For Linda Lundquist-Fraser it was a matter of giving back to the community where she was raised.
“My heart is always here in the Bulkley Valley under that glorious mountain, Fraser said.
For Birdy Markert, district principle, Aboriginal Education with School District 54, the gift was priceless.
“The donation from Linda Fraser is important for students,” Markert said.
“We will be distributing the supplies to Silverthorne Elementary, Muheim Elementary, Lake Kathlyn Elementary, Moricetown Elementary and Fort Babine Elementary.
The idea and the need for the supplies came to Fraser last August when she had a showing at the Smithers Art Gallery called, The Homecoming.
During the showing, Fraser decided to paint in the gallery every day.
Local schools took advantage of the situation and visited with Fraser to watch her paint and view the paintings she had on display.
Fraser soon learned the students had little in the way of art classes or art supplies.
Driving home, afer her month-long exhibit at the gallery, Fraser decided she would approach the Vancouver Island arts community for donations of art supplies, with the hopes of eventually donating them to school children in the Bulkley Valley.
“All artists have supplies sitting in their studios that they never use as they have moved on to something else,” Fraser said to explain her rationale.
Fraser’s request lit a fire in the arts community that triggered an amazing response.
I was picking up bags all over my community, people were dropping them off at my door and leaving bags of supplies at the Oceanside Arts council building,” Fraser explained.
Once I started sorting it all, I realized I had an entire car full of supplies.”
Fraser, who is retired from a career in real-estate which included a stint with Calderwood Realty, took up painting when she and her husband moved to Parksville.
Fraser said she had always had an interest in painting, but life seemed to always get in the way, that is until she moved to Parksville.
“There’s a dynamic art community on Vancouver Island, which gives aspiring artists the opportunity to take many courses and workshops, which I did,” Fraser said.
A member of the Federation of Canadian Artists, Fraser has painted in many mediums but now prefers acrylics.
Given her roots are in the Bulkley Valley, it is not surprising her favourite subjects include landscapes, still life and old buildings, especially from around Smithers.
It is her interest in the history and the older families of the valley that led Fraser to put their history on canvas.
She called the exhbit the Bulkley Valley History on Canvas and it is now hanging in the lobby of the Roi theater.
As for the art supplies, Markert said it was up to the schools to determine how the art supplies are to be distributed to support art activities., adding support staff who run craft clubs during the week will put the supplies to good use to enrich student activities in the Valley.
“I wish to thank Linda Fraser and her friends in Parksville for their generous donation,” Markert said.