The Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine has approved funding to help students from Hazelton Secondary School attend a national theatre festival in Vancouver this spring.
At its Jan. 16 meeting, board members voted to approve a one-time $5,000 grant through Electoral Area B’s grant-in-aid program for the school’s drama club to attend the National STAR Festival at the University of British Columbia. The festival is scheduled for May 21 to 23, 2026.
The tour will include eight students and two chaperones. Five Grade 10 and 11 students qualified for the festival last spring after presenting a video of student-written theatre work, earning ribbons that qualified them to perform at the national festival.
The festival will allow students to meet other drama students from across the province, many of whom have never attended a live stage performance outside Hazelton.
The drama club requires $9,830 for the trip and has already raised $1,500 through fundraising events. The remaining balance will be raised through community support.
According to the application, the trip supports students who excel in the arts, reduces barriers for youth in rural communities and strengthens fine-arts programming at Hazelton Secondary School.
