Northern Groove

After a successful first year Cultural Centre announces expansion of their fine arts preschool program!

"It's hard to believe that the first year of playArts Preschool is almost at its end”, says Suzanne Currie, the program's ECE licensed head instructor. "We have enjoyed watching all of our amazing students grow throughout the year and will always remember our first class of playArts Kids!"

The program is focused on integrating arts with all curriculum areas.  It provides each child with the opportunity to experiment with a variety of artistic mediums and in fact develop their kindergarten readiness essentials through music, dance, yoga, drama, sign language, cooking and more. 

"From the start, the interest in the program has been strong" says Susan McGarvey, Coordinator for the artSpace program under which playArts is run. "As we review our first year (and the large wait list) the need for an additional program is clear. So to meet those needs the Cultural Centre has approved expansion for September".

Starting in September there will be two classes.  The original morning class will run as usual from 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM.  The new afternoon class will run from 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM.  To provide an even higher level of social and educational development, playArts class sizes will be changing from 20 students per class to 18 students per class.

Registration Information

 Pre-registration: Opens May 1 for exisitng playArts students and their siblings.  

 Waitlist registration: Opens May 22 for waitlist

Public registration: Opens June 1 

 (note: registration fee is required to hold your space) 

“This is one more way that the Centre is growing and changing to better serve the needs of our community. It's important that we remain relevant in a rapidly changing environment". Says Bettyanne Hampton, Executive Director of the North Peace Cultural Center.

"The program also supports Fort St John's leadership role as innovators, particularly in education. playArts is the first licensed fine-arts preschool program of it's kind in the north, and it's success reflects our community's value for an arts based learning environment". Hampton adds, "We're also receiving phone calls from parents from outside the province who are basing their relocation decisions on our preschool availability!”  

For additional information, please contact the Cultural Centre

Phone: 250-785-1992.

Visit website: www. npcc.bc.ca

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Facebook: artSpace at the Cultural Centre

The word “Seasons” evokes a wide variety of ideas for each of us. We are immersed in the seasons in our environment, as well as the seasons of our times, and the seasons of our own lives. Two years ago, six creative women from either side of the mighty Peace River gathered together to form INSPIRATION 6. Mary Parslow and Mary Mottishaw from Dawson Creek joined imaginative forces with the North Peace’s Cindy Vincent, Sandy Troudt, Judy Templeton and Barbara Daley. They were each in a season of their lives where creative expression was becoming a priority. They started with a website designed by Cary Walters, www.artistsnorthcanada.com. Then they took a leap of faith and booked their first collaborative art show, INSPIRATION 6: “A celebration of the Creative Spirit”, for a year ahead and began to meet monthly to plan the event, create a group vision and encourage each other along the way. The first INSPIRATION 6 show opened at the Dawson Creek Art Gallery in September 2010 and then moved across the river to Peace Gallery North in Fort St. John in October 2010. The shows were enthusiastically received by both communities.

While each of the artists pursues their own separate paths, they regularly meet as a group. Having been invited by the Fairview Art Centre to create an exhibit for October 2011, group members individually interpreted the theme of “Seasons” as well as planned collaborative pieces. “Window to the Soul” was a large collaborative piece that sold quickly in the last show, each pane of the window holding the unique style and interests of a particular artist. “Seasons” is traveling to Fort St. John in February and will be on exhibit at Peace Gallery North from February 3-29. From diverse painting and printmaking to photography, fibre art and mixed media, “Seasons” by INSPIRATION 6 will be sure to inspire YOUR creative spirit.

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!

Whole Wheat 'n Honey was bursting at the seams with Christmas fun on Friday. With the floor filled with tables of great local arts and crafts and gifts of all kinds, there was standing room only as people browsed the gifts and enjoyed good conversation. The Santa Claus Parade came right by the window for everyone to watch while sipping on free hot chocolate!

There was beautiful pottery by Shannon Butler, cool recycled seatbelt purses from NEAT, gorgeous paintings, handmade earrings, fingerprint jewelry from Baby Tags Jewelry, custom gift cards and wrapping paper by Catherine Ruddell, cozy hats from Redd Karr and so much more!

Check out some of the photos from the Christmas Craft Fair and leave a comment to let us know what you thought about the evening!

So with December creepin' closer and Christmas starting to twinkle in the not-so-distant future, it's about time to think about putting up trees and decking your halls and wrapping up great gifts for the friends and fam.

We are all about the great artists and businesses here in Fort St. John so when you're making your list, before you check it twice, think about the great gift options you have right at your fingertips. From unique pottery to hand-knitted winter accessories and from locally-roasted coffee to spa gift certificates, there's a wealth of people and places in town with really cool gift ideas.

And what better way to browse and get a taste of what our creative community has to offer then by taking in some of the awesome Christmas craft fairs happening this weekend!

On Friday, there's the Christmas Peace Country Craftsmen Art and Craft Sale kicking off at The Legion Friday at 1pm and continues 'til Sunday, 6pm, Whole Wheat 'n Honey is hosting the Christmas Craft Fair at 5pm, and Ten Thousand Villages will be at the Co-op Mall starting at 5pm and running until Sunday at 4pm.

