Northern Groove

The adventure continues! Koba Entertainment’s smash hit Quest for the Extra Ordinary Aliens is an out-of-this-world theatrical production that will lead families on a heroic quest through the whimsical escapades of The Backyardigans live at the North Peace Cultural Centre.

The Backyardigans gang – Pablo the penguin, Tyrone the moose, Uniqua the purplespotted creature, Tasha the hippo, and Austin the kangaroo – are five high-spirited preschool friends whose zany imaginations are whisking them on yet another epic adventure!

Quest for the Extra Ordinary Aliens takes the audience on a non-stop musical expedition as The Backyardigans become Daring Detectives, Cookie Security Guards and Space Ace Reporters who travel in hot pursuit of a mysterious space ship and its missing passengers – the cookie-crumbing Aliens! Tag along with the gang and their extraordinary host as they travel to shivering Frozen Toes Mountain, the blistering Hot Footsy Desert, and the volcanic Lost Pirate Island – singing and dancing the whole way!

The Backyardigans’ Quest for the Extra Ordinary Aliens is a finger-snapping, toetapping, mind-boggling adventure that will have the whole family dancing on the edge of their seats.

The theatrical production is based on the top rated preschool television program The Backyardigans, airing on Treehouse TV in Canada and Nick Jr. in the US.

Come see the Backyardigans Thursday, January 19th at 3:30 pm or 6:30 pm at the North Peace Cultural Centre. Tickets are available from the box office, by phone at (250) 785-1992 and online.  All seats $26.50.

Laugh Your Ice Off! Featuring Kerry Unger (As seen on Comedy Now!)

Kerry has appeared at several comedy festivals including the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal as part of the prestigious “New Faces of Comedy” Showcase. He was the only Canadian out of 27 performers, and was a hit, generating significant interest from several major networks and agencies. Kerry has made many appearances on national television. For two seasons he was the head writer and a cast member of Gutterball Alley on the Comedy Network. He recently taped his own “Comedy Now!” special on CTV. “Aha! But what about radio?” you say. Well there’s the 2 tapings of CBC’s “Madly Off In All Directions”, and he’s also a regular on the XM Satellite Radio’s comedy channel. He was also the subject of a feature article in Reader’s Digest, the most widely read magazine in the world!

Doors Open @ 7:00pm
Show Starts @ 8:00pm
Tickets: Advance $20, Reservation $25, Door $30

Available @ The Lido, Systems by Trail, and the City of Fort St John Visitor Centre

Contact: Lido Theatre
(250) 785-3011
www.thelido.ca

Your launch to Black History Month! 

History was made in 2004 when the super group African Guitar Summit assembled at the CBC studios to record what has been widely hailed as the greatest recording ever to come out of the fertile African music scene in Canada. Following their Juno win for World Music Album of the Year in 2005, the group has performed to sell-out audiences throughout Canada, and at memorable events such as Bob Geldof’s Live 8 (shown on 182 television networks and 2,000 radio networks). The CD also charted in the top 10 most downloaded albums for a period on iTunes’ Today’s Top Album chart, and in the top 20 of the World Music Charts Europe.

The star-studded collective unites the talents of 9 musicians, each an expert in their individual style. The African Summit features: From Guinea, the smooth fire of Juno Award winner Alpha YaYa Diallo, with his countryman Naby Camara on balafon from Ghana, the elder master of the guitar, Pa Joe, with “golden voice” Theo Boakye, and the heartbeat of drummer Kofi Ackah; from Kenya, the Fiesta guitar of Professor Adam Solomon; from Burundi/Rwanda, the bluesy Mighty Popo; and from Madagascar the quicksilver guitars and harmonies of Donne Roberts and multiple Juno Award winner Madagascar Slim.

Their debut CD “African Guitar Summit” was honoured with a Juno as World Music Album of the Year at the 2005 Juno Awards in April. Their second album, "African Guitar Summit II", garnered a 2007 Juno award nomination in the same category.

Considered the finest Canadian guitarists of African origin, the African Guitar Summit brings a veritable honey pot of picking and riffing that's as authentic as any ancestral drum rhythm.  See them live on stage at the Cultural Centre. Experience this superb and truly incredible performance…and take note: while you take in the rich, harmonized vocals, the movement, the rollicking guitar lines and unmistakable African flavor, you’ll need to look around at your surroundings to remind yourself you’re in Fort St John and not in the artists’ African home. It will be easy to forget!

The show starts at 7:30 and the tickets are $40.00 Adult, $35.00 Seniors/Youth, $25 12 and under.  Tickets are available at the box office, by phone at (250) 785-1992 or online.

It's the most wonderful time of the year and with that out come the ugly Christmas Sweaters! 

On Wednesday, December 21, 2011 Egan's is holding their annual Open Mic Ugly Christmas Sweater Party so it's time to hit your closet or head down to the local Sally Ann and find yourself just the right top!  

