Shop Local!

 You've heard it before: "Shop local!". But have you ever wondered why? Let's highlight the reasons why shopping locally is beneficial to our community.

• It encourages entrepreneurship
• It generates various jobs
• It builds sustainable and vibrant neighbourhoods
• It keeps dollars in the local economy
• It supports locally made products
• And last, but not least, it creates personal relationships with the business and the customer. 

As we continue to rebuild our community, we encourage you to consider making your holiday purchases from local vendors and get to know your fellow neighbours. 

As an extra incentive to shopping local, the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce is hosting their second annual Shop Local Holiday Passport Program for a chance to win 1 of 3 McMurray Money Prize packages. 

From now until December 10, you can collect a passport stamp for every $10 spent at a participating business. All it takes is 10 stamps to fill a passport, with a max of four entries per person. Once your passport is complete, drop it off at a participating store, or at the Business Innovation Centre (#105, 9912 Franklin Avenue) to be entered into the draw to win one of the following McMurray Money Prize packages: 

1st Place - $1000
2nd Place - $500
3rd Place - $250 

The prize money can then be spent at the participating local businesses. Start collecting your stamps today! Visit www.fortmcmurraychamber.ca to see the complete list of participating vendors. 

Happy shopping!

Financial Help Available to Artists in the Entertainment Sector

It's been a challenging year for residents of the Wood Buffalo Region. If you are an entertainment professional who is facing financial hardship, there is help for you by way of The AFC, previously known as the Actors’ Fund of Canada.

The AFC provides emergency financial assistance to all who work professionally in the arts and entertainment industry, including all aspects of film, television, theatre, music and dance. They strive to help Canadian entertainment professionals  when illness, injury or other personal or professional hardships compromise their health, dignity and  ability to work.

You are eligible to apply for assistance if you have:

• earned more than half your income in the Canadian entertainment industry over the past 3 years;
• earned the majority of your income from the Canadian entertainment industry, if you are over 65;
• experienced an unforeseeable emergency that has led to a financial crisis;
• made reasonable efforts to find other means of income or support.

Within the last 24 months, The AFC has distributed close to $1 million in emergency financial aid to help entertainment professionals working in all aspects of Film & TV, music, theatre and dance.

Learn More 

Please visit: http://afchelps.ca/about/what-we-do/ 

For Assistance 

Please visit: http://afchelps.ca/get-help/ 

Art Volunteer Positions

Beat those winter blues with art & volunteering opportunities! See below for submission deadlines & volunteering information.

FuseSocial’s 5^th Annual Wood Buffalo Timeraiser Open Call

The 2016 Wood Buffalo Timeraiser’s digital submission deadline is February 22^nd! Don’t miss out on a chance to sell your artwork at full price, showcase your artwork in the gallery space and take part in the Silent Auction during the opening reception!

For more information. You can also contact Katie Loutitt at katie.loutitt@fusesocial.ca.

 

Volunteers for School Visits Program

Spring School Visit Program runs from Monday to Friday by appointments between 9:30AM and 2:30PM during March and April. This art program is for school kids Kindergarten to Grade 6. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Lucie.Bause@ONErec.ca

Artist Interested in Instructing Art Workshops

Do you want to share your passion for art with others? Do you have an idea for a visual art project that can be completed in a 4 hour workshop that you would like to teach and share with other adults interested in art? If so, please contact Lucie.Bause@ONErec.ca

Call for Submissions-2016 Street Banner Contest

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo’s Street Banner Contest is back! The theme for the 2016 contest is My Home – Wood Buffalo Landmarks. The Street Banner Contest is a civic beautification program that aims to engage community members, showcase the beauty of the region and highlight local artists. Four designs will be selected by a panel of volunteer judges from the community. Winning artists will be awarded $500, and have their selected artwork displayed on street banners from May 2016 to November 2016.

Last years’ competition had 46 stunning submissions making it a difficult feat for our artist selection panel to choose only four finalists. The four finalists entries, shown above, had their selected artwork displayed on banners throughout the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo in celebration of the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games.

Artists may submit their entry for the 2016 contest from January 6 until 4 p.m. MST to Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. For more information please visit the RMWB website or contact a Community Strategies Coordinator at 780-788-1489 or email beautification@rmwb.ca.

