Garry Lawrence Fairbairn began his journalism career with Canadian Press in 1969. His first two years were spent covering stories in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto. From 1971 to 1973, Fairbairn was posted in Ottawa and was later moved to Regina where he worked until 1976. His work in Regina received attention and he was given an international assignment spending two years in Washington, D.C. After getting married, he requested a transfer back to western Canada and in 1978 he was assigned to the Canadian Press post in Calgary which he held until 1981.
As his career progressed, people noticed his talents and he frequently garnered accolades from his colleagues. Fairbairn was instrumental in the development of the Saskatchewan Journalist’s Association. Despite his successes as a journalist, by 1981 he was restless and felt the need for a change. He entered into a competition to write a history commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. His reputation and his proposals paid off and he was awarded the commission. In 1984, From Prairie Roots: The Remarkable Story of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool was published. He later joined The Western Producer, a weekly farm newspaper owned by the Pool, and worked there until 1999. He is currently retired.
Nationally and internationally acclaimed artist, Joe Fafard, was born to French-Canadian parents in the small agricultural community of Ste. Marthe, Saskatchewan. He attended the University of Manitoba (BFA 1966) and Pennsylvania State University (MFA 1968).
He taught at the University of Saskatchewan, Regina College from 1968 to 1974 and was visiting lecturer at the University of California at Davis in 1980-1981. Joe Fafard was a distinguished full time artist and sculptor who resided on an acreage near Lumsden, Saskatchewan.
Fafard was one of Canada’s leading professional visual artists and has exhibitions of a wide variety of work in galleries and museums across the country and around the world, including the United States, Great Britain, France and Japan. He was widely recognized as being at the forefront of his art, and his outstanding contributions to the arts have significantly raised the profile of both Saskatchewan and Canada on the national stage.
He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1981; awarded the Architectural Institute of Canada Allied Arts Award in 1987; received an Honorary Degree from the University of Regina in 1989, and from the University of Manitoba in 2007; received the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2002; received the National Prix Montfort in 2003; received the Lieutenant Governor’s Saskatchewan Centennial Medal for the Arts in 2005; was named CTV Citizen of the Year in 2006; and most recently received the Saskatchewan Arts Board Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
In the early 1970’s, much of his sculpture used clay as a medium. In 1985, he shifted to bronze as his chief sculptural medium, successfully establishing a foundry in Pense.
His insight and humour characterize his portraits of neighbors, farm animals, and famous artists that he came to respect as he learned his craft. His work in bronze is displayed across Canada and his ‘cows’ have become one of his trademarks.
Cara Gay Driscoll was born in 1946 in Regina, Saskatchewan. From 1962 to 1986 she was a full-time mother and homemaker, while also managing part-time bookkeeping and painting. However, in 1986 Driscoll attended the University of Regina, initially to pursue painting but soon discovering an interest in clay. In 1993, Driscoll went to the University of Northern Territory in Australia to work under Jack Sures.
Driscoll's hand-coiled vessels require a significant amount of time and intense dedication to complete. Using this traditional technique, Driscoll creates works that reflect historical, spiritual, and natural themes. Her 2000 exhibition The Forgotten Women of the Bible was inspired by a desire to give voice to biblical women, while 2003-2005's The Path to Mary seeks to acknowledge the contributions that others have to making art meaningful.
Driscoll's pieces have been exhibited at several galleries including the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery (Waterloo) and the Assiniboia Gallery (Regina). Recently, her work was also part of the 2010-2011 traveling exhibition “Prairie Excellence.”
Television broadcaster, theatre artist, academic, and social activist Rita Shelton Deverell was born in Houston, Texas in 1945. In 1967 she moved to Canada and in 1972 began her career in television as the producer of a children's program.
In 1974 Rita joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a host for the program 'Take 30'. She came to Saskatchewan as an actress on the Globe Theatre School Tour in 1971-72, was a tenured Professor and Acting Director of the University of Regina's School of Journalism, and later became one of the founders of the Canadian television network Vision TV. She was Head of Production and noted for wearing a flower in her hair when she hosted programs.
