Job Posting at the Oil Sands Discovery Centre

The Oil Sands Discovery Centre in Fort McMurray is located in the heart of the world's biggest single oil deposit - the Athabasca Oil Sands. The Centre is a heritage and educational facility committed to increasing public awareness and knowledge about the oil sands. We are currently seeking a Facility Manager to work with Alberta Culture and Fort McMurray Tourism (FMT) in providing leadership and direction for the Centre.

Reporting to the Director, Site Operations, and on secondment to Fort McMurray Tourism, the Facility Manager provides direction and leadership for the operation of the Oil Sands Discovery Centre (OSDC). The Facility Manager ensures the continued protection, preservation, and presentation of the history, science, technology, and significance of the oil sands of Alberta to the public in a manner that increases their appreciation and knowledge. Specifically, your responsibilities will include:

• Site management and operations; you will manage and direct operations and public programming to ensure interpretive objects and exhibits associated with the Centre are protected and preserved.
• Public programming and visitor services; this position manages and directs the staff responsible for developing and delivering programs and services offered by the OSDC.
• Staff leadership and management; you will provide leadership, coaching, and supervision of site programming and administrative staff and volunteers.
• Business planning and administration; the Facility Manager is responsible for contributing to the development of strategic business plans, site resource allocation decisions, policies, and priorities.

To succeed in this position, you will need extensive knowledge of legislation, regulations, and policies
applicable to the operation of heritage facilities, including the Historical Resources Act, and the Financial Administration Act. Understanding and demonstrated success working within a collaborative partnership model is also required. Knowledge of standards and practices for museums is also essential. 


Qualifications: A four year university degree in a related field is required, and a minimum of four years’ related and progressively responsible experience. Previous experience in the administration, supervision, and/or management of a historic site, museum, interpretive centre, or other heritage facility is required. Equivalencies will be considered.

How to Apply: Online applications are preferred. To apply online, please visit https://www.jobs.alberta.ca/. 
Note: As only one file can be uploaded, please ensure your cover letter, resume and any other related documents are submitted in one file. If you are unable to submit an electronic version of your resume, please submit your resume, quoting the Job ID 1021667, to: Linda Yan, Culture, 7th floor Standard Life Centre 10405 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T5J 4R7. Fax: (780) 422-3142. Applicants who apply online will be able to track the status of their application. 

Closing date is February 10, 2014. 

Holy Trinity Presents Disney's Mulan Jr.- Feb. 7-9, 2014

You can see Mulan Jr. at the Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts on February 7 & 8, 2014 at 7 pm and February 9 at 2 pm.
Tickets cost $10.

Career Fair 2014

Annual Career Fair

Join us for the Region's largest multi-employer Career Fair!

February 7 & 8

The Keyano College Career Fair is a two day career information and job fair. The fair promotes opportunities for informed career and education planning, and connects employers with employees. The Keyano College Career Fair has grown to become Wood Buffalo’s most comprehensive and best attended career fair.

The Keyano College Career Fair gives students and the general public the opportunity to talk face-to-face with industry experts representing hundreds of career paths, while organizations get to meet the next generation of skilled workers in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. The 2014 fair will feature over 70 exhibitors, and attract approximately 3000 visitors.

Friday, February 7^th 12 PM - 5 PM

Saturday, February 8^th  11 AM - 4 PM

Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre, Keyano College

FREE ADMISSION!!!

Visit www.keyano.ca/carrerfair for more information

CLICK HERE for more information on Culture Days National Congress, 2014

Culture Days Presents:
A 2nd Annual National Congress on Culture

Over the past four years, Culture Days has become a vibrant portal to increase the awareness, participation and engagement of Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities.

With cultural engagement firmly engrained in well over 800 Canadian cities and towns, this second National Congress on Culture will be a unique rallying point and networking opportunity to share a diversity of experiences, trends, best practices, and impacts of public engagement in arts and culture in Canada.

