Inductees announced for 2024 Prince Albert Arts Hall of Fame

His credits include 43 albums, numerous chart singles, and over 350 network and syndicated television shows. Sklar’s television series, CTV’s Number One West, has won six national awards for excellence. Sklar told paNOW there is nothing more gratifying than being recognized in your own hometown.

“I have statues from Canada, the US and Europe in my office/studio. But this is the one that really surprised me and one that I will gratefully accept,” he said.

Sklar noted that while he has been living in Regina for 32 years, he is always reminded by people that Prince Albert is his hometown.

“Important to note, in my opinion, my greatest accomplishment is Number One West. We produced six years of network quality variety programming in a city of about 30 thousand, thanks to my mentor, Jack Cennon, my director, Brian Rock, and, of course, that incredible stage band. That’s something to brag about,” he said.

Sklar’s group, the TEX PISTOLS, is known for their rhinestone suits and interaction with audiences the way entertainers used to in Las Vegas in the 50’s and 60’s. (Submitted/ Tia Furstenberg)

Darcy Blahut in the Literature category

Blahut has been a citizen of Prince Albert for almost 25 years. During a hiatus between programs of study, he was introduced to the city as a Katimavik project leader, a time during which he became familiar with this city’s generosity and people—its volunteer and non-profit network, its educators, community leaders, host families, and the wealth of its natural environment.

As an early poet, it was then that Darcy was introduced to the Sans Nom writers’ group, which had received support from the Saskatchewan Writers Guild.

After completing his academic studies in philosophy, Blahut returned to the city to establish a life—to set roots down, to marry, and begin a career.

He would go on to produce three full-length collections of poems, a collaborative book of both prose and poetry and chapbooks. While more visibly and audibly a poet, in and amongst these works he would take furtive tangents into children’s stories and long fiction, producing short stories and novels, drafting two stage plays, and collaborating with a host of international composers.

Darcy Blahut. (submitted/ Tia Furstenberg)

Lana Wilson – Builder

In fall 2024, Lana will have been employed at the Mann Art Gallery (MAG) for ten years.

As Manager of Education Programs, she has developed extensive visual arts programs and built relationships with a diverse range of people. She told paNOW she can’t believe that she’s being inducted and really feels not yet worthy.

“I feel like an award like this would require 20, 30 years of service. I’m very grateful to the people who nominated me and wrote support letters. I do respect and admire those people, so perhaps I must trust them in this. I look at the list of other inductees, and I look at who is not yet represented there, and I am humbled,” she said.

Noting how she moved to Prince Albert for this job, Wilson said she did not know how long she would stay.

“I didn’t imagine I would serve two stints as Acting Director/Curator, especially during a global pandemic. One of the things I am most proud of is how our staff at the gallery navigated COVID lockdown in spring 2020,” she said.

Wilson also noted that through working with Leah Dorion and Danielle Castle, they launched a series of Metis outdoor art installations. The goal was to bring Indigenous art to people outside of the gallery space, especially when the gallery was closed.

That project continued to take place for a total of three summers (Intergenerational Metis Mentorship Project – summer art installations), and led to two cultural sewing workshops that resulted in exhibitions (Ribbon Skirts and Moon Shawls).

“Other highlights for me have included seeing children who once attended programs like Free Family Art Days, summer art camps, or showed in the High School Juried Art Show go on to launch careers in art, and have solo exhibitions themselves,” Wilson explained.

Lana Wilson. (Submitted/ Tia Fursrtenberg)

Prince Albert Concert Band – Performing Arts — Music

The Prince Albert Concert Band is the oldest cultural institution in the city, predating the founding of Prince Albert. Before the age of amplification and mass media, the band was the communities’ main source of music for entertainment and social events.

Over the years it has had several rebirths as members come and go. In the 1970’s and 80’s, the band was led by Michael Scholfield and David Monette.

For that time it held rehearsals in the basement of the city hall. The most recent period of their history started in 1996 when Robert Gibson became the conductor. Under Bob’s direction the band developed a regular season of concerts and playing engagements including performing at Remembrance Day events, Christmas Concerts, Prince Albert Winter Festival, Spring Concerts, and providing music for Decoration Day services. Bob retired from the position in June 2015.

Kathleen Clarke was the band director from 2015 to 2017, followed by Nicole Webb and Erika Rybinski, who shared the band director job from 2017- 2018 and Kayleigh Skomorowski, who was the band director from 2019 to 2022.

Shannon Fehr is beginning her second year directing the band for 2023-2024. In recent years, the band has partnered with organizations including the Prince Albert Children’s Choir and Prince Albert String Orchestra, and regional groups such as the Tisdale Concert Band and Stobart Drummers.

The Prince Albert Arts Hall of Fame Induction Gala will happen on Friday, Sept. 27 at the E.A. Rawlinson Centre for the Arts (EARC).

In past years, the dinner and ceremony have happened solely on the Olive & John G. Diefenbaker stage, with limited tickets and seating available to the public. Because the Arts Hall of Fame has four inductees this year, the most it has ever had, the Prince Albert Arts Board (PAAB) felt it was important to provide a larger event that could accommodate more patrons for this annual, celebratory evening.

So, for the first time, the Arts Hall of Fame will have a ticketed dinner in the EARC Lobby and a ticketed ceremony in the theatre.

The ceremony will have performances by local artists, dancers, musicians, and more (to be determined) in between recognizing each inductee.

Tickets for the dinner and ceremony will be available on the EARC website and at the EARC box office in mid-June. Each dinner ticket purchased will include a reserved seat in the theatre for the ceremony.

—

panews@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @princealbert

by Nigel Maxwell

Inductees announced for 2024 Prince Albert Arts Hall of Fame

What's Trending