Battlefords Shines 2020 artists take to the stage at the finale performance at the Dekker Centre. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Community Support

Battlefords Shines a success for Dekker Centre’s annual fundraiser

Jan 15, 2020 | 3:27 PM

A cast of many talented performers graced the stage at the Dekker Centre to raise the roof and profits to give a boost for the local performing arts centre in North Battleford.

General Manager Kali Weber said from $10,000 to $12,000 roughly was raised in the fundraiser with about 250 tickets sold in advance.

She was thrilled with the support for the main fundraiser event for the facility during the year.

“It’s nice to do this in January so we can start off our fiscal year with an additional boost,” Weber said.

Battlefords Shines hosted a range of performances including dance. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

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The evening started with a live art auction and gallery in the atrium as well as a fashion show to promote young artists in the region. The musical and dance performances on the main stage, including numbers by hip hop, country, rock and jazz artists.

“I think the audience seems to like it,” Weber said. “It’s always nice to showcase local talent. People have said it was a really diverse lineup which we really try to do, and showcase all kinds of arts disciplines in the Battlefords.”

Among the artists, was singer-songwriter Stephanie Gratton originally from the Battlefords who now resides in Prince Albert.

She performed an original piece called “Somehow” she wrote about the end of a relationship.

“I had a relationship that kind of went on for a long time and tried to make things work. After a while you have to do what you do, and make the right choices for yourself,” she said, adding that writing the song helped her cope as part of her journey.

Being able to perform her music live on stage at the Dekker Centre and share her story, Gratton said, was a treat.

“It was a really cool experience,” she said. “I’ve never done anything like this before; it was really fun.”

Gratton has recorded some of her music on SoundCloud.

She also plays ukulele and she wants to perform in some open mike shows in the area in the future as she continues to work on her craft as a songwriter.

One of the other performers in the show was Jackie Kroczynski who played Drop Me Off in North Battleford, an adaptation of the song Drop Me Off in New Orleans, along with her husband Tom as part of the jazz band Jivin’ Jackie and Big Baby T.

“We’ve been playing around North Battleford for a few years,” she said, adding that she and her husband are both teachers in the area.

Kroczynski said the student jazz band she teaches at North Battleford Comprehensive High School also performed at Battlefords Shines so it was a good opportunity for the youth as well to showcase their talent at the event also.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow