Featured Story
Posted July 21, 2010 July 22, 2010 Article from the Kamsack Times Piece of Victoria – Recycled Art Auction Through talent, ingenuity and generosity, a select group of local artists have transformed several dozen old metal Victoria School desks into one of a kind, imaginative and inspiring works of art. These desks, as well as other fine art by local and locally-raised artists, will be auctioned at a unique recycled art exhibition on Saturday, July 31st at the Broda Sportsplex. Come and be inspired by the vision of our artists, take home a one-of-a-kind gift or a keepsake of our beloved Victoria School, enjoy some good wine, enter to win cool prizes, support our downtown revitalization and most importantly, support our local artists. It will be a festive evening to rejoice in our arts community, our friends, and our town. Our artist line-up reads like a “Who’s Who” of nearly 30 artists and will make for an eclectic mix of spectacular art! | Aimee Sterzer | AnnaLee Parnetta | Brenda Kondratoff | Bud Moore | | Crystal Thorburn | Doug Welykholowa | Dustin Wilson | Eileen Poholka | | Howie Fehrenbach | Isaac Thomas | Jessica Pennell | Jim Marsh | | Joan Veal | John Berezowski | Kaitlyn Stenhouse | Kelsey Anderson | | Linda Scobie | Linda Todosichuk | Mabel Mund | Marianne Francis | | Marilyn Lachambre | Marina Wishnevetski | Mark Forsythe | Mel Novitsky | | Mike Foley | Mildred Kotzer | Mitch Hippsley | Myrna Dey | | Steve Dutcheshen | | | |
And don’t miss our exciting raffle...enter to win: ØUrban Escape for 2 at Winnipeg’s Beechmount Bed and Breakfast We are excited to announce we have a 2 night stay at the luxurious Beechmount Bed and Breakfast in Winnipeg PLUS a $100.00 gift certificate to have supper out on the town! A huge thank you to GW Architecture Inc. in Winnipeg for their wonderful contribution! Ø1 Night Getaway at Yorkton’s Patrick Place Bed and Breakfast | This early Yorkton home has been restored and renovated and is located on a quiet street within walking distance of downtown Yorkton. Patrick Place has been awarded a 4 ½ star rating by Canada Select. Enjoy one night in their romantic Sleeping Porch. | Ø$100 Gift Certificate to MADOCO Restaurant in Swan River ØGentleman’s Gift Basket from Safire Clothing in Yorkton In addition to the amazingly transformed desks, what other art will one see at the auction? "The Chosen One", an original framed photograph by acclaimed photographer Mitch Hippsley. This stunning black and white portrait of a former Kamsack resident known only as "Bruno" is sure to bring back some long lost memories. "Sask Plate" is a haunting, evocative, rustic black and white digital print taken in the Runnymede country by photographer Steve Dutcheshen. Beautiful! "End of the Road", an colourful original limited edition digital collage by prairie artist Doug Welykholowa. "Mother's Lace", a beautiful oil painting by acclaimed artist Jim Marsh. Jim's commissioned paintings are in private collections in the United States, the Middle East and Canada, most notably in the Banffshire Dining Room in the Banff Springs Hotel. And much, much more...stay tuned! BREAKING NEWS: A selection of the beautiful artist-decorated desks will be on display for a SNEAK PREVIEW starting next week at the Affinity Credit Union in Kamsack!!! Our auction items are receiving so much attention and are so "HOT" you may want them even if you can't attend... NO PROBLEM! Place your absentee bids with Nikki Lachambre at 542-2881.  FENDERMEN
The Town of Kamsack celebrates 100 years since incorporation in 1905.
