Did you know that Harrison Hot Springs is known for the mysterious Sasquatch? People have come from far and wide to research and try and spot the elusive creature. The name Sasquatch was coined in the 20′s by J.W. Burns a school teacher on the Chehalis Indian Reserve. He wrote many articles and stories about the legendary creature. Sasquatch by definition is known as a mythological being that resides in the Harrison River and Harrison Lake Region. Sasquatches have roamed the West side of the Harrison Lake for years.

Today Sasquatches have acquired a new name known as “Big Foot,” we can all guess where that comes from! The large foot prints have given a reputation to the known Sasquatch. Harrison Hot Springs has been a home to many top Sasquatch researchers, including J.W. Burns, John Green and Rene Dahindin. The history of the Sasquatch is a significant part of the First Nations culture today and in the past. The Sasquatch is important to the Chehalis First Nations people and is part of their culture, spirituality, legends and history. A great website regarding the Sasquatch is www.Sasquatch-bc.com

While visiting be sure to keep your eyes open and your camera on hand, you may just be the next person to spot the famous Sasquatch right here in the exciting community of Harrison Hot Springs BC.

Saturday, April 25:  Matt Andersen returned for a sold-out show at the Harrison Memorial Hall. 

A phenominal, young blues performer from New Brunswick, Matt played a solo show in Harrison in January, 2008.  His performance was so strong, the Festival Society leaped at the chance to bring him back.

Matt played the first set solo, and then was joined by a backing band for the second set.  His amazing acoustic guitar work has always impressed, but his vocals are getting stronger and stronger!  Highlights included versions of classic rock and blues tunes like “Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone” and “The Weight”, as well as original material like “One Size Fits Never”, “My Angel Has The Blues” and many more.

Backing up Matt were the Hupman Brothers, from Nova Scotia.  The Brothers took the lead on a song or two and proved to be strong performers in their own right.  The packed crowd gave Matt and the boys a standing ovation and demanded an encore.

After Matt’s first performance in Harrison, people were talking about it for months afterwords…

After this performance, they’ll be talking about Matt for years…  

Thursday April 16 – Shameless Hussy Productions (great name!) presented the play “Summer of My Amazing Luck” as part of the Harrison Festival Society’s 21st Season of Performing Arts.  This humourous production was written by Chris Craddock, who adapted it from the novel by the award winning Manitoba author Miriam Toews. 

Renee Iaci played the central part of Lucy as a mix of strengths and failings that was all too real.  Daun Campbell played the charismatic part of the free spirit Lish and various other characters both male and female.  Jeff Gladstone played Hartley and numberous other characters, also both male and female to great comic effect.

The play follows the lives of two young single moms in the “Have A Life” social housing complex in Winnipeg.  The residents call it “Half a Life” and negotiate indifferent governmental bureaucracy and a judgmental society.  The play had serious moments, but humour was the order of the day.  Particularly funny were the scenes devoted to interaction with authority figures like Welfare Caseworkers, Border Guards and callous parents. 

April 4 saw the BOP Ensemble bring the best in Canadian folk and roots music to the Memorial Hall.  BOP featured legendary & Juno Award winning Alberta performer Bill Bourne on guitar and vocals, up and come Alberta bassist, vocalist and hoop dancer Jasmine Ohlhauser and BC’s own Wyckham Porteous on guitar and vocals.  The trio performed songs written by Bill and Wyckham as well as a few covers.

Highlights included Wyckham’s tender versions of Springstein’s “Hungry Heart” and his own “Deeper in the Water”, Bill chanting and scatting to his song “Grace”, with Jasmine performed a wonderful hula hoop dance that added not distracted from the song.

A three song encore gave a chance for each performer to shine.