About the Estevan Arts Council

Living in beautiful places has inspired her to create beauty wherever she can. Since moving to
Estevan, Gale has been involved with the Estevan & Area Garden Club, currently serving as
President. This led to her desire to create a beautiful garden spot downtown, and The Garden
on 4th was born in 2011. She designed the lush garden and has planted and maintained it
since. In 2021, with the support of the Estevan Arts Council, 3 murals were installed there. Gale
painted one and co-painted another. That winter she has also created a Christmas Tree Lane in
the garden featuring many unique and colorful trees, an effort that has grown each year.
Her other art projects in Estevan include ‘The Band Played On’ steel sculpture at the Estevan
Comprehensive High School, a giraffe installation at Hillcrest School, and she has created
several murals in town. Gale has been involved with the installation of many more murals by
different artists in Estevan with more planned. Her vision is to help make Estevan a vibrant hub
that its residents are proud to live in and its visitors are impressed with!

Now retired, Gale keeps busy with her husband, Kelly, traveling to threshing bees, flea markets,
beaches, gardens, and art and food festivals. She loves spending time with her adorable
children and grandchildren! A firm believer in socializing, she continues to host dance sessions
she started in 2009 and hosts The Great Create and a weekly year-round “Coffee In The
Garden” Breakfast open to all.

Born and raised in Estevan, Adrienne Dechief was involved in visual arts class, dance,
drama, and music in the community for many years. She graduated with a Bachelor of
Music Education and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Voice Performance from the University
of Regina. After living and teaching music abroad for eight years, she has returned to
Estevan with her husband and is currently teaching Choral at ECS, as well as doing
learning support. She is excited to bring music into the community and hopes to bring in
diverse audiences to the Estevan Concert Series.

Ivan joined the Arts Council in 2025 as Treasurer. He is also a member of the Concert
Series Committee. While not much of an artist himself, he definitely enjoys the arts. You
can find him enjoying concerts, exploring public art, and going to the theatre.

Dorothy has been a member of the Estevan Arts Council since 2025 as Secretary. Dorothy also represents the Estevan Pottery Club in the role of current President. Over the years Dorothy has enjoyed crafts such as wood working, candle making and now pottery.

Sara Pippus is a prairie born artist, obsessed with the natural world and an avid wanderer of back roads and trails. She has lived in Estevan for 32 years. She joined the Arts council in the fall of 2022. Sara’s day job, at a local school, for the last 18 years, provides many opportunities to connect the arts to her everyday life.  

The Arts have been the constant, interwoven, undercurrent andcreativity has always been what brings Sara joy. Hercontribution to organizations consistently relates to being an artist, from being an Events Coordinator and Editor of a grass roots magazine to leading After-School art programs. She has been twice nominated for the local Women of the Year awards both for her contributions at the school providing new opportunities for families and children to be successful.

Art weaves its way through Sara’s life in a terrific number of ways and has taken on many different forms along the way. Sara first picked up a camera when she was five years old and still one of her favourite pastimes is a road trip with a camera packed along. Now most often she carries photos home to be used as reference photos.

Beginning with photography, then on to archival scrapbooking, pencil & charcoal sketching, paper collage, wood craft and folk-art, interior design and garden landscapes just to name a few and stretches into upcycling and antiquing. Eight years ago, she began exploring painting with acrylics and what followed was a flurry of workshops, classes and studying online artists to learn as much as possible. In that time Sara created several bodies of work tending strongly towards her passion for the outdoors and the protection of these precious places. Her commissioned pieces have found new homes across the prairies.

Sara continues to create through acrylics to express her reflections on nature, capturing endangered prairie landscapesand architecture.

Being a part of the Visual Arts committee on the Arts Council board is important to Sara as the committee strives to bring local art to life here in Estevan.

Bethany Dittmann is a multi-disciplinary artist both in visual arts and theatre. She is inspired by the vast and beautiful creation that influences her work. Bethany is both a practising and teaching artist. She spends much of her time painting and drawing, often with her daughter. Her current favourite mediums are watercolour, acrylic paint, oil pastel and ink pot. She is an art instructor for both adult and children’s classes. She loves directing and facilitating theatre programs, both past and present. As well as, preforming in local theatre. She enjoying trying her hand at music while playing bass guitar and singing with her husband in their church music team.

Bethany has been serving on the Estevan Arts Council since 2024, serving on the visual arts
committee. She enjoys facilitating the rotating art wall at Micheal’s Coffee Shop and Bakery, connecting with local artist that showcase their artwork in the coffeeshop. Bethany is passionate about building community through creativity and bring quality art experiences to the Estevan community.

Coming Soon!

Pam Dechief was born and raised in Estevan and has loved raising her family in this wonderful community. Art, music, and drama programs were a big part of her children’s lives, which sparked Pam’s own involvement with the arts in Estevan.

Volunteering is second nature to Pam. Over the years, she’s contributed her time and energy to The Estevan Music Festival, Band Parents Association, Girl Guides of Canada, Estevan Skating Club, Canadian Red Cross, provincial and national curling and hockey events, and countless other organizations and events across the city.

At home, creativity was always front and center. From preschool Christmas ornaments to decorating sugar cookies for every occasion, Pam and her kids spent countless hours crafting and creating. Every Halloween costume was a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, stitched together with love and whatever materials were on hand. She believed every school project could shine a little brighter with a homemade touch.

Now semi-retired, Pam enjoys dabbling in pottery, watercolor painting, and collage—and she’s always interested in trying something new. She loves hosting acrylic paint nights and sewing baby gear for her grandchildren.

2026 marks Pam’s first year on the Estevan Arts Council, where she’s ready to share ideas, pitch in wherever needed, and—of course—bring the snacks.

Born and raised in Germany, Katharina Ulbrich moved to Canada in 2007. She and her family settled in Estevan where they built a life filled with family, work, and community. Married to Karsten, with three adult children and three beautiful granddaughters, she cherishes family time and enjoys the simple joys of life.

With 15 years of experience as a Land Administrator, Kat has developed a deep understanding of customer relations, administrative tasks, organizational skills, and teamwork. Her heart lies in farming. Kat takes pride in raising chickens, sheep, and maintaining a large market garden.

Though she has no formal connection to art, Kat’s hope is, to bring her work experience, positive attitude and willingness to learn and grow to the table to assist the Estevan Arts Council flourish as they contribute to Estevan’s artistic community.