Lighting up Longview

I love Christmas! Yes I do and I admit it. It’s a funny thing that I have to admit to my love of Christmas as if it was a confessional. There are many out there who are a bit resentful of what Christmas stands for now with its brash, overt commercialism and everyone looking to make an extra buck.

Like with many people, my love of Christmas has had its ups and downs. For a big chunk of my adult life I got caught up in the frenzy to buy things, be at the right parties, and place nice with my fellow man (no matter how miserable I or they were being!).

Then I moved to Ireland. It was here that my love of Christmas was rekindled. In Ireland, I discovered a Christmas that was about family, friends, and community. Oh – and a lot of tea and chocolate. And beer.

But it was chocolate, tea, and beer shared with people that you really cared about. Stores actually closed down for days – DAYS! – at end, forcing everyone to stay at home and socialize. Or go to your neighbour’s and socialize. Meals were cooked and consumed at great leisure. Neighbours brought you wild holly as gifts. People went to holiday services or helped out the needy. Not too many people are left alone in Ireland at Christmas.

Upon returning home to Canada after three festive Irish Chirstmases abroad, this spark of community returned with me. My husband and I don’t buy gifts for each anymore, instead, we spurge on an annual evening drinking crazy expensive cocktails with friends in the posh bar of a local hotel. We have holiday shindigs and open houses for our neighbours, secret Santa dinners with old friends, and make Christmas day with my folks into a lazy Christmas extended long weekend.

So when I was invited to Longview to help out with their ‘Light Up Longview’ Holiday event, I was there before you could say snowball.

For those who aren’t familiar with the community, Longview is a small town south of Calgary with a population of about 350. They are home to one Mr. Ian Tyson, the famous Longview beef jerky, and is one of our star ACE Communities.

‘Light Up Longview’ is one of the town’s ACE projects aimed at raising awareness and funds for their ACE efforts. It was inspired by the town’s purchase of new lampposts as part of their plan to beautify their main street. With the holidays soon approaching, the ACE Communities committee decided to start a campaign to raise funds to purchase holiday lights/decorations for the lampposts as well as create a memorial tree.

This was seen as a way to have a quick win for the town, raise awareness of ACE, and bring people together.

So this past Sunday, Longview held their annual Christmas party in conjunction with the debut of their new outdoor lights. Made up almost entirely by volunteers, the Longview crew organized a visit by Santa (and made sure every child in town had a gift), hosted a horse-drawn sled ride, cooked a homemade turkey dinner for the whole town, and raised nearly $6000 for their lights fund. $900 of that came from a youth group who held a bottle drive earlier as their way of helping to buy decorations for the town.

In a town of 350, 225 people came out that night to celebrate the holidays with their community.

Do you think that the Grinch’s heart grew 10 times larger that day? Because, in the end, it is the people in your life that will make or break your Christmas. Let’s use this day as it was meant and celebrate our communities.

To see more pictures from the ‘Light up Longview’ event: http://acecommunities.ca/gallery/

Culture... the new microorganism?

Did you know that China had National Cultural Ecosystem Conservation Area (NCECA) aimed at holistically protecting cultural patterns that are historically and culturally rich? I didn’t! In fact, it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that I was even aware that we now discussing things like cultural ecosystems. Where have I been… under a rock?

It was in Ottawa at the Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA) annual conference, held earlier this month, that I first heard the term ‘cultural ecosystem’ bandied about. I actually had to make a note on my iPhone so that I would remember it.

From what I could gather, the term seemed to be tied to ideas of art incubation, cultural percolation, and arts in the community.

I knew I liked the sound of it but was left wondering a little bit about these new buzz words. What does it all really MEAN!!! I asks yah…

So a quick flit about the Internet, a prolonged visit to dictionary.com, and voila! Here are the root definitions to these new interesting word combinations:

Culture: a) the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.

or (I like this one…)

b) the cultivation of microorganisms, as bacteria, or of tissues, for scientific study, medicinal use, etc.

Ecosystems: a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their environment.

Community: a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage.

Percolate: to show activity, movement, or life; grow or spread gradually; germinate

Art: the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.

Incubation: to maintain at a favorable temperature and in other conditions promoting development, as cultures of bacteria or prematurely born infants.

It is interesting to me how many of these terms we can theoretically (and …well… creatively) apply to both the arts and the right-brained sciences. It is as if we are mad scientists, in some giant laboratory, experimenting with how to combine the arts and culture with our communities.

Honestly, I see no reason why the arts and the sciences… or social enterprises… or the corporate sector can not only exist next to each but also have a positive impact on how they deal with their own issues. I mean – can’t we all just get along? Or, should I say, move beyond just getting along to actually forming environments where we all grow and thrive together.

Ultimately, it seems to me, that the term ‘cultural ecosystems’ is a fancy way to say ‘arts in the community’. I’m encouraged to see that we are now discussing the ways in which the arts can be moved outside of its silo and used for the betterment of the bigger societal picture.

As we say at ACE, the greater the mix, the better the fix. Our communities and our art sector can only get stronger if we mingle together, cross-pollinate… and percolate.

And you thought I’d be talking about mold, didn’t you?

I am a good public speaker because...

I’ve been doing a lot of public speaking lately. I just returned from the ARPA annual conference in Jasper where I facilitated an all day aboriginal recreation practitioner pre-conference session (mainly because the scheduled facilitator lost her voice!), facilitated our ACE story-telling session, and presented on ACE’s cultural activities. Throw participating in a flash mob organized by the ACE Dance team and I can easily say that it was an eventful 3 days!

Now I’m all ok with generally making a public spectacle of myself. Just ask anyone who knows me. Recently however, I have realized that when it does come down to the spectacle in question, I’m only really good with it on my own terms.

This realization has come to me twofold over the past week. My first hint at this came as we were preparing for the ACE flash mob at the ARPA conference. As we were rehearsing the group choreography, I felt a wee bit of anxiety creeping up. It wasn’t the dancing per say that I dreaded; it was dancing following prescribed steps. Then it hit me…hey – I don’t really like following the rules when it comes to public engagements.

I suppose that this isn’t the biggest surprise if I stop to think about it. I hated my high school graduation (it was a disaster best left out of print); I avoided both my undergraduate and graduate ceremonies in university, and happily eloped. Five people, including my husband, the justice of the peace, and myself attended our wedding.

This hatred of public speaking and rules is rearing its ugly head again as I prepare for yet another conference next week. I have been chosen as one of four young arts professionals who will speak as part of the ‘Emerging Speakers Series’ at the Canadian Conference of the Arts (CCA) annual conference in Ottawa. I will be presenting on the ACE ARTS Tour that just concluded in the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation last week.

And here is the catch… the speed series is a petcha kutcha style presentation where the slides advance every 15s no matter what and you only have 5 minutes to make your point.

So how am I going to charm my way through this one? Where are the breaks for my oh so witty jokes? Thoughtful pauses… relaxed but confident air? Gah.

When it came down to actually doing the flash mob at the ARPA conference, I grinded my way through the choreographed section but oh did I rock the free-style bit. I can cut the rug like any pre-teen.

Noting my anxiety before the flash mob, one of the dancers named Michelle Greenwell taught me an affirmative saying: “I will be a good dancer because…” The ‘because’ is key in this statement as it allows the brain an opening to search for the answer, giving you confidence as reasons pop into your head.

So, even though the thought of a choreographed speed talk sends shivers down my spine: “I will give a decent speed talk because….”.

And to stack my ‘becauses’ I’m going to take some affirmative action. I will write a script, practice, practice, practice, and torture my husband with as many renditions as he can take. Because, whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and nothing but good comes from stretching that safe, little comfort zone.

Wish me luck!

Maybe it was the promise of pie…

Maybe it was the promise of pie… because after all, who can resist the golden, sweet, yumminess of freshly baked apple pie? Or maybe it was Granny Jen herself… I don’t know but something special was a foot in Chestermere recently. And this special something drew over 50 people, young and old, together to experience the old world skill of honest pie craftsmanship.

The story starts off, of course, with a blue ribbon – or should I say, the lack thereof. Prior to awarding Chestermere with their ACE Communities Award last year, our ACE Ambassador Ian Hill, had chatted with a few of Chestermere’s residents. This is a common practice for Ian as he likes to know a bit about a community before he arrives to kick off their big ACE Ignite event.

As part of these conversations, Ian chatted with one Jennifer Peddlesden, a long-time resident of the town. As their conversation went on, Jennifer expressed her dismay, as one of the organizers of the local County fair, at the fact that there wasn’t one single pie entered into the Fair that year that was worthy of a blue ribbon.

"Well, why do you think that is?" Ian asked her.

"I don’t know," Jennifer Peddlesden replied. "People just must not care anymore."

"Maybe," Ian countered, "but maybe the real problem is that people just don’t have the opportunity to learn how to bake a proper pie. My question to you is the one that’s really going to count. If people in town can’t make a pie and it breaks your heart, what are you personally going to do about it?"

It was an interesting question that Ian posed that day. Because, really, how many of us are unhappy with aspects of our communities? We might complain to our neighbours or to our spouses about the things we don’t like… but how many of us rise up and take action to rectify the things that we see as being problematic?

