Snow in June, Powwows, and Community Fun

We've been up to a lot lately in Fort St John, so I thought I'd upload some photos from my smartphone. 

Community Pitch-in Day!

As part of Community Pitch-In day, Janier and I volunteered to help beautify Fort St John.  The City provided garbage bags, reflective vests, gloves, and garbage pickers.

Pictured here is me and Jill, one of my summer students at the Visitor Centre.  This photo was later featured in the local paper, under "People of the Peace".

Municipal Government Day

On Municipal Government Day, there were activities for kids, music, community groups, a BBQ, and booths set up for each department of the City.  I helped set up and man the booth for Community Services.

At our booth we were giving away seed packets, tattoos, and eco-pens.  The seed packets were the most popular!

Line-up for Municipal Gov. Day BBQ (it was free)

We had a surprise Arctic front come down to Fort St John this June, and for a day it snowed!  This was right after having highs around 23C.

Poor bear at the Visitor Centre

 In June, the Visitor Centre organized  a week full of activities, calling it "Be a Tourist In Your Own Town Week".  The idea is to educate local people about all the fun things there are to do in town, and to celebrate community pride.

The goal is that after events like these, if tourists are talking to local people and asking: "what's there to do in town?", local people will be less likely to say: "Oh nothing really, you should keep driving!".

Janier with other volunteers

 For the first day of "Be a Tourist In Your Own Town Week", we organized the "Energetic Amazing Race".  There were clues we set up around town, and people were split into groups to get the clues and finish the race.  We had prizes lined up for the winners. 

We found people got quite competitive!  We kept all the activities kid-friendly.

After the event I was interviewed by 2 local TV stations.  Local celebrity!

Janier's station

The beautiful Peace River & Valley, from "The Look-out"

Old cars that went over the side of "The Look-out"

Drumming Circle in Taylor, BC

Most recently, we attended a Powwow in Taylor, BC which is about a 15 minute drive South-East from Fort St John, along the Alaska Highway.

There were singers, dancers, and lots of spectators.  There was also free bannock and stew for people.  We brought Hermoso, but had to leave him in the car since the event was indoors.