John Arcand Fiddle Fest

The John Arcand Fiddle Fest (the Fiddle Fest) began in 1998 when JohnArcand, known as "The Master of the Metis Fiddle," had a dream, to give something back. He felt the fiddle had been good to him and he wanted to see the music preserved and the traditions carried on. He wanted to provide an opportunity for young people to learn the traditions behind the music and dance under the guidance of Elders. With these goals in mind, he was inspired to initiate the very first Fiddle Fest, held on his acreage in Greencourt, Alberta, in August 1998. A celebration of culture - a music
festival that features competitions, artists’ showcases and inspiration to young and old.

In 1999, John moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and purchased Windy Acres. This location proved to be much more accessible and the Fiddle Fest grew in attendance and participation each successive year. In 2002, The John Arcand Fiddle Fest became a non-profit organization with a volunteer board of Directors, and has since worked towards supporting their mandate: to promote and preserve fiddle music and dance, and provide a forum to showcase youth, talent and culture.

1998
Festival is founded in Greencourt, Alberta. The three-day festival is produced with $750 out of John’s own pocket. The festival relies on the volunteer contributions of artists for workshops and performances. Programming includes fiddle contest, talent show, jigging competition, dance, horseshoe tournament and longest drive contest.

1999
John and the festival move to Windy Acres, an acreage just outside of Saskatoon. John and Vicki combine their unique blend of abundant energy, creativeness and artistic vision and the Festival begins to shape and grow. Very little money is paid to performers - most of them there out of respect for John. The fiddle contest grows in numbers and is sanctioned by the Saskatchewan Fiddle Association. Along with an old time dance - programming includes a Talent Show, Horseshoe tournament and Longest Drive competition. Admission is $10 for a day pass and $15 for the weekend., 12 and under admitted free.

2000
Festival secures media sponsorship from CJWW and Hot 93 in Saskatoon. Festival receives media attention from Saskatoon’s Star Phoenix with article headlined "Fans of Métis fiddle 'master' swarm to festival". Attendees come from as far away as Indiana and the Yukon. The Gabriel Dumont Institute films documentary at festival. Attendance is up and things are shaping up! A sign up sheet is added, so we can develop a data-base to mail out festival information.

2001
The John Arcand Fiddle Fest becomes John Arcand Fiddle Fest, Inc. and is registered as a non-profit organization with a volunteer board of 3 directors. The official mandate is created and the festival is now officially destined to promote and preserve fiddle music and dance and provide a forum to showcase youth, talent and culture. The first “funding” is secured as a non-profit and a few artists are actually hired as a result in increased attendance. Canadian Red River Jigging Championships and Traditional Métis Fiddling are added to the contest roster. The Vocal Talent Contest is dropped and the Friday Night Concert Showcase is born. With the introduction of this - comes our first year of profiling two youth fiddle players and showcasing other cultures. Admission fee is increased to $15 for a day pass and $30 for the weekend. We partner with the Saskatoon Food Bank to try and acquire donations for their cause. Our first mail out is done

2002
With the new found non-profit status, the Festival applies for its first funding and is successful in securing two grants. Fiddle and Jigging workshops are added to the festival programming, with a great response. 58 take fiddle and 52 take jigging. CTV – comes out, takes footage and profiles the Festival as a “Canadian Success Story” on the National News with Lloyd Robertson. “How the Fiddle Flows” - a National Film Board Documentary visits the Festival and captures footage for use in the show. With the numbers growing in the contest portion of the programming - the Longest drive competition and Horseshoe tournament is dropped and the Gospel Hour is added to Sunday Morning. In Partnership with the Gabriel Dumont Technical Institute - the Saturday evening concert is a C.D. Release of the Drops of Brandy Compilation, featuring the top Métis Fiddlers from across Western Canada. Admission is still $15 for a day pass and $30 for the weekend. The first audience survey is completed - and several names are added to the mailing list data base.

2003
We add two members to the Board , and in keeping with our mandate and in recognition of the reality that fiddle players need accompaniment, Guitar is added to the very popular fiddle and jigging workshops. Budgets are up, funding increases - and so does attendance! The Fiddle contest breaks a Saskatchewan participation record, with 53 competitors - and the Canadian Red River Jigging Championships has 26 competitors. Theatre is presented for the first time on the Friday Night Concert Showcase with a skit from the Batoche Theatre Company and answering the survery results from the previous year, a fiddle finale is added to program. Indigenous Circle films and features the Festival on an episode of it’s locally broadcast show. John Arcand finally agrees to put on a showcase concert on Saturday night- and the house is packed. The Old time dance grows in popularity to the point of NO ROOM on the dance floor.

2004
Attendance really grows. In continuation of the need for accompaniment for fiddle players, piano workshops are added. Growing demand for fiddle and jigging workshops is answered with the expansion of the number of workshops offered. For the first time all artists performing at the festival are paid a fee for their work. The use of volunteers and family members to run the Admission Gate has passed - and the local Pike Lake First Responders are hired to do the job. This adds security and first aid services 24-7 to the Festival Site. It’s a survey year again - and among the biggest request - more workshops - lowering the student/teacher ratio, an Absolute Beginners workshop and a bigger dance floor.

2005
Attendance is way up again!! A brand new bigger dance floor is built and is still packed to capacity. 4 Film Crews are on location throughout the weekend filming for documentaries on the Festival. Security is hired, additional parking staff is hired. The workshops skyrocket - 100 people take fiddle workshops and 104 take jigging. The fiddle contest comes one contestant short of breaking it’s previous record. The Canadian Red River Jigging Championships see a notable increase with 40 competitors. The festival is recognized for its impact by the federal government’s Department of Canadian Heritage and receives its first grant under the Arts Presentation Canada program. Saskatchewan Arts Board also recognizes the festival’s success and impact by promoting it to its Global fund. Recognizing the festival’s strength as a presenter of aboriginal arts, Canada Council for the Arts invites the festival to apply for and approves a capacity building grant and they are successful. The festival begins to undergo development to build capacity over three years. First year tasks include policy writing, strategic planning, professional development, additional human resources, and professionally developed strategies for marketing and sponsorship. Total budget is now $80,679 and gate admission is still $15.00 for a day pass and $30.00 for the weekend.

2006
The Festival goes to four days. The addition of this extra day allows more workshops as continually requested and for the first time an Absolute beginner’s class will be added to the workshop roster. Additional concerts are worked into the programming, as well as a second old time dance. Administratively, with the capacity building initiative in hand the festival’s professional development accelerates. Policies are written, strategic planning undertaken, marketing and sponsor recruitment strategies developed. Vicki receives mentoring to develop her professionally and is paid a salary commensuratewith contributions for the first time. Admission increases for the first time in 5 years to $20 for a day pass and $40 for a weekend pass.