the Charleston Horticultural Society is bringing back its marquee festival.

The annual celebration, dubbed Plantasia, will take place April 6-10 offering walking tours, educational seminars and a full-day free-admission festival called the Green Market on April 9.  

“We get people from all over Charleston,” said Jennifer Garr, board president the Horticultural Society.

The celebration kicks off April 6 with a lecture at the Charleston Museum given by Rick Drake, celebrated horticulturalist and expert in urban greenspace.

All events throughout the weekend are open for seasoned horticulturalists and novice gardeners alike. 

The Green Market, held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, includes vendors, food trucks and workshops. It is expected to draw 1,000 to 1,200 people to Old Towne Creek County Park in West Ashley, Garr said. 

Attendees will find local vendors from nurseries, urban farms and garden supply stores. Repurposed pots and planters will be on sale and a knife sharpener will be on hand to sharpen garden tools. Attendees can even order plants or seedlings on the Horticultural Society’s website ahead of the Green Market and pick them up at the festival on Saturday. Experts will be available to give gardening and plant care advice.

“We also have some bunny topiaries just in time for Easter,” Garr said, adding that she expects them to sell out quickly.

Vendors include Haegur Maker’s Post, Meeting Green and the Green Heart Project.

Walking tours offered on Sunday will give attendees a chance to traverse Charleston’s most historic home gardens in Harleston Village, which passersby normally only catch a glimpse of through a gate or around a wall. The tour will also take viewers somewhere unexpected: The Medical University of South Carolina. 







Plantasia's Iron Trowel Contest features local designers (copy)

The Plantasia Eve Party in 2017 featured a window box decorating contest. Attendees at the 2022 event can expect similar activities at the Green Market on Saturday, April 9. File/Staff



A pioneering doctor at MUSC and former dean of the College of Medicine, Dr. Jerry Reeves, led an endeavor to incorporate more greenspace for patients and staff at the medical campus. It culminated in the university’s signature arboretum and Pearlstein Healing Garden.

“In the midst of the city … you begin to have an oasis of natural beauty,” Reeves said.

More than 10 years later he is still at the helm of the program. MUSC docents will be on hand during the tour to offer a insight on the benefits of greenspace on public health.

“Hopefully, (attendees) will find the same kind of solace and refreshment that our patients and staff do,” Reeves said.

The arboretum has become particularly important part of the fabric of the campus during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.







Foodscape tomato seed search.jpg (copy) (copy)

People attending a Charleston Horticultural Society workshop on foodscaping in 2018 flock to a table of free heirloom tomato seeds. At this year’s event, attendees can order plants, seedings and cuttings online to pick up at the Green Market on April 9 or purchase them on site. File/Staff


Organizers expect a high turnout for Plantasia, especially because the pandemic has spurred more people to take up gardening or tending to houseplants. 

“We do make special efforts to appeal to younger folks that might be getting their first plant,” Garr said. 

The horticultural society has even scoured TikTok to see what plant topics social media users are discussing the most.

“We know the chatter about houseplants is big now,” said Emily Topham, program coordinator for the Horticultural Society.







Plantasia (copy)

Shoppers survey offerings at the 2019 Plantasia event. This year it returns again at full capacity. The Charleston Horticultural Society replaced it with smaller scale events in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jess Black/Provided




For horticulturalists, sharing knowledge is one of the best parts of the event, Garr added.

“It’s just a part of your soul,” she said.

Last year the event took on a smaller form to accommodate COVID-19 health protocols. This year, it returns as a higher-capacity event. A pre-event luncheon hosted by the Horticultural Society already drew a considerable crowd, Garr said.

“We are expecting a lot of people to get out in the sunshine and get their plants,” Garr said. “People are going to be giddy to get out and about.”

While the Green Market is free and open to the public, the lecture and walking tours are for ticket-holders only. Prices range from $60 to $125. Charleston Horticultural Society members get discounted tickets. Find more information at www.chashortsoc.org/celebration-of-green or by calling 843-579-9922.

Get a weekly list of tips on pop-ups, last minute tickets and little-known experiences hand-selected by our newsroom in your inbox each Thursday.