Join provocative panel guests and key decision makers, arts and private sector leaders, media influencers, policy makers, funders, artists and cultural practitioners in exploring the following topics and more:

• What are the driving factors for arts and culture to thrive in rural towns, regional cities and major urban centres alike?
• What are innovative models of cultural engagement today?
• How to drive effective marketing strategies in arts and culture?
• How do we develop new sources of funding and support?
• What role do government and the private sector play?
• What lessons have been learned during Culture Days that matter throughout the year?

The Congress will culminate with an Awards Cocktail Reception and Dinner where 2013 Culture Days Award winners will be announced.

Stay tuned in early 2014 for program annoucements and registration information.

World Hijab Day at Peter Pond Mall

February 1, 2014 is World Hijab Day. This is an invitation to both Muslims and non-Muslims to wear the hijab for the day. The goal of the event is to foster global religious tolerance through Hijab awareness. 

You can try on a hijab at Peter Pond Mall from 12 pm to 4 pm on Saturday, February 1, 2014.  For more information about the first ever World Hijab Day in Fort McMurray, please contact kirankhan00@hotmail.com. 

For more information about the worldwide event please https://www.facebook.com/WorldHijabDay. 

Interested in Becoming a Member of the Metis Nation of Alberta Registry?

Words in Motion 2014- Submit Your Poetry by February 7th!

Valentine's Day Craft Sale

Are you a dancer? Dance teacher? Choreographer?

Are you a dancer? Dance teacher? Choreographer? If you answer yes to any of these questions, then I encourage you to fill out the survey Yes I dance/Oui je danse, produced for the Canada Dance Mapping Study.

The study, launched by the Canada Council and the Ontario Arts Council and already well underway, has made a host of discoveries about diverse aspects of dance and incited us to create an interactive, searchable map of dance in Canada. Your answers to the survey will enable us to draw a more complete picture of this map.

Count yourself in! Fill out the Yes I Dance/Oui je danse survey! It’s easy, it’s quick (about 10 minutes) and it will let us know who dances in Canada, and where, and why. Help us build everyone’s knowledge of dance in Canada. Follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #yesIdance.

For more information please visit http://culturedays.ca/blog/2014/01/08/do-you-dance-in-canada/

International Cookery Presents Sri Lankan Food on Saturday, January 25th!

International Cookery brings you Sri Lankan food on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at Holy Trinity High School Food Lab 10am-12:30pm. 

Tapping into our community’s incredible diversity, the Multicultural Association hosts cooking demonstrations and meals for all to enjoy. 

Each month features a new region’s unique cuisine. Our upcoming sessions feature Sri Lankan, Nigerian, and Pakistani Cuisine.

Come out and learn from chefs from all over the world as they share their tips and recipes for delicious multicultural cuisine right here in the heart of our city.

Cost: $25 (Group and Member Discounts Apply). Register  online or contact us at 780-791-5186.

New Classes at the Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts!

Sign Up for Beginner Art Classes!

Are You a Musician or Filmmaker Looking for Funding?

Public Records is excited to announce that grants will again be available in our area! Through Public Records, emerging musicians and filmmakers in Fort McMurray have the opportunity at up to $7 500 in grant awards (up from last year!) and exclusive access to education and workshops on how to develop and market their artistry in Canada.

 Public Records is a grant program offering up-and-coming musicians and filmmakers an opportunity for a grant to create a music video, along with educational workshops that nurture and develop their talent. Grant recipients form film and music teams to create music videos that will be broadcast in their local communities on TELUS Optik TV. Grant submissions open on January 27, but it is important that interested artists create a profile ahead of time (this can be done here: http://publicrecords.org/artists/).
For more information about this great opportunity, please visit http://publicrecords.org/

Full Moon Cafe- Jan 25, 2014

The next Full Moon Café is this coming Saturday, January 25 7:30 at the Waterways Community Hall. The Full Moon Café is a cosy coffee house where musicians and other artists
are welcome to share their talents.

