2010 Winners

Horizon Stage Tech Team 

The City of Spruce Grove has chosen the Horizon Stage Tech Team as the winners of the 2010 Social Capital Award.

The Horizon Stage Tech Team is a group of 20 volunteers, including men and women of all ages, whose purpose is to ensure that the performances at Horizon Stage go smoothly. They include the sound and lighting technicians and the stage hands who build, set up and tear down sets, along with a long list of tasks that are required behind the scenes.

These talented and dedicated volunteers can also be found working tirelessly at other cultural events including Remembrance Day ceremonies and the Canada Day and Street Performers Festival.

Groups who build Social Capital create connections among people – connections that often go beyond the purpose of their network. They bring people together in formal and informal ways, building the confidence that leads to more awareness, knowledge and trust. They enable people to build community, commit themselves to each other, and feel a greater sense of belonging.

“When we hear the word ‘capital’ most people think about financial investments or capital projects,” says Mayor Houston. “What we don’t think of is the value that these groups bring to our community.”

“The Horizon Stage Tech Team embodies the spirit of the Social Capital Award,” says the mayor. “Their work helps create connections and provide opportunities for members of our community to come together in a positive environment. Anyone in our community who has ever attended a show at Horizon Stage, or participated in any number of cultural events within our city has benefitted from their dedication to excellence.”

The Tech Team’s volunteers also benefit by gaining marketable skills and experiencing teamwork and leadership opportunities. They also build strong family connections, a fact that is evident in the three families who have made their time on the Tech Team an inter-generational experience.

The Second Annual Spruce Grove Social Capital Award Presentation took place on June 30 at the Community BBQ (kick-off to Canada Day and the Street Performers Festival).