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In Praise of Patronage
THE PAST IS PROLOGUE
» Thursday 27 November 2008 | 5 pm
» The Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue
An informal afternoon hour showcasing people and ideas featured in Okanagan ARTS. Join us as
Myles and Stephani Bruckel, Tiffany Bilodeau and Birgit Bennet share their insights and experience of the role of patronage in the development of the arts.
» This is a free event. Refreshments will be available at a modest cost.
» Seating is limited, please reserve yours HERE
Inspiring Stories of Community Arts Support
Few blink an eye when sports teams boast about their high profile backers. It's the kind of thing sports does - get everyone into the game. But the same can hold equally true for the arts - all it takes is vision and commitment.
On Thursday, November 27 at 5 pm, the Okanagan Institute Express series hosts In Praise of Patronage as part of its continuing The Past Is Prologue series at the Bohemian Café, this time examining the growth of the arts in the Okanagan with the very personal story of a family that puts its heart and soul into the arts.
Myles and Stephani Bruckal set their sights on the development of ballet in the Central Okanagan after their daughter Carly took up dance at the age of four. Successful in the business community, they have used their acumen to support the arts and expand its potential for growth.
Not ones to take their role as simply backers, they brought one of the "players" into their home. Ballerina Tiffany Bilodeau has since become part of the Bruckal's extended family.
Rounding out the event will be Ballet Kelowna's new president Birgit Bennett, who has spent years working behind the scenes in a variety of cultural organizations.
 Myles Bruckal obtained his Bachelor of Commerce and Business Administration Degree from UBC in 1976. He has spent 30 years owning and operating a wide range of small to medium size businesses in Canada and the U.S. Bruckal Properties provides capital and leadership skills to enhance existing businesses. Myles' diverse career gave his family the opportunity to move to Colorado in 1992 and to Kelowna in 1996. Myles has been involved in several community service clubs and has held positions at the Board level in organizations in Kelowna such as Prospera Credit Union, Okanagan Innovation Fund, Economic Development Commission and was the founding President of Ballet Kelowna.
 Stephani Bruckal received her Music Therapy Accreditation in 1992 and gained work experience at the UBC Hospital in Geriatrics and the VGH Palliative Care Unit, Parkholm Extended Care and in Private Practice working with Autistic Children and children placed in Foster Care. As a musician, Stephani's background is musical theatre and vocal ensembles. Since moving to Kelowna in 1996, she has performed with MASK, Encore and is currently a member of the music team at the Kelowna Centre for Spiritual Living. Stephani has volunteered over the years at schools, churches, hospitals, Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Cancer Centre. She is a founding member of Ballet Kelowna and served on the Board for five years.
 Tiffany Bilodeau trained in Fort St. John and at the Edmonton School of Ballet and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Tiffany is founding dancer in the professional division of The Okanagan Summer Dance Intensive 2008 program where she was featured in Brian Macdonald's "A Little Brahms" as well as "Paquita" and "Le Corsaire". This is Tiffany's fifth season with Ballet Kelowna. She has performed in "The Nutcracker" and "Romeo and Juliet" with The Royal Winnipeg Ballet and appeared in "The Toy Castle" as the China Doll. With Ballet Kelowna she premiered the leading role in Simone Orlando's "I Remember You" and has performed repertoire from "Swan Lake", "The Nutcracker","The Sleeping Beauty" and "Le Corsaire".
 Birgit Bennett attended Ballet Kelowna's inaugural performance six years ago and was absolutely mesmerized. She has served in various community capacities including Co-Honorary Chair of Evergreen (the Rotary Center for the Arts fundraising gala), Co-Honourary Chair of the new Central Okanagan Hospice House fundraising campaign, and spent four years on the Kelowna Art Gallery board.
In Praise of Patronage: The Past Is Prologue is a free event, and takes place at the Bohemian Café. This marks the 68th event the Okanagan Institute has held since the Express series got underway in July 2007. Since that time, the series has played host to many Okanagan luminaries, including former deputy secretary general of Amnesty International Derek Evans, artists Lee Claremont and Gary Pearson, BC Book Award nominee Don Gayton, CBC Literary prize winner poet Harold Rhenisch, distinguished editor and author Jim Taylor, poet and professor John Lent, animator and filmmaker Jim Cliffe, architect Jim Meiklejohn, broadcaster Marion Barschel and others from a wide range of creative fields.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE CLICK HERE
Where Enquiring Minds Gather. Okanagan Institute at the Bohemian Café A hearty feast of lectures, presentations, workshops and showcases celebrating our culture and community. Produced by the Okanagan Institute in association with Wheat King Publishing magazines: Okanagan Arts and Okanagan Home. Express is sponsored in part by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, Wood Lake Publishing, UBCO-FCCS, and in support of Project Literacy Kelowna.
The Okanagan Institute is a group of creative professionals that have gathered around the goal of providing events, publications and services of interest to enquiring minds in the Okanagan. We partner with individuals, organizations, institutions and businesses to achieve optimal creative and social impact.
Our mission is to ignite cultural transformation, catalyze collaborative action, build networks and foster sustainable creative enterprises. We invite the participation by all members of the creative community.
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