Note: The Country Classics Wild West Show planned for Friday July 27 has been postponed to Saturday August 25, 2018, 6:00-8:00 pm. KBPV will honour any passes for that evening and rainchecks are available for the August 25 event.
Toni Lucas - Southern Nights at Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village is an ever-changing cornucopia of music, education and entertainment throughout the summer on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights through September 1. On Friday, July 20, the 'Hangfire Gang' Player-Improv Theatre from Lethbridge sent two of their players our way to entertain. The duo did skits and improvisational comedy. They posed as town pioneer A.E. Cox and his daughter Millie. They involved the audience in their free wheeling fun. along with many other skits the two improvised a wedding skit with a volunteer from the audience, and did a bit about buying a medicinal tonic from a traveling salesman.
The entertainment was funny, family friendly, and had some historical references thrown in. Actors Dave Gabert and Alli Price said this was their first historical improv attempt. Price said it was an inspirational setting. Gabert had visited the area previously and enjoyed that the weather allowed them to range outdoors, taking the play to two different areas of the grounds for stages.
KBPV Curator Farley Wuth explained the set up for Southern Nights for the summer is to have a speaker on Thursdays, Fridays are more about arts and culture, and Saturdays are generally musical. Almost all of the nights have children's activities planned. "These are family-friendly events, meant for all ages or the whole family to enjoy".
Roxy Debroux - In Metis culture, both the youth and the elders are honored. Between July 3 and 6th, this honoring took place at the heart of Metis culture in the area, Beauvais Lake Provincial Park. Many gathered at the Homestead Group camp to interact with one another, teach, and learn.
Joyce Sasse - Annora Brown would be so proud to learn that Parks Canada honoured her by naming their Waterton Park Board Room after her – and suitably installing large, framed prints of six of her landscape paintings.
Waterton Park had a major influence on her life. According to her autobiography Sketches from Life, it was here she found courage to work through hardship, see beauty and find hope.
Joyce Sasse - When we look closely at Annora Brown’s landscape paintings we see how masterfully she planned her design techniques and use of colour and light to express what she wanted to say.
Toni Lucas - The Windy Hollow Players (WHP) performed the play 'Farce of Habit' at the Cowley Community Hall on Friday, June 1, and Saturday, June 2. A sneak peek performance was also presented to area seniors on May 28. Director Susan Ames Vogelaar was delighted with the numbers, including returning thespians and new additions to the cast. Each year the WHP put on at least one public performance. This play held elements of murder, romance, and intrigue as the couple who owns the "Reel 'Em Inn" hotel find they are dealing with guests from all walks of life: Nuns and a priest, a radio celebrity, a crazed stalker fan of the celebrity, and a gentleman who wants to find what he has been missing in his steady but humdrum work-a-day life.
Press release - There's a new sheriff in town, and on local screens, thanks to a Lethbridge filmmaker and the funding he received from Telus in a recent province-wide competition. Local radio broadcaster Ryan Mennie created, wrote, directed and stars in the pilot episode of "Western Steele," one of 15 Alberta projects each awarded $10,000 to bring their ideas to life on the screen. Mennie is the only recipient of funding in the Lethbridge region in the latest Telus Storyhive web series competition.
Joyce Sasse - When I first saw Annora Brown’s paintings in the late '50s, I was awe-struck. They were so much about us. Now we have the opportunity to hear others tell what they believe to be her legacy.
Those who knew her speak of “a wonderful person, who didn’t get the credit she deserved”. She was quiet, never promoted herself, was always dedicated to quality work and was a life-long educator. Students who carried on in the Arts were confident because of the basics she taught them.
“Annora Brown is the hand of the flower sower and the eye of time,” an art critic wrote in 1972 after viewing a Glenbow exhibit of her two hundred paintings of rare wildflowers from southwestern Alberta. “For when the lily blooms no more, should man yet be alive, she will review for him the glory that was, and advise him of the glory to be.”
A week ago, as wildfire blackened so much of Waterton Park and adjacent ranch-land, the chest of treasures overflowing with Annora’s paintings remains intact and becomes more precious than ever.
