September 2025 For this month, WRAC features artist Jodi Griffith. In November of 2024, she moved from Lowe Farm in southern Manitoba to Lac du Bonnet area. Griffith and her partner were familiar with this community because, in 2017, they had already started transplanting their roots here. Griffith’s most consistent artistic endeavour has been her … [Read more…]
June 2025 How Pinawa Got Its Library (a tale of books, boxes, and big ideas) For this month, Winnipeg River Arts Council features Pinawa Library. Back in the early 1960s, the families moving from Deep River to the brand-new town of Pinawa, Manitoba, quickly realized something was missing: books! No bookstores, no libraries—just lots of … [Read more…]
May 2025 For this month, WRAC revisits the artistic career of the very busy visual artist Kelly Klick, who has received numerous awards for her painting and clay work. A former midwife, she has lived in Pinawa for the last ten years, and brings her passion for caring for others into her art. She said, … [Read more…]
April 2025 For this month, WRAC revisits the artistic career of local writer Donna Besel. Although she grew up at West Hawk Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park and went to Falcon Beach School, she has numerous connections throughout the rest of Eastman. After she attended high school in Whitemouth, she taught in Powerview, lived in … [Read more…]
March 2024 For this month, WRAC would like to feature visual artist Vi Preston. Although she grew up in Winnipeg’s East Kildonan, she ended up spending a lot of time in Eastman. From an early age, she remembers camping in the Whiteshell, where she learned to appreciate nature. She said, “I always loved how complex, … [Read more…]
February 2025 For this month, WRAC will share memories and information from Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s recent touring show. On February 23, at 1:30 p.m., the RMTC crew rolled up in a huge truck and a large minivan, both loaded to the hilt. The previous night, they’d presented their Arborg show, and were keen to … [Read more…]
January 2025 For this month, WRAC would like to feature itself. Over the fourteen years of its existence, many people have asked, “Why do we have an arts council? What does it do?” Here are some answers. In case you didn’t know, art does many things. · helps people express themselves · reduces stress · … [Read more…]
December 2024 For this month, Winnipeg River Arts Council features sculptor Rick McCalder. Born in Winnipeg, he grew up in Elma and went to school in Whitemouth. Almost 51 years ago, he moved for a welding job at Tanco Mine, arriving in Lac du Bonnet with wife Janet and a toddler. Two more girls were … [Read more…]
November 2024 For this month, Winnipeg River Arts Council features Bibliothèque Allard Regional Library in the small community of St. Georges, located within Rural Municipality of Alexander. This eye-catching facility provides public access to library resources, programs and services that enhance personal knowledge, joy of reading, and quality of life. The library, first known as … [Read more…]
October 2024 For this month, Winnipeg River Arts Council features Lac du Bonnet Library, located in the Town of Lac du Bonnet. For years, it has provided a much loved gathering place, and, like many local facilities, it has an interesting history. As the community grew and developed, residents knew they wanted a library. … [Read more…]
September 2024 For this month, Winnipeg River Arts Council features visual artist, Mike Hall. Born in 1957, he grew up and lived most of his life in Winnipeg. After raising two children and working for more than thirty years as a mental health professional, Hall moved to Pinawa with his partner, shortly after retirement. This wilderness setting, … [Read more…]
August 2024 For this month, Winnipeg River Arts Council features Pam O’Leary, an artist who works with standard glass, stained glass, and fused glass. She grew up in Winnipeg, and completed her education and university there. In her late twenties, she and her husband moved to Churchill and ran “Adventure Walking Tours/Nature First Tours.” On … [Read more…]
July 2024 For this month, Winnipeg River Arts Council features visual artist, Kelly Murray. Originally from Coultervale, Manitoba, she attended school in Melita. In 1982, she moved to Winnipeg where she lived for 12 years. In 1994, she relocated to Powerview. In 2005, Murray and her family decided they needed more room and ended up on … [Read more…]
June 2024 For this month, Winnipeg River Arts Council features Eastman Judged Art Exhibition, held on June 1, 2024 at Great Falls Hall. During the COVID pandemic, EJAE only appeared online, so this in-person event was cause for great celebration. It took weeks of planning, hours of office work by Cathy Gregg (WRAC’s administrator), and … [Read more…]
May 2024 For this month, Winnipeg River Arts Council features visual artist, Tamara Thomson. Although she doesn’t consider herself a real artist, she works with plaster cast, driftwood, glass, light, rope and all the treasures she finds along the way. She said, “I’m someone who loves to play with different materials, given my current mood. … [Read more…]
April 2024 For this month, Winnipeg River Arts Council features Lac du Bonnet’s Fire and Water Music Festival. Held on the August long weekend, this annual event showcases a varied program of unique, high-quality performers, including some of the best music Manitoba has to offer. Along with attracting people from across the region and far-flung … [Read more…]
March 2024 Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s Regional Tour in Pinawa On February 24, Winnipeg River Arts Council welcomed the touring production of “Mix Tapes From My Mom,” featuring the talents of renowned Manitoba playwright/songwriter/ musician Cory Wojcik. Joining him on the stage were Christy Taronno on keyboard and vocals, and Josh Bellan on guitar and … [Read more…]
February 2024 For this month, the Winnipeg River Arts Council features visual artist George Tanner. Originally from Winnipeg, he has lived with his wife Judy at their Falcon Lake cottage for almost nine years. Tanner already knew he loved “lake life.” Since 1961, after his uncle leased a lot on Block 14 and his father … [Read more…]