Final Report of the
39th Labrador Creative Arts Festival
Fiona Andersen, Coordinator
December 2014
'Communication'
"... the arts are most certainly the universal language, communicating a common thread of
understanding and appreciation throughout Labrador and the larger global community."
Fiona Frawley
Assistant Director of Education, NL English School District
Labrador Regional Office
"Our Government is proud to support the Labrador Creative Arts festival ... bringing students and
artists together in a unique blend of collaboration, creativity and fun."
The Honourable Shelly Glover
Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
"We continue to communicate with our stories, visual art, music and dance, creating a web of artistic
links that keeps our understanding of Labrador strong and shows the world who we are ... and we will
continue to communicate our message: that the arts show us what is possible!"
Martha MacDonald
Chairperson, LCAF
DEDICATION The festival was dedicated to everyone who kept and keeps us connected and
communicating - from the days of delivering mail by dog-team to the laying of fibre optic cable and
all the connectivity that brings!"
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"Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and
mutual valuing." Rollo May
This year the festival hosted 12 school drama groups over six nights. Bad weather on the first
day of the festival meant that coastal schools were a day late arriving but that did not detract
from the excitement and anticipation of seeing more than 175 young people performing
their plays on the theme of Communication at the Lawrence O'Brien Arts Centre. We were a
community, and we valued their creativity!
With its vast landmass and small population Communication is a theme which has great
relevance in a territory like Labrador. The festival itself is an example of the kind of
communication that has ensured annual contact amongst students who would rarely
connect if not for this opportunity. People in Labrador can still remember when boats
stopped running in the fall due to the freeze-up of the ocean and monthly dog team mail
delivery being the only avenue for contact between family members in different
communities! In a world which is now primarily focused on electronic communication it
often happens that internet and cell phone service in Labrador are disrupted or unavailable
and connectivity to the 'outside' world is dropped. We felt sure that students would
embrace this theme as it is such a major component of their lives.
The LCAF keeps a database and is proud to be able to claim the following as evidence of its
importance:- Since 1978 ...
 Approximately 500 original plays have been written and performed
 There have been over 575 visiting artists from every province and territory in Canada, the
USA and Europe
 14,000+ children have been involved in the writing, producing and performing of original
plays
 The Festival coordinates workshops in local and coastal schools – each year
approximately 2000 children are exposed to some form of the performing and visual arts
 In excess of 8700 hours of workshops have been delivered
The Labrador Creative Arts Festival committee, with the coordinator, begin to plan and
prepare the next festival immediately as the current one ends and are only limited by the
amount of funding received to implement it. We communicate our needs to funding
agencies and hope that we cover our budget requirements as we do not consider it an option
to deny attendance to any school drama group!
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The success of the Communication festival has to be attributed to the experience of the
organizing committee, the dedication of teacher directors and students, the enthusiasm of
visiting artists, the support of school administrators and teacher representatives, and the
kindness shown by many friends of the Festival in the local area. Naturally none of this could
be achieved without the financial support of our major sponsors: The Labrador District
Office/NL English School District (Nunatsiavut); Canadian Heritage - Arts Presentation
Canada; Vale; Nalcor; Presentation Sisters Education Fund; Rotary Club of Happy ValleyGoose Bay; Canada Council for Public Readings; Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council;
International Grenfell Association, Labrador Grenfell Health, NunatuKavut; and local
sponsors/supporters: Ladies Legion Auxiliary; Valley Business Equipment Inc.; Northmart; Dr.
Scrivens; College of the North Atlantic; Scotia Bank; Bank of Montreal; Labrador Institute;
IEMR; Pizza Delight; Subway; Bennetts Ultramar, Labrador Office Essentials and Air Labrador.
"The number one benefit of information technology is that it empowers people to do
what they want to do. It lets people be creative. It lets people be productive. It lets
people learn things they didn't think they could learn before, and so in a sense it is
all about potential." Steve Ballmer
... and potential was certainly realized at this festival with thanks to ... Labrador District
Office/NL English School District whose support is more than financial. It includes substitute
teacher days, workshop space for the Saturday public workshops and assistance coordinating
travel arrangements. The school administration and staff support during the week of the
festival facilitates smooth operating of workshops. The festival committee also had the help
of the experienced staff at the Lawrence O’Brien Arts Centre. They helped all the groups to
become acclimatized to the size of the stage and the state of the art sound/technical system,
provided technical assistance, and helped with props and costumes during the week of the
festival.
