For most of us, Christmas is a special time of year accompanied by the sights, sounds, and smells of the season. Simply put, it is a wonderful time for sensory overload. I have to admit, though, that I sometimes find it quite overwhelming. Don’t get me wrong: I love all of the celebrations and food, but my struggle comes from the fact that I am a self-described minimalist when it comes to design and décor.

It’s been said that one can only see the stars when it gets dark enough. Briana Bloom is a testament to that. Briana looks like your average 14-year-old. She is demure and sweet. Sitting cross-legged in blue jeans across from me, we are surrounded by a gathering of button-eyed monkeys and other delightful creatures of her making.

The Niverville Elementary School will be holding their annual Christmas program on December 16–17 at the school’s gymnasium, with 2 shows each day: a matinee at 1:30 p.m. and an evening performance at 7:00 p.m. The show will feature students from Kindergarten, Grade 1, and Grade 2. Only half of each grade will be represented each respective day.

Arcade Studios is a state-of-the-art digital music production facility located beside Slice of Life in Niverville, and it’s accredited by Manitoba Film and Sound. Over the past 2 years, they’ve recorded an LP for the rock band Whiskey Talks and produced 13 singles. And that all happened while the facility was being built! Ambitious doesn’t seem to do them justice.

Nashville, Tennessee is nicknamed Music City. It’s the home of the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. And recently, local musicians Evan St. Cyr and Brady Dyck travelled there to take their songs to the next level. Accompanying them on the trip was Gerry St. Cyr, part-owner of Arcade Studios.

When you think back to being a 12-year-old, what comes to mind? Hanging out with friends, going to school, and riding your bike might be a few things. For one Niverville girl, it means travelling to Poland for an international dance competition.