A Decade by the River
Celebrating the stories from the community members who've been part of River Clyde Arts' ten year history.
Celeste Maynard
Meet Celeste Maynard, performing with us since 2016 - first as an actor with the youth ensemble, and now with the puppet ensemble. Here's what she says about her Pageant experiences:
What drew you to that very first River Clyde Pageant?
“Because the Pageant wasn’t established in the community yet, Megan and Ker went to the schools in the area and gave a presentation to classes to try to get kids involved. I was already involved with some theatre, and happened to be family friends with the music teacher at my school, and the music director for the Pageant at the time, so I was called into another meeting that ended in deciding that all the kids in those three families would try out this mysterious outdoor theatre experience. We were sent home with flyers in our backpacks and that summer we were the first generation of the kids ensemble!”
What's surprised you most about working with this community over the years?
“What initially surprised me was the amount of people in the community who came together to put on this spectacle. I always knew there were creative people in the area, but living in rural PEI can be isolating and it wasn’t easy to find a community. The Pageant was unique because it brought so many people together, including kids and people who had never really engaged in typical arts programming. Every year I’m surprised by how many people who have been living here for years get involved for the first time and absolutely love it. There are so many talented people who have been involved in the community over the years, and it’s hard to believe that so many of them have been living nearby but I may have never met them outside of the Pageant.”
What keeps you coming back year after year?
“What keeps me coming back is the community and the opportunity to keep trying new things year after year. I’ve been a part of the Pageant community for nearly half my life, so the surrounding community feels a lot like family. At this point I can’t even imagine my summers without spending hours upon hours making art outdoors in New Glasgow. I love that there is familiarity year after year, in the structure of the summer and the returning community, but there are also new things to experience, new people to meet and different technical skills to learn. I have greatly enjoyed trying out new things over the years, from working in a performance and writing capacity, to building puppets and learning how to use them.”
Katrina Lewis
Katrina Lewis, or Kat in short— who you will see as a puppeteer at the 2025 River Clyde Pageant— began her Pageant journey in 2016 with a simple question from her mom: “Hey, do you to do something weird?” Knowing that Kat is always up for trying new things, that "weird something" was learning to walk on stilts for what Kat thought would be a little kids' pageant. Fast forward to ten years later, she's still saying yes to the "weird stuff."
"It's a lot of fun. It's different every year," Kat shares. "Even if it's the same show being repeated, you're doing the same thing but with twists, getting new skills. And seeing some of the same faces – I joke that some people are like my summer friends. I know it's summer when I see these faces."
For Kat, the Pageant has become like an annual fun summer camp experience. "I went to summer camp every year for most of my life, and now I feel like I didn't escape that. I've been doing it for 10 years! I just drive myself to ‘summer camp’ and do weird stuff, arts and crafts."
What keeps her coming back year after year? The creativity that flourishes at the Pageant, the joy of reuniting with familiar faces, and the comfort of a creative community where doing "weird stuff" is not just welcomed – it's celebrated.
Azalea Lincoln
Azalea's River Clyde Arts journey began with a friendly gesture from her neighbours. "Our neighbours get tickets each year, and one year they shared it with us, [which is] our first year here, and we just kept coming."
Fast forward three years: Azalea’s family has been part of our excited audience, captivated by performances that felt both exciting and deeply connected to nature
"It's really exciting, it's cool, and it's really naturey," she shares. "I feel like the meaning of it too is not just like a play and then you'll forget about it. It's [has] a really cool meaning, and afterwards me and my mom would always discuss it and say our favourite parts and how cool it is."
This year, she made the leap from spectator to performer, joining our dance ensemble for the first time. As a dancer, Azalea especially loves the interaction between the different ensembles. Referring to the dancers and stilt walkers’ relationship as geese and ungulate herd, "I like how we have like companionship and that we're friends and we know them, rather than we're just two separate characters in the play."
From shared tickets to shared stages, Azalea's journey reflects how the Pageant works its magic—through neighbours who share their joy, audiences who discover they want to be part of the story, and moments that families talk about for years to come.
