June 14, 2010.pdf - Watrous Heritage Centre

8 • MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2010 THE WATROUS MANITOU
Business and Agriculture
New digs paints
picture of
local talents
By Daniel Bushman
TWM
What has been some time in the making has finally
come to fruition for one local pair and after all their hard
work, completing their new business can now be stroked
off their list.
Manitou Beach residents Michael Gaudet and Sharon
Gibson painted a picture in their minds of how they
would like G-G’s (Gibson and Gaudet) Gallery and Gifts
to look and transferred that to a live canvas.
“It has been a lifelong dream of mine to have a gallery,”
said Gaudet.
Thanks to the growing success the Spirit of Manitou
Trail has had over the past three years, Gaudet felt
it was time to tap into a potentially huge opportunity.
“It was so successful,” said Gaudet. “We decided
there is a market for this to open.”
With combined experience in marketing, managerial
skills and design work, the two began the project,
which is now up and running.
Signs placed throughout the beach lead curious
customers to G-G’s Gallery and Gifts, a name that was
“short and snappy” and easy to remember.
Once people arrive at the new gallery, located at
309 Evenson Ave., outdoor displays and artwork await
them as they descend towards the indoor portion of
the store, creating an enticing ambience.
“It is a happy and warm atmosphere,” Gibson said.
Once through the door, roof boards from the 1920s
line the lower portion of the wall, giving it that rustic
feel with a touch of elegance. Hanging on the walls and
sitting on tables, works of art by both Gaudet and Gibson
are displayed with a multitude of other Saskatchewan-made
products.
Gibson said about 99.9 per cent of what they sell is
made within the province including hemp soap, jellies,
jam, jewellery and even wild rice.
“Everything in here is an absolute total labour of
love.”
The pair also hand picked the products they wanted
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Come on in!
G-G’s Gallery and Gifts is the latest business to open
its doors at Manitou Beach. Owners Michael Gaudet and
Sharon Gibson are excited about the new opportunity
to offer in their gallery and gift shop and met the people
involved in creating them.
“There are so many talented people.”
Being a history buff, the focus for Gaudet’s work was
to have old photographs containing Manitou Beach
themes turned into pictures on canvas for people who
visit the resort village. Gaudet also turned those images
into smaller versions of the paintings and put
them on postcards.
“There is no disconnect between this place and
Manitou Beach. This gallery reflects the love of Manitou
Beach and people pick up on that.
“It is all related to Manitou Beach, which is an endless
source of inspiration.”
Gibson, meanwhile, has been busy doing her own
art including wheat weaving and creating beautiful
painted jars.
Gaudet said they decided not to sell any products
By Daniel Bushman
TWM
A milestone for hard
work, perseverance and
dedication will once
again be marked as farm
families get recognized
for 100 years.
This year, Information
Services Corporation
is honouring 635
farm families in the
province with a Century
Family Farm Award.
Since the program
started in 1981, this year
from the business online simply because, “People want
to see artwork with their own eyes.” Gaudet felt that the
most success is one-on-one when the works are right in
front of a potential buyer to examine for themselves.
By opening the gallery and gift shop, Gaudet said it
is also a way to spin off into commissions, something
that he is also currently doing. “It is like a live portfolio.
“We believe this will attract people in its own
right. We are adding to the critical mass of enhancing
Watrous and Manitou Beach as an artistic hub.”
G-G’s, which is open Thursday to Sundays, took off
at the start of June and will be running throughout the
summer.
In the future, the duo hope to host openings of
people’s artwork and present different art displays,
making it a gathering place.
“We’re having fun,” said Gibson.
Local farms reach 100 years
and while there is a lot of their own art for sale, other
Saskatchewan-made products can also be found inside
the gift store.
-TWM photo by Daniel Bushman
marks the second-highest
number of award recipients,
following a record
year in 2009 of 661 families.
Through the 30-year
period, 3,990 families have
received the award.
The award recognizes
families who have owned
and operated the same
farm for 100 years or more,
with ceremonies taking
place in four cities in Saskatchewan
including Saskatoon
June 24.
A handful of local families
will be honoured by
the ISC: Corrine and John
Jacek of Allan; Robert
Voice of Bradwell; Adolf
and Keenan Fahlman and
Loretta and Gordon Mengel
of Holdfast; William
and Katherine Burgess
of Imperial; Keith Farnel
of Watrous; and Kenneth
Currie from Young.
Minister for ISC June
Draude said, “The family
farm has always been the
backbone of Saskatchewan’s
economy and has
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helped shape the rural
traditions of our province.
Homesteaders had
a strong work ethic and
today’s farm families
have that same strength
and character.”
All recipients get
a colour copy of their
family’s original land
grant or title, as well
as ISC Century Family
Farm Award certificates
and a choice of award:
an indoor wall plaque or
a gate sign.