The Works Art & Design Festival celebrating its 40 years in Edmonton
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The theme — Ground Works — is intentionally environmentally focused, its art full of impressions of flora and fauna.
I ran into two-spirit Beave Cree-Métis artist Clinton Minault wearing a 'found' Louis Riel shirt out at North Country Fair earlier this week, where he's making a fox sculpture.
For The Works on Churchill Square, he'll be live-building Belly of the Beast — a new bison sculpture to accompany his 2024 piece Beastly Two Eyed Festival Seer.
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Winnipeg Free Press
12 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
First Nations celebrate culture, resiliency
The scent of tobacco swept through The Forks Saturday morning as elders kicked off National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations with traditional water and pipe ceremonies. Performers from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit backgrounds entertained hundreds of community members who gathered at the historic site with music and dance, while elders shared teachings of their culture's history and traditions. Among the artists shedding light on Indigenous music was Kieran Maytwayashing, a fiddler (violin) player from the Lake Manitoba First Nation and the Long Plain First Nation. SPENCER COLBY / THE CANADIAN PRESS A heart shape cutout with the words 'Every Child Matters' is seen in a flower bed following a National Indigenous People's Day with youth from Future Paths Network, a grassroot organization dedicated to supporting youth who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) in their transition out of the foster care system at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Saturday, June 21, 2025. Maytwayashing, who's played the fiddle for more than three years now, said he does it to honour the late Clifford Maytwayashing, another violin player from his community. 'I've always heard it. It's what I listened to all the time growing up, and he was the one who inspired me,' he said. 'I try to keep on his legacy by playing those tunes he played, and it's just been going ever since.' Maytwayashing received a phone call a few weeks ago from the organizer of The Forks event, Kíwétinohk Consulting — an organization serving individuals, organizations, and communities across northern Manitoba — asking if he wanted to perform on Indigenous Peoples Day because they had liked his music on social media. He said he was thrilled by the invitation. 'It's important that more people come to know more about us and what we do. It's normal in our communities, but I'm glad to see this stuff happening here in Winnipeg as well to show other people what the culture is like and experience it for themselves,' said Maytwayashing. He also uses music as a tool to comfort others, such as those currently being displaced from their homes due to the wildfires north of Manitoba. He plans to visit the soccer complex evacuation centre on Leila Avenue and perform for the evacuees staying there. Joanne Nimik, 53, from Swan Lake, came to The Forks to enjoy the live music as well as to witness Indigenous Peoples' resiliency. 'It's beautiful that in spite of things that Indigenous people have been through, time and time again, we rise up,' Nimik said. 'We get up, dust ourselves off, and we keep going. That speaks to the spirit inside all of us.' Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. Nimik is Ojibwe and an intergenerational residential school survivor. She said it's refreshing to see society coming together and bringing some cohesiveness, as opposed to the division her mother had experienced in the past. 'It's been a hard road for a lot of folks to even come to attend events like this. To go learn about their history and their culture and their traditions and their language and what they want to learn, what they need to learn,' she said. 'We're starting to make a change, and we have to, but we have to rely on each and every one of us to make that change.' Nimik works closely with Indigenous communities through her service with Bear Clan Patrol. She said despite trying times with the wildfires, it's important to remember there is always a community to help each other out. 'I really hope and pray that a lot of people are coming together and supporting each other and rebuilding on hope, trust, love, courage, and faith. Rise from the ashes, so to speak,' she said.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Events are being held across the country Saturday to mark Indigenous Peoples Day
OTTAWA – Hundreds of events are planned across the country Saturday to mark Indigenous Peoples Day. First observed in 1996, Indigenous Peoples Day is meant to recognize First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultures and traditions. Prime Minister Mark Carney will take part in a closed event to mark the day. The office of Gov. Gen. Mary Simon said she will host youth at Rideau Hall in Ottawa to mark the day by crafting paper hearts with 'messages of reconciliation, hope and commitment.' The Governor General will plant the hearts in Rideau Hall's 'heart garden,' which honours Indigenous people who died in residential schools, along with survivors. 'Each heart is a symbol of our collective responsibility to listen to and carry forward their stories — of pain and disappointment, strength and courage — and to commit to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action,' Simon's office said. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. This year's Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa. The festival features a competition powwow, traditional foods and teaching sessions. Starting Saturday, the Forks in Winnipeg will host Many Nations, One Heartbeat, an 11-day festival of Indigenous performances, games, fashion and crafts. Organizers say the festival will honour 'the stories, strength, and resilience of Indigenous communities, especially in this moment of significant displacement due to Manitoba's wildfire.' And in Toronto, the Na-Me-Res Traditional Powwow and Indigenous Arts Festival will take place Saturday at the Fort York National Historic Site, featuring traditional dances, live concerts and a food market. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2025.