Reach Emma Whalen at 843-708-5837. Follow her on Twitter @_emma_whalen. 

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Stampede will roar back in 2022 with full parade, concerts and chuckwagon races

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“Everything you know and expect from the Calgary Stampede will be back.”

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Calgary Stampede is returning in full swing this year with everything that’s been missing the last two years, including a long parade route, more concert venues and the Rangeland Derby Chuckwagon Races.

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For the unveiling of the 2022 Calgary Stampede poster and the start of the 100-day countdown to Stampede on Wednesday at the Nutrien Western Event Centre, the Calgary Stampede opened with pyrotechnics and an Indigenous hoop dancing performance.

“Everything you know and expect from the Calgary Stampede will be back,” announced Steve McDonough, Stampede president and chairman of the board.

McDonough said this summer’s Stampede will look like any other pre-pandemic Stampedes, though he doesn’t expect they’ll reach the same level of attendees as 2019. The Stampede will run from July 8 to 17.

“We’re not unaware that there’s still a pandemic. We’re making a plan for a full Stampede, that brings back live music in Saddledome, chuckwagon racing will be back, we’ve got the relay racing doubling, we’ve got four live stages with bands,” he said.

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“But don’t get me wrong, we are able to pivot if things change. We are planning for a heck of a Stampede.”

Calgary Stampede hosted a scaled-back event last summer and introduced a vaccine or negative test passport system for access to the Nashville North tent, several months before the Alberta government required a similar system for indoor businesses.

Despite the measures in place, more than 100 cases of COVID-19 were directly linked to Calgary Stampede events, Alberta Health Services said in August 2021. But health experts at the time said it is unlikely the province will know the full extent of spread.

Relay racer Kal Jackson and artist Kane Pendry hold the 2022 Calgary Stampede poster after it was unveiled on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Pendry painted the relay race scene after being inspired watching the event at the 2021 Stampede.Gavin Young/Postmedia
Relay racer Kal Jackson and artist Kane Pendry hold the 2022 Calgary Stampede poster after it was unveiled on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Pendry painted the relay race scene after being inspired watching the event at the 2021 Stampede.Gavin Young/Postmedia Gavin Young/Postmedia

The Stampede poster shows Kal Jackson, an Indigenous relay race competitor, racing on the back of his late horse Water Runner. The artist, 19-year-old Kane Pendry of Edmonton, said he has put more than 100 hours into the piece and has participated in the youth poster competition for three years.

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“I just really focused on what I wanted to portray and what emotions I wanted to bring out,” said Pendry, who is Méits. He said the project has helped him connect with his roots.

“It was really heartfelt talking to some of the (relay race) riders and that’s when I wanted to do it.”

We are planning for a heck of a Stampede.

Steve McDonough

He interviews the riders after watching the relay racers during last year’s Stampede and took photographs to use as a reference for his painting. It took him four paintings and hundreds of thumbnail sketches.

The winner of the Calgary Stampede Foundation Youth Poster Competition receives a $10,000 Dustin Peers Memorial Scholarship, funded by the Brandon Flock Foundation. Pendry is the fourth Alberta youth to have their artwork selected through the program.

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Jackson said being the subject of the Stampede’s poster was a great honour.

“This is a dream that became a reality for me,” he said. “For the generation to come, I want to be a good example that anything can happen and blessings can be bestowed upon anyone when they work for it.”

He said he was brought to tears when he saw the painting for the first time.

“I can’t be any more proud,” Jackson said.

The relay races have been a part of the Stampede’s evening show since 2017, and will be returning to the event this summer with 10 teams competing in two heats of races each night.

“There’s nothing quite like the warm summer nights of July, with the thunder of the wagons and the electric energy of the relay races. Follow that with the Bell Grandstand and an incredible display of fireworks — and you’re going to have one of the best nights of the year,” said McDonough.

sbabych@postmedia.com
Twitter: @BabychStephanie

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Full calendar of events at UBC Okanagan for Embrace Aging Month – Vernon Morning Star

Full calendar of events at UBC Okanagan for Embrace Aging Month - Vernon Morning Star

March is Embrace Aging Month, and the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO) is midway through a month of activities designed to promote healthy aging.

