Flin Flon MLA Clarence Pettersen delivered the following member’s statement in the legislature on Monday:
Mr. Speaker, this year the citizens of Flin Flon celebrated their fourth annual Culture Days.
Residents from all around Flin Flon have enthusiastically embraced this arts and culture celebration, and their events are now nationally ranked among the top 10 Culture Days in Canada.
This is no surprise since there is always such strong support for cultural events in northern Manitoba.
Held during the last weekend of September, Culture Days is a nationwide celebration of old and new traditions.
It’s about preserving culture and customs in Canadian communities, promoting new cultural events and organizations, and raising awareness about arts and culture in local neighbourhoods.
This all started as a non-profit grassroots campaign to make culture part of people’s everyday lives.
This one weekend of free community events is meant to encourage Canadians to discover their cultural spirit and passion during the whole year.
The communities of Flin Flon and Bakers Narrows together hosted about 80 free, hands-on events to help residents explore their cultural heritage.
These events celebrate every part of life in the North. The Flin Flon Arts Council, Culture Days organizer Crystal Kolt, and so many local partners and volunteers are at the heart of the success our Culture Days.
I had the opportunity to participate in what is slowly becoming the signature piece of Flin Flon’s Culture Days: Dancing Down Main Street.
Dancers of all ages come together in a half-hour long choreographed dance down Flin Flon’s Main Street.
This event has even been recognized nationally by Culture Days Canada as one of best!
Culture Days celebrates all forms of culture. It knits our community closer together by showing us the value in every form of activity, and gives local artists the opportunity to showcase their expertise.
Whether it’s learning how to build a tipi or how to tuft caribou hair, singing and dancing, or even panning for gold, Culture Days teaches us the value of community.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Dancers on Main St. during Culture Days this past fall.
FILE PHOTO
