National Volunteer Week is April 6 鈥� 12. The theme this year is 鈥淰olunteer Work Speaks Volumes鈥�. Volunteer Canada is providing an opportunity for anyone to phone in and leave a message of thanks to a volunteer who has had an impact on his or her life. If you are interested in thanking a volunteer, you can call the Volunt-Hear Hotline at 1-855-372-5077 before April 12. Messages will be organized into playlists on Soundcloud. Listeners will be able to download messages, share them through social media and hear first-hand how volunteer work changes lives and shapes communities.

The Lakes District Festival of the Performing Arts takes place at the Island Gospel Fellowship Hall (IGF). The instrumental section includes three sessions on April 9. The piano section鈥檚 seven sessions take place on April 10 to 12. The vocal section takes place in four sessions on April 13 and April 14. The popular musical theatre section is on April 13 at 1:00 pm, and the choir section at 5:00 pm Sunday. Speech Arts is on April 15. The Festival Honours Concert will take place on April 17 at 7:00 p.m. at the IGF Hall.

The final production of the arts council鈥檚 eight season is the one-woman drama production Under the Mango Tree, starring Veenesh Dubois is this Saturday. Doors open at 6:45 pm and the show starts at 7:30 pm sharp at the Lakes District Secondary School.  For more information about Under the Mango Tree, or about the author and actress Veenesh Dubois, click on this link: www.underthemangotree.ca

Tchaikovsky鈥檚 鈥楾he Sleeping Beauty鈥� Ballet live in HD at the Beacon Theatre at 1:00 p.m., direct from London鈥檚 Royal Ballet. All tickets $12.00. Watch for more information, coming soon.