UBCO organized a series of events aimed at the region’s aging population to keep a spring in their steps, with spring around the corner.

UBCO’s Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention (IHLCDP), in partnership with Interior Savings Credit Union and Interior Health, put together 31 days of activities to celebrate they joys of aging.

In its ninth year, Embrace Aging Month features group walks with UBCO students and faculty, tips for aging at home, a webinar highlighting the signs, symptoms and solutions of caregiver burnout, a music therapy session and a yoga lesson that promotes laughter. UBCO researchers will also share new evidence on a range of topics, from the effects of climate change on health to virtual care.

“While Embrace Aging Month brings into focus the importance of supporting older adults in our communities, the sessions are for young and old alike,” said Dr. Joan Bottorff, a professor with the School of Nursing. “We have tried to think of something for just about everyone.”

Other highlights of the month include free visits to the YMCA, an electric bike demonstration and a games and virtual reality webinar where participants can learn about immersive technologies, floor projection and wearable sensors.

For a full event schedule and registration details, visit okanaganembracingaging.com.


Brendan Shykora

Seniors

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XOMA Reports Full Year 2021 Financial Results and Highlights Recent Operational Events

Xometry Champions Inclusive Leadership With Two 'Xometry Live' Events

Earned $35 million milestone payment as NIS793 entered Phase 3 clinical study in metastatic pancreatic cancer

Received $1.2 million from three milestone payments, two of which were from a single Janssen asset and one was from Compugen

Earned a $2 million milestone from Rezolute as it dosed the final patient in a Phase 2 open-label study of RZ358 in patients with congenital hyperinsulinism in early 2022

Acquired an economic interest in Roche’s novel bispecific antibody from Affitech SA. This asset has since received commercialization approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of neovascular or wet age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). We paid Affitech SA $5 million in milestones upon these approvals

Three drug candidates being advanced by partners received special designations from the FDA in 2021:

NIS793 in combination with standard of care chemotherapy was granted Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of pancreatic cancer,

DAY101 received Rare Pediatric Disease Designation for the treatment of pediatric low-grade glioma, and

Ficlatuzumab received Fast Track Designation for the treatment of relapsed or recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Added eight assets to XOMA’s portfolio of potential milestone and royalty assets in 2021

Ended 2021 with cash and restricted cash of $95.4 million and no debt on XOMA’s balance sheet

Jim Neal named Chairman of the Board of Directors

EMERYVILLE, Calif., March 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XOMA Corporation (Nasdaq: XOMA), a biotech royalty aggregator playing a distinctive role in helping companies achieve their goal of improving human health, reported its 2021 financial results and provided a recent operations update.

“XOMA’s milestone and royalty aggregator business model really began to demonstrate its potential in 2021 and in the first few months of 2022. In 2021, we received $36.2 million in milestone payments, which allowed XOMA to report positive operating cash-flow for the second consecutive year. The anti-TGFß asset we licensed to Novartis in 2015 entered Phase 3 development in 2021, a milestone that resulted in us receiving a $35 million payment. In the past two years, this asset, NIS793, has provided us with a total of $60 million in milestone revenue. Last October, we announced a significant transaction for XOMA, the purchase of rights to a 0.5% commercial payment on faricimab, a BLA-review-stage asset, for a $6 million upfront payment plus potential future milestone payments to Affitech SA. In late January 2022, the FDA gave commercialization approval to this novel bispecific antibody for the treatment of nAMD and DME. This is the first asset under our royalty aggregator model to receive commercialization approval. We recently paid $5 million in milestone payments to Affitech, triggered by these FDA approvals. Another advancement in January 2022 came as Rezolute dosed the final patient with RZ358 in its Phase 2 congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) study, which triggered a $2 million milestone payment to XOMA. Given our history with RZ358 and the connections we made with the CHI community, we are looking forward to seeing the clinical results when they are announced publicly,” stated Jim Neal, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of XOMA.

“These are just a few of the advances we’ve seen in our portfolio over the past year. We wish all our partners success in their clinical development efforts, as there are patients in need of additional therapeutic options.

