Big River Arts Society presented with 2024-25 Aspen View Public Schools Friends of Education Award
Big River Arts Society (BRASS) was presented with the 2024-25 Aspen View Public Schools Friends of Education Award at the Board of Trustees meeting held April 17, 2025 at Athabasca University.
The Board of Trustees of Aspen View Public Schools established the Friends of Education Award in 2022, to recognize organizations or individuals who have made a special contribution to education within the division. BRASS was nominated for the Friends of Education Award by the Grassland School Parent Council.
Based in Athabasca, BRASS is a not-for-profit society committed to strengthening community through the arts.
“BRASS is composed of local musicians, actors and visual artists with a passion for teaching,” Grassland School Parent Council Chair Cherisse Yurdiga wrote in the nomination. “BRASS founder Gina Martel had a vision 10 years ago to teach performing arts within the rural schools in our school division. Gina, along with other artists in the local area, have had the opportunity to positively impact the lives of students at Grassland, Thorhild Central, Whispering Hills Primary, Smith, Rochester and Landing Trail Intermediate School over the last 10 years.”
Grassland School has engaged BRASS for the last 10 years to work with students and staff on their annual Christmas Concert. “For two weeks, BRASS travels to Grassland School from Athabasca to teach our kids from Preschool to Grade 9 how to read and play music, sing, perform choreographed dance and theatre, and build play props,” Mrs. Yurdiga wrote. “In addition to these skills in the arts, students can learn lifelong skills that they carry with them into adulthood, such as working as a team, perseverance, hard work and self-confidence. As a group of parents that have children enrolled in Grassland School, we believe that Big River Arts Society is well deserving of this award for their continued commitment to our students’ education and personal development.”
BRASS’s nomination included testimonials from Grassland School students, staff and parents.
“The kids gain so much confidence, gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment, and brings us together as a school community,” one teacher stated.
“I have gained skills like teamwork, vocal exercises, the importance of trusting and working with your team or cast, memorization skills, stage presence and so many more,” a student commented.
“I think it is a great opportunity for students to learn a bit about the arts in schools that just don’t have specific programs set up,” a parent said. “Not every school has a music class, choir, band or acting courses, so this gives the opportunity to students who would normally not get the chance.”
Mrs. Martel explained that she originally started BRASS to help her own children, who found greater success learning through the arts than through more traditional learning.
“For me, it was a very personal journey,” she said. “I just knew with my own children, that was a way that would reach them. So, instead of being part of the ‘complaining committee’, I thought, how do we make this better? How do we make a difference for these sorts of children?
“I’m still firmly committed to all children who have these sorts of challenges, and I really feel that we can make that difference,” she continued. “We’ve gone to many different schools and had different programming at each one, but at each one I’ve seen growth in confidence, and for us that’s the whole point.
“Art touches on all learning styles, so we are committed towards bringing enhanced art and devoted artists into our schools to enrich the learning experience of all of our children,” Mrs. Martel added, “working with their teachers and providing an additional tool for delivering curriculum.”