Galleries & Studios
Prairie Wind and Silver Sage Ecomuseum (PWSS) features a seasonal museum, gallery, coffee and gift shop hosting two summer art exhibits in The Little Brick Schoolhouse. PWSS is located at the other end of Centre Street, at Highway 4.
A number of professional artists now call Val Marie home with two online galleries showcasing local and regional artists:
Grasslands Atmospheric Gallery and Studio showcases the photography of Neil Ward.
Grasslands Gallery Online showcases local painters, Laureen Marchand (oil) and Catherine Macauley (watercolour) along with other well known Saskatchewan artists.
Sky Story Studio features visual artist and yoga/arts educator, Diana Chabros and Joseph Naytowhow, a performing artist, educator, actor and translator of nehiyaw Plains/Woodland Cree ancestry.
Prairie Heart Maps is the on-line home of independent cartographer, Alex McPhee, showcasing his latest projects.
Local Activities
Val Marie Heritage Walking Tour is offered through the online app here: https://pwss.org/explore/val-marie-heritage-walking-tour/
Kayaking Tours of Grasslands National Park are offered by private tour operator, John Smith, of Carefree Adventures. No experience necessary! John offers fun and informative half-day tours of the Frenchman River and the ecology that feeds the whole West Block of Grasslands National Park. Tel: 403-528-9871 (winter) 306-297-6232 (summer)
Triple R Honey Ranch Tour for locally produced organic honey. Meet John from the Triple R and learn about the extraction process, see honey in its comb and smell the sweetness of honey in the “hot room.” Tours and sales available by appointment: Tel 306-298-2204.
Val Marie Heritage Elevator The history of the Heritage Elevator has been documented in video and booklet format by local students. Private tours by local independent cartographer, Alex McPhee, can be arranged through the village office Tel 306-298-2022
Guided cultural experiences with Joseph Naytowhow, master storyteller and knowledge keeper. Joseph provides cultural experiences in Grasslands National Park introducing the ways of the land according to nehiyaw/Cree worldview. Experience local history, traditional smudge and music and of course ‘season appropriate’ stories! Traditional protocol recommended. Tel 306-550-5377
Mary’s Labyrinth is located on the property of The Crossing at Grasslands and offers a serene, open air container for walking meditation and prayer. Open daily from 1pm to 6pm, you can find more information here.
Planned for Summer 2022
A weekly Farmers Market will be hosted on Friday late afternoons beside the Val Marie Heritage Elevator at the end of Centre Street. You’ll find locally made soaps, beeswax candles and local honey among other offerings. This will be followed by an evening movie screening on the side of the Val Marie Heritage Elevator. Popcorn provided!
Check back here for more details in the coming months.