Cariwest: The Caribbean Community’s Gift to Edmonton
CARIWEST – Caribbean Arts Festival was introduced to Edmonton in 1984. It was created by Western Carnival Development Association (WCDA)…
Stories tagged: Music
Vivacious Caribbean Teachers
During the 1960s, school jurisdictions in Alberta advertised for teachers in leading newspapers and at teacher training colleges in the…
The Day Bill Coull Disappeared from the Airwaves
For David Ward, the memory of Bill Coull and his sudden departure from CKUA has left a strange taste in…
Judi Singh: A Black & South Asian musician from 1950s-70s Edmonton
Last year, while exploring South Asian music history in Edmonton, I randomly searched “Singh + artist + 70s Edmonton” and…
Edmonton’s Gospel Music Scene
Picture this: frenzied hand clapping, foot stomping, finger tapping, rhythmic call and response-type songs, passionate Amens, Hallelujahs and killer vocals all led by…
The History of Filipino Businesses in Edmonton
“Anak, siksikan nating yung bagahe mo nitong mga produktong Pinoy na ma-eenjoy ng mga kamag-anak natin. Alam kong wala ito…
“It’s in our veins,” Part 2: Edmonton Dance Schools and Latin American Identity
Read “It’s in our veins,” Part 1 Immigration to a new community involves a dramatic change that can affect nearly…
“It’s in our veins,” Part 1: Edmonton Dance Schools and Latin American Identity
Alejandro (Alex) Rojas, the founder of ETOWN SALSA Latin Dance Studios, moved from Chile to Edmonton with his parents in…
The Haven Social Club: Buy Lots, Tip Well
The walk up to 15120 Stony Plain Road was a gritty one. Dimly-lit advertisements for adult parlours, pawn shops and…
Beatrice Carmichael – The Grand Dame of Edmonton Opera
Known to her students and close friends as Auntie Van, Beatrice Carmichael was a classically trained musician from Chicago, who…
Nick Mischi: Dulcimer Master
Necolai “Nick” Mischi was eight years old in 1915 when he fell in love for the first time. It happened…
Canada’s Mr. Polka – Gaby Haas
Gaby Haas oom-pah-pahed his way through nearly a half-century of Edmonton’s musical soundtrack. He was a musician, radio and television…