The road to Facebook friendship is fraught with challenges. Not the least of which is how to protect yourself from nefarious folk that want to steal your identity.

ARIEL struggles with this every day. We were hacked some time ago, and have been vigilant ever since.  That means not everyone who requests to become a Facebook friend becomes one.

What does it take to be our Facebook friend?
Your about page must have visible information on it.  If all the options are blank, then we presume you are catfishing us. If your photos are generic, without a personal touch, we presume again you are up to no good.

It isn't enough that we have mutual friends, because some of the mutual friends may have been hacked.  We take extra care, to identify the validity of the mutual friend or friends.

Your profile picture is sketchy.  We need to know you are a real person.

Where do you live? If you've left your about information blank...Yep...we think you are catfishing us. We really want to be Facebook friends with people who live in communities along #17 between Sudbury and the Soo.  Let us know that you do!

14 Elizabeth Walk...it used to be the Reel to Reel building...it is now known as the Downtown Art Centre. That name is about to change, as the City has announced a naming contest. Residents of Elliot Lake can enter. There are some exceptions and you can read all about the rules and regulations on the City's contest page.

ARIEL has been reading your comments about the contest.  There appears to be some misunderstanding.  The building does not have any performance space in it.  It will house studios for artistic endeavours and there will be a room for our excellent Model Railroad Club. If all goes according to plan, ARIEL will operate the art gallery in the building.

According to the City's website, the word Centre should be in your name suggestion.  However they left room for a name from which Centre is absent, should the suggestion be that good.  You will need to make your case at the time of entry.

Get creative, Elliot Lake...this one is for prosperity.

The Ontario Arts Council has a podcast on its site with interviews with people who engage with their community through the Arts.  You might recognize someone who lives life like you do.

You do not have to be an artist to relate to the people interviewed, just as you do not have to be an artist to volunteer for the Festival.  The Cabin Fever Arts Festival (April 25 to 28, 2025) needs bookkeepers, retail sales people, customer service types; even social media content creators.  That is not a definitive list!

Did you know that 2025 is the City's 70th anniversary? The Festival will be one of the special activities to mark the occasion.  Planning has begun. Yet there is still time to volunteer for the steering committee. We need all the help we can get.  Make it a family project. Get involved. Please.

Arts on the Trail 2024 is hosted by the Elliot Lake Arts Club. They were the originators of the day long salute to the Visual Arts. The City ran it for a short time, but, once again, the event is back in the hands of the creators.

There are criteria to participate.  The rules and regulations can be found on the Club's website. Participation is juried. That means an independent team of adjudicators review all the applications, choosing only the best of the best to display their work.  Painters, weavers, woodworkers, jewellers, and fibre artists provide an array of visual delights for purchase.

The Elliot Lake Arts Club believes in supporting young artists. Just like last year, there will be a special exhibit displaying the work of the next generation of artists who call Elliot Lake home. For some, Arts on the Trail is their first professional exhibition that launches a lifelong career.

On September 28, 2024, there will be six venues located in various parts of the City. Visitors can follow a map and drive from site to site. Those who would prefer to park their car and leave the driving to someone else can board the "hop on, hop off" bus.  It is a free service.  This year the bus will have a host on board to answer the riders' questions.

Arts on the Trail occurs at the height of the autumn colours.  Elliot Lake is surrounded by trees,  Combine a fall colours tour with the Arts on the Trail for a perfect Fall day trip.

St. Joseph's General Hospital has plans to expand the Oncology Department.  Needless to say money is required.  So some community organizations are coming together to fund raise. One of the participants is an affiliate member of ARIEL - Jewels and Gents Chorus.

The event is a pancake breakfast at the Renaissance Active Living Centre, February 24, 2024 from 10 AM to 2 PM.  The Ren Centre is collaborating with Elliot Lake's Lions Club.  You can count on the Lions to step up when help is needed.

During the pancake breakfast there will be performances by Jewels and Gents Chorus at 10 AM.  An hour later, Dance Works Company Dancers will entertain. At noon, Perry Tucker performs Gospel and Country Music. The final performer is Patrick Guite at 1 PM. Patrick is an acoustic performer of oldies and contemporary tunes.

