Successful 2018 Metis Spring Festival sets new attendance records

by John Copley

(ANNews) – St. Albert’s Servus Place once again provided the ideal venue for what turned out to be an attendance breaking event for the 2018 Métis Spring Festival, an annual initiative organized and hosted by Metis Child and Family Services (MCFS).

When I arrived on May 19, Emcee Trevor Gladue had just taken to the podium to introduce the packed house to the first of what would be a long list of competitors participating in the festival’s popular cash prize Jigging and Fiddling competitions being held during the May 18-20 weekend. The first day of competition would narrow the field of competitors; the best in each of the dozen jigging and fiddling categories would vie for prize money on the second day of competition.

Trevor introduced the judges for the jigging categories: Jimmy Cardinal (Lac La Biche), Ben Chartrand (Dauphin, MB) and Luc Gauthier (St. Albert), then called for the “First up,- the Tiny Tot Jiggers,” who, when called, promptly made their way up the steps and onto the stage.

The competitions began.

The 2018 Festival actually got underway the evening before. A talent show opened the annual event and according to those who attended, it was “one of the best vocal competitions in some time.”

Fiddling competition judges (l-r) Alex Kusturok, Alfie Myhers and Calvin Vollrath.

More than $5,000 in first, second and third place prize money was available for the top three contestants in junior, youth, adult and senior vocalist categories.

Pauline Kuznetsov won the Junior (7-12) portion of the program with Chloe Lee and Julianna Houle finishing second and third respectively. The Youth (13-19) category was won by Kaeley Wiebe; Naomi Gladue and Eva Houle finish second and third. The Adult Female category was won by Marilyn Lee with Lisa Quintal finishing second and Maria Ghostkeeper in third. The Adult Male category winner was Mel Boostrom; Alfred Mitchell finished second and Neil Lamouche in third. Senior Female competitor Delia Whitford Delia Whitford wasn’t challenged as she took home first place prize money in the Senior Female category. The Senior Male category was won by Rolly Poitras. Al Findlay placed second while Big John Willier came third.

“It was a great evening of entertainment,” noted Don Langford, Executive Director of MCFS. “The competition was keen and the judges had their work cut out for them. I was especially impressed with the size of the crowds – from the first evening right through the three days, we had good crowds. It was nice to see so many people sitting and chatting, partaking in and enjoying the music and dance. It was a wonderful event that once again brought our youth to the main stage where they can participate and learn about and enjoy their heritage and their culture.”

Jigging Judges (l-r) Luc Gauthier, Ben Chartrand and Jimmy Cardinal.

Music for the event was provided by a host of well-known entertainers and musicians and included Alfie Myhre, Calvin Vollrath, Martin Hamelin, Clinton Pelletier, Don Marrotte, Alex Tusturok and Richard Chernesky.

During the course of the two-day gathering a medley of entertainment attractions were introduced to the large audiences whenever there was a break in the competition. That outstanding entertainment was delivered by performers that included Dauphin, Manitoba’s D’Steppers, well known performer and dance instructor, Rhea LaBrie from St. Paul, a Métis dance family known as the United Steppers from Winnipeg, the Northern Reelers, a young square dance group from Wabasca and the Métis Child and Family Jiggers from Edmonton.

Jr. Fiddler 3rd Place Finisher Breanna Sereright.

This year’s top prize money was won by the top three winners in the six jigging competition categories and in the five fiddling categories. First Place jigging prize money ranged from $200 to $500 while First Place fiddlers prize money ranged from $200 to $1,000. Second and third place prize money ranged between $100 and $600.

Every competitor in the Tiny Tots jigging contest took home a cash prize and the Golden Age had one competitor, Bill Chalifoux from Grande Prairie who took home the entire pot for that category.

The Junior Jigging (7-12) category saw Natalie Webb take first place with Kash Randle and Kailey Cardinal closely behind in second and third.     The Youth Category, aged 13-18, saw first place awarded to Kevin Randle with Cheyna Morley finishing second and Samara Collins, third.

