0 2 0 2 y r a u n d r a a n r J e B e c i r u a M PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND’S GUIDE TO WHAT’S GOING ON / BUZZPEI.COM Page 2 The BUZZ January 2020 The BUZZ January 2020 Page 3 Page 4 The BUZZ January 2020 Profile: Ava and Lil y Rashed by Jane Ledwell The path to an international televised Jack Frost #15 competition came after the twins posted a video on Instagram of a performance they did during East Coast Music Week. They were initially skeptical of a DM on Two-part harmony Instagram encouraging them to audition for a show coming up on Nickelodeon… but, Lily says, “When we found it was real…” “We rehearsed morning and night,” says Ava. “We would take it line by line, harmo - ny by harmony,” said Ava—“Note by note,” nodded Lily—“until it’s just muscle memory. To the point that it’s just for fun.” Performing for international broadcast was still a challenge, “It does put a little Jack Frost Winterfest, presented by bit of pressure,” says Lily, “but with the Island Coastal, is back and is slated to two of us on the stage, we can look at take place throughout downtown each other to reassure ourselves.” Ava Charlottetown, creating a clustering of adds, “Having a sister to lean on, we’re walkable winter programming. To cele - not alone. We know everything we’re brate its 15th anniversary, festival orga - going to do next.” nizers are working hard to surprise visi - tors with a unique edition. From While the Nickelodeon performance was February 14 to 17 Maritimers of all ages of covers, Ava and Lily are also earning are invited to enjoy the refreshed ver - a reputation for their own original sion of this popular winter festival. songs. “We want to write so people This year, Jack Frost’s magic is being relate to the lyrics,” says Ava. Their spread over five different downtown process varies, they say. “Sometimes I venues: the Snow Kingdom at have lyric ideas, or a melody, and I take Confederation Landing, the Indoor it to Lily, or vice versa,” says Ava. Playland at The Delta/PEI Convention “Sometimes we bounce ideas off each Centre, Onstage children’s shows at other,” says Lily, “or sometimes one of Confederation Centre of the Arts, a us writes a whole song.” Warm-Up Zone with local food, drinks and crafts at the Founders’ Food Hall & “It’s like having a built-in co-writer, Market, and the evening of Aurora on having a twin.” Ava agrees, “It’s a built- Victoria Row (Richmond Street). The in inspiration.” mainstage at the Confederation Centre of the Arts will feature YouTube 5th Ava and Lily’s musical family also has most-viewed video of all time, the one a built-in producer. Their father, David and only Baby Shark performance. Rashed, was a member of the legendary While kids and families are still at 80s pop-rock band Haywire and now the core of Jack Frost’s programming, runs a Charlottetown recording studio. this year organizers want to invite Ava says, “Even today, we were everyone, including teens, millennials, recording a new song.” Lily says, “Dad and all the kids at heart to join in the will help us out with instrumentation wintery fun. Visitors can expect to see and production.” some new activities including extreme sled demos, gaming stations, a They both enthusiastically say his input snowskate park, axe throwing, a disco Lily Z is always welcome. “He’s just doing it to Ava Z U skate, and more high energy entertain - B make the song better,” Lily says, and ment. Founders’ Food Hall & Market is Ava says, “We write our songs, and Dad working with organizers to create win - Ava and Lily Rashed, their parents David They hosted a “watch party” the night of makes the instruments stronger.” Along ter embracing programming, including and Sue, and I re-watch together the the broadcast, and, Lily said, “Excitement with their mother, Sue, the twins feel Happy Hour with DJs and an outdoor broadcast of their energetic perfor - was ricocheting off everybody!” “We were supported to write whatever they need patio with ice bar with firepits. mance of Elle King’s song “Ex’s and Oh’s” still biting our fingernails,” said Ava. to sing, no matter how sensitive the For this edition, the board of Capital on the semi-finals of America’s Most While the identical twin sixteen-year-olds topic. “The four of us are way too close!” City Events, a group made up of volun - Musical Family. from Charlottetown didn’t move on to the laughs Ava. teer community stakeholders, teamed up finals, their performance made a sensation. with Tribu, a Montreal-based company The singing twins were ecstatic to Aside from completing high school, the which specializes in producing fun, finally share the excitement of the It