When Jinny Nieviadomy came to Meadow Lake, SK there was no doubt in her mind that she was meant to be there. Jinny has had a major impact on the Meadow Lakes community as a teacher and arts promoter. She founded The Artistic Incidents Studio…a space that children and adults alike, to find their own artistic voice through various medium.
In this digital story, Christine, of Weyburn, pays tribute to her late uncle, a war veteran who didn’t speak much about his time in military service. Despite this, Christine managed to piece together tidbits of information, photographs and family memories in order to write and produce this lovely story about her uncle, Sgt. Hugh A. MacDougall, a “hidden hero.”
Springing out of his own “Lego Dark Age”, Ley Ward, the “Lego Wizard”, reconnected with the memories of a toy from his childhood, and became part of an International movement of lego users who take this hobby very seriously. Ley shares the serious business of humour, and how lego has informed his other artistic pursuits. Lego users are indeed a unique breed, and you’ll hear Ley discuss how much emotional support they provide each other. And yes, we discussed the Lego movie!
On September 16, CTV Saskatoon News went to Waldheim as part of the north portion of their Hometown Tour.
They took in a cultural feast, visited a few local businesses, stopped by the Rec Centre and the school.
While at the school, one of the things they focused on was a Culture Days Activity that has been in the works since last Spring.
Under the guidance Marla Laskowski and myself, Some of the high school students as well as other members of the community have been busy learning how to knit and crochet so as to Yarn-Bomb the front of the school.
Needless to say, the students were very excited to have their project highlighted and featured on the 6:00 News.
After Megan’s grandfather passed away, she found a scrapbook documenting his life as a young man. Before opening it, Megan thought her grandpa was “just a plumber, running a successful business in town,” but she learned that he was much more than that. Here’s the digital story that Megan wrote, voiced, and produced at a workshop in Melfort after flipping through the pages of her grandfather’s scrapbook.
On September 15, I spent the day in Rockglen.
I met with two Board Members of Rockin’ Beach Regional Park to discuss their upcoming Culture Days event.
Plus, I facilitated two workshops at Rockglen School, which included all grades (1 – 12). In those workshops, I explained the history and meaning of Culture Days and then gave a tutorial on how to make an Origami Boat. Further, I extended an invitation to the students of Rockglen School. I invited them to bring their Origami Boat (that they just made) to Rockin’ Beach on Wednesday, September 24th at 7:00 p.m.. I explained to them that at this time we are going to have a “Lighted Launch.” We will put candles in the boats and launch them from either the shore or the middle of the lake (depending on the win) and enjoy the light show while we roast marshmallows and visit on the beach.
Liezel moved to Melfort from the Philippines in 2002. In this digital story, she shares her adventure of integrating into Canadian culture as well as the challenges she faced as a newcomer to Saskatchewan. Today, she is happy to call Melfort home.
Nathan moved to Eastend, SK when he was 12 years old. A self-described city boy at heart, Nathan wrote and produced this digital story on how he grew to appreciate living in a small prairie town.
The Junior Curator program began in 2013 at the Meacham museum in Saskatchewan, and allows children who have a love of museums and history to take on some of the responsibilities of a museum curator. Kayla and Spencer share with us why they enjoy being junior curators….“It’s fun to do! Its cool showing people what you know”.
On a superficial level, a ‘knit-in’ may look like nothing more than a group of (predominantly, but not necessarily) women sitting around clicking needles and playing with yarn.
But, it is so much more.
On a practical level, it is cultural transmission. It is the passing of tradition from one generation to another. For instance, at the last ‘Knit North Battleford’ get-together there was an intergenerational group of three knitting in the corner–mother teaching daughter, teaching daughter.
On yet another level, equally intangible, is a transmission of knowledge. People talk about what is going on around town or upcoming events. They as well talk about things like health and nutrition.
But, on another level is the quintessence of ‘Knit-Ins’ (in my opinion). It is the gathering of people, who are often strangers, who for no other reason than a common interest have come together for an hour or two, and share their time, their stories, their humour, their life.
A woman who is a recent newly wed and pregnant for the first time may be sitting in the same circle with another woman who has multiple children and is widowed or separated after thirty-some years of marriage. A shy person may come and take comfort in the company of others without the imposition of speech. A new immigrant may come because the gathering offers solace to his or her solitary new environment … and so on.
Bearing this in mind, I feel it is a real success when I hear of Culture Days endeavours like the ‘Knit North Battleford’ Group who have been asked to meet in venues above and beyond their already pre-scheduled locations. Further, that they are discussing meeting after the Culture Days weekend.