An initiative new to the Battlefords proved its worth Sunday by virtue of the line up of entertainment at its first fundraising concert.
Creative Kids is a program aimed at giving all children, regardless of their family's financial situation, the opportunity to experience quality cultural activities in areas such as dance, music, language, theatre, visual arts and more.
At a fundraising concert at Third Avenue United Church Sunday afternoon, some of the participants were actual recipients of Creative Kids grants, a fact Battlefords committee chair Jane Zielke pointed out in her introduction of the initiative.
To date, said Zielke, 67 applications for grants have been approved locally. The process, she said, is accountable, transparent and ensures all classes and lessons granted are delivered to the recipients by approved providers.
Performers at the concert, playing to a nearly full house, included the Community Youth Choir under the direction of Lisa Hornung, the Jubilation Handbell Choir, the International String Band under the instruction of Erin Foreman, vocalists Kathy Richardson, Karen Richardson, Casey Peden, Dave Tupling, Bob McKay and Hornung, along with trumpeters Jack Tatchell and Adam Streisel. Accompanying the performers were pianists Gary Gansuage and Jaya Hoy.
During the intermission, entertainment was provided by local highland and Ukrainian dancers.
Local businessman and well-known singer Bob McKay commented during the performance that, growing up in Regina, he had waited each Christmas for the piano he longed for to appear, only to be disappointed each time. Years later, he asked his parents why the piano never arrived. Their answer to him, he said, was that they couldn't have afforded the lessons he would need to be able to play it. That's why, he said, he is 100 per cent behind the Creative Kids program.
Having begun development in 2007, the provincial Creative Kids program obtained its charitable status two years ago as a program under the Give Kids a Chance charity, operated by Sask Sport Inc., and has been providing grants since the fall of 2010.
One hundred per cent of donations and fundraised dollars go directly to granting funds. This is made possible by SaskCulture providing all administrative funding for the program.
A recently released progress report indicates the provincial body has granted over $223,000. Eight hundred ninety-three applications have been approved with 66 communities touched.
In the Battlefords, says the report, 67 applications have been approved for grants of $21,350 for 37 music activities and three art activities.
Co-host for the Sunday afternoon concert in North Battleford, Heath Gabruch, said the local Creative Kids committee is made up of a small group of dedicated individuals, inspired by the "amazing talent" in the Battlefords, made obvious by the fundraising concert.
