Spring 2023 Culture Activity Guide

Culture Activity Guide

Summer 2023

Image: Tammy Taylor

Did you know?

Nooks & Crannies Recycled Art Festival

The 5th annual Nooks & Crannies Festival runs July 22 to August 26, 2023.

Nooks & Crannies is a recycled art festival where local artists create temporary site-specific installations in downtown Okotoks. This art festival sees artists repurpose discarded materials, and create public art that is placed in forgotten corners of downtown Okotoks. Individual artists and teams use recycled products to create installations that raise environmental awareness, animate spaces, and entertain audiences.

2023 is the fifth year of the festival! Don’t miss taking part in the scavenger hunt for a chance to win a prize donated by a local business. Find the map, scavenger hunt, and all information on Okotoks.ca/Nooks.

*Please note that all event dates and times are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our website at okotoksculture.ca.

On Exhibit On Exhibit

The Keepers

Patricia Lortie

April 15 to June 23 | Large Gallery

“The Keepers” uses the forest as a visual metaphor to explore concepts of self and community.

The forest, which appears to be composed of autonomous entities - the trees or the self - is in fact an interdependent community. This observation is the basis for Lortie’s reflection on our own sense of individual and collective identity. The sculptures, made of recycled cardboard, are reminiscent of trees both in their size and in their vertical curvature. The video projection introduces humans in that environment. They pass through the forest without leaving a trace - highlighting the ephemeral nature of our existence. Each body represents the self; the wave they form represents a community.

Western Canada Landscapes

Stephen Strand

April 15 to June 23 | Small Gallery

This collection of art is of the everyday scenes of Western Canada. Strand has always been a fan of landscapes and colourful pieces; in this exhibit, he has combined the two together to create his unique artwork.

Members’ Show & Sale

OAG Artists

July 8 to September 7 | Large Gallery

Back for the fourth summer, this show features original art made exclusively by our local, OAG members. Support your community artists and shop local!

Rocky Mountain Wild

Tammy Taylor

September 16 to November 3 | Large Gallery

This exhibit is meant to inspire with its beautiful and realistic paintings while paying homage to the unbridled spirit of Alberta’s Rocky Mountain wildlife.

Ergon..Parergon (?)

Gerry Ruecker

September 23 to November 3 | Small Gallery

Ergon...Parergon(?) is a body of mixed media constructions utilizing materials commonly considered junk, and presenting them in a new context.

Image: Patricia Lortie

Image: Stephen Strand

On Exhibit On Exhibit

A Century of Blackfoot Women’s Styles

May 1 to June 30

The museum is extremely pleased to host this beautiful exhibit again. Curated by Alyssa Koski, this exhibit showcases the change in traditional First Nations fashion of Kainai women, from mid-1800s to mid-1900s. Several dresses have been selected from the private collection of Alyssa’s grandmother, Pauline Dempsey (nee Gladstone), to highlight the innovativeness and resourcefulness of the Kainai designer and how environment, European influence, and the transition to reserve living affected the design.

Little Moccasins

Ongoing

The 2014 documentary film, Little Moccasins, shares the story of St. Joseph’s Residential School, also known as Dunbow Residential School northeast of Okotoks, and honours the children who died and are buried at the school.

150th Anniversary of the NWMP/RCMP

April 22 to September 2

This year marks 150 years since the establishment of the North-West Mounted Police, which would eventually become the RCMP. This exhibit helps commemorate the milestone in Canadian history as well as our community’s policing history. Also, during the month of July, watch for a special display of RCMP-related artwork at the Okotoks Recreation Centre’s ‘Art in the Hall’ display case.

The Games We Play: A History of Sport in Okotoks

July 8 to December 22

Sports have always played an integral part in the town’s history. This exhibit is just in time for the 2023 Alberta Summer Games co-hosted by Okotoks and Diamond Valley July 20 to 23. As we celebrate and cheer on our current athletes, this exhibit allows us to reflect on past athletes and the games they have played.

Image: Baseball Jerseys, Okotoks Museum and Archives Image: A Century of Blackfoot Women’s Styles, Okotoks Museum and Archives