The support we get from the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay is probably the most
significant contribution to the festival. 'Friends of the Festival' families give generously of
their time and hospitality to billet visiting artists and host 'soirees' for them. Many, many
families open their hearts and homes to billet students. For one magical week it was clearly
communicated that the arts are celebrated and applauded!
A team of students from Mealy Mountain Collegiate were given the opportunity to work with
Bernard Bird, Gerald Healey and Jamie Felsberg to practice their skills in the sound and
lightening booth and we appreciate their contribution to the festival. Also thanks to the
festival photographers Bradley Baker and Faith Fyfield.
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"I'm a great believer that any tool that enhances communication has profound
effects in terms of how people can learn from each other, and how they can achieve
the kind of freedoms they are interested in." Bill Gates
The LCAF is just such a tool and this year the following schools had the opportunity to learn
from each other:Representing the north coast of Labrador:
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Nillialaugit Players, Jens Haven Memorial School, Nain
Nalujuk Players, Amos Comenius School, Hopedale
Kverna Creators, J.C.Erhardt Memorial School, Makkovik
Postville Players, B.L.Morrison School, Postville
Les Rigolettes, Northern Lights Academy, Rigolet
Representing the south coast of Labrador:
 The Taylor Made Players, St. Peter’s School, Black Tickle
 Henry Gordon Academy Players, Henry Gordon Academy, Cartwright
Representing the central region of Labrador:

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Queen of Peace Middle School, Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Sheshatshiu Uassit, Sheshatshiu Innu School, Sheshatshiu
Ike Rich Players, Mealy Mountain School, Happy Valley – Goose Bay
Peacock Players, Peacock Primary School, Happy Valley-Goose Bay
and representing the island part of the province:
 Villanova Jr. High Drama Club, Villanova Jr. High School, CBS
Schools that hosted visiting artists but did not perform were:  École Boréale, Happy Valley-Goose Bay
 Lake Melville School, NWR
We were saddened that the Pichitawno Players from Churchill Falls and the Mushua Innu
School Drama Club were not able to join us this year.
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As part of the outreach program, the Creative Arts Festival is building stronger ties with
community groups and establishments. We were pleased to be able to ‘share’ our visiting
artists with the following:
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Adult Basic Education students at the North Star Building campus
Long Term Care Facility
Cooking students at the College of the North Atlantic
Infants at the Grand River Family Resource Centre
Birch Brook Nordic Ski Club: ‘Concert at the Chalet’ was sponsored by the festival and the
ski club as a fundraiser for Libra House.
Festival Elements that 'communicate' participation on another level are:
Save or Delete Photo Challenge "Photography is more than a medium for factual
communication of ideas. It is a creative art." Ansel Adams
Entries to the 9th Save or Delete were exhibited in the lobby of the Lawrence O’Brien Arts
Centre during the week. Four schools entered a series of photographs reflecting their
interpretation of the theme - some accompanied by haiku poetry, others amusing, many
profound.
The scale of this person is slight. Social media is similar you see. In the world of social media you’re just one
person in this large community. When you communicate through it, you may not be in the presence of the one
you’re connecting with; you can’t see. So it’s like venturing into the unknown. Caroline Nochasak, Nain
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The stones here are placed to say something. To be something. Even though they’re just stones in this immense
world, they exist. When we want to say something and try to be something in this world, we still exist even
though we might feel insignificant. Someone’s bound to come upon us. Caroline Nochasak, Nain
Profound Melody
Music is a vessel in which thoughts are communicated to the world. Different cultures have their own unique
music and with it their own messages being sent out to the world. Robert Jacque, Rigolet
New Sound
Music has been in our culture for centuries. Throat-singing and drum dancing are a part of who we are. Now
through advances in technological communication, such as CDLI (online classes) students here are able to learn
to new instruments such as the guitar. Robert Jacque, Rigolet
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(Haiku)
Television shows,
Making generations laugh.
Tapes, disks, and online.
Josh Adams, Rigolet
"The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't being said." Author
Unknown
One of the most exciting things about this festival was the anticipation that we are one year
closer to our 40th anniversary and if the 'message tree' displayed in the lobby was anything
to go by there is an expectation that the festival will continue for another 40 years!
Metal tags inscribed with 'messages and wishes' for the 40th in 2015. At the end of the week over 100 tags
decorated the tree!
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Button Design
The only competitive aspect of the festival is the button design contest. This year’s winning
entry used to represent the festival was designed by McKenzie Hutchings from Lake Melville
School in North West River. McKenzie's design was a stylized old fashioned telephone
depicting symbols of new communication modes - Twitter, Instagram, FaceBook, Email,
Skype, Messaging. One observant person pointed out that it also looked like an old fashioned
typewriter with the text being "39th Labrador Creative Arts Festival". McKenzie had just recently
been crowned 'Miss Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador' so we were happy to give
her the first button of the festival and have her present the first group of actors with their
button.