Vancouver Sun
2 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
Here's why these are Edmonton's five best summer festivals
Summer officially kicks off this weekend, and in Edmonton, that means a constant array of festivals in the city. From now till after Labour Day, it's hard to find a weekend in which there isn't some kind of event, whether it's a community party or a large-scale fest, some of which are world-renowned. We are Festival City, after all . This weekend alone, there's The Works, Edmonton International Jazz Festival, Improvaganza, the Circus Arts Festival and even North Country Fair or Beaumont Music Festival for those looking to get out of town. But which fests are best? We asked regular contributors Justin Bell, Liane Faulder, Fish Griwkowsky, Chad Huculak and Tom Murray for their takes on the events that to them spell summer in Edmonton. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. It's 10 days on hot pavement serving hotter food and pulling in the hottest of takes; Taste of Edmonton is the city's best summer festival, a celebration of the culinary culture of the capital city and a place you can stuff your face with some of the best food in town. Why is this most humble of summer festivals deserving of the top spot among the pantheon of warm-weather festivities? The straightforward nature and the delicious offerings put it There's no secret 'best' way to enjoy the 11 days of Taste, no hidden knowledge to optimize your time at Sir Winston Churchill Square. You exchange tickets for food, then you eat the food. Whether you're in the mood for BBQ, noodles, sushi, Chinese, Vietnamese or even just some meat on a stick, there's something for everyone. It's also an opportunity to test new restaurants and dishes in one spot, a chance to find a new favourite dish or, at minimum, learn which vendors you may want to pass over the next time the munchies are calling. The best part of Taste of Edmonton is its malleability, fitting whatever adventure you're looking for in mid July. Casual date night? It can be that. A nice downtown lunch with your coworkers? Yup, it's that as well. An overnight trip into the city for shopping, dining and a smorgasbord of food? Yes sir, right this way, and let me recommend some wine pairings to go with your Korean hot dogs. There are adult beverages to be had, including a range of locally-brewed wobblypops. For young whippersnappers or the young at heart, tickets can also purchase a plethora of sugary non-adult drinks on offer. Before the detractors pile on, yes, there is a not insignificant cost for what can amount to a handful of mini dishes. But think of your taste buds lighting as you get to put all of those new things in your mouth. July 17 to 27 Sir Winston Churchill Square Info and tickets available at — Justin Bell It's difficult to be world-renowned when your festival is a celebration of, well, the world. Edmonton's Heritage Festival may not receive the same glib press as the Folk Music Festival or Fringe Festival, but if you were to pick a single summer festival that defines Edmonton, it's clearly Heritage Festival. The three-day festival honouring Alberta's cultural diversity has been the highlight of the August long weekend since its inception in 1976. As of press time, there are 195 recognized countries worldwide, and the Heritage Festival hosts nearly half of those in dozens of pavilions. Festival-goers are treated to diverse cultural displays, music, dancing and perhaps the event's most enticing draw: food. What better way to experience a country than by sampling its cuisine? Every year the Heritage Festival showcases a lengthy menu consisting of samplings from featured countries. Food options change from year to year, but 2024's menu highlighted food from Australia to Zimbabwe. Attendees can expect global grub ranging from kangaroo sausage, empanadas, pupusas, goulash, bison and biryani, as well as every kind of rice, noodle and meat on a stick under the sun. Alberta loves to trumpet its multicultural makeup, but when it comes to putting words to action, the Edmonton Heritage Festival stands above all. Walking the festival grounds, you're treated to a kaleidoscope of people decked out in cultural attire, weaving between booths and tents as worldly music and dialect mingle. The family-friendly, alcohol-free event is a bang-on representation of Alberta's societal makeup. However, since 2022, the festival's 'best in Edmonton' status has had an asterisk affixed to it due to it being relocated to the Exhibition Grounds/Borden Park because of the ongoing rehabilitation of its original home at William Hawrelak Park. There's certainly nothing wrong with Heritage Festival's temporary home – there's opportunity to go inside the EXPO Centre to escape the heat and Borden Park is one of Edmonton's unheralded gems – but for many Edmontonians, Hawrelark Park is as much a part of Heritage Festival's identity as Gallagher Hill is to the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. In Edmonton's packed festival schedule, Heritage Festival offers Edmontonians an alternative to the usual ginger-beef-palooza. It's also refreshing to attend a festival where you're not forced to fork out wads of cash every 10 metres, as the festival has no admission fee, but donations to the Edmonton Food Bank are encouraged. Heritage Festival is the celebration of co-existing, relishing the joy of life while stuffing your face with baklava. Aug. 2-4 Borden Park Info at — Chad Huculak It's just a matter of consistency, really. The Edmonton International Folk Festival has been part of my life in many different ways for decades, and the indelible moments have stacked up to the degree that it can't help but