On Saturday, the Northern Lights College Christmas Fair will begin at 10am while the Care Home Ladies Auxilliary Craft Sale at the Peace Luthern Church starts at 1pm.

There's also the Magical Christmas Market at the Peace Gallery North which runs until December 24th and the ReUse, ReCycle, ReJoice Decoration Sale at the artsPost.

And lastly, don't forget Northern Groove's online Community Gift Guide with lots of cool gift ideas - all local and all awesome!

Happy gifting!

The 100 Mile Gift Shop is opening at the Fort St. John Farmer's Market in December. On December 3rd, 10th, and 17th from 9am to 2pm, the North Peace Arena will be filled to the brim with unique, handcrafted gifts by local artists and artisans. 

There will be a Santa Social for kids on all three days where you can bring your kids to put their names down on Santa's list and hang out with St. Nick himself. Get a candy cane and photos with Santa are available by request.

You can also enter to win great prizes such as a $100 Farmer's Market Buck on Dec 3rd, $200 Farmer's Market Bucks on Dec 10th, and for the grand prize, $300 cash prize on Dec 17th! There will also be a silent auction running from Dec 3rd to 10th at 2pm where all proceeds will go to the FSJ Hospital Foundation.

Visit the Farmer's Market on Saturday, December 3rd, 10th, and 17th and be a part of the totally unique, totally handcrafted, and totally Christmasy 100 Mile Gift Shop!

Come visit the Aboriginal Business Centre at 10071 100 Ave from 10 - 5pm on Saturday, November 19th. There are many special & unique Christmas gift ideas such as paintings, watercolours, art prints, moccasins, beadwork, accessories and much more!

Contact: 250-785-1870 for more info!

Just a little update... the Arts Fair has been postponed until next Friday (November 25th). Hope to see you all there!

Whole Wheat 'n Honey is totally stoked about their Christmas Arts Fair this weekend! Not only is it a great hangout for a crispy winter evening but there will be tons of great local artists to see and the Santa Claus Parade to watch!

Come see Shannon Butler's beautiful and quirky pottery from the kilnhouse. Check out the styles of Chantelle Bourgeau's Red Karr fashion. Get cozy with Trisha Clark and Grandma's Button's custom cushions and pillows. And more!

But it doesn't even stop there because there's room for more! If you have crafts or artwork that you'd like to show at the Christmas Arts Fair, please call Marie at Whole Wheat ( 250-787-9866 ) and get involved.

Come downtown to Whole Wheat 'n Honey on Friday, November 18th from 5 to 8pm - there will be lots of Christmasy, artsy goodness to look at and you get a front row seat for the Santa Parade!

If that's not tempting enough - there's also free hot cocoa and coffe and cookies... 

Too often it seems that arts and culture are considered frills – decorative and nice to have but something that can be trimmed if necessary. The reality is that arts and culture play a vital role in a community’s economy and in the enhancement of the quality of life of its citizens.

A number of people are directly employed in the arts in Fort St John and the local arts venues provide employment opportunities for many others.  Moreover, the arts create valuable spin-off for businesses such as restaurants, hotels, photographers, etc. The arts also generate tourism dollars. It is estimated that for every tax dollar the government invests in arts and culture, the return is at least $1.36 in general revenue and possibly as high as $5.00 to $8.00 when spin-off business is included in the calculation. Check out Stop BC Arts Cuts on the internet for an eloquent explanation of why investment in the arts makes economic sense.

Arts and culture help retain individuals in a community. When people move to Fort St John for work, it is often their ‘play’ that keeps them in the city. The availability of a range of arts for entertainment and self-fulfilment enriches individuals’ down time, giving them a chance to unwind and de-stress. It also connects them to others in the community, providing a sense of belonging.  At the last Film Society movie, I spoke with a truck driver who had rearranged his schedule specifically so that he could attend the movie. He had recently relocated to Fort St John and remarked that he and his wife were pleased to find that the arts and sports programs available for their children were more affordable and accessible here than in Kamloops.

Exposure to the arts is valuable for children from the earliest stages of development. It appears that participation in music lessons, in or out of school, and attending concerts has a beneficial effect on achievement in math and reading skills.  Students gain confidence and self-efficacy from drama, dance or artistic expression. We are fortunate in Fort St John to have an excellent band program provided in the school district, many talented music teachers, a community and youth choir, a variety of dance studios and dramatic productions and an annual performing arts festival. The school programs are particularly important since not all students have the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular art and culture activities.

Our arts and culture help define us as a community and give us a sense of pride. Arts and culture in Fort St John encompass an amazing range of experiences. There are opportunities for all ages to appreciate the arts and participate personally. Our city is becoming known for its music scene, our theatre groups regularly win awards at Mainstage, and our local ice carvers continue to hone their skills. I know of several students who are pursuing careers in the arts having developed their passion while growing up in Fort St. John. As local elections for City Council and School District 60 approach, I hope you will ask the candidates how they plan to sustain and grow the arts and promote local culture within our community.