Family friendly, $5 donation.
Drumming Circle starts at 7:30, stage starts at 8:00. For more info, call 780-715-5355

For more information, please visit www.fullmoooncaf.blogspot.com   or

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Full-Moon-Cafe-Fort-McMurray/178242035602076

Do you love to write? NorthWord is looking for submissions!

NorthWord Issue #11 Call for Submissions:

The theme is Superstition - and it's where "belief meets disbelief," says Buffy Close, guest editor for NorthWord's Issue #11. What does Superstition mean to you?

Short stories or excerpts from current projects, fiction or non-fiction (3000 words maximum), verse of no more than 50 lines, along with anything surprising, original, or inventive can be submitted to the editors at northword@hushmail.com. 

Follow them on Twitter: @NorthWordYMM and visit Facebook: www.facebook.com/northword for more information. 

The deadline is March 30, 2014 at midnight. 

The Verge Presents... Snakes & Lattes

Alberta Culture Hiring Grants Administrator

Are you passionate about Alberta's arts community and looking for a career where you can apply your administrative skills in support of the growth and development of the arts industry in Alberta?

 If yes, Alberta Culture has an exciting opportunity for you!

 Reporting to the Team Lead, Grants and Financial Administration, this position is responsible for the administration of several Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA) grant streams. This involves keeping apprised of grant guidelines, Ministry policy, Treasury Board directives and relevant legislation. The successful candidate will be tasked with reviewing grant applications for eligibility, completeness and compliance with program requirements. This position is also responsible for entering data into the Grant Management Information System (GMIS), creating mailing lists, preparing board approval documents and other correspondence. Grant recommendations for some AFA grant streams are made by expert panels. This position coordinates these panels, preparing contracts and pre-meeting material for panel members and coordinating logistics for the panel meetings.

 The successful candidate will serve as a liaison between panel members and the Arts Branch, attending panel meetings to answer questions and providing information on the parameters of panel decisions and the program budget. Other AFA grant streams are administered using formulas and this position will work closely with Arts Development Consultants to apply the formulas and calculate grant amounts. The Grants Administrator is responsible for monitoring the completion of the grant file once the amount is approved. This involves ensuring that commitments and reporting timelines are met and that funds were spent according to guidelines. This position also involves a significant amount of work liaising with and assisting program applicants by answering questions and providing additional information. The successful candidate will participate in the collection and distribution of grant related statistical information that assists the Arts Branch in delivering on its mandate. Attention to detail and the ability to think critically are essential skills for success in this role. The successful candidate must also have superior oral and written communication skills and be able to develop relationships with a varied group of stakeholders. Finally, the ability to work independently as well as part of a team is essential. 

Qualifications: Two years of related, progressively responsible experience is required. Experience in grant administration is preferred. Experience using IMAGIS, MyAgent, ARTS, ExClaim and EPS will be considered assets. A related 2-year post-secondary diploma (i.e. office administration, business administration) will also be considered an asset. Equivalency will be considered. 

To read more or apply, visit https://jobs.alberta.ca and look for Competition # 1021586. 

Read more at http://www.affta.ab.ca/Arts-In-Alberta/Arts-Opportunities/Alberta-Culture-Hiring-Grants-Administrator

tiff: Much Ado About Nothing at Keyano on Jan. 23, 2014

Call for Nominations for the Rozsa Awards!

Famous 5 Speaker Series: Sally Armstrong, Jan 22, 2014

Sally Armstrong is one of those women that has seen it all and then some! On January 22nd, the Enbridge Famous 5 Speaker Series will welcome to the stage human rights activist, journalist and award-winning author, Sally Armstrong who has covered stories about women and girls in zones of conflict all over the world. From Bosnia and Somalia to the Middle East, Rwanda, Congo and Afghanistan, her eye witness reports have earned her awards including the Gold Award from the National Magazine Awards Foundation and the Author’s Award from the Foundation for the Advancement of Canadian Letters. She received the Amnesty International Media Award in 2000, 2002 and again in 2011. She was a member of the International Women’s Commission a UN body that consists of 20 Palestinian women, 20 Israeli women and 12 internationals whose mandate is assisting with the path to peace in the Middle East.

