Volunteers keep International Choral Kathaumixw going

When it comes to organizing and planning a theatre performance or a music festival, no matter how big or small, it takes an incredible amount of focus, work and usually a plethora of volunteers who take on jobs solely for the love of the community and the festival.

International Choral Kathaumixw is no different, thanks to a dedicated organizing committee, along with enthusiastic and resourceful volunteers who bring diverse sets of skills and talents to make the festival possible.

Hundreds of choral singers and performers descend on the qathet region for five days, July 4 to July 8, to take part in mentorship, skill-building classes and public performances. In order for that to happen, community members open their homes to take in billets, provide transportation, plan meals and prepare venues for use during the festival.

One huge task is transforming Powell River Recreation Complex’s Hap Parker Arena into a stunning performance stage for international and national musical talent to step onto.

Tom Gagnon started volunteering for Kathaumixw in the 1990s when his kids were taking music classes at Powell River Academy of Music.

“My friend was involved [in the festival] and asked me one time to help him out, and I have continued helping at the festival ever since,” said Gagnon. “We do all sorts of things, but one of the biggest things is changing the hockey arena into a festival space.”

In order to convert the arena into a concert hall, with lights, sound and stage, it takes shutting down and blacking out signs that have advertisements during games. The process takes close to two weeks, with work parties coordinating equipment and physically setting up the space.

“We have to get the pianos, organs arranged and on the stage, and in the old days we had to build the stage ourselves,” said Gagnon.

Luckily volunteers no longer have to build the heavy stages as the music academy and recreation complex both purchased professional stages that they use and share together for the festival.

However, there is still a lot of work involved during the two week setup time, such as organizing people, knowing where and how to find equipment and reaching out to other community organizations for help with storing for the festival. 

There are also three other venues that need setting up as well.

“What keeps me coming back every year is that the festival is good for the community,” said Gagnon. “I like seeing the young kids start off in apprentice choirs, and it’s always nice to see how they progress and grow over the years.”

Gagnon also mentioned that his family takes in billets; the last ones were from Hong Kong. 

“Meal time is always the best time to chat, and we always try to take visiting guests up to the lake and around town,” said Gagnon. “I have lived here for 52 years, a long time, and I always look forward to all the choirs getting together and the excitement of having all these people from different places around the world here.”