Take a Walk on the Cultural Side

Moving to Cape Breton as a place to retire was a big attraction for my husband and I due to the vibrant cultural scene.  We love the Cape Breton music, the dances every night of the week, the kitchen parties, the mini concerts in all the communities every day of the summer, and the infamous 10 day music celebration “Celtic Colours” in October each year.  Being full time residents now, there are still dances each week, concerts every weekend, and more as the Christmas season approaches.  We have attended several shows at the local theatre as well as travelled to surrounding towns too.  We thought the winter would be quiet, but it really is the time for the locals to enjoy each other and continue to enjoy the music and culture that radiates from them during the tourist season, through winter jam sessions, kitchen parties and Christmas concerts.  We did not feel this same connection to culture in Alberta even though we did attend many shows and concerts throughout the year.  It seemed that sports was more predominant and there was always a reporting of the stats of the Calgary Flames or Calgary Stampeders.

 In a study released by Hills Strategies on consumer spending on culture in Canada, it was discovered that consumers spend three times more on culture than the government does at all levels ($9.2 Billion in 2007-2008).  And, Canadians spend double the amount of spending on live performing arts ($1.4 Billion) than on live sports events ($650 Million).  This came as a shock to me with all the avid hockey enthusiasts that we have.  As well, with the sports report that accompanies the news each day, we don’t ever hear an arts report with reviews of the latest shows on the daily news.  Why not?  If society is recognizing the importance of culture in their lives, why do we not reflect this in our news reports? 

In our two local papers in Cochrane, Alberta there would sometimes be an arts report, article or picture of an event that happened.  But, these reports were often every few weeks.  The local Folk Club managed some great coverage for a few weeks prior to their shows, the local high schools would have coverage for a few weeks prior to their fall and spring musicals, and the dance groups would have their odd photo in, usually in the spring with competition results.  The sports sections were always full of results, stats, photos, and about three pages of reporting per paper.   Diversely, in the Inverness Oran, our local paper for Inverness County, Cape Breton, there is an arts section that is jam packed in the summer months for at least three to five pages.  There are announcements of what is happening where, and there are many photographs covering the events and who the participants were.  Everyone cleans out the stores on Wednesdays when the paper arrives, it is the bible for the area for all the cultural events.  There is a sports section as well, and there are equal pages allotted for stats, results and photos.  There is a wide spectrum of reporting for all the sports and age groups.    

Further in the Hills Strategies report they found:  “In a context where “social networks are the link between cultural engagement and neighborhood economic vitality” the presentation indicates that “arts and culture are one way that neighbours build connections”…These connections can enhance “collective efficacy” in addressing community problems…the cultural sector can create “connection across barriers of geography, social class, and ethnicity, (http://placingcreativity.org/conference-2009-presentations/)”.  What would happen if we changed the way we reported the arts and paid attention to it in our lives on a more global scale?  What benefits would our communities see?  How could we use the arts to strive for change in our neighborhoods?

While working with ACE Communities this spring introducing the arts into Rural Alberta, there was a bond built in the involved communities.  There was a crossing of commitment between preschool groups, school age groups and seniors groups.  There was a combining of resources, intergenerational interaction, and a motivation for students to become more involved in their community rather than just through the school’s initiative.  Much of the funds used for the project started with a boost from the Alberta government, but there was fundraising by the groups to provide more for themselves.  There were special programs and concerts developed, and there was usage of facilities for the arts that would normally sit idle.  The community was drawn out to participate in many ways and on many levels, and there was a commitment to the members of the community to do more in the future and to further establish the bonds that were created.    All this was happening with the introduction of 2 dancers and 2 musicians and some community classes to introduce the arts to the community. 

In Longview, Alberta, there was a group of musicians who were self taught and eager to learn any way possible.  They put on a big dance fundraiser prior to our arrival, and then they had two more concerts once we arrived.  They strived to take every tidbit of information about dance or music from us, and it showed in their improvement over the 4 days.  Children who could not access certain types of dance lessons, took every lesson they could and were motivated to do more to coordinate with other communities.  One dance class even had 4 generations dancing together and the oldest participant was 93 years young.  Two of the main organizers for the events were not musicians or singers or actors, they were just avid volunteers who wanted to see more for their community.

The findings of Hills Strategies is vital for our understanding of the connection between the arts and culture and development of a thriving community.  We are attracted to places that make us feel good.  Attending choir performances, theatre shows, community events, and dances, all have ways to bring us together and to feel good about ourselves and our neighbours.  Many of these events require volunteers, and this is another way we feel good about participating.  Sports is something some of us may participate in to be active and healthy, but the Arts feed all of our souls and fulfill us in different ways.  We need to pay attention to the statistics and keep culture in our minds when we are making budget cuts and program cuts.  Culture is vital for our bonding as a community and as growth for our nation with citizens who feel connected, involved and engaged.



The Greenwell's performing together



Seven years ago a friend of ours survived cancer and wanted to give back so others could benefit from the help she received while recovering.  She began a special fundraising event called “Carpe Diem”, meaning “Seize the Day”.  She chose to bring her passion for musical theatre and her husband’s talent with instruments together with her desire to include her children, family and friends in celebration.  They created an adult band that spanned several different genres and gathered performances from their friends that could share talent in song, dance and theatre.  After all these years of fundraising, her children now have a teen band and a children’s band.  They initiate many of the activities and announce for her.  Rehearsals begin months in advance of the event, and creative ideas are shared across generations.  There are three or four generations always present for her event, and everyone gets involved singing, dancing or acting.  The Arts is an opportunity for everyone to play a role and to participate.  Many of the attendees have not missed a year and some plan vacations to coincide with the event if they have moved out of the area.