With live entertainment the shows usually get started between 8:30 - 9:00pm and all you have to do if you want to play is put your name on the list.

 So bring your best friend, bring your guitar and for goodness sake bring your ugliest sweater! 

Julia Jarmond, an American journalist married to a Frenchman, is commissioned to write an article about the notorious Vel d'Hiv round up, which took place in Paris, in 1942. She stumbles upon a family secret which will link her forever to the destiny of a young Jewish girl, Sarah.

Story written by Tatiana De Rosnay - The beloved best selling novel. Come and uncover the mystery. A film by Gilles Paquete-Brenner.

Cost: $12.00 for Monday, January 9 at 7:00pm at the Aurora Cinema Centre

Contact: Fort St. John Film Society

The brand of music that The Irish Descendants are known and loved for is steeped in a rich tradition. The Irish Descendants are like all of the Newfoundland Irish, passing on the traditions and culture of their Irish home, generation to generation! The Irish Descendants are one of the products of this proud heritage!

Formed in the spring of 1990, The Irish Descendants, have been a mainstay in the Newfoundland and Canadian music industry for over two decades. In that time the band has performed over 4000 shows across North America and beyond!

On Friday, February 17, 2012, The Irish Descendants will be performing at The Lido… You do not want to miss out on the fun!

Tickets:
$35 Advance General Seating (available at Systems and the FSJ
$40 for Reservations of four or more
$45 at the Door

For more info contact The Lido at 250-785-3011

This weekend there's a double treat coming your way at JD Fitzgerald's! Two nights - two great musicians! On Friday, December 16th Ryan Hennessey is live and thrivin' and on Saturday, December 17th Joel "Huck" Maddigan brings friends for a jammin' session.

Ryan is the music man of FSJ what with him being an amazing musician as well as top dog music scene supporter. He rocks out with the best of them and does a great live set!

Joel is the resident cool guy at JD's and his smooth vocals are perfect for the blues and roots. You may even get the odd drinking song! See what musical genius comes from the Huck & Friends collaborations.

Two nights of great local music talent at JD's - Friday night with Ryan Hennessey and Saturday night with Huck! Shows start at 8pm.

This Christmas, instead of working through the masses at Wal-Mart, why not check out something a little more unique? This & That on 100th Street in Fort St. John is a treasure trove of awesome vintage pieces, local craftswork and artwork, and many other home and fashion accessories you never knew you wanted until you saw them!

There are hand-knitted toques and hats made by local artisan, Faye Eggleston. There are lacy earrings and stone earrings and leaf earrings and all kindso of earrings from Liane Bass. She has two lines available in the store; Of Love and Philosophy of Nature. There are cute and "old"-fashionable aprons and sexy cookery wear by Sugar Baby as well as amazing framed paintings done by Karen Molander.

Pop in to This & That and browse their ever-changing treasures. Everything from antiques (still need a one-of-a-kind Christmas gift?)  to apparel (a cute, vintage-style dress for that New Year's party, maybe?), there's so much in the store, it's climbing the walls!

Check out these photos for a peek at the thises and thats you can find at This & That. And say hi to Norman th Pug!

This & That
10112 - 100th St
p: 250.262.0049 

Voices raised in song is a common theme around Christmas with caroling and choirs singing "Silent Night" and "All I Want for Christmas is You". The Cultural Centre has been alive with music these last weeks and coming up on Friday, December 16th is the amazing Annual Community Choral Christmas. With that thought in mind, we asked members of the North Peace Community Choir about what it's like being involved in Choir, some of their favorite memories and why the Cultural Centre is such a great place!

Here are some of the amazing answers... 

The Choir is such a cool way for the community to come together, what is your favorite part about being a part of the choir?      

Cathy Coles: My favorite part is the beautiful sound listening to us all sing.  Then of course there's the entertainment.  We're a pretty relaxed group and there are a lot of chuckles floating around the room.  many I might add on behalf of our directors.  We're laughing with you, Jen and Dave!  Thanks for all the bright moments.

Chris Zackodnick:  I enjoy the singing. I enjoy learning new songs, remembering just how to read new music and stretching my vocal range.

David Batterham: I like the way everyone works together and we have lots of fun at rehearsals.  We have a big age range within the choir and we all have something to share with each other - skills, energy, laughs and, or course, the music itself.  We learn a lot about music by simply making it happen.

Do you have a favorite memory about the choir or the Cultural Centre? 

Cathy Coles: I think my all time favorite at the Cultural Centre was the first time we did Beatles. Gord had gone overboard with the sound track and it really clicked that night for us. Also O Holy Night with Jim Bell.  There was one time when he hit the last note of "O night-" and I could literally hear the glass breaking.  Shivers for sure.  As to the Cultural Centre itself - it has been home for many things.  Plays and performances I've personally done, but also what I've got to go see.  Phenomenal!

