To the seasons of life
September 28th, 2025.
Rivers pickup our rain and deliver it back to our seas and in the interim they water crops and they mitigate carbon and they mitigate phosphorus and all sorts of things that are being brought to the surface and give us a good environment.
Vancouver international film festival 170 films starting soon.
That’s a great event to look forward to! The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) is a major celebration of cinema here.Based on the current information, VIFF 2025 is scheduled to run from Thursday, October 2nd to Sunday, October 12th.Here are some highlights of what you can expect: * Extensive Program: The festival features a spectacular roster of over 170 feature films and 80 shorts, showcasing exceptional cinema from around the globe. * Film Variety: The lineup includes Canadian and international premieres, documentaries, features from different genres, and a focus on various countries (like a “Spotlight on Korea” this year). * Special Events: Beyond the film screenings, VIFF typically includes: * Galas and Special Presentations: High-profile screenings, sometimes with special guests. For example, the opening film for 2025 is Nouvelle Vague from director Richard Linklater. * VIFF Talks: Conversations and Q&A sessions with filmmakers, writers, and industry professionals. * VIFF Live: Unique events, including live performances and live scores to films. * Industry Events: Like the VIFF Amp Music in Media Summit, which focuses on music in film. * Venues: Screenings take place across various venues in Vancouver, including the VIFF Centre, Vancouver Playhouse, and others.It’s one of Canada’s largest film festivals, so there’s always a huge variety of content to explore! You can check the official VIFF website for the full schedule and ticket information.
The Nicola Valley Community Farmers Market is a vibrant hub for local agriculture and artisanal goods, typically held weekly during the warmer months. It brings together farmers, craftspeople, and community members, fostering connections and promoting the benefits of eating local. Visitors can find a variety of fresh produce, baked goods, handmade crafts, and unique food items, offering a delightful experience filled with the rich flavors and talents of the Nicola Valley region. The market also often features live music, workshops, and family-friendly activities, making it a cherished gathering place that supports local economy and sustainability.
October’s night sky offers two excellent meteor showers and the best view of a giant ringed planet. Here are three worthy activities to look for this month:
1. The Orionid Meteor Shower ☄️| What & Why It’s Special | How & When to See It ||—|—|| What’s Special: The Orionids are the remnants of Comet 1P/Halley—yes, that Halley’s Comet! This makes them particularly notable. They are known for being fast and bright, occasionally producing brilliant, long-lasting trails (persistent trains) in the atmosphere. | Peak: The night of October 21–22. || Worthy of Seeing: Although it’s a modest shower (up to 10-20 meteors per hour), the link to one of history’s most famous comets makes it a must-see. The meteors are quick, adding excitement to the viewing. | Best Time: After midnight and before dawn on October 22. The radiant (where the meteors appear to originate) is highest in the sky just before sunrise. || | Viewing Conditions: Excellent in 2025 because the peak occurs near the New Moon (Oct 21), meaning minimal moonlight interference for the darkest skies. Look anywhere in the sky, but the shower radiates from the constellation Orion.
|2. The Draconid Meteor Shower 🐉| What & Why It’s Special | How & When to See It ||—|—|| What’s Special: The Draconids are debris from Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. Unlike most showers, their radiant point is highest in the sky in the evening, making them a great option for early night watchers and kids. Most years, it’s a minor shower (around 5-10 per hour), but it’s famous for periodic outbursts that have delivered meteor storms (hundreds or thousands per hour) in the past. | Peak: The evening of October 8. || Worthy of Seeing: The possibility of an unpredictable outburst is the main draw. Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner was recently at perihelion in March 2025, which might increase the chance of a better-than-average display. | Best Time: Soon after dusk and before midnight on October 8. ||
| Viewing Conditions: Unfavorable due to a very bright Full Moon (Oct 6) that will significantly wash out fainter meteors. You’ll need to face away from the Moon or use a building/tree to block its light to have the best chance. The radiant is in the constellation Draco (the Dragon). |
3. Planet Saturn 🪐| What & Why It’s Special | How & When to See It ||—|—|| What’s Special: Saturn, the beautiful ringed gas giant, reached its brightest and closest point to Earth (opposition) in late September 2025, meaning it remains a spectacular object throughout October. | Peak: Visible all month long in the night sky. || Worthy of Seeing: Saturn is one of the most stunning celestial bodies, even through a small telescope. Its distinct, massive ring system makes it instantly recognizable and a favorite for amateur astronomers. | Best Time: Saturn is visible almost all night long in October. Look for it to rise in the east/southeast around sunset. || | Viewing Conditions: You can easily spot Saturn as a steady, bright yellowish “star” visible to the naked eye. To see its rings, you will need a small telescope. You can also observe it passing near the Moon in the first week of October: on October 5, the Moon passes close to Saturn. |
happy viewing
Nicola Naturalists fund raiser,
The final week of summer is coming up and it may inspire some people to permanentize some of the beautiful flowers and things that they’ve enjoyed for the summer in paint or any other medium.
Photo from Nicola Valley Community Arts Council show in recent recent months.
Minimizing a distracted world.
One notable figure with a connection to that date is Scotty Bowman, the legendary ice hockey coach. He was born on September 18, 1933, in Montreal, Quebec. He’s considered one of the greatest coaches in NHL history, winning a record nine Stanley Cup championships.
Mallard ducks are the most prevalent around our place, our neck of the woods here in Merritt, British Columbia. We love our Mallard ducks.
The local naturalist club will begin their regular weekend fall and winter schedule on the 18th. Their meetings are generally most months on the third Thursday at 7:00 at the Nicola Valley institute of technology, top of the hill Belshaw Avenue in Merritt.
The group of classic car club enthusiasts meet on Wednesdays for supper, and talk and park at the Merritt A&W on Voght Street.
The picture is of a four-point mule deer buck. Near the corner of Garcia and Merritt Avenue in Merritt, British Columbia. Circus September 8th…
The deer was eating off the leaves of this tree to the left and was completely habituized meaning he had no fear of people. I took 10 pictures of him.
There is no velvet on his horns. Fall is coming and the rut will be coming.
Have a great fall!.
Photo KDG September 6 2025 circa
21: 40 hrs
Merritt BC Canada
Statement as of 9:53 PM Pacific,
Hey Merit what do you say?
Kevin Griffiths
percypaschal
The Proprietor Review 