The Vault hosts celebration of local artists

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Vault Cultural Collective hosted a celebration of the arts, having recently received a New Horizons Seniors grant from the Government of Canada. 

Representatives from the Vault’s board, art, business and events teams, as well as artists, volunteers, and local government representatives were invited to participate in festivities and celebrate what is happening at and through the Vault. 

The New Horizons Seniors grant awarded to the Vault totaled $15,500. This year was also noted as the first time the Vault Cultural Collective has applied for this grant. 

“The grant was used for the purchase of a piano and a sound system … and also partially advertising budget that we have been able to use as well,” said Carolyn Steeves, chair of the Vault Cultural Collective. “It has given us the piano and the sound system which are both huge ticket items, and then also being able to have some money that we can advertise with to get our voice out to the community (about) what we are doing.”

The Nov. 22 event featured Greg Wheeler and Becca Peterson, as well as several of Steeves’ piano students as part of the event’s program for the evening. 

Additionally, the Vault hosted draws for a variety of items and activities donated by members of the local community, including pottery made by Denise Peterson, art pieces by Christine Higham and Gail Ann Bourgeois, tickets to see the Heebie Jeebies, and tickets to the Strathmore Theatre Players Guild’s The Addams Family. 

“We are celebrating theatre, art, music tonight – and giving a thank you to our board members and volunteers and artists,” said Steeves. “We had our soft opening in July of 2021, so we have been open roughly three and a half years now … so to be able to do this tonight and have people come in and sort of celebrate with us here at the Vault and have a little joy of Christmas is kind of awesome.”

In addition to local government invitations, MP Martin Shields, and MLA Chantelle de Jonge were also invited to drop in and participate.

It has not yet been decided whether future applications for New Horizons Seniors Grants will be submitted, or whether the Vault will hold similar celebrations on an annual basis.

Looking immediately forward, the Vault will be participating in the upcoming Cookie Walk on Nov. 30, which will take place throughout downtown Strathmore, and will be hosting Christmas carols at their facility, Dec. 6.