Well, Jennifer Peddlesden decided that it was time for some action and out of that conversation, Granny Jen was born. And Granny Jen became militant about pies. She rallied the troops, worked with the city, networked, advocated, and made a whole lot of test pies.
The result? The Chestermere pie making workshop – a community-driven workshop centered on the grand old art of making a proper pie. This cultural phenomenon was a big hit in the town to the point that there was even a waiting list. Those who were the lucky attendees represented the most diverse demographics I have seen at any ACE event. There were families, seniors, women in their twenties, teenagers, and a father with his three young sons. And there were all there to learn how to make a pie.

Undeniably, there is something soothing about baking a pie… a comforting reminder of a time when things were handcrafted with care. The event reminded me of true community gatherings, barn raising, and knitting and pickling circles. All of these things are part of our heritage and too many of these skills are being lost. But not in Chestermere… not that day!




To have witnessed the generations come together to learn one of this ‘old world’ skills was truly an awesome thing. The teenagers were busy taking snap shots of the pies with their phones and uploading to Facebook, the veteran pie makers swapped pastry secrets, and Granny Jen oversaw it all.

Because I guess it does take a village to bake a pie.

For a video of the actual pie-making workshop featuring Granny Jen see: http://www.viddler.com/explore/aceleader/videos/41/

What do you value?

It was a breathtaking morning. The sun was out and the Kananaskis country was as beautiful as ever. My husband and I had decided that it was time to take advantage of our nearness to the mountains and take the family for a hike in the Cox Hill region.

Well… when I say family, I really meanour two basset hounds Sammie and Cleo. And when I say hike, I mean a well-meant snarfle through the bush. But those are just technicalities.

This family outing was largely in part due to my recent ‘aha’ moment while taking part in a conference call that Carol Petersen, the ARPA Manager of Recreation and Community Development, hosted on the importance of leisure. While enjoying leisure activities is a no-brainer, I find –like with arts and culture- many don’t see the fundamental importance of the field. As in …some can’t seem to get past the understanding of leisure as simply being ten reps of arm curls at their local gym.

On this recent teleconference call, Carol spoke about how important it was for people to use their VALUES to determine how to use their leisure time. Many of us, she pointed out, use this time almost as if it was work. We frantically throw in a yoga class before picking up the kids from school, arriving home more harried than ever. Or assume that time logged in at the squash court, hockey rink, or aerobics studio means we have been leisurely.

And maybe these activities do mean that we have used our leisure time well… but what if they don’t?

Instead, Carol suggested, lets use our free time to engage in things we truly value. Maybe it is time with your kids, or time in the outdoors. Maybe it is being active but still socializing with friends. Or maybe, quite simply, it is spending time under your favourite tree reading a trashy novel.

Or maybe it’s hiking in the foothills with family. Normally, when my husband and I head out to the mountains, it never crossed our minds to take the girls. Being bassets, they are not really made for long distance romps and would rather lie in the sun than hike in it. My husband and I, on the other hand, like to hike like we mean it, work up a sweat, and charge our way to the top of the trail. Cleo would happily stand in one spot and sniff the same blade of grass for an hour if she had her way. Not a hiking match made in heaven.

But, as I sat planning our latest outing, I found myself wistfully thinking how much I would really love to take the girls. If only. And then, like that, Carol’s voice popped into my head and said: “Well, why not?”

Why not indeed! I really did want to spend time with them in a new beautiful locale, show them the sights, and be active as a family. So we cancelled the sitter, packed up the girls, their poo bags, some snacks and doggie dish, and headed out.

So, instead of not taking the girls, we made provisions so that we could. We made it an early morning hike so the girls wouldn’t be blasted by the sun and melt into basset goo. Instead of the planned 8 hr hike, we made it into 2. And even though we never made it even to the bottom of Cox Hill, it was one of the best times we had out in the country.

Seeing that we had such a great time, we now have two more outings planned with the girls before the snow flies. One is even a cookout/hike combo near Ribbon Creek with friends so now our little basset-assisted hiking community is getting larger. And all because we stopped and really listened to our values….

Viva the arts this Fall!

Yes, I hate to say it but Fall is nearly upon us. While many of us loathe to see the departure of summer, the Fall does mean the traditional launch of the arts and culture season. As the leaves turn colour, the art world rises up to give us an abundance of opportunities to get out and get creative. Check out these FREE events meant to engage the creative side in all of us.

