Story by local Cree artists to be displayed in downtown ‘Spirit of Winter’ celebrations

By Christena Lawrie, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist and Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

Starting Sat., Feb. 1, Springer Market Square will be transformed by Spirit of Winter, a new Downtown BIA event in collaboration with local artists. 

The centre of the event will be the telling and projection of a story by local Cree artists Jaylene Cardinal and Dakota Ward. Based in Kingston since 2014, Cardinal and Ward have made a name for themselves engaging in various art forms, including music, jewellery, and fashion. Their story ‘The Bear In Me’ will be told in English, French, Cree, and Ojibwe throughout each evening with video projections painting City Hall.

“You know, seeing this on something as big as the City Hall is just heart filling. Also just hearing there’s going to be traditional language along with it. Hearing those, you know, those words is really, it just lifts my heart up so much,” Ward stated in an interview with CFRC.

Spirit of Winter is running from Feb. 1-17, with activities an ‘Enchanted Forest’ to stroll through, free horse-drawn wagon rides, and skating.

Listen to the full story here.