The Okotoks Art Council celebrated the 35th anniversary of the purchase of the Okotoks Art Gallery.

35 years ago the Okotoks Art Council came together to buy a retired CP Rail Station, however, at the time it was called the Station Cultural Centre.

Culture and Heritage Manager Allan Boss says that things were running a little differently 35 years ago than they are today.

"It was volunteer run at that time, and the Okotoks Art Council was a community of Council at that point, and they had a person that worked with the arts council."

Boss explains that the volunteers at the time ran the Centre and are an enormous credit to the Station Culture Centre being the success it was.

"They ran a gift shop, along with member shows where local artists showed in the gallery and made a lot of sales."

Along with the artwork being displayed in the gallery the Centre held other artistic events including a series of concerts.

A high point for the performance the concert put on by the Canadian folk artist Valdy.

Boss adds that plays were also put on in the center on the stage that is still located on the West side of the facility.

"The Dewdney players were putting on plays in the center; chairs would be placed on the floor where people could enjoy the plays. The actors would make entrances and exits from outside, where at times they would go out in the cold."

Boss says that the celebration is not only for the anniversary of the center's purchase but also for how far the program and center have come since it was acquired.

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