Please join us on Wednesday, January 22, 2014 at MacDonald Island Park to welcome Sally Armstrong to Fort McMurray and to hear her inspiring story!
→ Doors open at 6:00PM / Dinner at 6:30PM / Speaker at 7:00PM
→ Tickets available through the MacDonald Island Guest Services or online

FREE Keyano Lecture Series- Jan. 24, 2014

How we get from Dracula to Twilight or Why Slow Zombies are Scarier

The way a culture construct its monsters reveals its deepest fears and anxieties. Concerns about political turmoil, economic conditions, scientific advancement and even gender and sexuality all manifest in the scary stories that we produce. As a result, our monsters are constantly changing. So what does the movement from Bela Lugosi’s Dracula to Twilight’s Edward Cullen tell us about shifting attitudes towards sex? What are the cultural reasons for the current zombie craze? These secrets and more will be revealed as we look at the evolution and meaning of some of our favourite monsters.

Keyano Recital Theatre, 7 PM, FREE Admission

Internship Opportunity at the Provincial Archives of Alberta

Do you want to help Albertans access our province's history? The Provincial Archives of Alberta has thousands of textual records, maps and drawings along with millions of historical photographs readily available to the public. We currently have an internship opportunity for a highly motivated individual interested in public service and Alberta's history and archival records.


For more information about this opportunity please visit https://www.jobs.alberta.ca/pprofile/pp1021598.htm

Alberta Foundation for the Arts- Grant Deadline

Individual Artists Project Grant Deadline - February 3, 2014

The Individual Artists Project Grant program supports the development of individual Alberta artists, Traditional Aboriginal artists, arts administrators, and artist ensembles by providing a grant for a specific project.

More information about the program (be sure to read the guidelines before you complete your application!) is available at http://affta.ab.ca/Grants/Individual-Project-Grants! Please contact the appropriate Arts Development Consultant respective to your artistic discipline well in advance of the February 3 deadline if you have any questions!

Team Trivia at FMPL- Register Now! Event is Feb. 7, 2014

CBC Creative Nonfiction Prize Now Open!

Do you like to write? Why not submit your work to the CBC Creative Nonfiction Competition? 

How to participate:

WHAT: Submit your original, unpublished work of creative nonfiction between 1200 and 1500 words.

WHEN: Competition opens: December 1, 2013. Deadline to submit: February 1, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. ET 

WHO: All Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada can submit.

HOW: While the competition is active, submit online by clicking the "submit" link below or, if you wish to submit by mail, you can download the offline submission form. 

A fee of $25.00 (taxes included) for administration purposes is required for each entry. 

THE PRIZE:
The First Prize winner will receive $6,000, courtesy of the Canada Council for the Arts, and will have his/her story published in Air Canada’s enRoute magazine and on the Canada Writes website. He or she will also be awarded a two-week residency at The Banff Centre's Leighton Artists' Colony (details about the residency here), and will receive exposure on CBC Radio. The 4 runners-up will each receive $1,000, courtesy of the Canada Council for the Arts, and their stories will be published on the Canada Writes website. 

Defining Creative Nonfiction

The Creative Nonfiction Prize includes memoir, biography, humour writing, essay (including personal essay), travel writing, and feature articles. While the events must be real and the facts true, creative nonfiction conveys your message through the use of literary techniques such as characterization, plot, setting, dialogue, narrative, and personal reflection. In works of creative nonfiction, the writer's voice and opinion are evident. The work should be accessible to a general reading audience (i.e., not written for a specialized or academic audience). 