Calendar of Events

May to August 2023

APRIL MAY

JUNE

JULY AUGUST

May 1 Blackfoot Exhibit Opens PG 5

May 5 Yuk Yuk’s on Tour PG 9

May 12-13 Dewdney Players: Twelfth Night PG 9

May 13 Art on the Lawn PG 14

May 13 Mixed Watermedia PG 12

May 17 Picnic at the Piano PG 14

May 18-20 Dewdney Players: Twelfth Night PG 9

May 25-27 Dewdney Players: Twelfth Night PG 9

June 5 Indigenous Beading PG 12

June 14 Picnic at the Piano PG 14

June 17 Parade & Children’s Festival PG 14

June 21 National Indigenous Peoples Day PG 14

June 24 BuskersFest PG 14

July 1 Canada Day Celebrations PG 14

July 5 Wednesday Walkabouts PG 13

July 6 Thursday Nights @ the Plaza PG 14

July 8 OAG Exhibit Opening PG 4

July 8 Downtown Walking Tour PG 13

July 8 History of Sport Exhibit Opens PG 6

July 8 Scavenger Hunt at Museum PG 11

July 12 Wednesday Walkabouts PG 13

July 19 Wednesday Walkabouts PG 13

July 19 Picnic at the Piano PG 14

July 20 Thursday Nights @ the Plaza PG 14

July 22 Nooks & Crannies Opens PG 14

July 22 Taste of Okotoks PG 14

July 26 Wednesday Walkabouts PG 13

July 28 Nooks & Crannies Adult Tour PG 12

July 29 Nooks & Crannies Family Tour PG 11

Programs

Town Events

Aug 1 Full Moon Ghost Tours PG 13

Aug 2 Wednesday Walkabouts PG 13

Aug 9 Wednesday Walkabouts PG 13

Aug 10 Thursday Nights @ the Plaza PG 14

Aug 12 Toddle Down to the Art Gallery PG 11

Aug 16 Picnic at the Piano PG 14

Aug 16 Wednesday Walkabouts PG 13

Aug 23 Wednesday Walkabouts PG 13

Aug 24 Thursday Nights @ the Plaza PG 14

Aug 26 Cemetery Tour PG 13

Aug 26 Chilifest & BBQ Showdown PG 14

Aug 30 Blue Moon Ghost Tours PG 13

Aug 30 Wednesday Walkabouts PG 13

Upcoming Performances

Yuk Yuk’s

Friday, May 5 | Doors 7 pm, Show 7:30 pm | $20 in advance, $25 at the door Live Uncut Comedy. Yuk Yuk’s is renowned as some of the best comedy in Calgary!

MC: Jarvis Zawatsky

Jarvis Zawatsky is a young, up and coming comedian that has the looks and the mind of a 14 year old. He’s a college dropout and an all around disappointment. However he has opened for popular comedians such as Mike Dambra and Michael Harrison! From his lack of knowledge to his girl troubles he’s definitely an act you won’t want to miss!

Headliner: Lori Ferguson-Ford

Lori has been a professional stand-up comic for over 20 years. She began her love for comedy in 1988. A bit of a fairytale beginning…while working as a waitress, one of her regulars offered to sponsor her dream of stand- up comedy as a career. Soon after, Lori was voted B.C.’s Funniest New Comic and four years later B.C.’s Funniest Woman. Lori has toured all over Canada and the United States, she has graced the stages of Yuk Yuk’s, The Improv, The Laugh Factory and the Comedy Store…just to mention a few.

Featuring: Sammy Ray Benty

Sammy Ray’s like all three tenors of comedy, but who knew light-opera could be so funny? He can make you laugh but you won’t always know why! Sometimes, it’s just funny because, and requires no additional explanation! This phenomenon is known as Sammy Ray Benty!

*RATED R, 18 years and older

Upcoming Performances

Dewdney Players presents: Twelfth Night

May 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 | Doors 7 pm, show 7:30 pm

Matinees May 20 & 27 | Doors 1:30 pm, Show 2 pm

General $20 in advance, $25 at the door | Senior $15 in advance, $20 at the door

Twelfth Night is a fast-paced comedy with romantic plots, mistaken identities and practical jokes.

It tells the story of the lovely Viola who is saved from drowning after being shipwrecked. She disguises herself as a man and takes a job as a servant for the wealthy Count Orsino, however she immediately falls in love with her employer. Enlisted by the Count to send messages to the beautiful Olivia to woo her on his behalf, she soon attracts the desires of Olivia to herself, complicating the situation.

Throw in a couple of drunkard noblemen, plotting to woo Olivia as well, while scheming to humiliate Malvolio, the straight-laced steward of Lady Olivia and the laughs are sure to flow!

Now, flip everyone’s genders, and you have Katie Fournell’s entirely new twist on William Shakespeare’s classic comedy!

Family Programs

Scavenger Hunt at the Museum

Saturday, July 8 | 10 am to 5 pm

FREE | Drop-in at Okotoks Museum & Archives

Stop by the Okotoks Museum & Archives for a rousing scavenger hunt. An excellent opportunity to explore current exhibitions in an engaging and accessible way –scavenger hunts are fun for the whole family!

Nooks & Crannies: Family Tour

Saturday, July 29 | 10 am to 12 pm

Free | Meet at Okotoks Art Gallery

The Nooks & Crannies Festival of Recycled Art is a wonderful opportunity to explore Okotoks’ beautiful downtown core while seeing some innovative works of art tucked into all sorts of forgotten spaces. On this interactive walking tour, you will enjoy a look at each of the projects on display, and children will enjoy a special scavenger hunt made just for this tour. The tour will end at a perfect local spot to grab lunch!