“Our team continues to identify and acquire milestone and royalty licenses to expand and diversify XOMA’s portfolio, with eight assets added in 2021. With a strong foundation firmly established and an outstanding team in place, I decided it was the right time for the Company to proactively initiate a CEO succession plan, and we have launched a formal search. In the meantime, I will remain as CEO and continue to help shape XOMA’s future as Chairman of the Board. I believe 2021 and these first few months of 2022 are just the beginning of what’s to come,” Mr. Neal concluded.

Financial Results

XOMA recorded total revenues of $35.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared with $27.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. The increase for the three months ended December 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding period of 2020, was primarily due to the $35.0 million milestone earned under the Company’s Anti-TGFß Antibody License Agreement with Novartis International. For the full year of 2021, XOMA recorded revenues of $38.2 million, compared to $29.4 million for the full year of 2020. In 2021, XOMA received milestone revenue of $35.0 million earned under its Anti-TGFß Antibody License Agreement with Novartis, $0.5 million under its license agreement with Compugen, and $0.7 million under its license agreement with Janssen. Revenues for the full year of 2020 reflect $25.0 million in milestone revenue earned under the Company’s Anti-TGFß Antibody License Agreement with Novartis International and $2.0 million earned under XOMA’s collaboration agreement with Takeda.

Research and development (“R&D”) expenses were $42,000 and $36,000, respectively, for the fourth quarters of 2021 and 2020. R&D expenses for the full years of 2021 and 2020 and were $0.2 million.

General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses were $5.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to $3.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. The increase of $1.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2021, as compared to the corresponding period of 2020, was due primarily to a $1.1 million increase in stock compensation expense related to a grant of options in connection with Mr. Neal’s amended employment agreement and the reversal of $1.4 million in bad debt expense in the fourth quarter of 2020, partially offset by a decrease of $0.5 million in legal and consulting costs. G&A expenses were $20.5 million for the full year of 2021, compared to $16.8 million for the full year of 2020. The increase of $3.7 million in 2021 as compared with 2020 was primarily due to a $2.2 million increase in stock compensation expense, $0.8 million increase in salary and related expenses, $0.4 million increase in legal and consulting costs and $0.2 million increase in insurance costs.

In the fourth quarter of 2021, G&A expenses included $1.7 million in non-cash stock-based compensation expense, compared with $0.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2020. For the full year of 2021, G&A expenses included $6.2 million in non-cash stock-based compensation expense, compared with $3.9 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense in 2020. XOMA’s net cash provided by operations in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $30.7 million, as compared with $17.7 million during the fourth quarter of 2020.

XOMA’s net cash provided by operations for the full year of 2021 was $22.7 million compared to $10.1 million in 2020.

In June 2021, the Company repaid its outstanding debt obligations to Silicon Valley Bank and Novartis in full. For the full year of 2021, interest expense was $0.5 million, compared with $1.8 million reported in the full year of 2020. The decrease in interest expense during 2021 reflects the extinguishment of XOMA’s debt obligations.

Other expense, net was $0.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to other expense, net of $0.8 million in the corresponding quarter of 2020. Other expense, net was $0.9 million for the full year of 2021, compared to other income, net of $1.2 million for the corresponding period of 2020. The fluctuation in other (expense) income, net for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to the same periods in 2020, is primarily due to the change in the fair value of equity securities XOMA holds in Rezolute, Inc.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $29.8 million, compared to net income of $22.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. For the full year of 2021, net income was $15.8 million, as compared to $13.3 million for the full year of 2020.

On December 31, 2021, XOMA had cash and restricted cash of $95.4 million. The Company ended December 31, 2020, with cash and restricted cash of $85.8 million. After paying its remaining debt obligations in the second quarter of 2021, XOMA has no debt on its balance sheet. The Company continues to believe its current cash position will be sufficient to fund XOMA’s operations for multiple years.

