By Dorthea H. CalverleyPouce Coupe district has been the home of one of the most creative artists in the Peace River District of British Columbia. Esme Tuck’s exquisite needlework has been recognized by awards of “First Prizes” in not only the Pacific National Exhibition but the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto as well. Such recognition… Read More

By Gerry Clare Early in 1938, Spencer Tuck of Pouce Coupe suggested that it was time the gardeners of the Peace got together to form a Horticultural Society. The purpose of the society would be to foster an interest in the cultivation of better flowers, fruits and vegetables than were currently being grown. The idea… Read More

By Dorthea H. CalverleyAs early as January 31, 1931 the people of Rolla were fostering the arts that contributed to a festival in a way that surprised visitors to a far frontier community. A clipping from the Peace River Block News of that date must be read in the context of the time. The Great… Read More

In 1935 it was suggested, to the Rolla Elks Lodge No. 205, that it would be a fine idea to sponsor a music and drama festival. The suggestion came from Mr. E. F. Hurt, principal of the high school and a member of that Lodge. The lodge took up the project whole-heartedly. A charter was… Read More

From the Peace River Block News, June 12, 1936The number of entries in the Rolla Music and Drama Festival on Friday and Saturday must have surprised sponsors and adjudicators. Eighty-five entries with approximately 175 people took part in the competitions and the adjudicators had no easy job. In many of the classes a single point… Read More

This report was printed in the Edmonton Bulletin, and is a report of the first concert held in the Peace River Country, Pouce Coupe Prairie in 1915. On Wednesday evening, December 22nd, a concert was held at Saskatoon Creek, at the home of Mr. A. W. Harper who very kindly turned his house into a concert… Read More

By Walter Schoen  Just Setting the Scene Libraries were not an important issue in the Peace River District in my growing up years. My elementary school library at Tomslake consisted of a random collection of some two hundred books of fiction, some juvenile, some adult classics. There was also a library of sorts in the… Read More

By Dorthea CalverleyA major contributor to the musical life of the community was Mrs. Sylvia Noakes, and Mr. Noakes who owned a pioneer music store in Dawson Creek. Mrs. Noakes, a very competent pianist, lent her talents to other musicians by being on call at all times as an accompanist for festivals, concerts, and church… Read More

By Mr. Harry Giles  Foreword in 1949 Program of the Eleventh Annual Drama and Musical FestivalPeace River South School District No. 59  It is thirteen years ago that the first Drama and Music Festival was inaugurated by the Rolla B.P.O. Elks. With the exception of the war years 1943-46, these festivals have been yearly events,… Read More

By Dorthea CalverleyPreparing students for the annual music and drama festival was extra work which many teachers took on. It was all voluntary effort. It needed an interest in the pupils that did not end at four p.m.! In the first years the only festival centre in the South Peace was at Rolla. Those were… Read More