Around the Southwest

By Donny White

Congratulations to Lee Bascom and Cait McLean who are “tying the knot” later this summer in the Alberta Foot-Hills – Lee hails from the well-known ranching/rodeo family of Eastend and Cait from Pekisko, Alberta.  Cait’s unique art/craft pieces have been featured at several Western Art Shows including The Western Art & Gear Show held in conjunction with Maple Creek’s Cowboy Poetry.  She is “always striving to make something different and unique”.  Cattle Cait as her business is known can be contacted by calling 306 295 7511.  Cait joins a host of other noted artists and artisans operating in the Eastend district, such as Grieta & Linda Krisjansons (art & sculpture), Nick Saville (pottery) and Stephen Girard and Shon Profit (pottery) to name but a few of the many talented artists in the southwest art scene.
April is shaping up as a busy month for local talent – Heather Macnab is taking a brief hiatus from the United Church Choir to participate in the musical The Drowsy Chaperone, opening at the Musical Theatre Playhouse in Medicine Hat with six performances April 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 at 8 p.m. with an afternoon performance at 2 p.m. on April 24.  Heather plays the “delightful but vague Mrs. Tottendale”, in this very amusing production rated PG.  Tickets can be obtained by calling 403-502-3477 or emailing mhmtheatre.com – sounds like a fun outing.   Maple Creek’s Music Festival is being held April 25-28 with a concert of award winners on Sunday, May 1 in the afternoon.  Students will be performing on piano and violin Monday, singing and musical theatre on Tuesday, speech arts Wednesday and band & band instruments on Thursday.  Watch for further information and make every attempt to support our local performers.  Congratulations to Christina Baker for her recent success at the Medicine Hat Music Festival.  She walked away with awards in two categories:  Grand Opera and Concert Class.  The League of Wolves is launching their new release entitled “Like It Should Be”, at the Lyric Theatre in Swift Current on Friday, April 29 at 9 p.m.  This alternative rock group originates from Maple Creek and is comprised of Dillon Currie, Aspen Beveridge, Greig Beveridge and Ethan Stork.
Bob Gilchrist tells me the old Gilchrist Brother’s brand (Bar X Bar) was discontinued in 1945 when the company dissolved, however it was retained by his father Chay, who turned it over to Bob in the 1960s.  Last fall Bob handed over the brand to the present generation of Gilchrist’s on the Whitemud Ranch (Frenchman River).  For further information on the Gilchrist family and the pivotal role they played in the Western Canadian cattle industry, consult the book The Gilchrists:  A Wandering and Incomplete Collection of Their History, Mementos and Photographs 1870’s to 2009.  This history book was meticulously researched and compiled over a period of  several years through the efforts of Glen Gilchrist, now of Victoria (with the help of various family members) and is one of the best family histories of its kind I have seen to date.
We had the privilege to attend the Saskatchewan Drama Association’s Region 3 Drama Festival at the Maple Creek Composite School on April 8th – Swift Current, Marengo and Maple Creek School’s performed to an appreciative audience.  Kudos to the all the students, but in particular the Maple Creek crew who shone in the comedy, “The Ten Best/Worst Things About High School”, by M.G. Davidson – not only did it provide endless laughs but also brought back many memories. We regret not being able to attend the April 9 performances.
Don’t forget to register for the “Motherless Daughters Day” luncheon being held at the Redmond House on May 1st – deadline is April 27.  Contact Tracy Bowie at 306-558-4408 or email bowiet72@gmail.com.  For detailed information refer to the April 7 article in the Maple Creek News-Times.  Congratulations Tracy for organizing this worthy event.
The Annual Meeting of the Chinook Regional Library will be held at the Alpine Church of God, 925 2nd Ave. SE in Swift Current on Saturday, April 16th at 1:00 p.m.  Representatives from the 32 branch libraries in the Chinook Region, as well as Provincial Librarian Alison Hopkins, will be in attendance. It is open to the public. In keeping with Libraries, serious history buffs will welcome the new book entitled Metis and the Medicine Line: “Creating a Border and Dividing a People” by Michel Hogue.  “It begins with the emergence of the Plains Metis and ends with the fracturing of their communities as the Canada-US border was enforced.”  It is available through the University of Regina Press or by ordering through your local library.
Don’t forget the MS Walk in Eastend on May 1 – email mswalks.ca for further information.
Information and feedback regarding this column is welcome, please call 306-662-2080 or email donnywhite@sasktel.net

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