Kathy Strebchuck: The performances are the best! It is that moment when everything you've been working towards comes together. It's very fulfilling. My most favourite memory was watching our past choir director 'tear up' during a performance. I knew we did a very good job that night!

Brenda Cholin: The night a stranger popped his head in the door with the comment that we sounded awesome and then he burst into song for us. He was an excellent tenor! And, it was his first day in Fort St. John.  We invited him to come in and join us. So he sat and sang with us for the rest of that practice. I think we made his first day in FSJ a memorable one too.

Janet Haley: I'm not  from FSJ - I'm a long way from home. I remember my first Christmas with the choir clearly. I had a strong sense of community and felt that maybe I could feel at home here.

Why is important to have places like the Cultural Centre for the community?

Alan Stebbing: A place like the Cultural Center gives a space to artists of all different types and creates some great chance meetings. It also make it possible and “OK” to be involved in various artistic pursuits just as having sports fields do for outdoor sports.

Jackie Carew: It is important to have the Cultural Centre as it is a place where we can share our music & songs with the community. It provides opportunity for artists to perform and live out their passion. 

Joy Morrison: The Cultural Center is important in a community for sharing of the many talents the town has and to promote growth in the arts, Childrens programs that are held there help get this started at a young age  Sports, arts and community involvement are essential for our youth to grow. The middle aged and seniors also need a place for entertainment and cultural growth which the Cultural Center provides both by local and well known artists that perform. So now it's up to you to get involved and embrace it!  

It's really easy to get involved in the Community Choir!  All you have to do is show up to a practice.  Most weeks they practice on Tuesday in the Cultural Centre at 7pm and they are usually done by 9pm.

Thank you to the choir members who shared such amazing, heartfelt feelings about arts and culture in our community, Choir, and the Cultural Centre. See the North Peace Community Choir at the Cultural Centre on December 16th at 7pm!

Ever been on public transit and wondered what it would be like if everyone just happened to spontaneously break out into song?  Well, that's kinda what happened last night at Music That Moves You was like.

Check it out for yourself!

Leapin' Lizards! The popular comic strip heroine takes centerstage in one of the world's best-loved musicals.

ANNIE is a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations, befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and finds a new family and home in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

Dr Kearney will present Annie at the Cultural Centre January 12th - 14th at 7:00 pm. Tickets are available from the box office, by phone at (250) 785-1992 and online. Adults $13, Students & Seniors $11, Children $9.

Head to Jackfish Dundee's to see Floyd Leavitt perform some great songs on December 15th at 7:00pm.

Come enjoy great food and great atmosphere at JFD's while Floyd sings some favorite songs of the past. He is sure to entertain all audiences!

Maximum Fitness was bursting with people Friday night as the crowd danced to the beat. With drinks flowing, lights flashing and a little smoke, the mood was set and people were ready to party. Everyone was in good spirits and there was no doubt that with Joy "Yoji" Larstone, Andrew "Calmpound" Bourcet, DJ Kleen Kut aka Andrew Brody, and Serious Sam aka Sam Stanway up to DJ the floor was packed. It was an all around fun night with good dancing, great people and even some cookies! 

If you missed out on the evening stay tuned for more as Serious Sound will be back, bringing Friday to the MAXX

Good times are happenin' at JD's this week! Not only are they a great place to hang out, eat some delicious food, and raise a glass with buddies - they've upped the ante by adding AWESOME live music to the mix.

On Thursday, December 15th, the one and only Dayna Manning will be live in the house. Juno-nominated, continental-traveller, and local music treasure, Dayna's song-writing and musical skills are unbelievable. Her songs are unique and personal takes on pieces of life and her voice is passion-filled and unmistakable. Her website - heartist.ca - has even more about her and her creative talents.

Don't miss out on a great night out at JD's on Thursday! The show starts at 8pm and Dayna Manning will deliver a live music show - no, a music experience - that you don't want to miss.

Oh. And Dave Tolley will be there too. Banging away.

It's that time of year again... time for the annual Women's Resource Centre fundraiser and production of The Vagina Monologues!

There will be an All Interest Meeting next Tuesday, December 20th from 5-6:30pm @ Women's Resource Centre (10051 100th Avenue). Get info about the Monologues and WRC; Meet and greet other Monologuers; Discuss the process, what's required, rehearsal schedule and dates for production; Pick the parts you want to audition for; ask and answer questions! Anyone interested in auditioning for a part or working behind the scenes is welcome. It's also important that you know your schedule for the next 3 months (through March 17th to be safe).

If you know you want to be involved in any way but cannot attend on Tuesday the 20th, please email Emily Goodman ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) with the following info: your name, phone number, email address, for auditioners: the 3 parts you intend to audition for and days you are not available after 5pm, for support roles: what you would like to do, or are willing and able to do!