September will be packed with all kinds of community events as the town has been selected as a ‘Feature Celebration Site’ for Alberta Culture Days.
“We applied for a grant back in July, so it was very quick,” said Stacey Benjamin, executive director of the Stettler Board of Trade. “We also pulled some organizations together that could help facilitate it, and fortunately we were approved at the beginning of August.
“So it’s been quite quick that we’ve been getting ahold of organizations around town and putting together some events. It looks like it will be quite a full month - particularly on the weekends with celebrating some of the different cultures around town. Definitely the prairie heritage that we have here, too. And also learning more about arts and culture.”
Events range from musical entertainment and art exhibits to live demonstrations of agriculture practices and Metis culture.
A full schedule of events is available at www.stettlerboardoftrade.com/CultureDays
“We are also really excited because we have the Metis culture celebration weekend, which is one of our highlight weekends happening on the 12th and 13th. So there is a lot of different things to that - beadmaking, the dancing and the history - pulling a lot of the Metis heritage into that weekend,” she added.
“It’s also just a great opportunity to get back into the agricultural heritage around town and learn some new skills, too.”
To kick off the celebrations there will be a Cruise in Concert on Sept. 4th featuring Stettler’s own Renegade Station with special guest Chloe Shingoose.
“We are very excited to have them,” said Benjamin.
Tickets are $50 per vehicle and are available at https://www.showpass.com/cruise‐in‐concert/
Meanwhile, all events, excluding the concert, will be free to the public.
Other highlights include a month-long art exhibit at the Stettler Public Library entitled Dagumisaatiy (We Persevere).
The exhibit features new works by emerging Tsuut’ina artist Seth Cardinal Dodginghorse.
“The pieces in this exhibition document the artist’s displacement from his family’s ancestral land and home, on the outskirts of Calgary, to make way for the ring road.”
There will also be a month-long Prairie Landscape Art Exhibit at the Stettler Town & Country Museum to check out.
During the Sundays of the month, there will be agricultural demonstrations from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Museum as well.
On Sept. 5th, check out ‘Beading with Janine Peigan’ starting at 1 p.m. at the Stettler Public Library. The workshop is limited to 12 so pre-register by calling the library at 403-742-2292.
On Sept. 6th, an ‘Au Plein’ Painting workshop will be held at West Stettler Park at 2 p.m. with artist Theresa Williams.
A Metis Culture Celebration Weekend also runs Sept. 11th at the Museum featuring beading workshops from 11 a.m. to noon and 2 to 3 p.m. There will also be Metis dancing from 11 a.m. to noon, 1 to 2 p.m. and 4 to 5 p.m.
A session on the ‘History of the Metis’ will be held in the courtroom from 10 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 4 p.m.
Another featured activity will be ‘Finger Weaving with Kandace Ogilvie’ from 10 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 2 p.m. at the Stettler Public Library
Pre-register by calling 403-742-2292.
On Sept. 12th, another beading workshop runs from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. along with an additional finger weaving session from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
On Sept. 16th, check out a clay sculpture workshop with Jasper Tate starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Library as well
The popular Historical Ghost Walk also runs Sept. 18th starting at 8 p.m. from the Stettler Hotel.
“Guided tours will be provided to visitors wishing to learn more about historic buildings within the town with the hopes of spotting the spirits/ ghosts believe to live in them,” according to a release.
Register at the Stettler Public Library
On Sept. 19th, you can also learn to draw in comic book style with Chance Clark starting at 1 p.m. at the Library.
Something else to check out will be ‘Horse Power’ from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Experience what farming was like when horses acted as the engines. Attendees will travel out to Jim Long’s farm and view/ participate in farming activities when all the work was done by horse pull. Learn how to stook, watch the team thrashing and enjoy a wagon ride.
Lunch is included and registration information will be posted soon.
Another Ghost Walk runs Sept. 19th at 8 p.m., starting out again from the Stettler Hotel.
Again, participants are asked to register at the Library
‘Horse Power’ runs again on Sept. 20th from 1 to 4 p.m. and a Danceology performance is also being planned at the Museum.
“While taking in the Ag demonstration, enjoy a cultural performance by Danceology!”
On Sept. 26th, enjoy old fashioned horse pulls at 2 p.m. at the Stettler Ag. Society.
“The Central Alberta Horse Pulling Association will be at the Stettler Agriplex doing a horse pulling competition. Attendees will be able to watch the massive power of horses as they pull weighted sleds.”
Also on Sept. 26th, make sure to visit the ‘International Market and Craft Fair’ from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Stettler Ag. Society.
Finally, ‘The Art of Persuasion for Creative Writers with Fran Kimmel’ runs Sept. 26th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Library as well.
“In this workshop, you will learn how to hook your readers and keep them engaged from the first paragraph to the last. Bring a pen and paper, a favourite novel or memoir and your enthusiasm.”
This workshop is limited to 12 participants. Please call the library at 403-742-2292 to register.