Creative Camp at Wickenheiser Centre attracts participants, instructors from far and wide

Posted on August 27, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

Shaunavon Standard

The annual iImagine Arts Camp continues to create an environment for young students to explore diverse artistic pursuits.

Held at the Wickenheiser Centre from August 17–21 this year, the five-day camp featured daily morning and afternoon workshops ranging from painting, board-game design and mural creation to drama, music and dance.

The camp offered two distinct pathways for participants. The Discovery & Explorer Programs introduced beginner and intermediate age groups to studio arts and performance styles. Meanwhile, the Masterclasses provided intensive, focused streams for advanced artistic development.

A talented roster of instructors led the sessions.

The Discovery camps were guided by Liam Bailey, Des Vilness, Becca Corbeil, Michele Bailey, Cait Bascom, and Laura Nesland.

The Explorers and Masterclass sessions were taught by Anna Robertson, Jeanie Andronyk, Mike Hiebert, Lindi Greenholtz, Norma Hunter, Andrew Robertson, Denis Dufresne, Ty Hunter, Jonathan Stanners and Jason Wilkes. Wilkes travelled the furthest to attend the camp. The former contestant on The Voice, lives in Georgia.

The event drew strong numbers, with 65 students filling the morning Discovery camps and 50 participating in the Explorers and Masterclass sessions.

Young artists traveled from across the Southwest and beyond to attend the camp, including students from Shaunavon, Cadillac, Swift Current, Frontier, Lanigan, Eastend, Admiral, Moose Jaw, and Gull Lake, as well as Medicine Hat and Orion, Alberta, and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The creative week concluded on Friday afternoon with a terrific showcase at the Wickenheiser Centre where campers displayed and performed their creations for family and friends. The stage presentation included a live band, singing and dancing, as well as some dramatic skits.

The camp was a collaborative effort between Ty Hunter and the Grand Coteau Centre, a partnership that has been ongoing for several years.

“We are six years into this camp, which is super exciting,” Ty told the crowd at this year’s showcase stage presentation. “It’s been awesome to watch it grow, and this year we had a lot of additions in terms of art forms.”

Hunter highlighted the work of the young artists and instructors, particularly the visual arts displayed at the back of the venue.

“First of all, a big round of applause for all the visual arts that were done at the back, the gallery, the paintings,” Hunter said. “It’s always astonishing watching it. I mean, it shouldn’t surprise me anymore that it’s going to be good, but it seems like every year we look at it, and it’s amazing what the leaders have done and what the kids have done.”

This year’s camp also introduced a new performance opportunity, with a live band accompanying the campers.

Ultimately, organizers emphasize that the camp is about the journey rather than the final product. Leaders encourage children to explore art without fear or expectations while embracing the creative process itself.