Friday, 3 July 2015

Fort McMurray Hand Crafted Market


Fort Mac Hand Crafted Market is now piloting outdoor markets every other Saturday through the summer at Marine Park Museum!  Join us "where steel meets keel" and find farm-fresh produce, Alberta raised meats, and ready to eat meals. You can shop local for bread, ciders and sweet delights, or treat yourself to handcrafted jewelry, local art, or bespoke clothing.  Vendors vary from date to date so there will be something new and some regulars at each market.

 The Marine Park is a 4 acre site located along the Clearwater River in Fort McMurray’s lower town site on Clearwater Drive. This is the original site of the shipyards where, after spring break up, passengers and freight destined for the north were transferred from rail to ship (or barge). Its unique history also makes it the perfect spot for a market as they are a natural occurrence anywhere trade goods are unloaded and transferred.

Joanna Torguson, President of FMHCMarket, is grateful for the partnership. “It means we don’t have to shut down over the summer and can offer a new opportunity for business growth to our member vendors.” The Museum benefits from the funds raised from space rentals and increased traffic. Funds raised helps them build their programs and rebuild Heritage Park which is still recovering from a devastating flood.

 The community can now enjoy outdoor markets twice as often as dates have been carefully selected so as not to overlap with existing farmer’s markets. There are five more markets planned for the summer: July 4th, July 18th, August 1st, August 15th, and August 29th (which is also the date of the annual Strongman Competition).

FMHCMarket is a grassroots collective of vendors who, primarily, work together create craft shows once each month. Founded in January 2014 to showcase local artisans with cottage businesses. The vision is a handmade only market and a mechanism to help member artisans become more successful.

A big fan of collaboration and community building, Torguson designed the market as a fundraiser that pops up regularly on the first Saturday of the month, except during the summer when the school is closed. As a pop-up, the market can happen at any location hosted by any group that needs easy fundraising. Special markets may pop up anywhere and anytime!

For more information, contact:
Joanna Torguson, President
Fort Mac Hand Crafted Market
780-881-7876

Roseanne Davidson, Executive Director
Fort McMurray Historical Society



Friday, 26 June 2015

Canada Day!


To celebrate Canada Day, The Multicultural Association of Wood Buffalo (MCA) is hosting the Canada Day Pancake Breakfast at MacDonald Island Park, July 1st 2015. At the Pancake Breakfast, families will have the opportunity to celebrate Canada and enjoy the entertainment, food, and activities for seniors, children and adults.

The Canada Day Pancake Breakfast is part of a collaborative effort between MCA, RMWB and ONE to provide a wide array of fun activities for families on Canada Day.

The Pancake Breakfast brings our diverse community together with food, music, and activities that celebrate our multiculturalism and Canadian heritage.

Please come out and volunteer for this great event, we promise will be a day full of fun!
Please SIGN UP  and check out all the FUN and exciting events taking place to celebrate Canada’s Birthday.  

For more details please contact Rodas Asres, Events and Volunteer Coordinator, outreach@multiculturefm.org, (780) 791-5186. 





Wednesday, 17 June 2015

David Eggen, Our New Minister of Arts & Culture



Meet our new provincial Minister of Arts and Culture, David Eggen. Born in 1962, Eggen was educated at the University of Alberta where he received a Bachelor of Education degree in 1984. After University David moved to Zimbabwe where he taught for three years then returned to Edmonton where he taught at local schools from 1990 to 2004. An avid volunteer, David had coached a wide variety of sports for high school and community teams. He volunteered as an animator at Fort Edmonton Park and is a provincial trustee with the Forum for Young Albertan's. David is also a member of the Diversity, Equity and Human Rights committee for the Alberta Teachers’ Association. 

In 1996 and 1997, he served as an education consultant to the Wat Dhammamongkol Temple in Bangkok, Thailand. He is also an amateur musician and played keyboard with the Edmonton based Reggae band Reality. David lives in Edmonton with his wife, their two daughters, plus the family cat and dog.

Check out the Calgary Herold’s Question and Answer article with David Eggen and learn more about our new Arts and Culture Minister. 

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