As a member of the Campbell River Canada Day committee, and the wrangler of entertainment for the Eagle Telus Stage July 1st in Ostler Park, I try to capture some of the fun and uniqueness that makes the day so darn special. This video is a slice of that fun and uniqueness… visitors from as far and wide as Japan and Scotland, great entertainers from dawn to dusk, and Campbell Riverites putting on one heckuva good time for all to enjoy! -Ryan Mennie
I can’t believe it. IT’S ALMOST CANADA DAY! TWO WEEKS from the day I’m writing this post, we’ll be celebrating in Campbell River like no other community. And like all of them! From all the exclamation marks, capitalizing, and previous Canada Day videos I’ve recorded and put together over the last several years, can you tell I GET EXCITED about CANADA DAY!?
Well, it’s a HUGE day for the community, and a big day of fun for our city’s guests as well. In fact, this year’s theme is “From Far And Wide.”
That theme for 2011 sums up how I’ve approached an extra duty this year as a volunteer member of the Campbell River Canada Day committee. Dave Tabish, a local businessman, father of guitar prodigy Brice Tabish (from past Canada Day entertainers Lymozeen), and all-around neat guy passed the baton to me this year as the person who books the entertainment for the Eagle Spirit Stage in Ostler Park.
Musician Stef Lang and Councillor Ryan Mennie VERY excited about Canada Day 2011!
Through a combination of a set (and small!) budget from the committee and my contacts with artists and promoters through my 13 years at the Eagle radio station, I’ve had a lot of fun over the course of the last 10 months wrangling the final lineup of entertainers for 2011. In fact, It’s been a huge learning experience. Not everything transpired the way I or others thought it would or should. But what I had envisioned from the beginning that has transpired is this: I’ve found very exciting, very talented musicians who were willing to lower their fees to come and play for Campbell Riverites and their Canada Day guests and bring us all something we’ve never experienced before. Musicians like Stef Lang (in the pic above), Chantel Upshaw, and Wil. In the end, I believe this lineup is going to provide a great musical experience on par with other years. It’s also going to showcase some amazing musicians who are very excited to be a part of our city’s big day for the very first time.
The EAGLE SPIRIT STAGE 2011 LINEUP can be found here!
Did I mention it’s a FREE SHOW?
p.s. I would love to sum up the work of the other incredible, dynamic, tireless Campbell River Canada Day committee members in this post, but it truly can’t be summed up in words. Check out this link for more details of the day they’ve helped cook up for you this year, and when you see them on the mainstage in Ostler Park at cake cutting time, please give them your thanks with smiles!
the Municipal Musings of Ryan Mennie 