Rita Deverell served as news and current affairs director for the Aboriginal peoples Television Network from 2002 to 2005, mentoring her Aboriginal successor, and was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2005 for "pioneering innovation and creativity" and for her "unceasing drive for social justice."
Rita has a doctorate from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto, is the founding Chair of the Advisory Board of Canadian Multicultural Radio, has served as an adjudicator-at-large for the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, and is a board member of the Media Awareness Network.
In 2001-02 Rita was the University of Western Ontario's Reader's Digest Visiting Professor of Journalism, she was also a Visiting Scholar (with Neil Postman) in New York University's Department of Culture and Communication.
She is on the MacLean's Honour Roll of Outstanding Canadians, is a two time Gemini Award winner, is in the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, has been on the Board of the Obsidian Theatre Company in Toronto, was the first holder of the CanWest Global Fellowship at the University of Western Ontario in 2007, and Nancy's Chair in Women's Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University from 2009-2011.
Rex Deverell began his working career in 1967 as the pastor of a small Baptist church in southern Ontario. Drama, both religious and secular, played an important role even in those days through acting, directing, writing.
In 1968 Deverell's "The Invitation" won the Playwrights' Award from the University of Western Ontario. He wrote several plays in the following few years. By 1970 he resigned his pastorate and devoted himself to theatre. From 1970 to 1975 Deverell and his family lived in Regina and Toronto. This same period also saw the production of plays for young audiences such as "Sam and the Tigers", "Shortshrift", "Copetown City Kite Crisis" and "Sarah's Play".
In 1975 Regina’s Globe Theatre, southern Saskatchewan's premiere theatre company, appointed Deverell as Playwright-in-Residence. He held this position until October 1989 when he moved to Toronto. "Boiler Room Suite" was produced in 1976. In 1978 this play won the Canadian Authors' Award. It enjoyed great success, became the libretto for an opera, and travelled to Vancouver, Toronto and London, England among other cities.
Deverell has served in various provincial and national organizations, including the Playwrights Union of Canada, the Guild of Canadian Playwrights. He was was a founding member of the Saskatchewan Playwrights' Centre
Kathryn (Kate) Anne Davis was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1951. She attended Bradley University from 1969 to 1973 where she graduated with an undergraduate degree in art history. From 1974 to 1976 Davis attended the University of Chicago for graduate studies in art history, with a focus on contemporary art. From 1977 to 1980 Davis attended the University of New Mexico. After finishing her graduate studies she moved to Canada in 1981 and in 1982 she got job as Registrar at the Edmonton Art Gallery. She later advanced to the role of Photography/Curatorial Manager. It was here that she realized her calling as a museum administrator and started her successful and fulfilling life long career.
Davis moved to Calgary in 1986 after accepting the Director of Programs job at the Glenbow Museum. In 1993 Davis moved to Manitoba where she worked as the Deputy Director at the Winnipeg Gallery. In 1997, Davis became the Director of the Mackenzie Art Gallery in Regina. During her twelve years working there, Davis transformed the traditional art gallery into an institution not only of excellence and high quality, but also a gallery with strong community and local cultural connections. An example of this is the artist-led programs directed at youth in the inner cities and reserves.
From 2000 to 2004 Davis served as the President of the Canadian Art Museum Directors Organization (CAMDO). Davis was a board member for the Canadian Museum Association and for the International Council of Museums. Davis also belonged to many professional committees and juries related to the art community.
Davis received several honours for her work; the highest was being inducted as a Fellow of the Canadian Museums Association in 2009. She also received many awards over her life including: the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal (2005), City of Regina’s Mayor's Award for Business and the Arts (2006) and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Museums Association of Saskatchewan (2010).
Davis retired from the Mackenzie Art Gallery in 2008. In 2009 Davis took a special assignment at the Art Gallery of Ontario, hoping change in career would bring her personal growth. However, Davis became ill with a progressive cancer and died in October 21, 2010.