MOOSE JAW — The chairwoman of the Moose Jaw Band and Choral Festival was worried that people weren’t as aware of the event as in the past, but recognition from a national organization has allayed her fears.
The Saskatoon Community Bands’ Wind Ensemble group performed in A.E. Peacock Collegiate’s Centennial Auditorium on May 13, and during an intermission, festival organizers and a dozen Kinsmen Club members came on stage — the crowd gave them an enthusiastic ovation — to receive the Canadian Band Association’s (CBA) Community Builders Award.
Kinsmen members were present because their organization started and organized the festival for decades.
Suzanne Gorman, CEO of the Saskatchewan Band Association, presented the accolade on behalf of the national organization.
She explained that this award recognizes and celebrates individuals or organizations “who engage lifelong learners, foster community, build bridges and provide connection on a regional, provincial or national level.”
The festival has operated for 73 years and has delivered successful experiences to groups from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta, which makes it “incredibly deserving of this award,” Gorman said.
The committee has 13 hard-working and dedicated people who ensure there is a well-organized and continuously evolving festival that meets the needs of young musicians, band teachers and the community, she continued.
“Designed as a non-competitive event, the community structures the festival to (use) a variety of venues around the city, with adjudicators selected for their expertise and overall approach to education,” the provincial band association CEO said. “These volunteers know how to take a licking and keep on ticking.”
Gorman pointed out that the committee bounced back after several years of pandemic-related cancellations. While some volunteers quit, organizers rebuilt that team and hosted a successful festival in 2023 — only to face teachers’ job actions in 2024. Yet, organizers still delivered a successful event despite contract negotiations and school sanctions that forced many bands to cancel at the last minute.
“Their efforts continue to be successful, as we can clearly see by this year’s festival results. These volunteers never give up,” she said, before thanking them for being resilient, dedicated and creative.
Gorman then presented the Community Builders Award to Janie Fries, festival chairwoman, and the Kinsmen’s Rick Evans, with the crowd giving another ovation.
Afterward, Fries said receiving the award “came as a big surprise,” noting that she spoke to Gorman last fall and expressed concern about needing to “bump up the profile of our festival” and make people more aware that it was still happening even without a downtown parade.
Gorman told her not to worry, and a week before the festival, she told the chairwoman that the CBA was recognizing the committee with an award. Fries then invited the Kinsmen since the club had organized the festival for 45 years.
“If they hadn’t done what they did, we wouldn’t be here today, more than likely,” said Fries. “… (they) are just as deserving of the award.”
It feels good that the committee’s 32 years of work have been recognized, especially by the national band association, she continued. It’s also a good feeling knowing that moving to an education-focused event instead of a competitive one was the right decision since it has helped the festival grow and meet curricular outcomes.
“It is a lot of work, but it is so worth it,” the festival chairwoman remarked.
Fries added that the festival also enables students to attend live concerts by professional groups, opportunities that many don’t have at home.
The Kinsmen’s Evans, 81, said that “it was very nice” of the CBA to award the accolade to Moose Jaw since organizers have worked to keep the festival going despite challenges. He jokingly agreed that it only took the national association 75 years to recognize those efforts.
Continuing, he said the Kinsmen dedicated many hours to organizing the festival decades ago, with nearly 80 members pitching in. However, their numbers dwindled, so they withdrew their support in 1994 and focused on fundraising for Telemiracle.
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