Above: Headstone of Gudbjorg Hannesdottir, Stephan G. Stephansson’s mother
Cemetery cleanup was spread out over a few days, with an impressive job done by workers from the Bowden Institution. Both Tindastoll Cemetery and Christinnson Stephansson Family Cemetery received their annual maintenance.
Ron Stephansson shared a video of the Christinnson Stephansson Family Cemetery after the cleanup was completed on May 10, 2025. Workers from the Bowden Institution painted posts, cleaned headstones, and pruned trees.
Above: Marie, Marlene (and d’Arcy behind the camera) are happy with the fruits of their labour at the Church.
Historic Markerville’s May 10th, 2025 cleanup went very smoothly, with only a few items left to check off the “to do” list. Some of the volunteers and other helpers this year spread the workload over a week or so, from raking leaves and gutter clearing to Cemetery cleanup, and even the big red Tent in front of the Creamery Stage was put up the day before! Still, there were cobwebs to sweep, gazebo and picnic tables to wash down, signs to put up, and some ongoing work on the little library to do.
All in all, we’re pretty much ready forPANCAKE BREAKFASTandOPENING DAYon May 17th, 2025.
d’Arcy G., Marie S. and Marlene P. took on the Lutheran Church, vacuuming and wiping everything down; making sure that it’s ready to go for the upcoming COUNTRY AND GOSPEL CONCERT FUNDRAISER on Sunday, May 25th!
On April 10th, 2025, one of the artists who took part in the Buttermaker’s House Artist Residency in 2024 held a one day Exhibit at the VENUE in Red Deer. It was titled 44(H) X 50(Y). The numbers represent 44 homes in 50 years…
Kari Fisher, from Vancouver Island, stayed in the Buttermaker’s House last year to work on her project. After accepting a challenge of incorporating art into her daily life by her son Isaac, Kari has been on a journey exploring her roots by redrawing the floor plans of 44 houses that she has lived in since her birth and gathering flora connected to those homes. These floor plans were initially drawn in wax crayon, then, cyanotype ‘blueprints’ were created with each sheet having two exposures.
Stephan G. Stephansson Icelandic Society (SGSIS) was very honoured to have played a small part in Kari’s artistic journey and congratulate her on the wonderful, thought provoking exhibition. It gives one pause to think about our own journey in life and where it takes us and what memories we create.
Well done Kari and hopefully you will bring your exhibit to Markerville and the Fensala Hall one day.
— Submitted April 17, 2025 by d’arcy Gamble
Find more information on Historic Markerville’s Buttermaker’s House and how you can apply for an Artist Residency.
REST / REFLECT / CREATE / CONNECT Buttermaker’s House Artist Residency in Markerville
Above: Sol James and Aaron Shorr on April 12 at Fensala Hall. Photo by Roberta Fetch.
Our final concert of the 2024/2025 season was held April 12th, 2025 at the Fensala Hall in Markerville, and it was a fantastic, high-kicking sold-out season finale if ever there was one! Sol James (aka Heitha Forsyth) brought along her long-time friend Aaron Shorr, and the duo broke ground with “Big Sky” and captivated the audience. The night was filled with her original songs and some covers; she kept us laughing and listening, took some requests, and even coaxed the crowd to sing along a couple times.
The sets were comprised of lively tunes, with a couple of personal and heartfelt numbers by Sol including a song she wrote for her Icelandic grandfather, along with some marvellous guitar solos by Aaron for good measure. Time vanished and before we knew it the duo was closing with “Me and Bobby McGee” for their encore.
Here are some photos from the evening.
Winnipeg-based Sol James is a force to be reckoned with, with a voice to match. She has completed two degrees, A Bachelor of Music (Jazz Studies) and a Bachelor of Music Therapy. Beyond her busy performing career, Heitha has been teaching the art of singing to students of all ages and stages through the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts, The University of Manitoba Preparatory studies as well as private lessons.
A unique take on roots/blues with a soulful flair, her music is joyful and honest, leaving audiences smiling, dancing, and celebrating the great stuff of life. Sol’s stage presence calls out to even the meekest of souls, breaking down walls and bringing the light in. She does this with a dependable dose of hilarity; you can hear a Sol James audience laughing a mile away.
Aaron Shorr began playing guitar as a young teenager, and developed an interest in jazz through his grandmother’s record collection. He studied at Humber College in Toronto, The University of Manitoba, and privately with international jazz icons like Jonathan Kreisberg, Miles Okazaki, and Bruce Forman. He has performed with William Bonness, Derrick Gardner, Nial Cade, and Curtis Nowosad, to name a few.
Sponsored in part by Red Deer County and Alberta Foundation for the Arts!
In 1891, Helga Stephansson, along with Sigurlaug Kristinnson (Stephan’s sister), established Vonin (or “Hope”), a ladies’ aid society.
In the early years, the members met in each other’s homes to plan social events through which they could raise money for community projects. Their projects were wide-ranging. For example, if a woman living in the area, whether of Icelandic descent or not, was ill, Vonin was there with personal items such as a nightgown or slippers, or perhaps a box of oranges. Other fundraising targeted specific projects. Perhaps the library needed money to subscribe to Icelandic newspapers or perhaps a family lost its home to fire or was in dire straits.