Culture Days

Culture Days is a collaborative pan-Canadian volunteer movement to raise the awareness, accessibility,participation and engagement of all Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities. A national Steering Committee, together with provincial committees (known as Provincial Task Forces) are self-mobilizing at the grassroots level to implement concurrent annual province-wide public participation events each September beginning in 2010. The annual, concurrent Culture Days events across Canada will feature free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate “behind the scenes,” to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators, and designers… in their community.

To find out more as well as learn how to register your event and access great resources like ‘event checklists’ and ‘public relations toolkits’ see: http://culturedays.ca

Alberta Arts Days – September 17 – 19

Alberta Arts Days is also quickly approaching, which means it’s time to start thinking about how you’d like to be involved! Last year, thousands of Albertans discovered, experienced and celebrated our vibrant arts and culture landscape. Hundreds of community groups and organizations partnered to offer 571 events in 116 communities.

Alberta Arts Days has a starring role for absolutely everyone: artists, art organizations, community groups, municipalities, libraries, schools and businesses. This year, show your support for local art and culture by partnering with others in your community to host an event or becoming a sponsor.

Hosting an event doesn’t need to be a major undertaking. It can be as simple as adding an artistic flair to something that’s already in the works, or opening your organization’s doors and offering a behind the scenes look into how art is created. Check out this site for events near you as well as for a number of resources to help you get started to plan your own event: http://culture.alberta.ca/artsdays/

Alberta's Culture Calendar

Are neither of these events quite your thing? Well, fret not. Check out Alberta's Culture Calendar to see what is happening in an area near you. Alberta’s Culture Calendar is a community resource meant to promote Alberta’s arts, heritage, volunteer and other cultural information and activities. Check out the link below to find events in your community or to look for events on specific days.

This site also allows users to submit their own events: http://culture.alberta.ca/events/default.aspx

So there you have it! Three fantastic ways to get active, get creative, and engage with the arts, culture, and heritage this fall.

I know that I'll see you out there....

Vote for us and for our aboriginal communities

I’m not even going to attempt to hide the fact that this is a blatant plug for our Pepsi Refresh Project Grant application.

For those few who I haven’t actually emailed, stalked, or tweeted, the latest ACE Communities news is that we are one of the ideas vying for $100,000 of Pepsi’s cash. Our goal: organizing a music and dance tour in Albertan Aboriginal communities. This latest grant race is notable as it is you, the voting public, who will ultimately decide whose project wins.

So hey! If you want to vote and/or spread the word here is the link: http://ab.yace.ca/artstour. See… what did I say…a blatant plug.

I was thinking a little bit today, as I continued to roll out my social media campaign, about what the point of all of this really was. Like…why the push for an arts tour for our aboriginal communities instead of for someone else? As a practitioner who has spent many years working in the arts trenches, I know that resources are thin on the ground for everyone.

As I sat and really considered this, an image of Stan popped into my head.

And who’s Stan, you ask? Well, let me tell you. Stan just happens to be one of the most popular male Aboriginal dancers on the southern pow wow circuit. I first saw Stan dance at the Grey Eagle Casino as part the Aboriginal Day celebrations at the Tsuu T’ina Nation. He was representing the Men’s Fancy Dance category and he, I’m not going to lie, completely blew me away.

Stan dancing was a hurricane of colour, virtuoso, and male power. I had never truly seen anything like it and, if I had had my way, I could have watched Stan dance for hours. As I left the casino that afternoon after the performance, I couldn’t help but feel both inspired and affirmed in my belief about the power of dance.

One of the most interesting things I discovered about Stan was that he wasn’t technically a professional dancer. In fact, it turned out he was a cook at the Grey Eagle. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that cooks can’t dance but I would be hard pressed to find many civilians (as in us non-artsy fartsies) dance with the same brilliance and passion as Stan.

So what was it that had a cook in an Aboriginal community possible out dance almost everyone in my Euro-centric world? The answer: a foundational connection to the heritage and artistic heartbeat on one’s own culture.

Unfortunately, a huge epidemic is running rampant in many of our Aboriginal communities. Substance abuse, high rates of diabetes, poverty, and gang crime in combination with an increasingly alarming and growing disconnect to their heritage (which many blame on the residential school syndrome) have lead to the despondency in many communities. This despondency is killing the soul of many Aboriginal communities, fracturing individuals and even nations.

Our answer: the ACE music and dance tour. While I would never be so arrogant as to believe that one little arts tour in seven communities will solve any of the above issues, I do sincerely believe that it could be a stopgap, musical healing, or at least a temporary balm for the soul.

And if you don’t believe in the healing power of the arts, then I dare you to go find Stan from the Tsuu T’ina Nation and watch him dance.

To vote daily (until August 31^st) for the ACE Communities Pepsi Refresh Project go to: http://ab.yace.ca/artstour