Dear Editor

The seventh annual Columbia Valley Tour of the Arts was celebrated on Sunday, August 3rd at the CPR Lodge. There were 28 wonderful artists in every type of medium showing their talents to the appreciative shoppers. The weather was perfect and the setting delightful.

On behalf of the Columbia Valley Arts Council I would like to thank all the artists who participated as you are the reason we presented the Tour. We could not have enjoyed the day without our generous sponsors, the District of Invermere crew, our ticket sellers River Gems, Village Arts, Higher Ground in Radium Hot Springs and La Galleria II in Fairmont Hot Springs. The Tour could not have succeeded without the excellent coverage by the Columbia Valley Pioneer for which we are very grateful.

The Celebrity Artist Challenge was sponsored by Wende Brash of ReMax Realty and the artist mentors were Ryan Bavin for Dee Conklin, Jessie Blakley and Kyle Burley for Gerry Taft and Tom Symington and Gerry George for Ute Juras. The voting was very close and in the final tally Dee Conklin emerged the winner. Congratulations to all and thanks for making the contest a pleasure.

Anders Oseychuk once again donated an incredible turned birch burl bowl and the lucky winner was Geraldine Hutchinson of Invermere.

The volunteer organizing committee was led by the terrifically competent Joan Gallaway and included Carmel Robbins, Loreen Jacobs, Bev Aitchison, Susan Webster and Elaine Johnson. Their commitment, energy and good spirits made the entire process a breeze.

Thank you again to all and well see you in 2015.

Chris Jones

CV Arts Board Member/Tour of the Arts Committee