Toddle Down to the Art Gallery!

Saturday, August 12 | 10 am to 12 pm

$5/Family | Drop-In or Pre-Register

Okotoks Art Gallery

It’s hard to make time for art and culture when you’re chasing after a toddler but we have an opportunity that doesn’t require you to choose! Come down to the Okotoks Art Gallery for a morning of fun. Enjoy exhibitions as you enjoy a number of activity and crafting stations. Recommended ages 1 – 5. Space is limited. Pre-Registration available.

Course #19667

Programs

Mixed Watermedia – Florals & More

Saturday, May 13 | 1 to 4 pm

$50 | Okotoks Art Gallery Studio

Join GOLDEN (& QoR) Artist Educator Ashley Gaboury as she guides you to paint colourful watermedia florals and more! Discover how to paint with creative flair, let the paint flow and use an array of fun texturing techniques. Please bring a selection of black and white photocopies along with your images of your favourite flowers and/or succulents (colour). All supplies included. Beginners welcome. Ages 11 – Adult.

Course #18296

Indigenous Beading with Shermayn Menicoche: Earrings

Monday, June 5 | 5:30 to 9:30 pm

$50 (Includes supply kit) | Okotoks Art Gallery Studio

Shermayn Menicoche will lead participants through the process of beading in the creation of their very own piece of jewelry. A supply kit is included in the cost. In the artist’s words: Traditional Dene beadwork has always been elegant and astonishing to me therefore, I decided my company would be named Midnight Sun Elegance.

Course #19661

Nooks & Crannies: Adult Tour

Friday, July 28 | 6 to 7 pm Free | Meet at Okotoks Art Gallery

The Nooks & Crannies Festival of Recycled Art is a wonderful opportunity to explore Okotoks’ beautiful downtown core while seeing some innovative works of art tucked into all sorts of forgotten spaces. On this guided walking tour, you will enjoy a look at each of the projects on display, and hear some behind-the-scenes tidbits and explanations on each work of art. The tour will end at a perfect local spot to grab dinner!

Okotoks Museum & Archives

Walking Tours

Wednesday Walkabouts

Every Wednesday during July & August | 10 am

Join Kathy Coutts of the Okotoks Museum and Archives – and other guests – for guided tours of Okotoks. Themes will change weekly – watch social media for details. Tours will be approx. 1.5 hours. Meet at the museum.

Downtown Walking Tour

Saturday, July 8 | 2 pm

Join Karen Peters of the Okotoks and District Historical Society for a tour of downtown Okotoks, where she will share stories of some of the oldest buildings in our community and the people who lived and worked there. 1-2 hours. Meet at the museum.

Full Moon & Blue Moon Ghost Tours

Tuesday, August 1 | After Dark Wednesday, August 30 | After Dark

Tickets | $5 (+GST & ticketing fees)

There are two full moons in August! Discover what lurks downtown after dark during the annual Full Moon Ghost Walks, hosted by the Okotoks Museum and Archives and the Okotoks and District Historical Society. Three tour times are available each night. Tickets are required in advance and will go on sale July 3rd.

*Online ticket sales available at www.okotoksculture.ca

Cemetery Tour

Saturday, August 26 | 2 pm

Join Karen Peters of the Okotoks and District Historical Society for a tour of the older sections of the Okotoks Cemetery. Meet at the cemetery.

Additional tours may be offered. Watch for updates on the town’s website and social media.

Summer Events

Mark your calendar for these fun, family-friendly community events this summer!

Saturday, May 6 | Community Cleanup

Saturday, May 13 | Art on the Lawn

Wednesday, May 17 | Picnic at the Piano

Saturday, June 3 | Tipi Transfer

Wednesday, June 14 | Picnic at the Piano

Saturday, June 17 | Parade & Children’s Festival

Wednesday, June 21 | National Indigenous Peoples Day

Saturday, June 24 | BuskersFest & Artisan Market

Saturday, July 1 | Canada Day Celebrations

Thursday, July 6 | Thursday Nights @ the Plaza

Wednesday, July 19 | Picnic at the Piano

Thursday, July 20 | Thursday Nights @ the Plaza

July 20 to 23 | Alberta Summer Games

Saturday, July 22 | Taste of Okotoks & Artisan Market

Saturday, July 22 to Saturday, August 26 | Nooks and Crannies Festival of Recycled Art

Thursday, August 10 | Thursday Nights @ the Plaza

Wednesday, August 16 | Picnic at the Piano

Thursday, August 24 | Thursday Nights @ the Plaza

Saturday, August 26 | BBQ Showdown & Artisan Market

Saturday, September 16 | Art on the Lawn

Watch for updates and details on the town’s website and social media.