could have been either Ava or Lily effervescent grade-ten students’ dreams adrenaline-filled events. You may have August contest recording with friends who said, “We blend really well togeth - all involve music. “We don’t have other seen Tribu’s CEO Micah Desforges on and family on the Island. Their perfor - er. It’s the bond sisters have with each passions than music,” Ava says. “We’re Dragon’s Den, heard of their JACKA - mance of “What If I Never Get Over other.” The twins really do finish each going to keep practising music, working LOPE extreme sports fest or enjoyed their You” by Lady Antebellum had earned other’s sentences as sweetly as their hard on our instruments and our writ - BARBEGAZI winter festival in Montreal. them a place in the semi-finals of the voices blend. “There’s something about ing. We’re hoping this experience (with The event has been made possible talent show, with just a handful of performing with family,” Ava says. “A America’s Most Musical Family) will with support from the Atlantic Canada other young family acts from across feeling,” Lily agrees. open doors,” Lily says. Opportunity Agency, the Province of the continent. PEI, the City of Charlottetown, the “Our harmonies are based on what suits “We want to make as many people as Charlottetown Special Events Reserve Said Ava, “It was still nerve-wracking, one of our voices better,” Ava says. “My we can happy and relating to our Fund, Discover Charlottetown, wanting other people to be happy with voice has vibrato in it, and it’s higher music,” Ava says. Ava and Lily Rashed Downtown Charlottetown Inc., and the the performance.” Added Lily, “We felt than Ava’s,” says Lily, and Ava chimes dream in two-part harmony, with family Hotel Association of PEI. really good about the performance but in, “I’m an alto, so I like a bit more soul as their backup. jackfrostfestival.com. were excited for other people to hear.” and blues,” she smiles. The BUZZ January 2020 Page 5 Recognition recovery of Island youth who struggle with mental health and addictions issues. Since its inception in 2013, the Reach Foundation has supported more than 200 youth aged 16 to 30 through Distinguished Alumni the development of essential employa - bility skills during their transition from 2019 awards to Brian Burke, Cheryl Roche, Chris Murray treatment through recovery, and to the workforce or back to school. Cheryl is The Holland College Foundation has owner and operator of History & named Brian Burke, Chris Murray, and Heraldry Canada. She also operates Cheryl Roche as the recipients of its 12th retail stores in Charlottetown, Gateway annual Distinguished Alumni Awards. Village in Borden-Carleton, and in Cavendish, as well as Digitech Images, Brian Burke—Commercial Design, an embroidery business in the West 1972 Royalty Business Park. A reception and awards dinner will be held at the Tourism and Culinary Centre in Charlottetown on March 4, 2020. For more information contact the Holland College Office of Alumni Relations at 566-9303 or alumni@hol - landcollege.com. Find out how to nomi - nate an alumnus of Holland College for and the city environment. Chris began a Distinguished Alumni Award by visit - his career in the private sector and in ing Alumni & Friends at hollandcol - 1995 joined the Region of Hamilton- lege.com. Nominations are accepted Wentworth. He was promoted to City year-round. Manager, a position he held from 2009 to 2018. During that time, he completed many city-building initiatives, negotiat - The late Brian Burke is one of the most ed landmark indigenous agreements, notable visual artists to have come out of and lead the second largest housing Seafood promotional PEI. He became one of Canada’s fore - authority in Ontario. Chris is known as most figurative painters with an interna - a problem solver with considerable video launched tional exhibition activity. He left behind political acumen. In 2018, Chris became an impressive legacy—a solid, beautiful, the City Manager of Toronto. Seafood distributors and exporters can and haunting body of work depicting his now use a new video to help in their pro - singular focus on the nature of existence. Cheryl Roche—Business motion of PEI fisheries and aquaculture Many consider Brian to be the most sig - Administration, 1984 products. The video, entitled Not nificant PEI visual artist of the last half of Humble , was developed by the depart - the 20th century. He has had solo exhibi - ments of Fisheries and Communities and tions across Canada and the US, as well Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture. as in Switzerland, including many group It was produced by Furrow Content, a exhibitions.