From left, volunteer/model Lauryn Woodford; executive director of CWS Nora-Lee Rear; and manager of Bloom’n Deals Shannon Stolee. The ladies are ready to walk the runway, adorned in unique finds from the store.

By Adan Shaikh

Glitz and glamour woven together by the love of the Camrose community will walk the runway on November 7, at the Camrose Women’s Shelter Society’s Bloom and Glam Fashion Show taking place at the Days Inn Norsemen.

The event will showcase clothing and accessories from the society’s social enterprise, Bloom’n Deals, modelled by the people who know the organization well, its volunteers, along with executive director Nora-Lee Rear.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with cocktails and appetizers, giving guests time to mingle and browse a selection of silent auction items before the fashion show begins at 7 p.m. Those who spot something they love on the runway will also have a chance to take it home, as all of the featured outfits will be available for purchase.

Behind every outfit is a story of community generosity. All clothing and accessories sold at Bloom’n Deals are donated by local residents, giving pre-loved items a second life while helping support vital services for women and children experiencing family violence.

“The idea of a fashion show was brought to us for years by our volunteer coordinator Jennifer Page and finally we felt like it was time,” said Nora-Lee.
With November recognized as Family Violence Prevention Month, the event will also provide an opportunity to shine a light on the realities of family violence and the support available through the Society.

“We wanted to tie that in with what we do here at the Camrose Women’s Shelter,” she said. For the Society, Bloom and Glam is an opportunity to bring people together in a fun and welcoming setting while highlighting the important role community support plays in helping women and children find safety and build a future free from violence.

For tickets, stop by the Bloom’n Deals store located at 4912 50 Street, any time between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Former Premier of Alberta Jason Kenney joined the Chester Ronning Centre for the Study of Religion and Public Life director Joseph Wiebe for reflection on life, religion and the current political climate of Alberta. The audience had the opportunity to ask questions after the moderated session.

By Adan Shaikh

Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney visited Camrose in September for a live conversation with Joseph Wiebe, director of the Chester Ronning Centre for the Study of Religion and Public Life.

Although some attendees arrived expecting to hear about Alberta’s referendum, the discussion took a more personal direction, exploring Kenney’s religious journey, how he became a Catholic Christian and the role faith has played in shaping his views on life, community and politics.

Reflecting on his experience witnessing the work of the Missionaries of Charity, Kenney described the sisters’ care for vulnerable people as “pure Gospel love, unadulterated, unpretentious.” He said their example showed him the power of faith put into action.

Kenney also spoke about the spiritual connection people can find in the natural world, recalling the vast prairie sky and its endless stars. Such moments, he suggested, can inspire a sense of something greater than ourselves while reminding us how much we rely on others.

The conversation moved from faith to the challenges facing society, including political polarization and the influence of social media. Kenney noted how online spaces can reinforce existing beliefs and make it harder for people to understand different perspectives.

“The internet allowed people to dive into comforting silos of their own prejudices, we all do it,  where we can curate our own information sources and voices that reflect our own priors and boy! that kind off removes you from a broader community,” he said.

For Kenney, rebuilding trust requires a renewed focus on community and shared responsibility. He argued that society needs to recover its sense of the common good, emphasizing that people do not have to agree on everything to work toward a shared future.

“It is very important for me to say that we must seek unity in our diversity,” he said.

Kenney also reflected on the role of politics, describing it as a form of service rather than simply a pursuit of power. He said political activity should help advance the common good and improve the lives of the people politicians represent.

When asked about the Canadian identity and the referendum, Kenney acknowledged that the country is far from perfect, but argued that its history of liberty, opportunity and stability is worth celebrating. He encouraged Canadians to take a greater interest in the stories and traditions that have shaped the country.

“We have a wonderful story to tell, and stories – cultural stories too. They’re rich, and they’re who we are, and we need to recover that,” he explained.

Toward the end of the conversation, Kenney reflected on his time as premier and addressed Alberta’s ongoing debate over its relationship with the federal government.

“We are imperfect, but in the broad sweep of human history, we have somehow managed to build one of the most admirable countries in the world. Characterized by order, liberty, freedom of opportunity, and a certain sense of stability and shared values, that is worth celebrating and fighting for.”

Throughout the discussion, Kenney connected his personal experiences with bigger reflections about faith and belonging. His message returned to the importance of service and shared values. As he put it, when discussing the principles he believes should guide people, particularly young people, the aim should be to “pursue the true, the good and the beautiful and certainly that requires that we believe in such things as the true, the good and the beautiful.”

The conversation offered attendees an opportunity to hear Kenney speak outside of the political debate, examining how faith and personal experience have shaped his understanding of public life, and what he believes Canadians need to do, to preserve their sense of community and common purpose.

Lara Kruger, left, and Susan Lindsay are currently displaying a beautiful collection of their artwork at the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre. Pictured above are Lara with her piece, “Dreaming the Land” and Susan with her piece, “Touching the Wind”.

By Adan Shaikh

Art does not always need to shout to be heard, and this next exhibition at the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre (LPAC), showcases just that. Whispers, a new exhibition by Alberta artists Susan Lindsay and Lara Kruger, is now on display in the lobby of LPAC.

“We named it Whispers because of how art speaks to people. It’s not something that’s loud or obnoxious, it’s this beautiful voice that you hear softly in your head,” said Susan. “It’s about the story and drawing on people’s backgrounds and just a play on how a whisper can speak to someone within the art.”

Susan’s artistic practice moves between painting, sculpture and mixed media, with her curiosity often leading the way.

“It has always just been in my blood. Even when I was a child, I was always building, making and creating with varied mediums, and it just grew into a bigger passion.”

Lara, who is based on Treaty 7 territory near Cochrane, works in bronze, wood, stone, charcoal and mixed media painting. Her connection to the arts began through another form of expression.
“I did a lot of music as a young kid, violin primarily, so there has always been a musical side and then a visual arts side too that developed as I got older.”

Although their work remains distinctly their own, the two artists discovered similarities in the way they create.

“We both have a lot of similar ways of approaching the art practice itself and that sort of comes through both of our work,” said Lara. “There is an element of something unseen that comes through. You start out with a plan and then the piece doesn’t always become exactly what you have in your mind to begin with.”

That unseen pull became part of the idea behind Whispers, with both artists allowing intuition to guide a piece as it develops.

They both draw inspiration from play, “Just trying to let go of any sort of pretensions around what it is that we are creating and more just really diving into the process,” said Lara.

The landscape surrounding the Cochrane and Calgary area also finds its way into their work. Rolling hills, fields, dramatic skies and mountains often become the subject of their pieces.

The exhibition includes several pieces from each artist’s individual collection, along with one piece Susan and Lara worked on together. Visitors are invited to spend some time with the works rather than simply passing by them, noticing the thoughts, feelings or memories that surface and perhaps listening for a whisper of their own.

Whispers will remain on display at the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre until November 10 and can be viewed in the lobby during box office hours. 

Artists interested in displaying their work at the Lougheed Centre can contact curator Jane Cherry at jcherry62@hotmail.com