Abbotsford, BC – Last summer, audiences were captivated by the sight of a 17-foot illuminated sturgeon puppet as it wove its way through the crowd at Calvin Dyck’s annual Symphony in the Park. This year’s event, takes place on August 16 at Mill Lake Park, and will feature an expanded version of the performance, called Luminous Waters, based on the story of the draining of Sumas Lake.
“We are building on the magic of last year’s illuminated puppet performance, and adding to both the cast and the storyline as we continue to find innovative ways to share the history of Sumas Lake with our community” says Laura Schneider, Executive Director, The Reach Gallery
Museum.
Between 1919 and 1924, Sumas Lake, which spanned the Fraser Valley from Abbotsford to Chilliwack, was drained in a massive feat of engineering that forever changed the lives of the Sumas people and shaped the valley as we know it today. Luminous Waters is a theatrical performance intended to keep the memory of the lake alive. The performers include Councillor
Chris Silver (Sumas First Nation) and drummers from Sumas, Kris Foulds, Curator of Historical Collections at The Reach, and a crew of professional puppeteers led by Jacquie Ralston and Tamara Unroe.
From August 12-16, drop by The Reach during regular hours of operation to see Ralston and Unroe construct a new puppet for the performance. The public is invited to watch and learn as they create the latest cast member to help tell this local story.
Stop by The Reach at 32388 Veterans Way to watch this puppet come to life and don’t miss the performance of Luminous Waters on August 16th in Mill Lake Park immediately after the Symphony in the Park. For more details, visit www.thereach.ca or email: info@thereach.ca
This event is generously powered by funding partners TD Bank Group, the Hamber Foundation, Tourism Abbotsford, and CIVL radio.