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Battle Rive Group plans to showcase area’s arts and culture in 2019

Christina Max, Wetaskiwin Times

From Battle Lake to Battleford, the Battle River Group has been chosed to host the Lt. Governor of Alberta’s 2019 Distinguished Artist Awards and they want to celebrate and arts and culture of the area. At Wetaskiwin County’s June 8 general council meeting, committee member Bill Elliot talked to councillors about the honour and what they would like to see come from Wetaskiwin County.

“It’s never been done in a smaller municipality,” he said. Since the awards were created in 2003, the event has been hosted in Edmonton, Calgary and other urban centres in Alberta. This year, the committee travelled to Banff to outline what Battle River Country has to offer and the selection committee liked what they saw as the Battle River Group’s approach to the Awards celebration was to create a region-wide, creative event inspired by the land, its seasons, First People’s perspectives —and informed by precontact through settler history.

The announcement was made by the Lt. Governor of Alberta Arts Awards Foundation at the September 2017 event in Banff. “It’s for all of us,” said Elliott. The plan is to host and promote arts and culture events throughout the region in September 2019 that will culminate with the awards presentations in Maskwacis.

“We’re looking to include anything that celebrates culture,” said Elliot. Anyone who has an event they would like to include in the celetbration can contact ALL of Alberta 780-672-9315.

Elliot said they are also looking for committee representatives from Wetaskiwin County, the City of Wetaskiwin, the Town of Millet, schools, libraries and museums. “We’d like to showcase this area,” said Elliot. “There’s so much talent out there.” County Councillor Terry Van de Kraas said, “I think this is an opportunity for us as a community to step up and be a part of this.”

“It would be awesome to showcase our community because we are so spread out,” said Reeve Kathy Rooyakkers.