Submitted. The Reach Gallery Museum Abbotsford and the Stó:lō Research & Resource Management Centre wins the 2013 Innovative Initiative – Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Award presented by Abbotsford Community Services. The award was given to the Reach for the 2013 publication and virtual exhibition, Man Turned to Stone: T’welatse. This important award recognizes The Reach Gallery Museum Abbotsford and its commitment to working in collaboration with local and regional First Nations organizations. The Fraser Valley Cultural Diversity Awards Ceremony started in 2003 recognizes the best practices of Fraser Valley organizations, initiatives and businesses in recognizing the diversity of our community.
Reach Curator, Scott Marsden and Sonny McHalsie, Co-Manager – Stó:lō Research & Resource Management Centre received the Innovative Initiative award at the annual ceremony and dinner held at the Ramada Plaza and Conference Centre.
The Reach Gallery Museum Abbotsford and the Stó:lō Research & Resource Management Centre collaborated with local artists David Campion and Sandra Shields and with members of the T’’welatse Family and Sto:lo community members to create the Man Turned to Stone: T’xwelatse publication and virtual exhibition. The core members of this team are Herb Joe, Scott Marsden, David Campion, Sandra Shields, David Schaepe and Sonny McHalsie and represented a cross section of personal and institutional cultural diversity in the Fraser Valley. Using various media—from photography through storytelling, film, and dance—this publication/ virtual exhibition, like the exhibition on which it is based, relates multiple transformation narratives to bring forward the story and enduring message of T’xwelátse: We must all learn to live together in a good way.