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.
She grew up in Flin Flon but made her way west to go to school. After receiving an education in marketing and special events planning in Edmonton, Niki Stenerson got herself a job in the Alberta capital working at the Kids Up Front Foundation. With her events programmer position ending in July, Stenerson moved back to her hometown, although she wasnÕt sure what should would be doing. But it didnÕt take the 21-year-old recent graduate long before landing another job in her field. Stenerson has replaced Jason Mandes as the Program and Events Coordinator at the Flin Flon Friendship Centre. ÒI love it,Ó she says. ÒItÕs something new, itÕs exciting and itÕs a bit of a challenge,Ó she says. ÒBut itÕs what I went to school for, so itÕs perfect in that regard.Ó Stenerson has been behind the desk for just over a month now, and she says things are going smoothly. ÒThe events are great,Ó she says, noting she has had some help along the way. ÒI look forward to carrying on the events and maybe bring some new (events) in the new year.Ó As Stenerson moved back to her hometown, Mandes was packing his bags to move to Lloydminster for school. But Mandes was still able to help Stenerson out. ÒJason was here for four or five years,Ó she says. ÒThere were a lot of things in place, so that made it easier. ÒThings were set in motion...and he was a big help in preparing me for the position.Ó With StenersonÕs move back to Flin Flon and taking a new job, she has been getting reacquainted with many people she already knew, which in turn helps her job. ÒIÕm familiar with a lot of those IÕm working with,Ó she says. ÒWith my family being from here, I know a lot of people anyways.Ó But it isnÕt the same as walking down the street and bumping into someone. ÒIts a different experience. Rather than just my friends or friends of my momÕs, they are co-workers and people I deal with on a day-to-day basis,Ó she says. As Stenerson gets a handle on things, she is learning to work with those in the community. ÒItÕs great because (Flin Flon) is such a community-minded town...where everyone helps,Ó she says. Along with the people in the town, Stenerson has been working alongside Creighton Recreation as well as the City Of Flin Flon. Though itÕs still far away, Stenerson says the three will be teaming up for the Bust the Winter Blues Fest, which takes place the last weekend in February. Coming sooner than that, Stenerson and the Friendship Centre will be working on getting the Aboriginal Arts Symposium going, as well as a one-day art workshop. The workshop, open to the general public, will give people a chance to take lessons from a local artist on drawing, soapstone carving and caribou-hair tufting. ÒItÕs a great event to get people used to aboriginal art,Ó she says, noting there has been a lot of interest in the workshop. As well, the Friendship Centre will be hosting, in partnership with the Flin Flon Arts Council, country music star Shane Yellowbird this November. Also, the Christmas Gift Program, started by Ida Kozar, has been passed on to the centre this year. Stenerson says the program offers parents who are unable to purchase a Christmas present for their children the chance to put something under the tree. ÒThey have to qualify...but they come to the Friendship Centre and pick up a gift for each of their children and take it home and wrap it,Ó she says. ÒIda ran it for 14 years, so itÕs not new, just new to the Friendship Centre.Ó Stenerson has noticed that sheÕs not the only young person returning to Flin Flon to work. ÒI think itÕs great a lot of young people are coming back to the community and reviving it,Ó she says. ÒThey are taking positions in the community rather than staying away. ÒItÕs what the community needs to bring it back to life.Ó Stenerson says with so many people coming back home, itÕs bringing Òexcitement and life into Flin Flon with the events being held here.Ó ÒItÕs great,Ó she says.