Ewan Fowler-Purdy
Sometimes the most meaningful opportunities arrive when we least expect them. In 2022, 19-year-old Ewan was fresh out of his first year of university when he got hired to work his first River Clyde Pageant.
What drew you to that very first River Clyde Pageant?
"I got hired to work my first pageant in 2022. At the time I was 19 years old, freshly out of my first year of university. I remember being surprised that I was given an opportunity to work for the Pageant, given my limited experience. Nonetheless, as soon as I started, I immediately felt welcome, and appreciated, the environment was unlike any I had encountered previously. To be honest, the incredible community I walked into helped me get out of a personal rut I was in at the time, and helped me to regain my confidence, and recognize my own value. It was that uplifting atmosphere that drew me in, and made me want to come back again."
What's surprised you most about working with this community over the years?
"The diverse array of fulfilling interactions that I’ve had with people of all ages, and of all backgrounds. I have had really rewarding interactions with everyone from children less than half my age, and people more than double my age. Not only have those interactions been incredibly fulfilling, but they have also surprised me by showing the remarkable kindness of the community involved in the community. Interactions I would never have had without the Pageant as a mediator."
What keeps you coming back year after year?
"Two things, the community, and the experience I gain from it. Every year I return to the Pageant, and I am met with a welcoming community that celebrates my abilities, and allows me to develop not only professionally, but personally as well. The fact that my level of experience is generally much less than my colleagues has never been an issue, and they have given me the space and the facilities to succeed in my own way. One of the many great things about the Pageant is that they do not discriminate, but instead, they give you the tools to learn, and to succeed. They foster an environment of uplifting support, focused on personal and professional growth. It is this environment that brings me back every year."
Reequal Smith
Reequal Smith joined the 2019 Pageant as a last-minute performer, introduced to us by a friend when we were trying to fill an opening in our dance ensemble. She was new to the Island and looking for community. The River Clyde Pageant community not only welcomed her but invited her to lead the dance ensemble in the years ahead.
What drew you to that very first River Clyde Pageant?
"River Clyde was one of the first festivals I got involved in when I transitioned to PEI in 2019, after graduating from Holland College. I was eager to engage with the community and learned through a colleague about the dance ensemble. The festival members were incredibly welcoming, which made my initial nervousness about being new to PEI dissipate. I was excited to meet new people and build long-term relationships. The festival revealed the immense talent within the community, and it felt like the right place for me."
What has surprised you most about working with this community over the years?
"The craftsmanship and talent continue to amaze me. The details in the puppetry, the beauty of the landscapes, and how they unfold stories of wildlife and human interaction are truly remarkable. Initially, I had no idea what to expect, but in 2021, the puppet ensemble created a gigantic dinosaur, which left me in awe. At that moment, I realized that no one could surpass the artisans at RCP."
What keeps you coming back year after year?
"RCP has deepened my appreciation for wildlife. I love contributing to the movement within the show. When I first joined as a volunteer, I imagined more dancing in the theatre. I shared my ideas with Megan, who was always supportive and never made me feel like my ideas were inadequate. Over the years, I have witnessed the growth of the dance ensemble and the increasing interest in it. The festival involves a lot of hard work, but its magic and power in bringing people together are truly special. We overcome our fears, try new things, and create beautiful works."
What's one moment from the past decade that still gives you chills?
"The show in 2021 'Turn of the Tide stands out. After finishing our segment, the dancers had the opportunity to stand and look towards the water. We saw the dragonfly puppet on the water and the horns playing, and every time that moment came up, I cried. Being part of a community of like-minded artists, working gracefully together, and cherishing each moment on this land that we strive to honour is truly a blessing."
Ivy & Violet
Meet Ivy Gorman and Violet Weale, two best friends dancing together in the Pageant ensemble. When your whole family gets swept up in Pageant magic, it's only natural that your best friend gets curious too.
Ivy's Pageant journey began in 2018 when her entire family got involved—at one point, Ivy and her brother Llew were in the Kids Ensemble while their mother joined the dance ensemble one year. It became a true family affair.
