Chamber recognizes arts contribution

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This article was published 06/12/2016 (3326 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Portage & District Chamber of Commerce held its Best Business Awards gala on Nov. 24.
Portage la Prairie artist and community worker Yvette Cuthbert, 55, was named as the Arts/Cultural Person of the Year by the Portage & District Chamber of Commerce.

Cuthbert was a main organizer of the first Celebrate the Night event on Oct. 1 as part of Canada’s Culture Days. About 500 people attended the event which included music, film, dancing and a glow-in-the-dark hockey game.

“It was a success,” she said, adding that she hopes to add projection installations and a glow-in-the-dark fashion show to next year’s celebration.

Through her participation in the Portage & District Arts Centre’s ArtsSmarts committee, Cuthbert helped to encourage public art in the community. She worked with local students in 2010 to create 18 copper geese which were hung in the PCU Centre’s atrium.

The PCU Centre is also home to a 4×4-foot mural Cuthbert helped to organize through the Canada 150 mosaic mural project. The mural uses aluminum tiles to depict the area’s history and environment.

She created two concrete benches placed in the city to represent a wolf and a bear and indicate points on the Aboriginal medicine wheel. She designed the Welcome to Portage la Prairie signs on Highway 1A.

Cuthbert said she was pleased to receive the award.

“It was lovely to be nominated and great to be appreciated.”

— Staff