For more information about this competition, please visit http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadawrites/literaryprizes/nonfiction/

Have You Seen the New Heritage Minutes?

Historica Canada has released two new Heritage Minutes! 

Click here to watch the newest Heritage Minutes about Confederation: Sir John A. Macdonald at the Charlottetown Conference, which launched Confederation; and Sir George-Étienne Cartier’s incredible contributions to bringing our country together.

Collections Technician Wanted at Museum of the Highwood, High River

The Museum of the Highwood is a western heritage museum located in the former CPR station 
in downtown High River in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains - 45 minutes south of Calgary, 
Alberta. In June 2013, the museum collection suffered varying degrees of loss and damage 
due to a major flood. 

A six month contract position is currently available for an individual to assist in the cleaning, 
repair and re-housing of damaged artifacts and archival materials. This is an excellent, unique 
opportunity to learn and practice practical skills and techniques under the direction of experienced 
conservators. 

Qualifications:

• experience working directly with artifacts and archival materials

• related degree or diploma from an accredited institution

• knowledge of conservation techniques as well as care and handling procedures 

• proficiency in Past Perfect database an asset

• super organized, flexible, patient and able to work independently if necessary

• ability to efficiently undertake physical tasks, with some heavy lifting.

• familiarity with the Alberta Museum Associations’ Standard Practices Handbook – 
collections management 

• knowledge of Canadian Conservation code of ethics and practices.

Hours of work:

30 hours per week for a six month term.

Location: 

Calgary and High River. The candidate must be willing to relocate and should have his/
her own transportation if possible. Must have a valid driver’s license.

Starting date: Immediately.

Closing date for applications: January 16, 2014. 

Please e-mail applications to: irene.kerr@museumofthehighwood.com

Thank you for your interest in this position.

Only those candidates invited for an interview will be contacted

"Here and There" Exhibit at MacDonald Island Community Art Gallery

Craft 'n Chat at FMPL- Sunday Afternoons!

Donate Your Old Computer to a School or Library!

Is your business buying new computers? Consider donating them to a school or library!

The Computers for Schools (CFS) Program is a national, federal government-led initiative that operates in cooperation with all provinces and territories, the private and volunteer sectors. Program funding recipients collect, repair and refurbish donated surplus computers from public and private sector sources and distribute them to schools, public libraries, not-for-profit learning organizations and Aboriginal communities throughout Canada.

Placing more computers into classrooms means that Canadian students get more hands-on opportunities to learn about computers and new technology, to develop new skills, and to learn how to make better use of the Internet.

CFS completely refurbishes donated equipment by replacing parts, wiping hard drives, installing operating systems, and thoroughly cleaning and repackaging each unit for distribution to schools, libraries, not-for-profit learning organizations and Aboriginal communities anywhere in Canada.

For more information about this great program visit http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cfs-ope.nsf/eng/home. 

Malanka 2014- Ukrainian Cultural Society

Seniors' Social at FMPL- Jan. 20, 2014

Writers' Guild of Alberta Retreat- Apply Now!

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: WRITERS' GUILD OF ALBERTA RETREAT 

Retreat dates: January 31 - February 9, 2014
Registration deadline: January 8, 2014

The annual WGA Banff Retreat is back! Enjoy uninterrupted writing time, be inspired by magnificent scenery, overcome writing challenges, or just renew your creative spirit at The Banff Centre. This self-guided retreat is open to writers at any stage of their career or writing project. The WGA is pleased to announce J. Jill Robinson as the Writer-in-Residence for the 2014 retreat. Jill will be onsite to provide individual consultations for participants. Participants have the option to attend the full retreat (January 31 - February 9) or a half retreat (January 31 - February 4, or February 5 - 9). If you have questions, please contact the WGA at 780.422.8174 or 1.800.665.5354 (toll free in Alberta), or by email at mail@writersguild.ab.ca.