Praire Winter Songwriting Retreat - CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Submission Deadline: 4PM, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

Manitoba Music, SaskMusic, Alberta Music with Fort Whyte Alive are proud to present the Prairie Winter Songwriting Retreat. This retreat will bring nine songwriters together (three from each province) for three days of collaborative songwriting. The co-writing retreat will take place at a secluded lakeside field station and architecturally unique cabins at Fort Whyte Alive, February 28 to March 2, 2016. 

Artists considered for this opportunity must:

• ·       Be available from February 28 to March 2, 2016
• ·       Be an Alberta Music member and current resident of Alberta
• ·       Be 18 years of age or older

Submissions will be evaluated based on:

• ·       Songwriting
• ·       Past experience in collaborative songwriting
• ·       Rationale for how this event fits your career development plan

For more information, visit https://www.albertamusic.org/posts/call-for-submissions-prairie-winter-songwriting-retreat.

Fuse Social Announces New Chief Social Entrepreneur

During the last six months, significant restructuring has transpired within FuseSocial, a backbone organization supporting the social profit sector of Wood Buffalo. Recognizing the need for strong and consistent leadership, the Board is pleased to announce Bonnah Carey to assume the Chief Social Entrepreneur role for the next year.

Effective today, Tuesday, November 24^th, 2015 the FuseSocial Board would like to officially announce the current model will continue with previous board members, Bonnah Carey and Bryan Jackson as leaders of this organization until January 2017.  This will provide stability and growth for all staff members and allow FuseSocial to continue to effectively serve the social profit sector.

“We are happy to announce this appointment,” reported Jeannette Bancarz, FuseSocial Board Chair. “Bonnah will continue to bring creativity to the organization’s programs and her deep sense of commitment to our region’s social profit sector.  She has served social profits at all program, fundraising, executive and leadership levels, and has an amazing breadth of experience in the sector.”

“I look forward to continuing to serve Wood Buffalo social profit organizations in this new capacity,” remarks Bonnah. “FuseSocial plays a significant role in supporting and developing social profit organizations’ contribution to this region’s quality of life.”

FuseSocial exists to enhance the capacity of individual Wood Buffalo social profit organizations; to create collective influence for better sector representation and; to encourage and facilitate the development of community volunteers and leaders. To learn more information about this organization, please visit the website at fusesocial.ca.

 

For more information please contact Jacqueline Doleman, Volunteer Capacity & Communications Associate, 780-791-9333, Jacqueline.doleman@fusesocial.ca. 

The McMurray Experience

The McMurray Experience is our regions new indoor, interactive, multi-media space, conveniently located in the heart of Fort McMurray’s downtown. The McMurray Experience is a modern space that will showcase our region and be the central hub for everyone to connect with the community. We offer nine unique experiences in our space for people of all ages. See what’s trending, admire our local artists, or travel back in time with our history wall. 

McMurray Experience is a place to make your own memories, share your story and interact with other members of our beautiful community.

For more information on how to book your next event please visit our website at www.rmwb.ca/mme or contact facility.bookings@rmwb.ca

The World Meets in Wood Buffalo

From September 23-27 the Regional Municipality will be celebrating Alberta Culture Days. Alberta Culture Days started in 2008 as Alberta Arts Day – one day to recognize the value of the province’s arts and cultural communities, with 100 events held in 30 communities. Since then, it has expanded into an annual three-day celebration that helped inspire the creation of Culture Days — a pan-Canadian movement to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of all Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities. In 2014, there were more than 1,200 events in 98 Alberta communities.

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has taken part since 2009 and the event has become so popular that three days are not enough to showcase the community’s vibrant arts, rich heritage and cultural diversity. We are devoting five days to promoting and appreciating the artists, creative professionals, volunteers and non-profit groups that help make the region a great place to live, work and PLAY! From September 23-27, there are all kinds of activities and performances for residents of all ages. All of the events are planned and presented by our very own community members and are FREE to attend.

