On Saturday evening, I took my daughter out to see the 150 Years – Canada Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, a multimedia and live performance.
The project was the only one from the community that received a Canada 150 grant, and as such, I was curious as to how it would roll out and to gauge its success. I have to confess, part of me wondered, ‘Wouldn’t it be better to spend Canada 150 grants on lasting projects, that would stay in the community forever?’
The other part of me was interested in seeing how the creators would succeed in this ambitious and monumental task, telling the story of a country in an hour.
Well, as the hour unfolded, I had to admit that my eyes were opened, to the brilliance within our community in creating such an original piece, from the filming, live performances, music, art and dance that all tied together. Thought seemed to go into all the aspects of making the project one that was true to history and life, bringing together diverse talents and people to reflect Canada. Environmental responsibility even was considered, as a board member noted that the trees that were brought in to transform the space into a forest, had come from an area where thinning was beneficial to the trees remaining.
A talk with some of the people involved in the production afterwards made me reflect, as one or two noted that sometimes, people don’t see the value of supporting arts, as they might with music concerts or sporting events.
This production was managed primarily with a grant of about $24,500 from Canada 150 funds, and $5,000 from the County of St. Paul with support from the Town of St. Paul as well to advertise the event, but also involved countless volunteer hours. Of course, governments – at whatever level – must realize they are stewards of public funds and think about the value of the projects they fund.
However, I gauge the success of this project, and the value of it to the community, by my nine-year-old daughter’s response. As she talked to her dad that night before bed, it was clear she was full of thoughts about what she had seen, the meaning of the ‘magician’ or ‘storyteller’ manipulating time, the historic scenes she had witnessed, about residential schools and Treaty 6 lands, and the meaning of the final scene showing a kôhkom holding hands with her nurse from the Philippines, talking about how the two had become a family.
How can one put a value on that curiosity and wonder? You can’t. Quite simply, it is a testament that artistic expression and creation, when executed well, is priceless.