Read more at http://www.affta.ab.ca/Arts-In-Alberta/Arts-Opportunities/Call-for-applications-Writers-Guild-of-Alberta-retreat

Get Your Tickets for Blue Rodeo at Mac Island- Jan. 16, 2014!

MacDonald Island Park is pleased to kick off 2014 by welcoming Blue Rodeo presented by Country 93.3 FM to Nexen Field House on January 16th.

• General admission ($65 plus fees)

• Reserved seating ($75 plus fees)

• Club seating ($85 plus fees) SOLD OUT

Ticket prices INCLUDE GST

Special offer: With the purchase of any two (2) tickets in any section, purchasers receive a promotional code to redeem for one (1) free copy of Blue Rodeo's new album, In Our Nature. Codes and redemption instructions will be sent to purchasers within 7-10 days of ticket purchase for redemption at BlueRodeo.com.

Tickets can be purchased through the MacDonald Island box office.

Public Art Opportunity – Call to Artists

Light the Night Festival

Public Art Opportunity

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is issuing a Request for Proposals for up to four temporary public art displays to be placed in various locations throughout the downtown core. We are inviting proposals that feature new projects or projects that have already been developed and staged through past commissions.  The medium for the festival will be light art and/or light graffiti; sound and other multi-media components are also encouraged.  Artists must have the work fully installed and functional by the festival launch date of April 4th, 2014.

Each public art installation will have a total budget of $35,000.00 CAD (inclusive).  Additional details on project locations will be made available to the successful applicant/applicants upon notification.

Project Schedule

January 24th, 2014	Artist submissions due
January 31, 2014	Artist commission awarded
Week of March 31st, 2014	Artwork installation
April 4th to April 13th, 2014	Light the Night Festival
April 14th to April 17th, 2014	Removal of artwork

For more details on this exciting opportunity, please visit http://vendor.purchasingconnection.ca/Opportunity.aspx?Guid=5975EDA1-62EF-4641-885B-17502E096495

National Historic Sites Cost-Sharing Program

Parks Canada's National Historic Sites Cost-Sharing Program ("the Program") helps ensure the commemorative integrity of non-federally owned or administered national historic sites through financial contributions. 

For 2014-2015, please note that:

• Applications must be submitted by or postmarked no later than January 27, 2014.
• Selected projects must take place between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2015.
• Total funding available under the Program will be approximately $1,000,000.
• Preference may be given to those who have not received funding from the Program in the last five years.
• As Canada prepares to celebrate the sesquicentennial anniversary of Confederation in 2017, we encourage you to consider submitting requests for projects of particular importance to your communities that may be linked to key milestones in Canada's history. Assessment of proposals is always based on the Program's assessment criteria, however preference may be given to projects linked to significant national anniversaries that will be celebrated in the next few years, including events such as:
• the Centennial of the first Canadian scientific expedition to the Arctic (2013-18)
• the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences (2014)
• significant events related to the First and Second World Wars
• the bicentennial of Sir John A. Macdonald's birth (January 11, 2015)
• the 175th anniversary of the birth of Sir Wilfrid Laurier (November 20, 2016)
• the bicentennial of the end of the War of 1812 (December 24, 2014)
• the 100th anniversaries celebrating women's suffrage and allowing women to vote (2016)
• the Centennial of the Battles of the Somme and Beaumont-Hamel (2016)
• the 150th anniversary of Confederation (2017)
• the Centennial of the Battles of Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele (2017)
• the Centennial of the National Hockey League (2017)
• the 50th anniversary of the Canada Games (2017)
• the 75th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid (2017)
• to mark a 100th anniversary or greater, in increments of 25 years (e.g., 125th, 150th), of importance to your national historic site.

Please consult the Program's guidelines:
Program Guidelines (PDF Version, 294 KB)
Application Forms:

1. Funding Application (DOC 1.85 MB, PDF 234 KB)
2. Project Timeline and Budget (EXCEL 134 KB, PDF 57 KB)