Joyce Sasse - “No berry, except the Saskatoon, is mentioned more often in the journals of travelers in the west a few generations ago (the buffalo berry).” Annora Brown said when speaking to a Fort Macleod audience in 1939.
“The Indian name of the Bull-Berry, signifying Rabbit Berries, but the fruit was so commonly used as a garnish for the buffalo roasts and steaks of that day that the voyageurs were soon calling it Buffalo Grease or Bull Fat. From there it is a natural step to the common name of Buffalo Berry and Bull Berry, when the French-Canadian population began to be outnumbered by the English-speaking population.
Joyce Sasse - Spring cleaning is a good time to search your shelves for contributions to our Annora Brown Book Box collection. It’s a delight to discover new insights about this Fort Macleod native who was such an ardent conservationist and artist.
University of Lethbridge - University of Lethbridge art student Sarah Russell planned to share a message of unity through her artwork in the LandMarks2017 exhibition. However, vandals rearranged her work into a crude image on the side of the coulee in Indian Battle Park. Russell’s artwork, which represented the Blackfoot symbol for unity, now needs just that – people to unite to help rebuild the installation before the opening reception on June 20.
"When things are going bad in your life, there is only one person who is going to change it around." - Judy Lane
Chris Davis - Judy Lane embarked on an exciting new personal journey on the evening of June 1 with her first foray into the world of motivational speaking when she regaled a small and enthusiastic audience at Pincher Creek's Elks Hall with stories from her life's challenges and rewards. The event came with a title "JST Jude's Journey" (JST JUDE is her licence plate), and with a free tissue for each audience member. Lane is currently Trustee for Holy Spirit School Board Ward 4, which includes St. Michael's School here in Pincher Creek, a position she was first acclaimed to in 2013. The district also includes schools in Lethbridge, Taber, Picture Butte, and Coaldale. She hopes to continue as Trustee. Lane was a schoolteacher for 34 years, including 9 years at St. Michael's, before retiring in 2005. She continued to work as a substitute teacher up until attaining the Trustee position, and continues to volunteer at the school and in the community to this day. Lane is also co-author of a book called "Family Secrets", available for purchase at Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village.
When I arrived at her event I was unsure what it was even about, just that it featured Judy Lane. Was she going to pop out of a cake? Sadly, no. Lane was holding a Dick and Jane book published in 1968, which was actually this writer's very first self-read book. It seemed a bold contrast between the pre- and post-digital societies of the last century or so, as does Lane's own childhood. "I loved school", she said. "When I was that little kid reading Dick and Jane, I knew I wanted to be a teacher." She explained that 9 people went to her rural Catholic school. She got a laugh when she explained that being from a school for 9 and being named top athlete didn't impress students at other bigger schools much. She raised a bit of a stir within her family when she attended graduation with the Protestant Minister's son Haven Lane, and another stir when she married him three years later in the United Church. She and Haven had two sons, Jeremy and Regan.
Daughter in law Patty Lane, Judy Lane, Granddaughter Raina Lane
"I was blessed with the best career, and I absolutely loved every minute of it," Lane said of her three decades as a teacher. "You don't ever know where the road's going to take you," she said as a preface to one of the most painful chapters of her life, the day Haven died from cardiac arrhythmia, days after passing a physical examination. He died at home "Sitting in his rocking recliner, We were watching the hockey game. He gasped three times, then he died." Her life came crashing down. "He is the reason, to this day I can do anything I put my mind to."
"Adversities make you stronger," she told the audience. In a two year period she lost her step-father in law, her mother, then her husband, and then her brother. By 2015 "I would cry myself to sleep at night, because I can't take any more hurt. I think it's something we all have to live through."
She thanked the Schmidt family, who became her "other family" and were well represented in the audience.
"It's because of you people, who come out to something as idiotic as tonight and show their support, that gives us the strength. It's the family, and the friends, that we look for and count on."
