Raising almost $1 million for high school music programs across the country is not enough for The Saint James—they want to make a movie about it.

The feature film, called 200 Gigs, will follow the band as it tours across Canada raising funds to combat reduced program funding.

Before The Saint James leave on their current tour, the group will give a free live show Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Kelowna.

The concert will be filmed and clips will be used in 200 Gigs.

Post-production for rockumentary will be completed in the Okanagan when the tour comes to a close in July 2010.

The film is expected to have its world premiere at the Paramount in the fall of 2010.

There will be 250 seats available free to the public on a first come, first serve basis.

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The inaugural Hearts in Hand Gala in support of the Kelowna Drop-In and Information Cnetre will be held Dec. 11 at the Delta Grand Okanagan Ballroom.

The evening will include presentations by health issues author Dr. Gabor Maté and Shaun Jones, a former drop-in centre client who turned his life around in an amazing, inspiring way.

The drop-in centre was founded in 1988 and has been diligently working to meet the basic and individual needs of the homeless, working poor, addicted and mentally ill.

Funds are being raised through sponsorships, ticket sales, and a live auction. A silent auction will also be hosted by West Coast Authentic Memorabilia, with special guest former NHL goaltender Bernie Parent.

There will be numerous door prizes awarded throughout the night inclusive of a “Romance” package and brunch for four (The Eldorado), gift certificate from Mission Park Travel and much more.

Individual tickets to the gala are $100, a table of 8 is $750 and can be purchased by calling 250-863-6763 .

West Coast Authentic Memorabilia will also use its annual Christmas show on Dec.12 at the Ramada Hotel to help raise additional funds for the drop-in centre. See the website www.westcoastauthentic.com) for further details on that event.

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What do secrecy, police provocateurs, an assault on democracy and infringements on citizens’ rights have in common?

The Security and Prosperity Partnership leaders summit that took place in Montebello, Que., in 2007.

Paul Manly will attend a Kelowna screening of his documentary about the Security and Prosperity Partnership, called You, Me And The SPP: Trading Democracy for Corporate Rule, as part of a 34-city national tour.

The screening takes place Monday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m., at the Okanagan College theatre on the Kelowna campus, 1000 KLO Rd.

Admission is by donation. The screening, sponsored by the Kelowna chapter of the Council of Canadians, and will be followed by a Q&A session with Manly.

Manly first grabbed the world’s attention after capturing three police provocateurs attempting to thwart protestors’ legal rights by inciting violence at an SPP protest.

The compelling footage was posted on the Internet, where it quickly became a national and international news story. 

Manly, who had started research and preliminary interviews for a documentary about the SPP two months earlier, was shocked by what he had captured on video but what was even more shocking to him was the scope of the Security and Prosperity Partnership, a secret agreement negotiated between the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Opponents to the deal have claimed claim that it is undemocratic and a direct threat to the sovereignty of the three countries involved as it bypasses parliamentary systems and places control of regulatory integration in the hands of large corporations. No proponents of the SPP were willing to take part in on-camera interviews for You, Me and the SPP, which features interviews with Naomi Klein, Maude Barlow, Murray Dobbin and Joel Bakan, among a host of other opponents of the SPP including economists, lawyers, union leaders, and politicians. Manly also interviewed ordinary citizens who have been affected by the SPP agenda including a retired elementary school teacher who is on the no-fly-list; a citizen who refused to participate in the Canadian census because Lockheed Martin, the world largest arms manufacturer, is part of the census process; a mill worker who has been laid-off because deregulation has allowed forest companies to close mills and export raw logs; and a mother of twins who is concerned about protecting her young children from contaminated products.

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The annual presentation of Songs of the War Years 1939 – 1945 with Sally Evans and Molly Boyd returns to the Kelowna Community Theatre on Sunday.

The doors open at 1 p.m., show time is 2 p.m.

Tickets are $5/person available at the Water Street Seniors Centre, Mosaic Books and at the door.

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Forget what you thought you knew about Israel. A new documentary highlights the world changing achievements made by the tiny country behind the big headlines.

The answers may shock you, they certainly will challenge you. You will laugh, you will cry, and never think of Israel the same way again.

On Wednesday Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m., The Okanagan Jewish Community Association will present the Okanagan premiere of The Original Promise at the Evangel Church, 3261 Gordon Dr., in Kelowna.  

Highlighting the event will be several musical numbers performed by Kelowna’s own mezzo range singer Leslie Turner.

As well, Israel’s Consul-General in Toronto, Amir R. Gissin, will be on hand for the event.

The premiere screening is free but donations will be taken in support of Jewish Nation Fund of Canada’s Restorer of Jerusalem project and  the King of Kings Assembly’s outreach to Palestinians near Bethlehem.

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Beyond 50 Magazine is inviting families to participate in a Halloween night event for a special treat—a special showing of the movie Coraline on the big screen at the Kelowna Community Theatre, a fundraiser for the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, and the movie will start at 8:30 p.m. Only $5 per family admission includes popcorn and water.