THE HAMLET OF ROSEBUD
Nestled in a serene river valley, Rosebud is bridge between cultures -- between old and new, urban and rural -- a vibrant arts community visited by over forty thousand people every year.
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The Blackfoot people called this area Akokiniskway, meaning “river of many roses.” European settlers began homesteading here in 1883, laying the foundation for a strong farming and ranching community. The hamlet flourished in the early 1900s, reaching a population of 300 in the 1920s. By the early 1970s, however, the population dropped to fewer than thirty, and abandoned buildings awaited demolition.

HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL
LaVerne Erickson, a teacher of music and visual arts, started Rosebud Camp of the Arts in 1973 as a summer outreach program for Calgary youth. The summer programs soon expanded into weekend vacations throughout the school year. Old buildings found new uses as dorms and a retreat centre.

In 1977, the camp developed into a residential fine arts high school named Rosebud School of the Arts and operated in this format until 1986. The school combined academics, arts and work experience with individual attention. Tim Erickson joined his brother LaVerne in managing the new school.

The summer of 1983 brought about a seemingly innocent change that significantly impacted the direction of the school. The drama class initiated a fundraiser to mark the centennial of the first white settlers in the area. Their play Commedia Del’ Arte was presented on an outdoor stage, along with a country-style buffet and musical entertainment. In the following years, staff and students continued to produce shows until they produced a full season of plays in 1988.

POST SECONDARY GUILD SCHOOL
‍In 1986, Rosebud School of the Arts established a Fine Arts Guild – that is, a group of artists whose main objective is to offer apprenticeship-style instruction using the theatre as a practical training centre. In 1988, the Alberta Legislature passed the "Rosebud School of the Arts Act", recognizing Rosebud as an institution of higher learning. It is under this Act that Rosebud School of the Arts operates today.

ROSEBUD SUMMER THEATRE CAMP
In response to requests for high school programming, Rosebud School of the Arts launched the Rosebud Summer Theatre Camp in 2024.  

DEVELOPMENT OF THEATRE
Since its early experiments, Rosebud Theatre’s popularity grew to attract 10,000 patrons in 1987, 20,000 in 1993, 30,000 in 1996, and 40,000 in 2008.

In the early 1990s, renovations to the old Opera House exchanged church pews for tiered theatre seats and introduced a heating and air-conditioning system to replace the need for blankets in winter and fans in the summer. Indoor plumbing was not installed until 1991.

Currently, Rosebud Theatre & School of the Arts produces seven shows per year on 2 stages in addition to concerts, guest shows, and other events. Rosebud Theatre employs a resident company of artists and provides apprenticeship opportunities for students of Rosebud School of the Arts.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE RESTAURANT
Since the 1970s the Rosebud Mercantile (the old general store) became a meeting hub for campers, students, and guests of Rosebud Theatre. Extensive renovations allowed the old store to operate as a dining room to serve theatre patrons before curtain time.

In 2011 - exactly one hundred years after the building of the original building - the Mercantile opened its new expansion and a conference facility for banquets and weddings.

An upscale coffee bar was introduced in 2023.

EXPANDING THE VISION
Rosebud’s commitment to grass-roots development is evident in the creation of theatre ventures in other communities that now exist and thrive as independent organizations:

More information about the hamlet of Rosebud and its attractions: Visit Rosebud