Summer Starts Here

Mind Matters Clinic Dr. Cathy Moser & Dr. Jay Greenfeld, Registered Psychologists 3 - 1250 Waverley St. Tel: 204-477-8555 wwww.mindmattersclinic.ca Call 204-477-8555 or go to www.mindmattersclinic.ca for more information For Children Who: • Struggle With Reading • Struggle With Math • Struggle With Social Skills • Some of the fees may be covered by Extended Health Care Benefits for Psychology and/or Speech and Language Therapy (for the Social Skills Camp only) • Reading Camp: July 5th - 15th, 18th - 29th; August 2nd - 12th • Math Camp: August 15th - 26th • Social Skills Camps: July 5th - 15th; August 2nd - 12th; August 15th - 26th Some Spots Still Available! Summer FUN and EDUCATIONAL Day Camps By Jennifer McFee for the Free Press WINNIPEG'S ARTS SCENE IS FLOURISHING IN THE EXCHANGE DISTRICT, WHERE AN INFLUX OF PEOPLE PAINT THE TOWN RED THE FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. First Fridays in the Exchange has been a mainstay since local artists Karen Schulz and Sue Gordon launched the initiative six years ago after experiencing a similar event in Kansas City. Since then, artists have thrown open their studio doors while restaurants and shops focus on fine arts on every first Friday year-round. First Fridays board member Dani Finch says the appeal of the event is simple. "Every first Friday of the month, we invite anybody and everybody into the Exchange District to visit shops, galleries, restaurants and artists' studios that all keep their doors open until 9 p.m., some of them even later," she says. "We really want to bring people into the Exchange and into the arts community. We want to be the cultural hub of the city and encourage people to visit not only on First Fridays but then to come back again and again and again." A number of galleries schedule exhibit openings on First Fridays, while other businesses host special events and workshops. "There is so much going on and it's such a vibrant community. Everybody's really supportive of one another," Finch says. "I encourage people to come out to the Exchange on a First Friday. Cultural celebration helping transform Exchange District into cultural hub There are great restaurants in the area so come for dinner, come check out some galleries and just wander around." To enhance the experience, the Exchange District BIZ develops maps and guides for each monthly event. Karen Kornelsen, marketing and communications coordinator for the Exchange District BIZ, says First Fridays has become the biggest and most engaging arts event in Winnipeg. "It's incredible. It's blown up in the Exchange. It's getting bigger and bigger. It brings people from all parts of the city, from all different careers, backgrounds and interests. It gives them the perfect chance to see the thriving arts and culture scene in the Exchange," she says. "And what's really cool is that it's not elite or exclusive. It's for everyone. I'm always amazed on a First Friday to see hundreds of people walking around, checking out all of the galleries and art spaces, shopping in the boutiques, enjoying the restaurants." First Fridays also provide an unparalleled opportunity for a sneak peak inside many historic buildings in the area. "It's interesting to go into these hundred-year-old warehouses and see art studios and spaces occupied by super talented artists. The sheer density of artists and studios and galleries in the Exchange in our 20-square-block strip is amazing. Opening up the spaces on First Fridays really gives people a window that so many never get to see," Kornelsen says. "There's such a high concentration of talent and everyone is benefiting from it — from the restaurants to the bars to the shops to the theatres. Bringing that many people down on the first Friday of every month has definitely brought a lot of growth to the Exchange District. It's really a perfect fit for this city." Upcoming First Friday events are scheduled for Aug. 5 and Sept. 2. There will be no event on July 1 due to the Canada Day holiday. "It's a full experience. There's something for everyone and it's really inspiring to see the community come alive on First Fridays," Kornelsen says. "We encourage people to stick around and see what else is going on. We have so many different festivals and events coming up, so the summer is a great time to be in the Exchange." ✹ Art galleries, restaurants and local shops throw open their doors to the public the first Friday of every month to showcase everything the Exchange District has to offer. PHOTOS BY MIKE PETERS

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