The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Flin Flon has become known across the province and country for its Culture Days activities and events. Over the past four years, Flin Flon has been named in the top 10 of Culture Days locations across Canada. The small mining town sits at seventh this year _ astonishing not only organizer Crystal Kolt, but many others. 'Culture Days is getting bigger everywhere,' says Kolt. 'But we're still in it and competing with places like Toronto and Vancouver.' This year's events will take place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of next week. Kolt says the community involvement, support, and spirit continues to grow with the events each year. This year's Culture Days will feature roughly eighty events for all ages and there's plenty to choose from. Kolt says her top pick is 'definitely Dancing Down Main Street.' The annual event has brought national recognition to Flin Flon as participants make their way from one end of Main Street to the other and follow a choreographed dance. 'We're really wanting that to be a signature piece for Flin Flon,' said Kolt, knowing it already has had success in the past. The event takes roughly 30 minutes and is a great way to be involved in Culture Days, she says. 'It's really fun and...no experience is needed,' Kolt said, adding that it is a pet friendly event. Kolt hopes to see dancers of all ages out on Main Street on Sunday, September 27. 'I want everyone to feel free to be a part of Dancing Down Main Street,' said Kolt. This year's dance, choreographed by Tammy Dowell, will be to Micheal Buble's It's A Beautiful Day. Kolt says she hasn't seen the dance yet, but already knows it's going to be a great success. Dancing Down Main Street is on Kolt's top five list, but she encourages everyone to look through the schedule and choose their own favourites. 'Really go through the schedule and take your time to look at all the events,' she said, noting that there are plenty to choose from. See 'Just' on pg. Continued from pg. 'All the events are special, so it depends on your taste,' she said. But she says if scouring the schedule doesn't sound appealing there is one better option. '...Just show up,' she said excitedly. 'There is so much (going on) that there will be something that will interest you.' Culture Days events will take place Friday until Sunday in various locations in the community _ such as Bakers Narrows, the local schools, and Pioneer Square. 'Just show up and enjoy. It's all there for you,' said Kolt. Culture Days will feature events familiar to some in the area like beading workshops and historical tours, but will feature plenty of new events like new-to-the-area guest speakers. Last year's Culture Days had over 500 volunteers helping to make it a success _ and named in the top 10 in Canada again this year. Kolt says this year there are even more. 'I'm excited with the number of volunteers, organizations, and businesses involved in Culture Days. 'It says a lot about Flin Flon,' she said. Though Kolt has a large part in the success of Culture Days in Flin Flon, she says it comes back to the volunteers, residents, organizations and supporters. 'It's the community spirit and involvement. It's that feeling of the little engine that could,' she said, referring to the popular children's book. Kolt says the success of the past, and future, Culture Days is something to be proud of. 'They are all wondering across Canada- 'how are we doing it?' But we're doing it and that's something we should be very proud of,' she said. School Pride Both the Flin Flon School Division and the Creighton School Division have included their students in this year's Culture Day activities. 'Something really unique that we are doing and (that we) haven't seen in other parts of Canada is the way the schools are involved,' said Kolt. 'We have activities for every child in the Flin Flon and Creighton School Divisions that Katy Anderson has organized.' Kolt says she is amazed at the commitment from the schools. 'It can't be overstated,' she said proudly. 'That's the sort of above-and-beyond that I want to see happening in other parts of the country.' Big Support Flin Flon Culture Days wouldn't be possible without the support from local organizations and supporters as well as larger government bodies. 'We couldn't pull it off without some real financial support,' she said.
