Previous Celebrations
The 2005 BC Rivers Day Music Festival
The 2005 BC Rivers Day Music Festival was a day of celebration!
- The City of Prince George celebrated their 90th Anniversary!
- BC Rivers Day Music Festival, Prince George celebrated their 5th Anniversary!
All of those 4000+ people who gathered together and attended the September 25, 2005 event celebrated living and working on the rivers of British Columbia ~ especially the Nechako and Fraser Rivers. Our celebration each year is held on the grounds of Fort George Park - and it is a beautiful example of what a community can offer.
The BC Rivers Day Music Festival Committee (BCRDMF) throughout the year gathers together an outstanding variety of community groups, industry, government agencies and children's activities that all share these wondrous resources of our rivers. On this day of celebration we put forth some of the recent achievements, projects and successes in the form of display booths. These booths are situated along a variety of pathways in the Park. Giveaways, literature and photo displays are presented by representatives of these groups to explain and share with you recent and historical information regarding water, watersheds and rivers.
For the 2005 event the BCRDMF Committee, added to this years' celebration by inviting the ever gracious Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnola as the only guest speaker. The Lieutenant Governor who hails from the West Coast of British Columbia not only demonstrated her awareness and support of the goals and objectives of this day of celebration she visited with the audience throughout the afternoon. A copy of her speech can be viewed on Her Honours' website at www.ltgov.bc.ca/whatsnew/ sp/sp_sep25_2005.htm. Chief Dominic Fredrick, Lheidli T'enneh; Chief Harry Pierre, Carrier Sekani Tribal Council; and Mayor Colin Kinsley participated in the day's welcoming celebrations.
The flavour of the day is celebration ~ and how better to do that but in a beautiful setting surrounded by family and friends ~ well the BC Rivers Day Music Festival Committee added an outstanding line up of a very impressive artists to this day.
Raghu Lokanathan - a folk balladeer from Smithers and Prince George began the day with his beautiful melodious voice and heartfelt messages.
Marcel Gagnon, one of the City's most nationally acclaimed musicians and song writers added to this years event by creating a First Nations' Showcase of upcoming native artists of central BC with an inspiring, wide-ranging, non-traditional program. Brian Majore, a talented stand-up comedian from UNBC began the set with his quick witted and entertaining comedy. Next up was Buddy Gouchie who has a style of country music that ran the gamut from new to old - a man on his way. The Rap artists of Shae Morin and David Decoine (who added to this day of celebrating, as it was his 25th birthday) make up the group known as Versus, strutted their style and entertained the whole crowd. Marcel, accompanied by Mike Vigano on guitar, completed the Showcase by sharing with us some of his new children's songs and some of the crowds' favourites.
Ken McCoy, a Country Star and outstanding musician enthralled the country fans with many of his own songs and once again demonstrated to all his Prince George and area friends new and old why we want him to come back to this city again and again! The finale of the afternoon was WIDE MOUTH MASON - this trio of rock and roll musicians have more energy, and talent - WOW - and they are as nice as they are good to listen to. What a day and the sun shone throughout the whole afternoon.
Please visit our updated photo gallery to view children of all ages sharing the 300 cupcakes celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the City of Prince George. Photo's of the crowds, the musicians and of the display booths are presented at the courtesy of the professional photography of Ted Zimmerman and the aerial shots were made possible by Yellowhead Helicopters touring over the event and site.
2005 Prince George Rivers Day Committee
- Joan Chess
- Fraser Basin Council
- Fin Donnelly
- Rivershed Society of BC
- Margo French & Sharolise Baker
- Carrier Sekani Tribal Council
- Marcel Gagnon
- Volunteer
- Roy Argue & Nick Leone
- Fisheries & Oceans Canada
- Mandy Jones
- Regional District of Fraser Fort George
- Nicola Focht
- Exploration Place
- Jocelyn White
- Girl Guides of Canada
- Denise Collett
- Spruce City Wildlife Association
The 2004 BC Rivers Day Music Festival
The 2004 BC Rivers Day Music Festival was a huge success. Approximately 3500 people attended the event, including many families. It was held on September 26th and took place in Fort George Park, Prince George at the confluence of the Nechako and Fraser Rivers. The day was sunny and warm with the fall colours in their glory. The BC Rivers Day Music Festival is the official music festival of BC Rivers Day. The 2004 BC Rivers Day Music Festival held in Prince George was the largest Rivers Day event in the province.
The day included:
- Four musical acts, plus the Rainbow Dancers
- Twenty educational displays by community groups showcasing river & fresh water information.
- Three tents full of children's activities
- River Trivia Contest with prizes
- Seven food venders
Background Information
The B.C.R.D.M.F. promotes an appreciation of rivers, working in accordance with the United Nations, who have proclaimed 2003-2004 International Year of Fresh Water. This Music Festival is one of a number of U.N. supported ”Wonder of Water” Initiatives, taking place throughout Canada. This two-year initiative emphasizes the importance of ”thinking globally and acting locally.”
The B.C.R.D.M.F. is the official music festival for B.C. Rivers Day, a province-wide event held every year on the last Sunday of September. Since its inception in 1980, B.C. Rivers Day, which was founded by the B.C. Outdoor Recreation Council, has become the largest river celebration of its kind in Canada.
In cooperation with the B.C. Outdoor Recreation Council, the P.G.R.D.C., consisting of various Prince George community members and organizations, are the founders and organizers of the B.C.R.D.M.F.
Through uniting top quality musical acts with interactive watershed stewardship and community displays, children’s activities, local and provincial media coverage, the B.C.R.D.M.F. combines celebration, education, and community involvement within the framework of Prince George’s unique river heritage.
Last year, the B.C.R.D.M.F. brought approximately 3000 community members together to celebrate and learn about the significance of rivers and fresh water within a local, provincial, and global context. Prince George is an appropriate location to hold this official B.C. Rivers Day music festival, as it is situated on the largest confluence of water in the Upper Fraser Region - a region supporting three of the largest salmon runs in the world and the endangered Nechako River White Sturgeon!
Past performers include such top quality artists as Stabilo, nominated in the Best New Rock Band category at the 2003 Canadian Radio Music Awards, Roy Forbes, two-time Juno Nominee and winner of a 1999 West Coast Music Award, Barney Bentall (B.C. Rock Legend), Bill Henderson (B.C. Rock Legend from the band Chilliwack), Gary Fjellgaard (1993 Juno Award Winner - Country Male Vocalist), and Marcel Gagnon (2002 Juno Nominee - Best Canadian Aboriginal Artist).
This year, the P.G.R.D.C. will continue this rivers day music legacy by bringing top quality music acts to the shores of the mighty Fraser River.
The purpose of the B.C.R.D.M.F. is to educate and reach the community of Prince George and surrounding regions on the social, cultural, economic and environmental importance and value of our local water resources. We promote individual responsibility as well as collective accountability for the stewardship of water.
If you and/or your local Prince George organization wish to become involved and support the B.C.R.D.M.F. or for more information please email Joan Chess at info@riversdaymusic.org.