McKenzie Hutchings, Miss Achievement NL, handing out the first buttons to students from the Peacock Players.
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"Stories make us more alive, more human, more courageous, more loving."
Madeline L'Engle
"Everybody deserves somebody who makes them look forward to tomorrow" Anon
Teacher Directors are the 'somebody' who work many hours to coach and mentor students
to create their stories. They know why they do it - citizenship building - check, developing
self confidence - check, providing opportunities - check and of course the reward of seeing
their students performing on stage!
Opening Night: November 19th, 2014
Students from Peacock Primary School
opened the festival with an incredible
performance of their play The Magic
School Door. Through a series of
vignettes
they
showed
how
communication has changed over the
years. A teacher takes the children back
in time, visits the present and takes a
trip into the future through a magic
door. Here the children are 'observing'
the use of a rotary dial phone! The
acting was superb, great sound effects
and theatrical moments.
Sheshatshiu Uassit performed James'
Story about
the importance of
communicating our true feelings.
James has a life threatening illness
and a desire to do something
significant with the life he has left.
Through random acts of kindness He
finds a way to communicate with his
sister.
Using the projector and screen made
for quick scene changes and there
were some very touching moments
from the lead actor.
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Night 2: November 20th
The Taylor Made Players from St.
Peter's School in Black Tickle
performed
Communication
Expectations.
In
this
fun
intergenerational play we see Emily
trying to outsmart her dad and nan
inorder to see a boy she is
interested in!
The play from Postville's
B.L.
Morrison Drama Team was a clever
interpretation of the theme showing
us the downside of technology texting while driving! Whilst
working on an assignment about
communication we see a group of
teens caught up in using technology
to 'speak' to each other It takes a
near fatal accident to make them
realize they must take time to
communicate
The
Important
Things!
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Night 3: November 21st
What would happen if our
electronic devices and other
forms of communicating stopped
working? Les Rigolettes are well
known for their comedies and this
one didn't disappoint! There was
some
amazing
theatrical
moments and the technical
elements in What's The Worst
Thing That Could Happen? were
spot on!
The vignettes in the Queen of
Peace Middle School Drama Club
production of Linzy's Dreams took
us
on
a
journey
of
'communication through the ages'
and each one was brimming with
originality and theatricality!
This production involved over 60
young people as actors, writers,
directors and technical crew.
QPMS Drama Team receiving
festival buttons from their
Principal Mark Bonnell.
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Night 4: November 22nd
Costumes, make up, set and tech
transported us into the world of
fairies and folklore in the Villanova
Jr. High, CBS play A Twisted "Fairy"
Tale.
We learned the important lesson
that in communicating we should
think before we speak and not to
stereotype anyone ... or thing!
Can TECH-KNOW-LEDGY Reveal The
Truth was a funny tale with a sinister
twist! The H.G.A. Players from
Cartwright incorporated social media
into the story by projecting FaceBook
updates onto the cyclorama creating
some wonderful images of actors
totally immersed in their hand held
devices!
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Night 5: November 23rd
A timely topic and lesson about
bullying and the importance of
being able to communicate with
parents and peers was the story told
by Amos Comenius School's Nalujuk
Players in Now I Can Hear Your
Pain. This group from Hopedale set
their play in California but it could
well have been set in any high
school anywhere!
Pitch Slapped was a funny and
provocative interpretation of the
theme Communication. Following
your dreams and having the courage
to do so, was the powerful message
in this energetic production from
the Kverna Creators from J.C.
Erhardt Memorial School from
Makkovik.
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Night 6: November 24th
A reliance on technology, a
breakdown in communication and
a power outage are juxtaposed in
Connection
Dropped.
The
Nillialaugit Players from Jens Haven
Memorial School in Nain created
some hilarious moments on stage
as we watched a group of teens
come to realize that face to face
'real' communication can be fun!
Communicating with others is a
basic instinct we all have. We want
to be heard, we NEED to be heard
but is anyone listening?
Mealy Mountain Collegiate's Ike
Riche Players play Did You Hear?
explored this notion by transporting
the audience to a busy New York
street (created with a single
telephone booth and a the city
skyline projected on the cyclorama)
to witness many different moments
of
communication
and
miscommunication.
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"We can't take any credit for our talents. It is how we use them that counts."
