LAC LA BICHE - It was a full week of musical performances, community workshops and art adventures as the community of Lac La Biche embraced the talents of provincial artists. Dozens of community events took place leading up to the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Arts Awards on June 10-11.
After almost two years of planning the prestigious awards, and events having to cancel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers hosted both the 2022 Emerging Artist Awards and the 2021 Distinguished Artists Awards simultaneously for the first time in the awards' history. The 11 emerging artists received $10,000 and an honourary medal, while the three distinguished artists received $30,000 and a medal during the weekend.
The three distinguished artists include visual artist Faye HeavyShield, filmmaker and writer Cheryl Foggo, and dancer and choreographer Vicki Adams Willis.
With hundreds of visitors and community members coming together to celebrate 14 artists from across the province, organizers were overwhelmed by the support and dedication they experienced, working alongside the awards foundation and staff to celebrate the arts, said Alex Fuller, the County’s economic development coordinator and co-chair of the awards event. Carrie Froehler, Portage College’s vice president of People, Planning and Public Relations, was also a co-chair.
The organizing committee “includes a very small but mighty team of dedicated Portage College, Lac La Biche County and Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Art Awards foundation staff members who have tirelessly worked to turn this weekend into the tremendous success that it is,” said Fuller.
Throughout the week, the Lac La Biche Art Club also hosted public events to get community members involved in the arts. There were resin painting workshops, the Art Maze showcasing and selling local work, and the Art Walk and Market on Saturday afternoon with musical entertainment and painting sessions for all to enjoy.
Representing the community and having Alberta’s Lieutenant Governor, Her Honour Salma Lakhani, in the community to not only experience the event but explore the community was a privilege, said Lac La Biche County Mayor Paul Reutov.
“It’s a proud moment for Lac La Biche... I couldn’t be more proud of our community. We are a very diverse community but when it comes to events like these everybody comes together as one and makes it happen,” said Reutov.
Lakhani, who visited the community for the first time as she handed out the awards starting Friday night with the Emerging Artist Awards, followed by Saturday evening’s Distinguish Arts Awards, told Lakeland This Week she was thrilled her role and the awards brought her to a community that she may never have discovered otherwise.
“I don’t know, if I wasn’t ever in my position, I would have ever come to Lac La Biche County, which is a community that is so diverse and lovely. I most definitely plan on visiting again, it was a spectacular weekend,” said Lakhani.
Showcasing Lac La Biche
Being able to have the community showcased while highlighting art simultaneously, was a privilege because of the value art has, Reutov told Lakeland This Week, following Saturday night's dinner.
“I love the arts. Without the arts, there is no colour in life. I’m a big advocate for that,” he said, while noting the community is a great spot to host events and as economic development plans grow, he believes more opportunities to host will arise.
“I think we are in a position that we have the facilities today to host these events and as we continue to expand to make sure we can host more events perhaps even on a larger scale... I think we have the resources, we have the people, it’s just a matter of time. We are going to get there.”
The mayor added “Thank you to the volunteers, the college and council for their support. Obviously this started before I became mayor, so there was a lot of work done before I got here... I’m so proud of our community that they put together an event of this magnitude,” he said.
Originally, the community was only supposed to host the 2021 Distinguished Awards which was postponed. But with next year's 2022 Emerging Artists award quickly approaching, an opportunity to host both came about, a good opportunity came out of it, the Mayor added. “It was bad that it was cancelled, but on the other hand they managed. Out of a bad thing came a good thing. They ended up putting two awards together.”
Emerging artists
The 2022 Emerging Artist Recipients include:
Perpetual Atife Saxophone, Calgary
Vicki Chau Filmmaker, Calgary
Arlan Vriens Violin, Edmonton; Toronto
Eden Tremayne Soprano, Calgary
Omar Mouallem Writer, Edmonton
Trina Moyles Writer, Peace River
Kiona Ligtvoet Visual Arts, Edmonton
Tenaj Williams Actor, Calgary
Ally McIntyre Visual Arts, Edmonton
Moni Brar Writer/Poet, Calgary
Nahanni McKay Visual Arts, Banff