Of coauthoring the book 'Family Secrets' she said "It was absolutely the best experience." She felt there was something missing in the process of book writing though. "You guys. I am an extrovert, if you haven't figured that out. I need people." She invited us to think of their own stories. "Do that soul searching. Find out what kind of person is inside your black and white outfit (she was, as is her wont, dressed in black and white)." "This is my dream," she said of public speaking. "You need to create your own dream."
"You got to face the demons, and there are demons out there, whether you are a believer or not."
Lane used a variety of props (personal items) in her talk, which she called "Unpacking the Suitcase of Life" ("Now how profound is that?") but the real treasure was her ability to dig deep into her own story and make it relevant to her audience. We heard about her regular trips down south, first with Haven and then without, and personal anecdotes galore. She spoke of the friends and family members who have eased, provoked, and supported her journey. She spoke of love, life, loss, challenges, and her Catholic faith. She probably earned herself a gentle Hail Mary once or twice. She would have us in tears one moment and laughing the next, in a very natural way. It was an elevated experience.
"I don't care if I never speak to another audience again. My dream has come true. I even have the banner," she said at the conclusion of her presentation. If you believe she's going to stop talking you don't know Judy Lane.
Joyce Sasse - Ten years after Annora Brown retired from Fort Macleod, in her autobiography she recalled how important childhood play was. In an era when introverts were considered to be inept, Annora thought herself to be mouse-like. But what a mouse! Trees and flowers and rocks talked with her, each in their own language. Rocks, particularly, could be used for throwing, for breaking open to find colours and patterns, and for building play-houses. She loved them – and there was no shortage of rocks in her neighbourhood.
Annora Brown painting, picture courtesy of Mary-Beth Laviolette
Joyce Sasse - Annora Brown wrote, in her introduction to Old Man’s Garden, that her intention was to “gossip about the flowers of the west” because she wanted to “gather under one cover some of the legend and lore (about them) that is to be found lying in odd corners.” Now, in our Life & Legacy Project, we want to gossip about Annora Brown. We want to bring together the bits and pieces of her life and lore and memorabilia that made her such an amazing person.
Irvin Provost (center) with LRSD Ward 1 Trustee John McKee and Ward 3 Trustee Shannon Scherger
"Livingstone Range School Division (LRSD) and Matthew Halton High School (MHHS) are proud to announce that grade 10 student Irvin Provost is a silver medal recipient of the Indigenous Shining Student Award." - LRSD press release
Joyce Sasse - That Annora Brown received an honourary membership from the Canadian Handicraft Guild is no mere footnote to her story. It indicated a major life-long passion. She graduated from the Ontario College of Art with a Diploma in Applied Design (Honours). This was at a time when a great National effort was being made to elevate crafts to a higher status – beautiful, useful and saleable creations.
Matthew Halton High School's Irvin Provost (file photo)
Matthew Halton High School student Irvin Provost a finalist
Alberta School Boards Association - Sheldon Steinhauer, a Grade 12 student at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School (Red Deer Public Schools) in Red Deer is the 2017 recipient of the Indigenous Shining Student (ISS) Award.
Lieutenant Governor of Alberta - Lieutenant Governor Mitchell has a fun challenge. All upper elementary students are invited to create poems that celebrate great Canadians who shaped the history of our province and country. This is a special contest from Her Honour, the Honourable Lois E. Mitchell to mark Canada's 150th birthday.
Joyce Sasse - Annora Brown was profoundly inspired by the Fortnightly Club and the arrival of “Book Boxes” from McGill University, which started in Fort Macleod in 1908. From the collection of books found in those boxes, Annora’s mother and friends would use the information to share in-depth studies of a variety of subjects. The boxes arrived every two weeks and laid the foundation for the artist/writer’s later in-depth studies in history. The Club continues to meet regularly, 110 years later.
Joyce Sasse - The situation for single, professional women in Annora Brown’s time was vibrant with opportunity – and she was more than capable of living up to the challenge. Stimulating networks of support were quietly emerging. Members of farm women’s, church and Women’s Institute groups were seriously contributing (often from pennies saved in their sugar bowls) to send female university graduates to jobs across Canada and around the world.
