Winter 2011 (Issue 4-11) B.C. FIDDLE NEWS Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers Branch #4 has chosen to feature introduce the group, & tell a few jokes now and then to get a 3 of their members, Don & Joyce Olds & Donna Randall, who laugh out of the audience. I especially like the seniors’ homes were recently awarded Life Memberships for their strong we play at. support, hard work, devotion and dedication to their club over the past many many years. Don Olds writes: - Most recently, I recorded my first CD including some of the songs I've written over the last couple of decades including I first met Joyce on a blind date nearly sixty years ago. I then tunes which were performed with "The Ukrainian Prairie Band" took her to a dance, but didn't mention that I was playing in the like “The Cousin’s Waltz”. We are looking forward to band itself! While I played the music, she was having such a performing for our fifth year at Seattle's Northwest Folk life good time dancing with the local Lotharios that I made sure that Festival in 2012. It’s been thrilling as well to have some of my never happened again! fiddle tunes included in the CFV Fiddlers’ latest CD as well as in the McGregor Family's second CD. Presently, I'm working Over the years, first as a on my second CD of original songs and look forward to playing family band with my tunes for a long time yet with the Central Fraser Valley sisters, then with local Fiddlers, The Prairie Ukrainian Band and the Cheam Mountain dance bands, and after Boys. our marriage, music became I should say that I do have many other a big part of interests including our family and our eight my life. wonderful grandchildren. Joyce and I love During the six cooking, gardening and we travel the world as years that we much as we can. I must say that Joyce is not lived in the only the best (and lowest paid) “roady”, but North West she’s the best dancer I have ever met! Territories, I helped found and manage the first radio station I now turn to my good and long-time friend in Fort Smith. I was also a DJ for the CBC Donna Randall. Donna grew up around music and had my own 15 minute weekly radio with her family, program with "The Hometowners" in Hay learning to play the River. After sojourns back in Manitoba to piano and a little finish my degree, and after the arrival of our third and last child, guitar. When her we emigrated to BC. I taught school for a living and in the last Uncles Bert and Sandy ten years of my teaching career, I also taught the ukulele. Saundry would come to the house, her In 1990 I discovered the Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers and mother would learn to became an active member. A friend gave me an old fiddle and cord on the piano with Len Greer made it playable, so I decided I'd better learn to play! them and Donna Shamma, and later Anna Sabir were my first teachers as I didn't would sit and listen for have a clue how to play something without frets. My big hours. moment in contests was when I tied with the previous Provincial Seniors Champion for 2nd place at Quesnel! I got the I first met Donna when she and her fiddling son Alex became Bronze when Dan played a better jig! members of the CFVF many years ago. Prior to joining the BC Old Time Fiddlers, Donna and her son were a strong part of the Anyone can tell you that I travel around with all kinds of Langley Music School's Western Fiddlers. When she realized instruments from bass guitar, banjo, accordion, fiddle, and even that Alex needed further teaching in Old Time Fiddle, she my Dobro, a steel guitar. One of my roles with Branch #4 is turned to the Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers, with the help of being their official MC. I have enjoyed being MC for nearly her uncle Bert Saundry. There is where both Donna and Alex twenty years at CFVF Contests, Jamborees, Fiddle Camps, thrived. Later she learned to play the fiddle with the help of Fiddlerama concerts, and at all the playouts I can be at. I Keith Wilson and her son Alex. When Dale McGregor and I established the Pacific Fiddle College in 2000, Donna soon became an invaluable aide. After Hockey Moms have a reputation for hard work, sacrifice and I did two years as co-ordinator, Donna took it over and did an dedication but I don't think they can come close to Fiddle excellent job. Donna single-handedly organized the whole Moms! Donna has stood by and supported her son Alex camp, worked furiously to make each one successful, and went through thick and