 

The World Meets in Wood Buffalo, created and organized by the Multicultural Association of Wood Buffalo, has been a highlight of the Alberta Culture Days Festival for the past two years.  The event brings together cultures from around the world onto one stage to preform cultural and folk dances plus music from their home countries. This year the show will feature over 15 different cultural dances. Admission is free plus there will be multicultural snacks for purchase. The event will be taking place September 26, 6pm-9pm and September 27, 2pm-5pm at Shell Place, SP Grand Ballroom CD.  The World Meets in Wood Buffalo is proudly sponsored by Nexen, The United Way, the Government of Canada, and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.  

The Multicultural Association’s mandate is to support cultural groups and newcomers through services, programs, events and initiatives that foster cross-cultural awareness and understanding. By integrating newcomers and encouraging local residents to take pride in their heritage the Multicultural Association helps to build and celebrate the diverse culture of Wood Buffalo.  Their vision is to create unity in diversity with the goal that our diverse cultures are reflected in all aspect of our society from the economy to government.

“Building bridges across different cultures and developing friendships are the bedrock of building community; it also makes a community welcoming and inclusive and helps people stand up against racism and discrimination. Multiculturalism adds colour and vibrancy to the community, breaks myths and misconceptions about uncommon cultures and building a place all can call home,” says Executive Director Mary Thomas. 

If you would like to support the Multicultural Association they are seeking volunteers to help at their upcoming events, their language clubs taking place at local schools, and participants to take part in dialogues and discussions.  

For more information on The World Meets in Wood Buffalo and all the events happening at Alberta Culture Days please visit www.rmwb.ca/culturedays and download their online festival booklet. For further information or questions please contact Michael Beamish, michael.beamish@rmwb.ca, 780-788-1498.

SEEKING VOLUNTEER PROPS CREW, COSTUME CREW, AND PERFORMER ATTENDANTS

SEEKING VOLUNTEER PROPS CREW, COSTUME CREW, AND PERFORMER ATTENDANTS

The producers of the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies are currently seeking volunteers for the positions of Props Crew, Costume Crew and Performer Attendants for the Opening and/or Closing Ceremonies. These are all exciting roles working behind-the-scenes on a live, large scale, stadium production!

Here are brief descriptions for each role:

COSTUME CREW

Duties:                   The duties of the Costume Crew may include some or all of the following: assist with the inventory, labeling, possible alterations and maintenance, clean-up and re-set of costumes used during rehearsals, dress rehearsal and performance of the Opening Ceremony.

The Costume Crew will be responsible for the set-up, distribution and strike of all costume areas.

Skills:                     -Strong organizational skills

                                -Some volunteers assigned should be adept at using a sewing                                                machine

                                -Good people skills

PROPS CREW

Duties:                    The Props Crew will assist with the inventory, possible assembly, maintenance, distribution, and retrieval of props during rehearsals, dress rehearsal and performances of the Opening Ceremony.

Skills:                      -Basic building/craft skills an asset

                                 -Good people skills

                                 -Adequate physical strength to maneuver large objects

PERFORMER ATTENDANTS

Duties:                    Performer Attendants will assist the Stage Management Team with rehearsals and backstage operations including but not limited to: registration, pick-up/drop-off operations, marshalling performers, assisting with maintenance and order of the rehearsal and marshalling spaces.

Performer Attendants will be responsible for keeping the performers controlled and together in their assigned marshalling sites.

Skills:                       -Good people and communication skills

 -Ability to maintain a strong, but pleasant presence amongst a crowd

                                 -Able to sustain energy for long, late hours

All rehearsals and Ceremonies will take place at Shell Place and the schedule for these roles are as follows:

Opening Ceremony:

August 4^th 6:00pm – 10:00pm (Orientation)

August 5^th 3-6 hour shift between 10am-10pm

                                August 6^th 3-6 hour shift between 10am-10pm

                                August 7^th 10:00am– 10:00pm (Rehearsals and Opening Ceremony)

Closing Ceremony:

                                 August 15^th 06:00pm-10:00pm (Orientation and Rehearsal)

                                 August 16^th 10:00am-10:00pm (Rehearsals and Closing Ceremony)

By accepting this role, you will also be able to take on a secondary role during games time (so long as there are no scheduling conflicts). We would love to have you join our Ceremonies team! For more information or to sign-up please email: Hanna Fridhed at fridhed@gmail.com

Wee Bounce is Moving Locations

ATTENTION ALL LOCAL ARTISTS

Wee Bounce, a local, fine art dealer and art supply store is moving locations from #9 Alberta Drive to 343 Cornwall Drive. For more information please call (780) 531-4051. 