About XOMA Corporation

XOMA is a biotechnology royalty aggregator playing a distinctive role in helping biotech companies achieve their goal of improving human health. XOMA acquires the potential future economics associated with pre-commercial therapeutic candidates that have been licensed to pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies. When XOMA acquires the future economics, the seller receives non-dilutive, non-recourse funding they can use to advance their internal drug candidate(s) or for general corporate purposes. The Company has an extensive and growing portfolio with more than 70 assets (asset defined as the right to receive potential future economics associated with the advancement of an underlying therapeutic candidate). For more information about the Company and its portfolio, please visit www.xoma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements/Explanatory Notes

Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding the timing and amount of potential commercial payments to XOMA and other developments related to faricimab, the potential of XOMA’s portfolio of partnered programs and licensed technologies generating substantial milestone and royalty proceeds over time, and XOMA’s cash sufficiency forecast. In some cases, you can identify such forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “seek,” “project,” “expect,” “may,” “will”, “would,” “could” or “should,” the negative of these terms or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of XOMA’s performance, and you should not place undue reliance on such statements. These statements are based on assumptions that may not prove accurate, and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to certain risks inherent in the biotechnology industry, including those related to the fact that our product candidates subject to out-license agreements are still being developed, and our licensees may require substantial funds to continue development which may not be available; we do not know whether there will be, or will continue to be, a viable market for the products in which we have an ownership or royalty interest; if the therapeutic product candidates to which we have a royalty interest do not receive regulatory approval, our third-party licensees will not be able to market them; and the impact to the global economy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Other potential risks to XOMA meeting these expectations are described in more detail in XOMA’s most recent filing on Form 10-K and in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Consider such risks carefully when considering XOMA’s prospects. Any forward-looking statement in this press release represents XOMA’s beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. XOMA disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law.

EXPLANATORY NOTE: Any references to “portfolio” in this press release refer strictly to milestone and/or royalty rights associated with a basket of drug products in development. Any references to “assets” in this press release refer strictly to milestone and/or royalty rights associated with individual drug products in development.

As of the date of this press release, all assets in XOMA’s milestone and royalty portfolio, except faricimab, are investigational compounds. Efficacy and safety have not been established. There is no guarantee that any of the investigational compounds will become commercially available.

XOMA CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Three Months Ended

December 31,
Year Ended

December 31,
2021 2020 2021 2020
Revenues:
Revenue from contracts with customers $ 35,424 $ 27,188 $ 36,518 $ 27,941
Revenue recognized under units-of-revenue method 520 392 1,642 1,444
Total revenues 35,944 27,580 38,160 29,385
Operating expenses:
Research and development 42 36 171 170
General and administrative 5,537 3,672 20,460 16,799
Total operating expenses 5,579 3,708 20,631 16,969
Income from operations 30,365 23,872 17,529 12,416
Other (expense) income, net:
Interest expense (360 ) (461 ) (1,844 )
Loss on extinguishment of debt (300 )
Other (expense) income, net (430 ) (821 ) (879 ) 1,225
Income before income tax 29,935 22,691 15,889 11,797
Income tax (expense) benefit (91 ) (25 ) (91 ) 1,501
Net income and comprehensive income $ 29,844 $ 22,666 $ 15,798 $ 13,298
Net income and comprehensive income available to common stockholders, basic $ 19,744 $ 15,555 $ 7,787 $ 8,793
Net income and comprehensive income available to common stockholders, diluted $ 20,136 $ 15,957 $ 7,968 $ 9,010
Basic net income per share available to common stockholders $ 1.75 $ 1.40 $ 0.69 $ 0.82
Diluted net income per share available to common stockholders $ 1.67 $ 1.32 $ 0.65 $ 0.78
Weighted average shares used in computing basic net income per share available to common stockholders 11,313 11,082 11,288 10,674
Weighted average shares used in computing diluted net income per share available to common stockholders 12,079 12,059 12,192 11,503
XOMA CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash $ 93,328 $ 84,222
Restricted cash 2,049 1,611
Short-term equity securities 774
Trade and other receivables, net 209 263
Income tax receivable 1,526
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 613 443
Total current assets 96,973 88,065
Long-term restricted cash 531
Property and equipment, net 13 21
Operating lease right-of-use assets 200 359
Long-term royalty and commercial payment receivables 69,075 34,575
Long-term equity securities 1,693
Other assets 301 41
Total assets $ 166,562 $ 125,285
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 1,072 $ 456
Accrued and other liabilities 525 642
Income taxes payable 91
Contingent consideration under royalty purchase agreements and commercial purchase payment agreements 8,075 75
Operating lease liabilities 195 179
Unearned revenue recognized under units-of-revenue method 1,641 1,452
Contingent liabilities 1,410
Current portion of long-term debt 8,088
Preferred stock dividend accrual 1,368
Total current liabilities 12,967 12,302
Unearned revenue recognized under units-of-revenue method – long-term 11,685 13,516
Long-term debt 12,764
Long-term operating lease liabilities 34 229
Other liabilities – long-term 50
Total liabilities 24,686 38,861
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred Stock, $0.05 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized:
8.625% Series A cumulative, perpetual preferred stock, 984,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively 49 49
8.375% Series B cumulative, perpetual preferred stock, 1,600 and zero shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively
Convertible preferred stock, 5,003 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively
Common stock, $0.0075 par value, 277,333,332 shares authorized, 11,315,263 and 11,228,792 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively 85 84
Additional paid-in capital 1,307,030 1,267,377
Accumulated deficit (1,165,288 ) (1,181,086 )
Total stockholders’ equity 141,876 86,424
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 166,562 $ 125,285
Investor contacts:
Juliane Snowden Justin Frantz
XOMA Solebury Trout
+1-646-438-9754 +1-937-441-9731
juliane.snowden@xoma.com jfrantz@troutgroup.com
Media contact:
Kathy Vincent
KV Consulting & Management
+1-310-403-8951
kathy@kathyvincent.com