Watching her best friend's family fall in love with the Pageant, Violet felt encouraged to join. In 2021, she signed up as a dancer, joining Violet in the dance ensemble.
Ask them about their favorite Pageant memories, and their eyes light up with completely different but equally magical stories. For Ivy, it was during one of their legendary games of cops and robbers during Kids Ensemble breaks. "A group of us got so far away from everyone else, it was completely silent, and there was this huge swarm of bats. It was just so beautiful and magical."
For Violet, the magic happened on the drive home from rehearsal: "Every time we went in the car, we'd have all the songs inside our heads because we'd been dancing and everything. So we just sing the entire way." Ivy adds with a grin, "We wind down the windows and belt out the songs. Everyone probably thought we're insane."
From best friends to dance partners, Ivy and Violet show how the Pageant weaves itself into friendship—creating inside jokes, joyful car ride concerts, and memories that will last a lifetime.
Emily Gallant
Meet Emily Gallant, a remarkable young performer who has been part of both our dance ensemble and acting ensemble for two years running!
For those who saw the 2024 Pageant, you'll remember Emily's scene-stealing moments as "the Diva" who flounced around the stage, tossing cardboard props and making melodramatic pronouncements with glee! This year she also acted as one of "the Artists", a group arriving to the site seeking creative inspiration from the natural world, and instead finding a lot more people than expected.
Emily's growth as a performer has been amazing to watch, and we are so lucky to have talented young artists like her in our community, discovering new sides of themselves through the Pageant!
Watch Emily’s interview on our Instagram!
Marti Hopson
The story of Marti and her children, Joe and Fiona, dates back to our very first Pageant. While her kids participated as "river kids" and original "cranky" kids, Marti arranged and played accordion accompaniment for multiple scenes.
What's the one moment from the past decade that Marti treasures most? Standing on the New Glasgow bridge in 2017 with the "funeral band," leading the River Song while surrounded by stilt walkers dressed as eagles. "Made me think 'I have found my home,'" she remembers.
As Music Director from 2017-2022, Marti created lasting melodies using wonderfully unusual instrumentation—like the "gamelans" she built from sourced metal pieces and her innovative "aqua-gamelan" that brought floating music across the water.
Now, coming full circle, Marti leads our pre-show band in 2025. "I'm so happy to be leading the band at the top of the hill, bringing back these songs which have lived in my bones over the last 10 years," she shares. "Being involved with the Pageant has been one of the most fulfilling magical experiences of my life."
Garry Williams
In 2023, longtime Pageant collaborator Ian McFarlane connected us with Garry Williams to give our beloved Music Director Marti Hopson a well-deserved year off from this intensive role. Garry stepped in with curiosity and creativity—and never left.
What drew you to that very first River Clyde Pageant?
"I was drawn to the Pageant out of curiosity. I wanted to work with these passionate, gentle souls who were trying to make sense of our complicated relationship with the land. I have art crushes on them all! I love a project that is nothing like one I have worked on before, and the Pageant is very much its own thing."
What has surprised you most about working with this community over the years?
"I am surprised at the ways it echoes Heraclitus: it's never the same Pageant, and you're never the same person. You return to a different group of people to work with on a new project every year. That's the wonder of it. The sky, the fireflies, the performances are alive – always changing, always new. "
What keeps you coming back year after year?
"It's a tonic against the smallness of the modern world. You feel smaller, but the experience is somehow larger. I suppose you return to do better work than the year before, be better prepared, more creative, more in sync with the other ensembles. The more you play, the more you want to be part of the River Clyde Arts family. You don't want to miss out on any part of it! "
What's one moment from the past decade that still gives you chills?
"One of my most memorable Pageant moments was during the procession, as we descended towards the Pageant site. There we are, singing about the river and how nature and art can change us, and this stunning view of the River Clyde opens up! That presence, that true connection is what the Pageant is all about. "
Jennifer Brown
Meet Jennifer, or Jen for short — co-leader of the 2025 Cranky with Sebastien Labelle and the creative force behind one of our most ambitious cranky scrolls yet. The 2025 opening scene featured an elaborate painted scroll that captures a decade of Pageant memories. The meters-long masterpiece came to life through Jen's vision and the help of friends who've participated in past cranky painting sessions and other painted set elements from over the years.
