A Picture Tells a Thousand Words: our downtown murals

It's pretty hard to miss all the wonderful murals while walking or driving around Dawson Creek.

My favorite is the one of the three woman standing around the telephone pole in the alley near the Mile O Post. I wonder who's mothers they are, surely they were local women during the building of the Alaska Avenue.

These murals bring the history of our city, agricultural roots, local wildlife and the building of the Alaska Highway alive. They tell our story in art and color.

The Dawson Creek Art Gallery, the South Peace Art Society, and the City of Dawson Creek have been sponsoring the annual mural project in the business center of Dawson Creek since 2000 and a diverse selection of talented artists of all ages have created them.

Local residents and tourists watch with fascination the creation of a mural during the warm summer months.

It's not uncommon to see a group of artists in paint-splattered clothes climbing up and down scaffolding wielding paintbrushes and carrying paint buckets.

We never know what's in store for the upcoming season and where the next mural will be created. I guess we'll just have to watch for the signs... a bunch of people standing in front of a blank wall, sketch books in hand, making sweeping arm movements with contemplative looks on their faces... what else could it be?

A Picture Tells a Thousand Words: our downtown murals

Fly! Fly! Fly! The Dawson Creek Air Show

Swooping and looping, upright and upside down... We just had another amazing Air Show here in Dawson Creek.

Hundreds of people showed up to be thrilled and delighted... ooohing and aahhing as plane after plane performed in the sky.

It was very exciting. My favorite is always the daredevil on the bi-plane. I've seen that in movies, but seeing it up close and personal is a whole other thing.

The snowbirds were spectacular as usual. They just get better and better.

A real crowd pleaser was the Sailplane. No motor, great music and pyrotechnics on the ends of the wings. My friend described it as " a beautiful dance in mid air."

What a great yearly event!

Fly! Fly! Fly! The Dawson Creek Air Show

Summer Cruise Fun!

We just attended one of the largest show and shines in BC.

Most of the streets in downtown Dawson Creek were blocked off for the day as hundreds of shiny vintage cars and trucks gathered for the grand finale of the annual Summer Cruise.

We met people from all over BC and Alberta. Some of the locals actually drove the vehicles here and many hauled them here in special trailers.

The streets were alive with proud owners, vintage car enthusiasts and eager spectators.

There were sandwich signs in front of each of the vehicles telling us about them.

Most of the hoods were up and the owners were happy to answer any questions and tell stories about them. While some were for sale as the owners were planning their next restoration project, it was obvious that many were considered family members and would never be for sale.

One man jokingly told me that he would sell his kids before he sold his car.

Later in the afternoon, awards were given in several categories.

Summer Cruise Fun!

Bison, Wild Pigs and Mountain Goats! Sewell Valley Game Farm

I love it when we can find the perfect activity to do with our out of town guests! Our "city-folk" friends were up for a visit with their children. They live in a big southern city and this was their first trip to the north.

On Sunday, after a leisurely start to the day, we piled in the vehicle and headed out to the Sewell Valley Game Farm about a half hour drive north of Dawson Creek. I had thought ahead and made an appointment for our visit.

What a treat to watch the kids meet the baby animals. We saw young fallow deer, wild boars, bison and a mountain goat and lots of other animals. Our 2 legged 'kids' met their 4 legged 'kids'.

The farm is amazing. Clean and organized, the owners obviously take their role as caretakers very seriously. The animal's environments seem well designed for comfort. All the animals are the picture of health and seemed to have names and a story.

My favorite was seeing a large herd of bison with their young grazing peacefully in a field. It was a flash back to the times when they roamed free.

When we finally had to leave, my friend bought a necklace made from an antler in the gift shop and I bought some bison meat to barbecue that night for dinner.

It was a great day! Our friends really enjoyed themselves.

Bison, Wild Pigs and Mountain Goats! Sewell Valley Game Farm

"Wild and Lawless" Horse Show in Dawson Creek

I admit to being a horse enthusiast. When I heard that we were having another Wild and Lawless Horse Show at the Lakota Equestrian Center, I was thrilled!

I couldn't believe how much the show had grown in one year. There were over 120 riders of all ages and all disciplines.

Horses were everywhere! In stalls, aisles, pens, in the huge bathing room and in the arena. The atmosphere was pure energy, the sound was a symphony of whinnies and laughter and the smell was pure horse.

I got a chance to visit with old friends and new friends from as far away as 100 Mile House and White Court. I even met some tourists up from Omaha, Nebraska, who although they were here for their grandson's graduation, couldn't resist sneaking out for a few hours to watch the show! Horses bring people together!

All the disciplines were represented: English Equitation, Pleasure & Jumping, Western Equitation, Trail, Pleasure, Barrel Racing and Pole Bending.

The equestrian center is a great venue for a show of this size, and more than capable of handling even more growth. What a top-notch center! I couldn't count how many times I heard out of town competitors praise the riding center and the organization.

Sometimes a person just knows that an event has taken root and will just get better and better year after year... well, 's the feeling with the Wild and Lawless! I'm putting it on my calendar for next year! And I know I won't be the only one!

"Wild and Lawless" Horse Show in Dawson Creek

Happy Birthday Canada!

Everyone loves a parade! Everyone loves a party and everyone looks great in red and white.

I have been going to watch the Canada Day Parade in the little village of Pouce Coupe near Dawson Creek for more years than I can remember.

The best part of it for me is that a small community has created an important cultural event that brings people together year after year.

The parade itself is not large, but the crowd is loyal and appreciative and you never know what you are going to see. ( My all time favorite was a small woman who thought it was a great idea to bring a very uncooperative miniature donkey; they stole the act, and many hearts that day, I actually followed her along the route so I didn't miss the antics.)

This year I noticed the variety of license plates on the parked vehicles: Montana, Wisconsin, Texas and one from Georgia were mixed in with the locals.

Right after the parade, everyone makes a beeline to Pouce Park for a big community barbecue. There is entertainment and craft booths and lots and lots of families.

What a great way to have fun, relax and celebrate being Canadian eh?! And this year we had lots of sun too!

Happy Birthday Canada!