Madeline L'Engle
On each night of the festival the visiting artists introduced themselves to the audience by
means of a short cameo performance. Visiting artists this year were from Canada, the US and
England.
From the world of theatre:- Paula Wing - playwright, actor and teacher and Tara Manuel puppeteer.
From the world of music:- Andy Sheppard - music and ethereal video/soundscapes,
singer/songwriter Alex Hickey and traditional Newfoundland musicians Fergus O'Byrne and
Jim Payne.
From the literary world:- Meghan Marentette - children's author and costumer, Rachael
Borlase - journalist and Lindsay Wilson - food writer/photographer.
From the world of visual arts:- Elizabeth Jancewicz - illustrator and painter and Jennifer
Morgan - graphic artist/writer.
From the world of dance:- Calla la Chance, Andrea Tucker, Tammy Macleod (from
Neighbourhood Dance Works, NL and performance group for 2014), and Sara Coffin and
Susanne Chiu of Mocean Dance.
From the world of circus:- Samantha Halas - contortionist.
On stage every night and busy every day was this year's animateur Alicia Potter. Her public
and private adjudications were beneficial to performers and audience alike!
The visiting artists gave 225+ hours of workshops in the local schools to approximately 2500
students and in the Northern Cross Church – the coastal school workshop venue - for the out
of town drama groups. Due to bad weather only two of this year's visiting artists made it to a
coastal community. Jennifer Morgan, graphic artist and writer was hosted by Northern Lights
Academy in Rigolet and Rachael Borlase by Jens Haven Memorial School in Nain. The cafe at
the airport sold many cups of coffee to 10 other visiting artists who spent hours waiting for
airplane up dates only to be told that flights had been cancelled. Singer/songwriter Alex
Hickey used her talents to compose a song called 'Weather Hold'. (Full lyrics in appendix)
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Weather Hold
They got to the airport at 6 am
For a flight at 7 on the dot
And the wind is blowing up the coast
And maybe they will fly – and maybe they
will not
Chorus:
We're on weather hold the airline
Says to Paul and Kate
We'll update you at 8:15
For now please sit and wait (2x)
Paul's a diamond in the rough
And Katie's wild and Katie's tough
Both of them drive them great big trucks
Working up the camp (2x)
Paul just stands his ground
He looks deep in Kate's blue eyes
Finally she sees what they've found
Takes him by the hand
And they go back inside
Chorus:
...We'll update you at 12:15
(slower and quieter) They got to the airport
at 6 am
For a flight at 7 on the dot
And the wind is blowing up the coast
And maybe they will fly – and maybe they
will not.
They sit down, side by side
Paul takes Katie by the hand
They've got this thing you might call love
That neither of them fully understand
Chorus
...We'll update you at 9:15
They sigh, Paul squeezes Katie's hand
Says, "Baby, won't you marry me?"
Kate just shakes her head and stares
Out the window silently
Chorus
...We'll update you at 10:15
Katie cannot bear the question
She's been hurt; life's been rough
Sees fellas outside, having a puff
Gets up leaves Paul behind
Gets up leaves him behind
Bridge:
Paul is not afraid to wear
His heart upon his sleeve
Goes outside, the fellas there
Say "Buddy, we think you better leave"
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Visiting Artists 2014
back row l-r: Andrea Tucker, Jim Payne, Tara Manuel, Calla LaChance, Susanne Chiu, Tammy Macleod,
Fiona Andersen (coordinator)
middle row kneeling l-r: Alex Hickey, Meghan Marentette, Andy Sheppard, Elizabeth Jancewicz, Fergus O'Byrne,
Lindsay Wilson, Alicia Potter
front row sitting l-r: Samantha Halas, Paula Wing, Rachael Borlase, Sara Coffin, Paula Wing, Tim Borlase
(founder)
Feedback received post festival.....
"The whole experience was positive... you folks have written the book on how to run a festival... I would
definitely come back if invited." Fergus O'Byrne
"I love the feeling ... the way so many kids from so many communities participate." Paula Wing
"The volunteer tour guides are windows into the community ... I felt pulled in and I'm inspired to continue with
food and communication workshops in the future." Lindsay Wilson
"You have a lovely event and have built a culture with high expectations and positive feedback." Jennifer
Morgan
"I love the artistic integrity it gives to the kids... I feel like this is one of those once in a lifetime opportunities
that I will remember forever!!!!" Samantha Halas
... a sentiment communicated by all !!!!!
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"I think it's fair to say that personal computers/smart phones/ipads etc have
become the most empowering tool we've ever created. They are tools of
communication and creativity and they can be shaped by their user." Bill Gates
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