be my favourite festival. The musical memories are the easy part, though for me they're not necessarily the ones you'd choose. These are moments that stuck with me, forcing me to be present at a festival that sets off my ADHD. Van Morrison instructing his horn players off microphone to 'play long notes,' perfunctorily dashing over a set list filled with radio faves while leaving room for occasional deeper cuts like Fair Play. Van got divided reviews for his performance, but I personally was thrilled to hear even one song off his masterpiece Veedon Fleece, and hearing him teach on the spot was gold. There was the hypnotic desert blues of Mali's Tinariwen in 2018 leaving swirls of psychedelia in the darkening sky; Billy Joe Shaver on his knees in a moment of passion at the 2001 festival, raising his hands to his creator; Robert Plant and Alison Krauss coaxing a spooky rumble over the hill at 2024's festival with slow burn takes on Fortune Teller and Rich Woman. You'll agree, you'll disagree, but keep in mind that a number of my favourite performances weren't ones I was necessarily looking forward to. They caught me by surprise, just as I assume someone else at the festival caught you by surprise. Here's another, more sobering memory: a trip back to the hotel home base in the festival van while a radio link piped in Warren Zevon's performance. It was a sketchy connection, scratchy and static-y with multiple drop outs, and because of this it sounded absolutely haunted, a disintegration loop that couldn't be escaped. I'll forever link this memory with the announcement soon after that Zevon was dying of cancer. Morbid, right? Here's some more cheerful reminiscences that solidify my love for the festival: arriving and departing every night via Mill Creek Ravine; kids ceaselessly patrolling the crowd, looking for plates to return for the one dollar deposit; Elvis Costello ending his set with a riveting Deep Dark Truthful Mirror in 1995. Those are just the top of the memory pile, which if fully excavated, could make up a full page of this section. Aug. 7-10 Gallagher Park Tickets and info at — Tom Murray There is much to love about the Edmonton International Fringe Festival, including the shows (this year, some 220 of them), the food (deliciously fried) and the atmosphere (flaming buskers on stilts). But there is one Fringe characteristic that transcends all details and dynamics of the 10-day festival for me. Whenever I walk on the Old Strathcona site to review a play, or simply take one in, it is with the belly-tingling certainty that a transformation is about to take place. First, there is the overall metamorphosis of the site itself from a familiar, even beloved, commercial and residential hub into a heaving mass of humanity funnelled through a labyrinth of passageways and line-ups, all leading somewhere different than what was there before. Gazebo Park is suddenly the home of a bandstand. The farmers' market is noteworthy not for its fresh vegetables, but its proximity to a beer garden. Then there are the people who create the shows. While some plays, improvs, and sketch comedies are produced by talent who appear all year around in Edmonton, a large number are by people who have dreamed of writing or performing, but aren't theatre professionals. For 10 days, they are transformed into artists, risk-takers. That was my story back in 2018, when I brought a play I'd been writing for 10 years to the stage. I felt more like myself than I'd ever felt before. Then there is the transformation that takes place within the audience when we see a show that moves us. Every year, at least one show changes the way I think and feel, at least while I'm watching it. That draws me back to the Fringe Festival, over and over again. Aug. 14-24 Various venues Festival info at — Liane Faulder For those who enjoy a roving, choose-your-own-adventure in fishnet stockings and black eyeliner, Edmonton's youth-oriented Purple City Music Festival just keeps upping itself every year. Punk, darkwave, goth-industrial, metal, hip hop and a good smattering of indie country by night, there's also a two-day street party with wrestling matches in between sets Saturday and Sunday in front of Starlite Room. The discovery is exactly the point, so don't feel bad if you don't know this year's healdiners so far announced like L.A. psychedelic legends Wand, moody garage trio L.A. Witch, powerhouse New York live act The Mystery Lights, electronic producer out of Montreal Marie Davidson and (ok, you should know these goats) Vancouver hardcore punk pioneers D.O.A. What really gets me about this one is its SXSW/Sled Island sense of musical but also territorial exploration, churches to dive basements, as the city's core becomes a big open-sandbox style of first-person shooter (in my case, with a camera). All ages, no less. With the knowledge summer never used to be this long but winter is coming soon enough, this cultural scavenger hunt bumping into friends with suggestions on the street works a lot like a good song with frenzy, calm, frenzy leading you along into pre-dawn bliss. Best gig posters in the region hurts nothing of its reputation, and wildly we're still waiting for 70 of its bands to be announced! Tickets scale up as certain numbers sold, currently at $143.90 all in, so jump on sooner than later. Sept. 5-7 Various downtown venues Info and tickets at — Fish Griwkowsky Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun. Love concerts, but can't make it to the venue? Stream live shows and events from your couch with VEEPS, a music-first streaming service now operating in Canada. Click here for an introductory offer of 30% off. 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