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 The Hamlet of Rosebud
At first glance, you might mistake it for a typical prairie community. Nestled in the cozy valley of a river that winds through fields of wheat and magnificent badlands, Rosebud is a peacefully picturesque community with rural roots and country charm. There are fewer than 100 residents, most of them involved in the business of theatre and the school. A closer look reveals Rosebud to be a vital tourist and fine arts attraction visited by over 40 thousand people every year.
Located on Highway 840, Rosebud, Alberta is situated 100 km northeast of Calgary and 35 km southwest of Drumheller. The name Rosebud derives from the Blackfoot term, Akokiniskway, which means valley of roses.
European settlers began homesteading in Rosebud in 1883, laying the foundation for a strong farming and ranching community. The hamlet flourished in the early 1900s, reaching a population of 300 in the 1920s. By the early 1970s, however, the population dropped to less than thirty, and abandoned buildings awaited demolition.
The History of Rosebud School of the Arts
In 1973, LaVerne Erickson, a music and art teacher in Calgary, started Rosebud Camp of the Arts as a summer outreach program for Calgary youth. The summer programs soon expanded into weekend vacations throughout the school year.
In 1977, the Rosebud Fine Arts High School was formed. The school combined academics, arts and work experience with individualized attention to every student.
The summer of 1983 brought about a seemingly innocent change that significantly impacted the direction of the school. To raise funds, drama students staged Commedia Del Arte, a comedy show based on 16th Century Italian stock characters along with a country style buffet with a little music on the side.
In 1986, Rosebud School of the Arts launched its post-secondary apprenticeship programme focused on theatre, music and creative arts ministry training. In 1988, the Alberta Legislature passed the Rosebud School of the Arts Act, creating a unique Christian arts guild school. In 1998, the Canadian Badlands Performing Arts Summer School also began. In 2002-03, over 70 students from Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, the United States and the Netherlands participated in the various secondary and post-secondary programmes offered by Rosebud School of the Arts. An ambitious expansion project will develop the post secondary campus in the next three years.
Development of the Theatre
The 1990s saw the dramatic expansion of various adventures. The theatre's popularity grew and to seat everyone, renovations to the Opera House began. Seating changed from 150 packed in on old church pews to 220 lounging in tiered-theatre seats. A heating and air-conditioning system replaced the need to bring blankets in the winter and fans in the summer. Actors were given a larger stage with a full dressing room, and patrons were treated to a lobby complete with washrooms, running water and a concession area. By the end of 1991, the  Opera House was now firmly entrenched in the 20th Century! Along with this expansion, the Mercantile, (the old general store once turned into dorms and classrooms, now serving as kitchen and dining area), received several renovations and additions to accommodate the hungry throngs. Then, in early 1992, Rosebud launched the touring program taking its successful summer play, Cotton Patch Gospel, on the road.
Expanding the Vision
In 1993, a sister organization, Chemainus Theatre Festival, opened on Vancouver Island. Much of the first staff as well as the first two shows came from Rosebud. It has now grown to the largest professional theatre on the Island, attracting over 60,000 people per year. RSA still oversees the Chemainus Internship Programme, also known as the Young Company. The following year, 1994 saw the first production of the Canadian Badlands Passion Play in Drumheller. In 1998, RSA began Canadian Badlands Performing Arts Summer School, a three-week summer accredited programme for high school students, which included performing in the Passion Play. In the first year, 46 students attended representing 30 different locations in Alberta. In 2001, Rosebud School of the Arts began the new eight-month Certificate Programme started with 10 students. This was followed by the revised Mentorship Programme, divided into two distinct levels. The focus in the Certificate and Mentorship Level 1 years is on developing specific skills and theoretical knowledge with Level 2 students specifically focusing on the demands of the professional stage. The Studio Stage, a small black box theatre, was opened to provide increased performance opportunities for students.
Other Local Attract ions
The historic United Church is now the Akokiniskway Art Gallery and Rosebud Creek Recording Studio, home of the nostalgic radio show Rosebud on Radio and the lively folk music review Rosebud Radio Hour. It also serves as the rehearsal area for Rosebud Masterworks (community) Choir and The Rosa Cantorum (women's choir).
The Rosebud Community Centre, once the local public school, now houses a gym available through community members for floor hockey and the upstairs includes a kitchen, hall and bar for recreational events. Other amenities include the scenic nine-hole Akokiniskway Golf Course, Thorny Rose Cafe and the Rosebud Centennial Museum, which displays artifacts and photographs of pioneer life. The Rosebud Gifts and Crafts displays and sells local and regional crafts. Charming guest accommodation is available at the Rose Cottage B & B, the Queen Regent Guest House and the Rosebud Country Inn.
See www.rosebud.ca for further details.
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