The cranky was set to a script written by Jane Wells and narrated by different pairs of special guest readers each night.
Remember the giant Nervous Speckled Land Trout puppet from our first Pageant in 2016? That was Jen's creation, brought to life with help from her art class students. Jen's also been involved as a painter of many of our recent cranky scrolls, from 2022 through 2024!
Jordan Beaulieu
Jordan Beaulieu joined us in 2021 after moving back to PEI during the pandemic. Fresh from finishing grad school online, they were looking for three things: work in the arts, new friendships, and a summer spent outside. And it worked!
What drew you to that very first River Clyde Pageant?
"While I was still living in Montreal, I saw a picture of pageant performers in flowing costumes dancing on platforms in the river. And Gerty! The magnificent whale puppet of 2018. It was a kind of art I hadn't seen being made in PEI before. I had to investigate."
What is one of your most memorable moments at the Pageant?
"One of my most memorable Pageant moments was making the banners that decorate the Windfall in the Hollow set with Ian and Evan last year. Nothing better than painting creepy crawly creatures in the shade."
What's surprised you most about working with this community over the years?
"The levels of dedication, degrees of talent, and variety of skills and knowledge in the group. How those qualities appear in people of all ages, from all backgrounds."
What keeps you coming back year after year?
"Spending time with people I love! I also like that intense, concentrated effort in a short but effective burst. Everyone contributes, and you wouldn't believe how quickly the pageant comes together. Since it's a community performance, we have time to rehearse in full, like once, maybe twice. And it works every time!"
Laura Stinson
Meet the mastermind behind our stunning puppet creations, our incredible Mask & Puppet Designer, and Puppet Ensemble leader, Laura Stinson.
"My first in-person encounter with the River Clyde Pageant was in 2020, when I inhabited a giant crow and took to the streets of Charlottetown for The Flock, a Pageant production presented by Art in the Open. Enticed into further collaboration by Ian McFarlane and Megan Stewart, the Pageant has become a place where I can have big ideas and unconventional designs. It is a place where I can interact with the community, try new things, sometimes fail and then try other things. It is a rare bird in the theatrical world and I am grateful to be a part of it."
The Labelle family
Meet the remarkable Labelle family: Sébastien, our Ensemble Director since 2016, and his children Françoise and Aimé, who have grown up with the Pageant as performers since 2021.
Sébastien Labelle
"I got involved in the pageant in 2016 after Ker had an unexpected layover in Halifax and visited my puppet shed. He invited me to be part of the creative team and I've been involved every summer since. I cherish many memories accumulated over the years, but what stands out for me as an exceptional experience is watching my kids grow up with the pageant and having that creative and collaborative spirit be part of their lives for so many years."
Françoise
"I've grown up watching my dad work on the pageant every summer since the very first one in 2016. I figured he shouldn't be the only one having all the fun so I began performing in the pageant when I was 9 years old (I'm now 13 years old). My favourite memory of the pageant is seeing how unpredictable things can get, like when Ker had to run on stage and lift Noah up to untangle a cord from the set that got stuck... and then... If you know you know."
Aimé
"My favourite part of being in the Pageant is watching the audience react to every part of the show. I also like watching the crankie."
Andrea Ellis
Meet Andrea Ellis, our Choir Director since 2019, who has helped transform outdoor spaces into places of harmony and community.
"It has been such a pleasure to be a part of the River Clyde Pageant's artistic team since 2019. When I joined as the production's choir director, I was excited to make music outside and be part of something truly stunning. Now, the pageant has come to mean "summer" for me - a safe place, a rich community, a ritual.
Perhaps the most profound part of leading our choir is watching the friendships that form among our singers. Each year, the ensemble looks a little different with returning and new singers, but as we spend time together and create music, the sense of comradery and community is tangible. It is truly a joy to be part of this show!"
