Today, I'd like to share a lovely but somewhat unusual item from our archives, a tape I found in the late Willie Methot's collection, courtesy of his wife Myrna. It features a 1989 broadcast on Radio-Gaspésie hosted by Chester Cotton (from the station's former "English Hour" program), CBC Radio's Louise Penney (now a world-renowned mystery … Continue reading April 15, 1989: “Community Radio Awareness Day” on Radio-Gaspésie
community events
Gérard Durette at the Wakeham-York Homecoming Fiddle Contest
... perhaps the most significant phenomenon in the English-speaking community was the 10-day Wakeham-York Homecoming Festival which ran for 25 years starting in 1978. I'll say more about the festival in future posts but for now, I want to note that it has been both interesting but also very complicated trying to write about something I never experienced myself (I began coming to Gaspé about six years after the festival folded). Still, many people talk about the festival and I want to give it its due when I write about it. I'll return to this topic at the end of the post.
GCSA at the Barachois Farmers’ Market (and the Barachois Wellness Centre CD Sampler)
This morning Cheryl Henry-Leggo (Executive Director of Vision Gaspé-Percé) and I headed down to the market put on by the Barachois and Area Development Committee outside the Rec Centre to share the recordings we have archived and information about our project and Vision's other activities. There were about a dozen stalls featuring crafts, baked goods, … Continue reading GCSA at the Barachois Farmers’ Market (and the Barachois Wellness Centre CD Sampler)
Nash Stanley and the Gaspé Twang – Live at Shigawake Music Festival
Here are three YouTube clips I recently uploaded to the archives' YouTube channel. They feature Nash Stanley and the Gaspé Twang (Don Barclay - 2nd guitar, vocals; Glenn Patterson - fiddle) at this year's Shigawake Agricultural Fair and Music Festival (footage courtesy of Anna Swanson). Shigawake is a special community and its festival a real … Continue reading Nash Stanley and the Gaspé Twang – Live at Shigawake Music Festival
From the ABBA Tribute at Gaspé Elementary School
In today's post, I'm sharing a few recordings and pictures from the ABBA tribute show directed by Karen Briand at Gaspé Elementary School in June. I won't say much about the show because, judging by the attendance, it's not too much an exaggeration to claim that a good percentage of Gaspé's English-speaking community was there that night. … Continue reading From the ABBA Tribute at Gaspé Elementary School
Grad Song (Nash Stanley)
Last Saturday (June 18), I was invited by Nash Stanley and CLC coordinator Don Barclay to perform at the Gaspé Polyvalente high school graduation ceremony for the English section. He'd written this song as a surprise for his fellow graduates. Don Barlay (acoustic guitar), Richard Jalbert (bass), and myself were the backup band. Nash arrived … Continue reading Grad Song (Nash Stanley)