The PAGC kicked off the 33rd year of their Fine Arts Festival with a Grand Entry at the Prince Albert Exhibition hall on April 20. (Image Credit: Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Festival endures

PAGC Fine Arts Festival celebrates 33 years

Apr 20, 2026 | 4:24 PM

The Prince Albert Grand Council has been hosting a fine arts festival for 33 years and it shows no sign of slowing down.

Shona Tretiak, the festival co-ordinator, said about 1,000 students attend the festival from multiple schools in the PAGC communities.

Tretiak has been involved in almost every single iteration and said that in 32 years that she has been a part, participation has been constant.

“We haven’t changed too much. We’ve added a few things, but for the most part, it’s always been jigging and square dancing, and they used to call it hip-hop, but we call it creative dancing, and all the other categories basically remain the same.”

Dignitaries danced in to the beat of a drum group. (Image Credit: Susan McNeil/paNOW)

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While performing arts are a major part of the festival, the entries are not limited to dancing and some of the students submit artwork.

“The only ones that really change now and then are the visual arts and we add and delete categories as they’re popular and not popular,” Tretiak said.

The festival lasts for four days and will wrap up on Thursday with performances happening at the Exhibition grounds.

“Honestly, I don’t know whether it’s the adrenaline or the kids. I think it’s a little bit of both. But it’s amazing watching the kids having fun and dancing up a storm or with their artwork. We’ve got a lot of talent,” she said.

A young dancer during the Grand Entry. (Image Credit: Susan McNeil/paNOW)

Performances are not limited to traditional Indigenous dances, line dancing is a perennial favourite along with hip hop.

“It seems to be still something that the kids aspire for, so as long as the kids are still coming, it will continue.”

This would be the 35th anniversary but two years were cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

by Susan McNeil

PAGC Fine Arts Festival celebrates 33 years

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