As today is Random Acts of Kindness Day, how will you show kindness to someone today?
Image courtesy Provincial Archives of Alberta, “Picnic at Markerville, Alberta”, 1921, A2236. — Facebook post from February 17, 2024 by Stephanson House Provincial Historic Site
Above: Photo of Ryan McMahon provided by the artist for promotional material.
The March 8th, 2025 Fensala Hall concert with Ryan McMahon had ENERGY: with stories, Dad jokes, and of course GREAT music that made the evening soar! He brought his old lamp and comfy kitchen chair and welcomed us all to join him for an evening of heartfelt music and laughter!
Ryan played a couple of covers including “Old Man” by Neil Young. During his performance we were treated to original songs; many from his latest album “Live Now”, plus his just released “Used to be You”.
Ryan “lost an hour” in Markerville, staying overnight in the Buttermaker’s House. He joined the Kaffistofa coffee gang on Sunday for a few more stories and laughs to start the day, and had a photo taken with Marie Sveinson and Frank Sigurdson for good measure!
Ryan is a third of the way through his LEARNING TO SHINE: 25 Years in Music tour. He plays Ponoka on March 10th, and then it’s on to Saskatoon and Wynyard. His tour takes him to Manitoba and Ontario; hitting Alberta again for several shows, and finally BC for even more during the last week of March and onward!
After spending 2023 recording & releasing his seventh studio album and touring as Burton Cummings’ & Tom Cochrane’s support act, Ryan McMahon is spending his 2024/2025 on the run once more. No stranger to Canadian highways, Ryan will be embarking on several months of tour dates between Sept 2024 & April of 2025.
A 25-year veteran of Canada’s musical landscape, Ryan has long been a genre fence-sitter, blending the boundaries of folk, rock, roots & country. He’s shared the stage with everyone from Mother Mother to Lisa Loeb to Aaron Pritchett, and at the age of 44 has just begun writing music for his next album. Equally at home fronting a full band or playing solo like so many folk troubadours before him, Ryan’s sincere songwriting & dynamic delivery resonates with any audience.
Sponsored in part by Red Deer County and Alberta Foundation for the Arts!
Photo of Evelyn Johannson and six of her eight kids, taken one day on the way to school about the end of the school term 1957/58. The Johannson’s were some of the many people and families who lived in the Buttermaker’s House over the years.
“Steam engine pulling out trees, Markerville, Alberta.”, 1912, (CU188352) by Unknown.
L-R: Arnie Bardel; Paul Bardell, unknown, child. Courtesy of Glenbow Library and Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary.
Above: Photo of Shaye Zadravec and Tim Leacock provided by the artist for promotional material
On November 9th, 2024, Fensala Hall was brimming with the great sounds of Shaye Zadravec and Tim Leacock during the second offering of the Fensala Hall Concert Series 2024/2025 season. Playing to an almost full house, the duo delivered some great classic country along with Shaye’s own ballads. — Photos by John McKechnie
Hailing from Calgary, AB, Shaye Zadravec, a strong vocalist and passionate performer, continues to develop and pursue her career in music.
Since beginning in 2011, she has released an EP, “Norway”, and a full length album, “Now and Then”. Both recordings reached audiences within Canada and overseas which has since led to two European tours throughout the Netherlands.
Accompanied by seasoned musician, Tim Leacock, the pair weave originals and carefully chosen material in their set. Shaye flourishes in the art of interpretation and draws influence from a wide variety of artists and genres carrying her audience on an emotional musical journey.
Sponsored in part by Red Deer County and Alberta Foundation for the Arts!
Above: Image provided by The Travelling Mabels for promotional material
FENSALA HALL CONCERT SERIES presents THE TRAVELLING MABELS! October 5th, 2024 was a fun-filled evening with great music, free popcorn, prize draws, free dessert, a few tears, and lots of laughs! The standing ovation brought the band back for three more terrific tunes! Here are photos from the much enjoyed Saturday evening!
Photos by Byron Nilsson
The Travelling Mabels are an award-winning folk/country group from southern Alberta. For more than fifteen years, they have brought their own unique brand of harmony, humour and musicianship to audiences from coast to coast, performing at venues ranging from folk clubs and community halls to big festivals. They have shared the stage with many notable artists including Ian Tyson, Tom Jackson, The Elvis Imperials and Gene Watson. They have also collectively written and recorded four CDs which have enjoyed extensive airplay on radio stations such as CBC and CKUA.
As an ardent fan once humorously stated “If the Eagles and the Trio (Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris) were a family, then surely their children would be The Travelling Mabels”.
Their song release, Alberta Blue, has been a long time fan favourite and features a cameo vocal performance by the legendary Ian Tyson.
Their latest album titled “Take Me Home” features 11 songs, comprised of mostly original music, a Billy Joel instrumental cover and a remix of their most popular song “Alberta Blue”. Additionally, the lyrics to Alberta Blue have been featured in an award winning Children’s board book titled “Alberta Blue – A Prairie Sky Lullaby”.
Sponsored in part by Red Deer County and Alberta Foundation for the Arts!