Canada is a diverse cultural nation that has the ability to blend, share and learn from so many styles and types of people and cultural initiatives.  If we could bring this to the forefront of our lives in the news and in our activities, we may be able to see the positive connections that can happen between people who all want to belong and grow together.   As we spend our cultural dollars in our communities, we need to reflect on the privilege the arts has brought to us as a whole.  And, we need to demand this dedication of our government to stay involved and support initiatives in the arts that help us all to achieve the goal of a better neighborhood to live in.   

 

Life...It's All About the Food

This past weekend I was lucky enough to be visiting some great friends of mine that I had not seen in a long time.  Their daughter is 8 years old and loves to cook.  When I arrived there were 3 containers of sugar cookies all cut out in the shape of reindeer, snowmen, bells and angels.  “Auntie M, do you want to decorate with me?”  My children are now in their late teens, and spending time with mom decorating isn’t exactly on their list of favorite things to do.  I quickly responded to Sarah, “I would love to”.  This started the most magical afternoon of giggling, breaking cookies, eating them, and telling stories. 

The event reminded me of the motto our family has always lived by: “It’s All About the Food”.  We remember events by recipes and family members, we always include some fantastic nibblies for a social event, we cater to our guests with libations and sweets when they visit, and we hand down traditions as a sacred rite of passage.

A few Christmas’ back we had a guest spend a week with us from Cape Breton.  It was her first time in Alberta and we wanted to show her all the things about Alberta that we love.  We spent time at the Banff Springs Hotel for Sunday Brunch; we took her for Vietnamese Food at our favorite local spot; we went skiing and ate on the hill; we went into Calgary for some major shopping and a hot chocolate at the top of the Calgary Tower; we had fondue; and, we did raclette.  When she phoned home to let everyone know what she was up to, she didn’t mention the landmarks, she bragged about the food!  That was our first real reflection on how important food is to our social environment.

Last night we were at a Christmas concert in Port Hood, Cape Breton, and before the concert finished we all had to join in and sing the last song – our reward would be the numerous treats waiting on the back table:  sandwiches, squares, punch, oatcakes and cookies.  No event is complete on the island unless the guests are treated to the best goodies, and of course King Cole black tea.

My family has roots in Hungary, and paprika has always been an important part of our recipes.  I remember my Great Grandmother making us donuts upon our arrival for our vacation.  We would then have a huge lunch, usually with homemade soup and noodles, fried chicken or chicken and dumplings, and bird’s nest cookies for dessert.  One day of our vacation was always set aside to spend a day with Nagymama, (as we affectionately called her), where she taught us how to make noodles from scratch.  One day I had the honor of learning how to make strudel as well.  She rolled the dough so paper thin by hand, I could not believe her patience and perseverance.  After lunch, Papapa, (my Great Grandfather), would walk us to the corner store and give us a quarter.  My sister and I always bought a bag of barbecue potato chips and savored the walk home with our great grandfather.    

At my grandparents house, my grandmother was famous for her homemade bread.  She always had fresh twists ready when we arrived, and breakfast would see the loaves of bread disappear quickly as our homemade toast was slathered with fresh apricot jam that was runny and soaked into our bread.  I always found room for 4 pieces of toast on those breakfast mornings.   My grandfather always insisted on taking a picture of the dinner table before we ate at our family gatherings.  He had lost both his parents and the family farm by the time he was fourteen years old, and there were many days and nights that he wandered the roads across Canada trying to find somewhere to get a bite of food.  By taking a picture of the table for our family feasts, he could give thanks for the many blessings that he had found since that time. 

As we prepare for our Christmas celebrations this year, we have moved across the country to Cape Breton Island and we have left our extended family behind.  Our son, who is now out on his own, is visiting us for a few weeks.  What do we think about?  What would you like to eat while you are here?!  His first two requests, having been on the road for six months and eating restaurant food a lot of the time, was for my homemade pancakes (my Dad’s Dad’s recipe), and homemade macaroni (my husband’s claim to fame).  For his birthday I made Waldorf Astoria Red Cake (my mother-in-laws recipe).  Next week we will have the fondue pots out for some favorite beer batter with mustard sauce and sausages.  Devilled eggs will be on the menu for Christmas day, that is what both Mom’s always made for us.  And, no visit is complete without a few dozen chocolate chip cookies in the cookie jar.

As the commercialism of the season descends upon us through the weeks leading up to Christmas, I embrace my fond memories of dinners over the decades and with my family.  I think one of the greatest gifts I could pass to my kids, is a recipe book full of the favorites and the stories that accompany each delicacy.   My Great Aunt, who passed away this past January, published a cookbook of my Great Uncles recipes from the old country and from his time as a cook in the war.  This family heirloom is a bigger treasure now that she is no longer with us.  And, she was a writer.  She wrote for her local paper for over 3 decades.  We used to get angry with her telling family secrets from our various family events.  But now, as I look back at her stories, she recorded our history for us.  She preserved those precious moments visiting with each other and sharing the dinner table. 

Even the Christmas tree was full of popcorn strings with cranberries, gingerbread cookies, and candy cane treats!

As you plan for your festivities this season, take a moment to reflect on the traditions you are carrying on.  Perhaps you will have time to pass a recipe forward or attach a story to a favorite dish.  "Bon Appetite" as Julia Child’s would say, and Happy Holidays from our family to yours.