thin, taking him all over the country to play the extra mile to make sure everyone was happy with the event. his fiddle. Donna knows just about everyone in the fiddle world and is well liked everywhere. Her son, Alex progressed from beginner Keith Wilson commented that both he & Alice have known to lead fiddler and then Instructor at the Pacific Fiddle College. Donna since they joined the CFV Fiddlers in the early 1990's. I still remember him on stage with our grandson Gavin at his Keith worked with her on many of our fiddle contests, where performance debut. On his knees, Alex was about the same she looked after the demanding job of tabulating all the height as Gavin! (for those who know Donna's son Alex, he contestants' marks and positions for the day. In addition, she joined the club when he was 12 and over the years he has annually looked after ordering and maintaining the many reached the height of 6'7"!) trophies that were handed out each year. Also, for a number of years, Donna was a tireless worker arranging the many details Donna, for several years, also organized the CFVF annual involved in putting on our annual Fiddle Camp at Hope. fiddle contest, not at all an easy job, along with the Jamboree, Pacific Fiddle College, Fiddlerama. She always did an Her love of fiddle music, and her family are very obvious. She excellent job and put in 150% effort all the way. She was on continually promotes them in their journey to succeed. the BCOTFA Provincial Executive and on the Executive of Branch #4 for many years. B.C. FIDDLE NEWS is provided ALL SUBMISSIONS FOR THE Looking ahead we would like to free-of-charge to members of the B.C. NEXT NEWSLETTER (MAR 2012) continue with a feature write-up & Old Time Fiddlers’ Association MUST BE RECEIVED NO picture in each issue of the B.C. through individual branch/club LATER THAN FEB 15 TH, Fiddle News and would appreciate representatives. Members who wish a 2012. receiving submissions in line with the copy should contact their branch following schedule. executive or newsletter March 2012 – Kelowna #7 correspondent. June 2012 - Kootenay #9 September 2012 – Williams Lake #10 PERSONAL SUBSCRIPTIONS are December 2012 - Coombs #11 available and will be mailed directly to subscribers as follows: ONE YEAR (4 ISSUES) $10.00 The British Columbia Old Time FROM THE PRESIDENT For U.S.A. destinations please add Fiddlers’ Association publishes the $2.00 shipping charges. CRAIG FREEMAN B.C. Fiddle News quarterly. Send your cheque or money order with mailing details to the following: Views, opinions and editorials This has certainly expressed in the B.C. Fiddle News are been a busy time B.C. OLD TIME those of the contributing with the BCOTFA FIDDLERS’ ASSOCIATION correspondents and clubs, and are not board, as we have SUBSCRIPTIONS necessarily those of the B.C. Fiddle been doing quite a bit of work by c/o 416 COLLINGWOOD News or the British Columbia Old DRIVE, KAMLOOPS, B.C. Time Fiddlers’ Association. email and attempting to work out V2B 6B3 Correspondence, photos, etc. will be the email protocol. We started returned if requested. Please include with the intention of keeping all a self-addressed, stamped envelope. the branches informed of the B.C. Old Time Direct all correspondence to Florence Tellier as noted to left. board's direction and decisions, Fiddlers’ Association and we are also endeavoring to let It is our policy to edit your the branches have their say so that http://www.bcfiddlers. submissions for spelling, all will feel included. Whew! grammar & brevity – but only That can entail a lot of writing and com where necessary. It is not our Philippa, our esteemed Secretary, intent to change the meaning of has been typing up a storm and B.C. FIDDLE NEWS your correspondence in any way. sending out many words to the c/o Florence Tellier, -------------------------------- directors and the branches. Great 416 Collingwood Drive, job, Philippa. Kamloops, BC B.C. Fiddle News is printed by V2B 6B3 Edge Publishing Inc., Kamloops, By now, the members should know Phone & Fax: (250) 376-2330 250-374-3246 that the BCOTFA has purchased E-mail: [email protected] Directors & Officers insurance so B.C. Fiddle News Winter 2011 Issue that all directors in the branches of our newsletter correspondents, fiddlers take part playing tunes that are presently insured against Gail Ross & Bruce Foden. are well known as well as new certain types of lawsuits. There tunes introduced by fiddlers in the was quite a bit of discussion Wishing everyone a Merry group.