For a small community, Jasper is brimming with talent.
Several locals were recognized for their contributions to Jasper’s art scene, during the Mayor’s Night for Raven About the Arts, Oct.1.
The annual event, which was formerly called the Raven About the Arts Awards, was organized by Habitat for the Arts and coincided with several other Alberta Culture Days events over the weekend, Sept.30-Oct.2.
Organizers renamed the event in 2015 after Mayor Richard Ireland and council unanimously voted to support the awards, giving the event the mayor’s title and contributing additional funding towards the organizational costs.
To start off the ceremony, Ireland addressed the crowd, congratulating the winning artists, but also spoke about the importance of holding the sixth annual awards for the first time at the new Jasper Library and Cultural Centre.
“Cultural infrastructure allows members of the community to reach their potential—it’s a space to learn, a place to practice, a space to perform and a space to display,” Ireland said. “Creativity draws more creativity which extends beyond the artistic community and appears within the entire community.
“Creative communities are resilient communities.” Â
After Ireland’s speech it was time to hand out the awards.
The first pair to be honoured was Tom Price and Michelle Beauregard for their separate contributions to Jasper’s music scene.
Price can often be found at the Jasper Royal Canadian Legion on Friday nights, putting on a wicked show for the weekly jam nights, while Beauregard has gained notoriety in the region as the talented banjo player in the popular band Athabasca Barnburner.
Up next for their impact on the visual arts world were Rico Naito and Ann Hoffele.
Naito’s one of a kind sketches and paintings are always favourites at the JAG gallery while Hoffele’s work can be found just about anywhere. For years Hoffele has given a helping hand to Jasper’s theatre community from building sets for various plays to designing and crafting a whole cast’s worth of costumes.
Journalist, blogger and songwriter Stephen Nelson snagged the writing award.
“It’s a good feeling. I’ve done a lot of writing about Jasper and in Jasper. I’ve had travel stories that have been published all over Canada and other places, but sometimes you feel like you just don’t get the time of day, so this is good,” Nelson said after receiving his award.
“I think art of all forms not only makes life worth living, but we need it to survive.”
Scooping up awards for the theatre category were Matt Turnbull and Julie-Anne Weaver, both are involved with the Jasper Theatre Arts Collective and have appeared in numerous productions. Most recently the two took part in a Monty Python themed evening of theatre at the legion back in May.
“We don’t have any obligations to do this so it’s nice being recognized as people who are doing something they love,” Turnbull said. “It helps encourage us to keep going. Even if we have disruptions or a long delay getting into a space, having the community continually support us is a huge thing.
“I’m very grateful for all of this.”
Last but not least to be honoured was Cathy Jenkins, who received the patron of the arts awards. The award is given to a person who supports artists through financial support, gifts, effort or endorsement.
The winners were nominated by their peers and selected by a panel of judges.
Kayla Byrne [email protected]