Competitor Dante Bellerose attends Prince Charles School.

Courtney Anaquad won the Female Adult Jigging (19+) category while Nadine Gladue and Carolyn Karakonti finished second and third respectively. Brent Potskin took first place money in the Adult Male Jigging category, followed closely by Corey Poitras and Raymond Gladue.

Rachelle Guiboche emerged as winner of the 7-12 years of age Performers Jigging category while competitor Vayah Burns placed second and Shasta Nepinak, third. In the Performers Jigging category for 13 year olds and up, Joel Gladue emerged victorious with Jacob Harris and Cienna Harris finishing in second and third respectively.

The Senior Jigging category was won by Eddy Poitras. Bev Burnstick finished in second place with Patty Houle coming in third.

The Fiddling contest proved to be a hard-fought battle again this year, a sign that the competition continues to get better and better.

Winner in the Junior Fiddlers (7-12) category was Morgan Koncor; Hayley Konkor placed second while Prince Charles School music student Breanna Severight finished third.

Junior fiddling champ Colton Bear is a talented young man planning for a future in the music industry.

17-year-old Colton Bear won the Youth Fiddling category, placing ahead of second and third place winners Shade Clark and Breanna Lizotte. In a later interview he attributed his skill to a combination of experience, dedication and early instruction. Ironically, he began his fiddle playing in Grade 3 at Prince Charles School and was a student then of still-music teacher Judy Gatto and Garry Lee.

“It was a great beginning,” he said. “I was jealous because my sister was learning fiddle and I wasn’t – when I got to Grade 3, I took a real interest in learning and I was lucky because I had a great teacher.”

The Senior Open Fiddling category was won by crowd favourite Don Arcand with Martin Hamelin placing second and Stan Champagne finishing third.

The Adult Amateur Fiddling competition category saw Corey Poitras finish in first place and Jon Simpson in second. There was no third-place finisher. The Adult Open Fiddling category saw Gary Pruden take home first place money with Branden Gates finishing second and Brendan Chartrand, third.

MCFS Program Manager Florence Gaucher organized and oversaw the event and said she was pleased again this year to see so many people attend the event and express their interest in Métis dance, music, tradition and culture.

“It was another outstanding festival; we had some good weather, great crowds, outstanding entertainment and keen competition,” she said. “We are grateful for the ongoing support of the St. Albert and surrounding communities and very pleased to see that so many different ethnic groups joined us again this year. Thank you to everyone who participated and congratulations to all of the winners.”

Servus Centre is a large and well-serviced facility with lots of parking space and the popular 320,000 square foot multipurpose leisure centre that houses three NHL-sized arenas, an aquatic centre, fitness centre, indoor playground, three gymnasium courts, two field houses, a teaching kitchen, and numerous retail operations and food service outlets.

MCFS works diligently to ensure that they make a positive difference in the lives of both those they serve and in society as a whole. The organization has a proven track record and a lengthy list of objectives that work to ensure that Aboriginal children, women and families have access to services and opportunities that they may not be able to access by themselves. MCFS endeavours to improve the quality and effectiveness of social services to Aboriginal children and families in need and in doing so develops and provides programs that preserve and strengthen families. The organization also promotes the health and well-being of Aboriginal children and families by building capacity in the Métis community through the provision of culturally sensitive and appropriate services and programs. MCFS programs include: Aboriginal Child and Family Support, Family Services, Choices/Choices a Partnership Stay in School and Youth Support Program, Community Support Homes (Foster Care), Kinship Care, Family Violence, Protection of Sexually Exploited Children and the Street Outreach Team Assisting community resources.

For more information about Métis Child and Family Services visit: www.metischild.com. To learn more about Métis Spring Festival 2019 contact Florence at 780-452-6100 or email: [email protected]

 

 

 

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