Groundwater Communications has successfully designed a new website for the Bailey Theatre. We are proud to be a volunteer and sponsor for this incredible facility.

We first crossed paths with this historic gem when we wanted to get out into the community...volunteer to make a difference. We love music and culture and were drawn to The Bailey Theatre. It is a place where history meets modern technology. The walls breathe the stories of life and the sounds of laughter of more than 100 years. It is a place where people dream, work and dream some more...a gathering place.

We will always feel a part of this great Theatre for it has changed our vision for the better. We hope you will come and experience The Bailey Theatre for yourself. You will be glad you did.

Check out the new website at http://www.baileytheatre.com
or click the photo below

The stage is set…
Groundwater Communications has successfully completed the new branding for the City of Camrose. After months of development with Camrose Economic Development and various stakeholders the brand was presented to city council. One council member commented , "The new brand is absolutely brilliant in it's simplicity." The brand has a narrow focus with a broad application.

The stakeholder group representing Camrose Tourism, City Centre Camrose, Chamber of Commerce, CRE, members of the business sector, and City of Camrose identified these key strengths:

• Camrose hosts many events that draw people to the city.
• Key cultural and recreation facilities and locations
• Our champion volunteers
• Strong personality and sense of community

The Brand Promise:
As Alberta’s live performance city, Camrose is a culturally vibrant events community, renowned for being a champion host. The city is a growing regional hub centred on natural beauty… a flourishing community where the stage is set for families and businesses to thrive.

Why brand Camrose as a 
live performance city:
Camrose hosts many events that draw people to the city and is renowned for being an exceptional host.

• University of Alberta, Augustana and the new Camrose Performing Arts Centre are key strengths of Camrose that contribute to the quality of life in Camrose and with the new brand focus, will bring more families here.
• Other key cultural and recreation facilities and locations
• City research has identified the desire for a growth of arts and culture in Camrose.
• Our champion volunteers and strong sense of community
• Natural beauty of Mirror Lake and Stoney Creek Valley with walking and ski trails
  

“The stage is set” tells the audience that Camrose is a performance focused city, vibrant cultural centre and growing arts and recreational community. It conveys an active city and creates a sense of wonder, a need to investigate what Camrose has to offer. It says that Camrose is ready and waiting to welcome new families and businesses to a way of life they have been looking for.

• The stage is set for education
  
• The stage is set for business development
  
• The stage is set for arts and culture
  
• The stage is set for live performance
  
• The stage is set for your family to learn and grow

This is a brand to build on, to create an image of life full of possibilities.

Today is a special day at Groundwater. We received news that we will be working on a new brand for the City of Camrose! Since we love this place we are going to put all our expertise and our hearts into unifying the Camrose brand…creating a living, breathing presence for this fine city we have called home for five years. 

There is so much here to sing the praises of! Beautiful Stoney Creek Valley with Mirror Lake and 16 km of ski and walking trails is a privilege we enjoy every day. 

This is a vibrant community full of special people and events like Big Valley Jamboree, which attracts 24,000 visitors every year! Other fun events like Jaywalkers Jamboree and Show & Shine centre on main street. Our hundred year old Bailey Theatre in Camrose City Centre has been restored and upgraded with state-of-the-art light and sound. It hosts Rose City Roots music series, live theatre and many local events. We have a vibrant arts community, children's theatre and a busy music scene. Camrose is also a shopping hub for the area, with a number of outstanding specialty shops.

Camrose continues to be the host of countless sporting events like world junior hockey, provincial Scotties Tournament of Hearts, provincial Boston Pizza Cup, and Canadian Hot Air Balloon Championships. 

The University of Alberta, Augustana Campus is a hub of activity and focus in Camrose, including a new performing arts centre due to open in the spring of 2014. 

We embark on this journey with a group of stakeholders that really care about Camrose. We can't help but succeed.

Our journey yesterday took us to the wondrous deserving eyes of children at Norwood School in Edmonton. An historic inner city school that Darcy attended in Grade 6 in 1961, the old school breathes so much life and holds the tales of so many journeys in its 108 years.

Darcy wanted to do something special at his old school - to make a small difference in the lives of the children there. 

So along with a creative art presentation and book reading, Darcy took each child's picture as a bumble bee character in the book, and gave them a free "Stay Away From the Barn" book. 240 books in all, one for each child in the school and some for the library. 

Warm eyes glowed with the wonder of a shiny gift like this on a normal cold winter Friday in Edmonton. But nothing glowed brighter than the heart of the artist who paid it forward. It was more satisfying and life affirming than Darcy could have imagined - testament to the joy of being grateful for where life's journey has taken him.

Inspiring young minds...that's what Darcy Polny, Groundwater Partner set out to do in a new challenge. Butter Bean Books was born. 

Recently Darcy visited C.W. Sears Elementary School in Tofield, Alberta to promote his latest title, "Stay Away From the Barn". To a captive audience of children and teachers, he demonstrated the style of painting used in the book. With special touches from five excited student volunteers, the painting was completed, signed and donated to the school. Then Darcy read the book, answered children's questions and took their pictures to transform them into bumble bees, a character in the story. 

Darcy loves to connect with and inspire young children. It's his way of paying it forward and enriching his own life experience. "There is nothing like seeing that look of excitement and discovery in a child's eyes. It is truly inspiring."

"Thank you so much for spending the morning with us and sharing your gifts and talents. The kids thoroughly enjoyed your presentation."  C.W. Sears Librarian

For more on Butter Bean Books and Darcy's presentations to children, go to www.butterbeanbooks.ca