The Polar Express had a new conductor in December.
Breanne Jamieson, a Grade 11 student a Holy Trinity Academy (HTA), conducted the John Paul II Collegiate Grade 8 band in a rousing rendition of the Polar Express at the school’s concert on Dec. 8 in Okotoks.

Jamieson was awarded the baton by John Paul II Collegiate music instructor Paul Stelter for her efforts as a work-experience student in his classroom.
Jamieson has plenty of experience watching the baton as a French horn player in the HTA band, but this was the first …

Whether it’s Bugs Bunny conducting Giovanni Jones, John Williams in front of the Boston Pops, or Breanne Jamieson behind the podium at the John Paul II Collegiate Christmas concert, neophyte music people are thinking the same thing: “Does someone waving a wand in front of a musician really make any difference?”
You bet it does, according to Martin Kennedy, Holy Trinity Academy (HTA) Martin music instructor.
Kennedy was on hand to watch Jamieson, a Grade 11 student a HTA, conduct the John Paul II band during its performance of The Polar Express …

A new art show at the Leighton Art Centre is an opportunity for emerging artists to showcase their paintings on the walls of the renowned gallery alongside the works of established Alberta artists.
The result is a survey of 17 veteran and neophyte painters who are contributing to art in Alberta, curator Les Pinter said. The result is also a survey of the widely varying ways different artists use paint to create an image.
“It’s a visually exciting exhibition. There’s a lot of colour and a lot of sophistication in the handling …

There is only one night each year the sound of a siren being heard throughout the streets of Okotoks is good news.
The ruckus means jolly old Santa Claus is riding through town on a fire truck.
On Christmas Eve, children throughout Okotoks will be pulling on their boots, coats and mitts and running outside to wave to Santa as he rolls past.
For eight years Okotoks firefighters have shined up the fire truck and made a comfortable spot for Santa to perch as he ho-ho-hos and waves to all the good little …

Forty years making music in Canada has given Murray McLauchlan his perspective on music with soul, music that has something to say. On Jan. 21 he will sit down with the audience at the Bragg Creek Centre and give a seasoned and enlightening performance.
“I try to create an experience for them (the audience) that is unique – to make something happen in their heads – so they go away feeling a little bit different about things than when they came. That’s what I hope to do,” said McLauchlan.
McLauchlan began contributing …

Children across the foothills are finding out the Okotoks Art Gallery and the Okotoks Museum and Archives are fun places to be.
In September, Jan Robinson, the education program specialist for the Town of Okotoks, launched two clubs for children to learn about art and history.
Since then, more and more children ages six to 12 have been showing up because word is spreading the educational sessions are excellent.
The next activity is this Saturday at the Okotoks Museum and Archives. It’s the history-oriented club, called Adventure Club@OMA, which meets on the third …

A pair of Oilfields High School grads, who are bubbling with ideas and developing their filmmaking skills, had an opportunity to present their vision to movie-goers last weekend.
Zoe Slusar, 21, and Bailey Kerluke, 23, unveileded their latest accomplishment, a feature-length comedy called “Summer School”, last week in Calgary.
In the past six months Slusar and Kerluke wrote the script, set up the shots and photographed and acted in each scene, edited the footage and refined the finished movie in post-production. During the same time period they both worked at other jobs …

Audiences will have a unique opportunity to follow the yellow brick road across the big screen tonight.
Opportunities to see classic movies on television are plentiful, but a chance to see the splendor of the old Hollywood classics projected on the huge screen in the theatre, with a bucket of movie popcorn in your lap are as rare as the exquisite Audrey Hepburn.
The Okotoks Cinemas has created a fun evening out that is a tribute to the golden oldies. Tonight (Wednesday) they are hosting A Night With the Classics, featuring the …

A High River teen’s musical career is taking off, propelled by national awards and an invitation to play at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.
Calum Graham, 18, is receiving more accolades for his original and traditional finger-picking style guitar including a winning performance at a national youth talent competition in Prince Edward Island last month. Graham has also received an invitation to perform for athletes at the 2010 Olympics in February and to perform at renowned bluesman Amos Garrett’s New Year’s Eve concert in High River.
He’s staying grounded, though. …

Businesses in Bragg Creek are offering a special shopping experience to entice residents to spend a day in a quaint community rather than a day at the mall.
Every Sunday this month – including Dec. 27 – there will be Christmas activities, such as wagon rides, hot chocolate, caroling and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The event, called Christmas in Bragg Creek, is in its second year and organizer Cam Stewart said it’s growing.
“All of the business community has signed on to it,” said Stewart. “Different groups, for example the …