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Winter festival returning with full line up of events

Winter festival returning with full line up of events

Residents of the tri-communities look forward to the Lac La Ronge Winter Festival every year. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

major event

Feb 17, 2022 | 12:25 PM

After COVID restrictions led to the cancellation of the 2021 Lac La Ronge Winter Festival, the major event is scheduled to return next month.

“We’re looking at ways we can make this work,” said Jonas Roberts Memorial Community Centre (JRMCC) Director of Sports and Recreation Kevin Roberts. “Our chief and council continue to adopt the COVID-19 proof of vaccination and masking. We feel our event will still be safe as only people who have been vaccinated can still participate in our events.”

The festival, which will run March 4 to 13, includes more than a dozen events including the King and Queen Trapper Competition, hockey and volleyball tournaments, a talent show, poker tournament, an Elders lunch and bingo, jigging and square dancing, and more. A fundraiser cabaret is also on the schedule for March 12, but Roberts noted it is tentative and a final decision will made the week prior.

The King and Queen Trapper Competition has more than $6,000 in prize money up for grabs with the top male and female participants each receiving $1,500. Registration will be held on March 5 at 11 a.m. at the urban reserve in La Ronge.

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Weddings, funerals and other events to be permitted at full capacity as B.C. lifts some COVID-19 restrictions

Weddings, funerals and other events to be permitted at full capacity as B.C. lifts some COVID-19 restrictions


Weddings and other indoor and outdoor organized gatherings will be permitted to resume in B.C. this week, health officials announced Tuesday.


Changes to many restrictions come into effect at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 16, though some limits will remain. For example, guests at organized events will need to show proof of vaccination through the B.C. Vaccine Card.


Masks will also be required, but there won’t be capacity limits and dancing will be allowed at the events.


“I’m just so excited. This is the right thing to do and this is the perfect timing,” Liting Chan, owner of Paradise Events, told CTV News Vancouver as the changes were announced. “This gives us a great hope and we can start to plan weddings.”


Organized events like wedding and funeral receptions were prohibited in December, when B.C. was dealing with a surge in cases due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Even small organized events weren’t permitted.


Chan said the frequent changes in restrictions impacted some couples for years.


“I have a couple with me since 2019, so this will be their third year and finally they can have their dream wedding,” she said.


While masks and proof of vaccination will still be required, Chan said she doesn’t think that’ll be a big issue.


“I don’t think that’s a big deal. Look, we’re here to follow whatever the health authority thinks is safe,” she said. “Personally I don’t have any issue, my clients don’t have issues.”


Chan expects the news means there will be a lot of weddings this summer.


“I think it’s probably going to be the busiest year for many, many years,” she said.