Wood Buffalo celebrates a luminous Alberta Culture Days

Jane Jacques, Managing Editor, NorthWord literary journal recites a poem

Dave Martin, local musician/songwriter was the guest editor for the latest issue of NorthWord. Carmen Wells, local visual artist did the cover art exclusively for the journal

Indigenous Cultural Awareness Day was celebrated at the Nistawoyou Association Friendship Centre with an Indigenous artisan market

A lovely evening of song and dance. In order, The Hindu Cultural Society, The Divine Group of India, The Fort McMurray Sikh Society, and The Bengali Association of Fort McMurray came together at The Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

A lovely evening of song and dance. In order, The Hindu Cultural Society, The Divine Group of India, The Fort McMurray Sikh Society, and The Bengali Association of Fort McMurray came together at The Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

A lovely evening of song and dance. In order, The Hindu Cultural Society, The Divine Group of India, The Fort McMurray Sikh Society, and The Bengali Association of Fort McMurray came together at The Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

A lovely evening of song and dance. In order, The Hindu Cultural Society, The Divine Group of India, The Fort McMurray Sikh Society, and The Bengali Association of Fort McMurray came together at The Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

A lovely evening of song and dance. In order, The Hindu Cultural Society, The Divine Group of India, The Fort McMurray Sikh Society, and The Bengali Association of Fort McMurray came together at The Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

A lovely evening of song and dance. In order, The Hindu Cultural Society, The Divine Group of India, The Fort McMurray Sikh Society, and The Bengali Association of Fort McMurray came together at The Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

A lovely evening of song and dance. In order, The Hindu Cultural Society, The Divine Group of India, The Fort McMurray Sikh Society, and The Bengali Association of Fort McMurray came together at The Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

A lovely evening of song and dance. In order, The Hindu Cultural Society, The Divine Group of India, The Fort McMurray Sikh Society, and The Bengali Association of Fort McMurray came together at The Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

A lovely evening of song and dance. In order, The Hindu Cultural Society, The Divine Group of India, The Fort McMurray Sikh Society, and The Bengali Association of Fort McMurray came together at The Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

A lovely evening of song and dance. In order, The Hindu Cultural Society, The Divine Group of India, The Fort McMurray Sikh Society, and The Bengali Association of Fort McMurray came together at The Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

A lovely evening of song and dance. In order, The Hindu Cultural Society, The Divine Group of India, The Fort McMurray Sikh Society, and The Bengali Association of Fort McMurray came together at The Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

A lovely evening of song and dance. In order, The Hindu Cultural Society, The Divine Group of India, The Fort McMurray Sikh Society, and The Bengali Association of Fort McMurray came together at The Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

A lovely evening of song and dance. In order, The Hindu Cultural Society, The Divine Group of India, The Fort McMurray Sikh Society, and The Bengali Association of Fort McMurray came together at The Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

A lovely evening of song and dance. In order, The Hindu Cultural Society, The Divine Group of India, The Fort McMurray Sikh Society, and The Bengali Association of Fort McMurray came together at The Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

A lovely evening of song and dance. In order, The Hindu Cultural Society, The Divine Group of India, The Fort McMurray Sikh Society, and The Bengali Association of Fort McMurray came together at The Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts

Two of the igNIGHT - art illuminated exhibits; ‘A Journey of the Origami Boats’ by local artist Kritsana Naowahkun at Snye Point Park and ‘Spiders & Spirits’ by Boreal Artist Collective at Lions Park.

Two of the igNIGHT - art illuminated exhibits; ‘A Journey of the Origami Boats’ by local artist Kritsana Naowahkun at Snye Point Park and ‘Spiders & Spirits’ by Boreal Artist Collective at Lions Park.

 

Alberta Culture Days is an “opportunity to discover, experience and celebrate arts and culture through local events and activities across the province…and is part of National Culture Days, which includes 300 communities from coast to coast,” as per the official website.

Dozens of free local events were enjoyed by residents who had a myriad of choices. Among the highlights was igNIGHT, a temporary 10-day public art exhibition by local, national, and international artists. igNIGHT uses illuminated artworks to light up Fort McMurray after dark, and saw numerous visitors along with bus tours. This year’s theme is “JĪ-ˈNȮR-MƏS,” Ginormous. Fascinating behemoth art pieces adorned Snye Point Park, Jubilee Plaza, Poplar Crescent Park, and Lions Park. (Photos by Dawn Booth, Associate Editor, YMM Magazine). The exhibition runs all week through to October 6, 2019 from 6pm to 10pm. There is another bus tour on the last day with registration.

Poetry lovers gathered for the launch of NorthWord – Wood Buffalo’s first and only literary journal’s 21^st issue at Points North Gallery. The publication, which had a theme of “Puzzles,” was guest edited by local musician/songwriter Dave Martin, and cover art was by local visual artist Carmen Wells. Guests enjoyed the opportunity to read poetry amongst kindred spirits. The magazine is available free of charge around town.

In addition, an evening of cultural song and dance was organized at the Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts by the Bengali Association of Fort McMurray, the Divine Group of India, the Hindu Cultural Society as well as the Fort McMurray Sikh Society.

All in all what an amazing and memorable weekend. Here’s to our thriving arts and culture scene. May it continue to grow and stay luminous, always.