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Year in Review 2011: community part one

Renovations to the large meeting room in the new Central Cariboo Arts Centre should be completed in about a week.
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Irene Florence (Ward) Stangoe passed away in Williams Lake April 2

Jan. 27, 2011

Art centre renovated

 

Renovations to the large meeting room in the new Central Cariboo Arts Centre should be completed in about a week, says project co-ordinator Sheila Wyse.

Wyse is secretary for the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society, which is managing the new arts centre located in the City’s old fire hall next to City Hall on Fourth Avenue.

In December the CRD Central Cariboo/City of Williams Lake Joint Committee provided $10,600 for the society to finish renovating the upstairs of the arts centre. There weren’t enough funds available last year to complete all of the renovations needed to turn the fire hall into a working arts centre so the upper floor was left unfinished.

 

Feb. 3, 2011

Laughing Loon auction

 

The Laughing Loon Restaurant and Pub was overflowing with onlookers and bidders last Friday for the sale of its contents by Maynards Auction.

When Brothers Rick and Fred Hamel built the Laughing Loon in 1988 and opened its doors in Feb. 1989 it was the most elegant building in the city, and may still be.

In addition to a beautiful design, the building incorporated building materials from various historical sites, and was decorated with historical memorabilia, some found at auction, some donated locally. Over the years, local people added their own bits of memorabilia to the display cabinets — sports trophies, banners, photographs, newspaper clippings, rodeo buckles, pocket watches, dice, games, and more. Some people keeping tabs on the distress auction were concerned these items would be lost from the community.

 

Feb. 8, 2011

Station House 30th anniversary

 

The Station House Gallery is starting off its 30th anniversary exhibition year this month with a show reflecting hope for the future of the arts.

For the first time in its 30-year history the gallery is featuring art work created by children and youth, both in the main and in the upper galleries, says manager Diane Toop.

While the future of the Station House Gallery hangs in the balance due to recent government funding cutbacks, judging by the steady stream of children and visitors attending the show’s opening Thursday evening, dedication to creating and exhibiting art remains strong in the lakecity.

A total of 59 pieces of art created by 26 children and youth fill the main gallery. The inventive, colourful and reflective pieces in the main gallery were submitted for the show through an open call the gallery issued last fall.

 

Feb. 8, 2011

New directions in education

 

 

More than 75 teachers, parents, administrators, and even a baby attended the public forum held at Glendale Elementary School Thursday afternoon for discussions on educational directions for the future.

The forum was based on the research paper Personalized Learning in the 21st Century: Initial Thoughts for Discussion and included participation by Alison Sidow, superintendent of achievement for the Ministry of Education and educational consultant Sheila Rooney.

 

Feb. 14, 2011

Soupbone CD released

 

The lakecity rocking blues band Soupbone released their first CD Lead Me On with a party at Beeotcheese Bistro/Ballroom with special guests One Foot Under and Owen Barter.

 

March 24, 2011

Community Remembers

 

About 200 people turned out for the premiere showing of the film Squaw Hall: A Community Remembers and the play Damned If You Do: What If You Don’t? presented in the Gibraltar Room Tuesday evening.

Among those in the audience were Mayor Kerry Cook and Coun. Laurie Walters along with several chiefs from area bands, as well as some of the elders featured in the film.

During the question and answer period following the presentations Cook and others praised the project and several people said the productions should be presented in schools.

The film and play are the result of the two-year Squaw Hall Project that has provided youth and some adults with training in performance, writing and media skills. The productions are co-produced by urban ink Productions of Vancouver and Twin Fish Theatre Collective of Nelson in partnership with the Community Arts Council of Williams Lake and the Canadian Mental Health Association  — Cariboo Chilcotin branch.

 

May, 17, 2011

Potato House purchase

 

 

The Potato House has been officially purchased by the Potato House Sustainable Community Society. The house was purchased from the Quintelas, after whom the home is also named in deference to the family’s potato growing tradition.  The society now holds a mortgage with a “silent funder” after spending the money it raised through donations and fundraisers on a down payment, insurance and covering other costs. On Sunday the society began yard cleaning on the property and for now hopes to develop a demonstration garden.

A greenhouse will be erected on the property and community members will be able to rent space in a community garden.  Additionally, the group hopes to re-introduce the Cariboo potato.

 

May 10, 2011

Naturalists converge

 

From May 12-15, about 150 nature lovers from all over B.C. will explore our diverse and beautiful area as part of BC Nature’s Spring Conference and annual general meeting. The event is based at Thompson Rivers University.

Participants will have the opportunity to tour many diverse ecological sites in the region including Chilcotin grasslands, Farwell Canyon, Doc English Bluff and the Dog Creek Road, Walker and Chimney Lake, Scout Island, Knife Creek, Horsefly Riparian Area and Churn Creek Protected Area to name a few.

 

May 26, 2011

Tour band wins at nationals

 

The WLSS/CSS Tour Band achieved a silver rating at Nationals Musicfest Canada last week in Richmond.

“The students performed exceptionally well and received great compliments from the adjudicators, the most memorable being “small band, big sound and heart,” says their band leader Dena Bauman.

There were 235 different ensembles from all across Canada participating in the Nationals Musicfest Canada  — concert bands, jazz ensembles, choirs and string/orchestra ensembles.

“That means that approximately 4,000-5,000 students attended the festival throughout the week,” Baumann says. “This is the biggest music festival for high school students in North America.

Baumann says there were about  90 other bands in the concert band category, which the combined Williams Lake and Columneetza secondary tour band participated in.

 

May 31, 2011

Memory of Water wins zones

 

 

The Williams Lake Studio Theatre production of The Memory of Water is heading to Theatre B.C.’s Mainstage provincial drama festival in Kamloops, July 1-9.

The Memory of Water was named best production by adjudicator Garry Davey during the Central Interior Zone drama festival held in Williams Lake May 26-29.

The Memory of Water came away with several other top awards including best actor for Curt Sprickerhoff and best actress for Tanya Isnardy.

Director Michael Rawluk won for best director and the production also won the award for best props.

 

June 9, 2011

2011 Graduation

 

 

A total of 136 School District 27 graduates shared in awards and bursaries totaling $157,050.

Graduation ceremonies were held for 85 grads at WLSS, 159 grads at Columneetza, and 62 graduates in the GROW program.

They all came together for the Dry Grad 2011 party at the Cariboo Memorial Complex which had the theme this year of Around the World.

 

June 23, 2011

Aboriginal celebrations

 

First Nations culture and tradition were celebrated at several community events during the past week in Williams Lake.

The Williams Lake Indian Band’s traditional Father’s Day Powwow was held in the arbor at the Chief Will-Yum Campsite Friday through Sunday. Then on Tuesday National Aboriginal Day celebrations were held downtown with a parade and activities in Boitanio Park and at Thompson Rivers University. The TRU festivities included a fashion show with original garments made by First Nations people.

 

June 28, 2011

Stampede Queen crowning

 

Outgoing Stampede Queen Savannah Davies-Laviolette gently places her crown on the head of her successor, Davana Mahon, Saturday night in a ceremony held at the Elks Hall kicking off a week of activities in the lakecity to celebrate the 85th annual Williams Lake Stampede and Canada Day.

Alexia Colton and Bobi Bracewell were both crowned as Stampede Princess 2011.