Multicultural Association Get Together & Annual General Meeting

It is time to celebrate! MCA is holding a Get Together & Annual General Meeting. We want to thank you for your contribution, to hear new ideas and questions about MCA future plans. You are an important part of our present and future. Please join us in celebrating an evening of positive energy and multiculturalism, Saturday, June 27th, 5:30pm-7:30pm at Royal Bank of Canada, Stoney Creek Village, Timberlea. Please RSVP by Wednesday, June 10th, by calling (780) 791-5186 or email events@multiculturefm.org. 

TODAY IS Municipal Census Day 2015!

TODAY IS Municipal Census Day 2015!

The RMWB is embarking on a three-month journey that will bring immeasurable benefit to our community.

Census Day is a reference point – everyone who lives in Wood Buffalo on April 1, 2015, will be counted.

For every person counted, more than $200 in provincial grant money comes back into Wood Buffalo. This money is used for everything from airports and ambulances to police services and roadways. The water you use to brush your teeth, the parks where you walk your dog, the rec-centre where you work out and the public transit you use to get home are all tied to census information.

Census information is important to your departments and to the community. Urban planners and private developers need census information to grow our region. Every new street, new neighbourhood and new shopping outlet uses indicators and growth projections formulated with census data. Many social profits are funded on a population basis.

The census is all about you, your neighbours and your community. For more information on the Census, visit: http://rmwb.ca/censusinfo

http://www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca/Municipal-Gove…/Census-2015.htm

Welcome Colleen Tatum as the new Councillor for Ward 1

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is pleased to welcome Colleen Tatum as the new Councillor for Ward 1.

Colleen was born and raised in Wood Buffalo and is raising her 3 kids with her husband Adam.  Colleen owns and operates MXC Automotive Services which was recognized by the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce as the small business of the year of 2011. She has served as a Wood Buffalo Councillor from 2012-2013 where she was a strong advocate for families and local business. Colleen has sat on the boards of the North Eastern Aboriginal Business Association (NAABA) and The Wood Buffalo Food Bank. Colleen created an annual fundraiser called “Tires for Tots” with MXC Automotive, in support of local non-profits that assist local families in need.

Colleen is also a proud supporter of arts and culture in our region. “I am a big fan of the arts, I have even taken a drama class or two myself and hope someday I can carve out more time for this.” Colleen said in a recent conversation with a Community Strategies Coordinator during her successful campaign. “The third part of my slogan is about fighting for a Wood Buffalo that is ours-the year round residents of Wood Buffalo.  I think we need more service and programs for the people who make this their home. I believe we shouldn't just cater to the fly in fly out workers but to those who have chosen to make Wood Buffalo their home.  There are many great services available that people have come to rely on and I support them. The RMWB does support arts by various grants and I'm excited to see the RMWB funding projects like the public art program and we will be seeing more of in the future.”

Congratulations Colleen on your victory. For more information on Colleen and her vision for Wood Buffalo, please visit http://colleentatum.ca   

A Call for Local Pianists

A Call for Local Pianists:

Are you a passionate pianist who has experience accompanying ballet classes, or the desire to be trained?  Do you have a Grade 10 RCM or an equivalent level of training?  Do you enjoy a dynamic work environment? Do you like musical improvisation?

Contact Miss Nicole at

nicole.armstrong@onerec.ca

for more details, or to arrange an audition class.

Interested candidates must be available

June 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.

WeeBounce Art Supplies Store

Did you know there’s a new Art Supplies store in town?! WeeBounce Art Supplies Store is now open! They also offer art sessions for children. Located at 9 Alberta Drive, WeeBounce is open Monday & Wednesday from 11:30am-8pm, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from 1pm-8pm. For more information contact 780-531-4051 or see attached poster for more details!

Wood Buffalo Idol

Tervita Instruments of Change invites you to support access to music arts for deserving youth in Wood Buffalo.

Take a picture or video of yourself enjoying music.

We want people in Wood Buffalo to revisit their passion and excitement for the music arts. Play doesn't end when you are nineteen years old! We want people to grab a mic, a drum or an air guitar and rediscover what they will always have inside them; their own music story which started in our early years.

