The History of the Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers
With
the help from founding members, Norm Gunter and Bill Minty, we
were able to provide this wonderful heritage story. Our many thanks also goes
out to Pearl Arnold who originally wrote the history for the British
Columbia Old Time Fiddlers Association book, published in 1990. We just added
to her story. Pearl Arnold (84) now resides in North Battleford,
Saskatchewan.
Rt to
Left Len Arnold President of Abbotsford Old Age Pensioners 1973 74
when hall was built.
Pearl Arnold Secretary & co-worker with Lloyd Smith Founders
of the Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers, Branch 4
We would like to honor
those who started the club back on November 27, 1973. The first meeting was
held at the Trinity United Church in Abbotsford under the leadership of Lloyd
Smith, who had recently moved to Abbotsford from Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
Lloyd Smith had been associated with fiddler associations for many years and
needless to say, he fielded many questions to the few present at that meeting
and read material from other clubs regarding rules, aims and objectives. After
a few meetings, Lloyd called a meeting for January 7, 1974 the club began.
Lloyd Smith was elected President, Ivor Dahl, Vice-President and Pearl Arnold
was elected Secretary-Treasurer. Directors for that year were Leonard Arnold
for Abbotsford, Perry Bronstein for Aldergrove, Manleigh Brittain for Chilliwack,
and Gordon Stewart for Mission. Membership dues were set and it was decided to
hold a monthly meeting and jam session. That night, seventeen members joined
and before the year was out we had 75 members, associate and junior members.
During the first several years with membership staying in the 60s, we were very
active playing for fairs, rest homes and picnics throughout the community. As
soon as the Old Age Pensioners Hall was completed, we started having our
meetings there and continue to do so to this day. For many years, several of
our members took turns playing at the hall for their weekly dances. Today, we
host an Afternoon tea dance that is attended by many members of the community
who are regulars. Although we call Abbotsford home today, members travel the
Lower Mainland coming from Hope to Vancouver, ranging in age from the young in
age to the young at heart, bringing our roster to 60 members.
A few
of our members of the Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers, Branch 4 playing for our
monthly Sunday Tea Dance.
This year marks our 30th Annual Contest, which happens
to also be the location of the Provincial Fiddle Contest this year.
Our first contest was held in September of 1974.
The first few years, the Abbotsford Old Age Pensioners sponsored us, and
some of our profit if any was donated to them to help with the expense of
the building and hall. The first
year, none of us had ever been to a contest except for Lloyd Smith, who
organized and assigned members special tasks, which some of us today still carry
out at our annual contests. We all
enjoy the fun and fellowship of our contest weekend.
We had our first Jamboree in February of 1975 and called it the Fiddle
Fun Jamboree. We have had one every
year although they are now held the first Saturday afternoon in March. The jamboree is popular both with the entertainment and the
general public, as it is strictly a fun program, with an excellent variety
of entertainment.
In 2001, we hosted the first of fiddle workshops, located just west of
Hope, B.C. The Pacific Fiddle
College was born. The first year we
had 35 students with increases over the few years to 66 students in 2003. Top-notch instructors have been provided through the many
efforts of club members and we will continue to do the same for years to come.
On January 1, 1984, we became a branch member of the provincial body of
the B.C. Old Time Fiddlers. It is
wonderful to have such a club to help advise and guide us and has been an
inspiration in uniting all of us across the province in the common goal of
preserving old time fiddling, and it has certainly added to the fellowship
bringing so many of us together at the various contests and other activities.
Good luck and good health to each club and each member KEEP
FIDDLING!!!
Submitted to B.C. Fiddle News
(May 2003)
The Canadian Fiddler (December 2003)
by: Donna Randall
Vice President, Central Fraser Valley Fiddlers, Branch 4
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