The organizers are anticipating generous donations from those who attend.  This fundraiser will benefit the entire community.  Give from the heart, please!

February 11, 2024 - Elliot Lake
This is the final day of Winterfest 2024, three days of activities celebrating winter, Valentine's, and the people of Elliot Lake. A weather dependent event, it wasn't the snowiest of weekends, or the coldest. No Northern winter is exactly like the others, so we rolled with it.

ARIEL's part in the festivities for 2024 is over. We're already thinking about next year, because we had so much fun this year.  Fun...and hard work.  The number of volunteer hours invested by our members to ensure the events were successful was astounding.  We don't regret a moment.

Shout out to the Recreation and Culture Department of the City. The staff supported our efforts in so many ways - even surprising our ticket holders at the Kids' Concert with freshly popped popcorn.  That's what Mardi Gras (February 13) folk call a lagniappe.  Thanks: Kari, Amelia, Leigh-anne, Megan and Marcus!

Then there were the businesses and people (see the photo) without which we could not have delivered the fun and entertainment of the kick-off and kids' concert.  The versatile Liam Kearney, who grew up in Elliot Lake, entertained both crowds!

If you would like to volunteer to help plan or contribute in some other way to our upcoming events, become a member.  Members have the right to vote at the annual AGM.  We are just getting started.

1. May I bring my teenage children to the Kick-off Friday night? As there is a cash bar 19+ only may attend.

2. The Kids' Concert on Saturday morning, must an adult accompany the children?  Yes, all under 11s must be accompanied by an adult.

3. Is there a dress-code for Friday night?  No. But do you really need a dress code to dress in style?

4. Are there tickets left as of Thursday, February 8, 2024?  A limited number are available for the Kick-off on Friday night.  Tickets are still available for the kids' concert Saturday morning.

5. Who exactly is ARIEL, anyway? ARIEL is a what, not a who. We are a registered not-for-profit.  We've been around since 2008, registered since 2009. We have a four-part mission to:

• Provide a strong voice for arts and culture in the City of Elliot Lake
• Facilitate collaboration between artists, organizations, business and government
• Support the economic well-being of the community
• Contribute to the quality of life in Elliot Lake.​

We've been searching for the best word describe the Winterfest Kick-off event. We haven't reached a consensus, but some of us are calling it a cabaret night. Merriam-Webster defines cabaret:  "a restaurant serving liquor and providing entertainment."  Close...there will be food - tickets include a charcuterie-style buffet.  There will be entertainment - the talented performer Liam Kearney.  As for liquor service - there will be a cash bar.  You just can't call Collins Hall a restaurant.  And yes, there will be tables with seating like most cabarets.

In our pursuit of the right word, the nerdy types discovered that the first known use of the word cabaret was in 1655. According to Merriam-Webster the etymology is: "French, from Middle French dialect (Picard or Walloon), from Middle Dutch, alteration of cambret, cameret, from Middle French dialect (Picard) camberete small room, ultimately from Late Latin camera."  To state the obvious, there is nothing small about Collins Hall.

So...what do you think?  Can we call the Winterfest Kick-off a cabaret?

Since when did Elliot Lake need a reason to party? That's right. Never! We've been making our own good times for nearly 70 years.  The weekend of February 9, 2024 is no exception. We are celebrating Winterfest 2024.

That said, if you need extra motivation to get together with friends for a good time, the week following Winterfest may inspire you! Mardi Gras is February 13 and Valentine's Day is February 14.  The trifecta occurs should a loved one's birthday fall in the week of February 12.  Come on Elliot Lake. Shake off the winter blahs and party!

I admit that suggesting your party of choice be either the Kick-off or the Kid's Concert is a tad self-serving.  All right...a lot self-serving.  Supporting either of our events supports the Arts in Elliot Lake.  That is ARIEL's purpose.

Once again, we thank the people and businesses of Elliot Lake for their generosity.  Their donations to our silent auction will benefit the entire community.  Our fundraising efforts this Winterfest will support our effort to re-establish the art gallery in Elliot Lake.

Our art gallery will be free to visit.  On display will be work by a diverse group of local artists and artisans; from paintings to weavings to woodworking.  The gallery will be a place for visitors to enjoy and begin their walking tours of our public art.

Thank you one and all for your contributions to our silent auction.