Pincher Creek Voice: Huge turnout for Heritage Acres Harvest Gala with Connie Kaldor

Monday, October 13, 2014

Huge turnout for Heritage Acres Harvest Gala with Connie Kaldor

Paul Campagne, Solange Campagne, Connie Kaldor

Toni Lucas

Heritage Acres hosted a Harvest Gala and Volunteer Recognition Night on Saturday, October 11, 2014 at the Pincher Creek Community Hall, with approximately 250 people in attendance. Bob Westrop kept everything rolling along as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

Bob Westrop

There were two stars performing for the evening, internationally known songstress Connie Kaldor and the star that was present in spirit; the Zoeteman/Vogelaar Barn. The first phase of the barn project has been completed, and both sections of the barn are solidly on their new foundations at Heritage Acres. The evening was part of the fundraising for the next phase of the project, repairs and restoration. MD of Pincher Creek Reeve Brian Hammond and Town of Pincher Creek Councillor Mark Barber each stepped up to the microphone to address the purpose of the evening's festivities.

Reeve Brian Hammond

Town Councillor Mark Barber

Rob Mitchell

"What we are going to be using the barn for a home for telling the story of the development of the dairy industry and cattle industry within Alberta," explained Heritage Acres President Rob Mitchell to the crowd. "We have 15,400 square feet of space that will allow us to not only tell the story, but show some of the transportation and machines that were used at that time. That is what that barn is going to do."

Platinum Sponsors

Rob Mitchell requested that a representative from each of the Platinum sponsors join him on the stage where he awarded each with a framed artwork piece to commemorate the part they played in getting this project underway.

Terry Andryo and Rob Mitchell

One of the platinum sponsors for this project has been Alberta Treasury Branch (ATB). ATB Senior Agriculture Marketing Manager Terry Andryo has been aware of and supporting the project for over two years. "This is a very emotion driven thing. It is what agriculture stands for," he said, referring to the barn itself and also the teamwork that was required for all the phases of this project. He said that when ATB reviewed the request for sponsorship, "We made a decision. This was the right thing to do."

Paul Campagne, Solange Campagne, Connie Kaldor

Connie Kaldor began her performance with an a cappella version of Hymn for Pincher Creek, a song that is on her 1992 CD Wood River. It was beautifully performed by herself, her husband Paul Campagne, and his sister Solange Campagne. "I love the fact that we are here because of a barn. I just love that. Maybe someday I'm going to dance in that barn," said Kaldor to the audience, who applauded the notion.

Connie Kaldor

Kaldor is promoting her upcoming CD Love Sask. "We had a limited edition pre-release copy for this tour, it's officially coming out in about 3 weeks," said Kaldor. "CBC had a contest, and you had to write a song about somewhere in Canada. Well, in Saskatchewan, my home Province Regina won because there are more people voting for Regina than Love, Saskatchewan, but I just thought it was such a great name." There will be only 250 of these pre-release CDs available during her tour, making them a special collectable. Kaldor explained that the song selection will be the same for the main release with some post production work including different cover artwork the only differences.

Connie Kaldor with husband/guitarist Paul Campagne

"I defy a lot of the conventions and I write in a lot of different styles. One thing that is consistent is that I write about this part of the world, why I respect it. The songs all have a connection to me, and travelling and what I have learned. I think I am noted for writing songs about western Canada. I have written so many songs about the west, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. I started my career out here, it's where I have lived. I sing all over the world, but here it really clicks with the audience. This is the audience that it was written for."

The MD table: Lauraine and Brian Hammond, Terry and Bertha Yagos, Deirdre and Fred Schoening

A hearty buffet dinner was supplied by Simply Catering, Pincher Creek Rotary served the drinks, and Silver Reins Light Horse 4-H Club cleaned up after the meal.