Music made an impression on all of us when we were young. It is the same for our music students. The music our youth listen to and play today will be a part of them for their whole life.

Please use #WBidol in social media when you post your picture or video.

Reconstitute the music arts as often as you like and invite others to do the same!

Invite yourself to our Fundraiser Event on April 11th, 2015 at SEPCA. Bring your instrument and your favourite song. 

Tickets are $75 dollars, $50 of the ticket cost is tax refundable. 

For more information on the fundraising event please contact;

Dave Martin
(780) 881-6869
dave@legacyfoundation.ca

Tervita Instruments of Change connects local youth with donated instruments and local musicians. A stay in and complete school initiative, Instruments of Change collaborates with schools so youth experience success through the music arts. For more information on the program please visit the Instruments of Change website .

Public Art Guidelines – Looking for Feedback

Public Art Guidelines – Looking for Feedback

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is requesting feedback on the Municipal Public Art Guidelines.

The Municipal Public Art Guidelines have been developed by the Community Services Department with support from the Public Art Committee and a Public Art Consultant. The guidelines set standards for the acquisition, funding, collection management, maintenance and conservation of public art. The document serves as a reference guide for internal departments, external stakeholders, and other interested parties on how the Municipality delivers the Public Art Program. You can read the guidelines by visiting http://www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca/Municipal-Government/municipal_departments/Community-Services-Department/Arts_Culture/Public-Art-Guidelines.htm

The guidelines will be posted for public review until noon on Tuesday, March 17.

Public Art Committee – Accepting Applications

Public Art Committee – Accepting Applications

Deadline for submissions is March 12^th by 4:30PM

If you are a community minded person who loves the arts and would like to take an active role in helping to expand it, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is seeking dedicated residents who are interested in joining the Public Art Committee.

The Public Art Committee provides expert guidance and advice with respect to the creation, acquisition and installation of public art. Committee members will work with various stakeholders and interested persons to review and approve a conservation plan and deaccession protocols for the maintenance of the Municipality’s Public Art collection.

Members will meet one evening per month for approximately two hours. Meetings are currently held on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30p.m.  

Applicants must be 18 years of age and a resident of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. 

To learn more about this exciting opportunity please visit our webpage or contact Theresa Jolliffe, Community Strategies Coordinator at theresa.jolliffe@woodbuffalo.ab.ca or call (780) 743-7994.

Moments from Wonderland

MacDonald Island Dance Academy is pleased to announce Alberta Ballet II will visit Fort McMurray on April 19th. They will be presenting two performances of Moments from Wonderland, a ballet production adaptation based on the Lewis Carroll classic novels Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, at the Suncor Community Leisure Centre. 

The show is a perfect introduction to ballet and dance for young audiences. The dancers from Alberta Ballet II will perform a 45-minute show, followed by a 15 minute audience-interactive question and answer session.

Show times:

Matinee 1PM to 2PM

Evening 6:30PM to 7:30PM

Join us for this first time event that you and your family don't want to miss! Tickets on sale at ONErec.ca and Guest Services.

Artist in Residency

Applications are now being accepted for the 2015 Wood Buffalo Artist in Residency program.

(Fort McMurray, AB – February 23, 2015) – The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has an exciting opportunity for visual artists.   

The Wood Buffalo Artist in Residency (AIR) program is now accepting applicants for the 2015 enrollment. This year, AIR will host two studio locations: Fort McMurray and Fort Chipewyan. The residency includes dedicated studio space (with no associated fee) starting on June 4 in Fort McMurray and on July 23 in Fort Chipewyan with both residencies ending on Aug. 27. 

Artists in the program will take part in an artist talk, open-house demonstrations and community programming opportunities. Upon completion, artists will have the opportunity to display their artwork in a group exhibition held at the MacDonald Island Community Art Gallery.  

Submissions close on Friday, March 20 at 4 p.m. local time. Applicants must be Canadian residents. 

Visit the Artist in Residency website to learn more about the program and how to apply or contact; 

Theresa Jolliffe
Coordinator II, Community Strategies
theresa.jolliffe@woodbuffalo.ab.ca
Phone: 780-743-7994
Fax: 780-743-7025