Kamsack's very own Fabulous Fendermen will share in the festivities
celebrating 45 years since the Prairie foursome's inception in 1965. Many
things have changed since then but not the commitment to entertain and
perform the greatest hits of the 60's. Influenced by the Mercy Beat sounds
of the Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, the Rolling Stones, the Animals
(remember the House of the Rising Sun) and the Searchers as well as North
American super groups such as the Byrd's, the Beach Boys, Mitch Rider and
the Detroit Wheels and CCR, the Fendermen will bring back the hits and the
memories in living colour and sound. Their hair is a bit greyer and a bit
sparser now but they are just as enthusiastic as they were many years ago. The Fendermen will perform at Kamsack's OCC Hall on Friday July 30, 2010
from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Saturday July 31, 2010 from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Sunday August 1, 2010 at OCC from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This will be a
KAM-JAM Sunday/Fun Day. We invite local friends and musicians to the stage
to perform with the Fendermen or on their own. It will be a blast from the
past. Meet lead guitarist Bernie Barabash, second guitarist/keyboards Freddy
Welyk, drummer/vocalist Greg (not Greggy) Dempson, and the sensational lead
vocalist and bass guitarist Fred Lebeboff. Guitarist and friend Don Stefiuk
will join the group as well ( no comments on his hair). Tell all your friends and plan to see the Fendermen and join in the wonderfu
l Kamsack Homecoming 2010 week-end EH.......................
Story by William Koreluik of Kamsack Times
Posted June 11, 2010 Former Resident's Band Releases Second Album
Single Car Garage 
During the Tom Cochrane concert
This photograph of Mike Foottit, left, and Dean Cherkas was taken when their band, Single Car Garage, was the opening act for Tom Cochrane and Red Rider in Prince George, B.C. in 2007. A former Kamsack resident and the two musicians he performs with as a band called Single Car Garage have released their second album. Former Kamsack resident Dean Cherkas plays upright and electric bass and provides background vocals for Single Car Garage, which includes Mike Foottit on lead vocals and guitar and Blaine Powel on percussion. The Prince George-based trio recently released their second album entitled Breathing Your Diesel, and Cherkas says he plans to perform a few of the selections from that album in Kamsack when he attends the 2010 homecoming at the end of July.  “Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts neither Mike nor Blaine can attend with me,” Cherkas said. “But, my family band, the Silver Creek Band, will be playing for the homecoming this year so I will be able to perform a couple of tracks from this CD and from our first one, entitled Single Car Garage, as well.”
Cherkas said the band will be contacting CBC Radio Saskatchewan and GX94 radio in Yorkton to see if they will be willing to play some of the tracks and is looking at the possibility of doing something like the Stars for Saskatchewan series of concerts. Single Car Garage was formed in 2006 out of a recording project for which Foottit, Powel and Cherkas had come together, says the band’s biography. The concept of the recording was to keep it organic, pure and simple, so that duplication would be easy in a live performance setting. These musicians have had several other projects, recording and tour related activities individually for the past 30 years performing with and supporting other A-level touring and recording artists, including Johnny Ferreira, who is Colin James’ saxophonist; award-winning blues musician Murray Porter; Canadian ace fiddler Mike Sanyshyn who plays in Aaron Pritchett’s band. All of the songs on both CDs are original material written and published by Foottit, it said. It is primarily during the winter periods when the recording is conducted and yes, it “all takes place in a single car garage.” The band focuses on a diligent and routine rehearsal and recording schedule in order to improve and master the unique signature sound they create and to polish the delivery of that musical message when performing live whether it is a festival, soft seat show, dance or corporate private function, the biography said. Cherkas said he always considers Kamsack his hometown and hopes to one day, hopefully in the very near future, to bring the Single Car Garage trio home for a show. Persons wishing to contact Cherkas and other members of the band may go to the Internet website www.myspace.com/singlecargarage. Both CDs are available on line at www.indiepool.com/estorelayout1.asp?n=48637 and www.cdbaby.com/cd/singlecargarage. Cherkas plans to have copies of both CDs with him for sale during the homecoming.
Posted February 18, 2010
By William Koreluik, Kamsack Times 
 Joy Skrapek
Musician and mentor
Professional musician returns home after a 25-year career Joy Skrapek is likely the only Kamsack resident to have ever played Carnegie Hall.
And she began her journey towards performing in that prestigious venue as a 10-year-old studying music with the late Fred Tetoff of Kamsack. Joy returned to Kamsack in February after leaving a 25-year career as a professional musician, a clarinet player based primarily in Ottawa. “By the time I was in Grade 7, I knew I wanted to become a musician,” Skrapek said recently during an interview in her Kamsack home. Joy is the middle of three children born to the late Mary and Leo Skrapek, who farmed nine miles southwest of Kamsack. Her sister Deb lives in Kamsack and brother Lyle lives in Ottawa. “I started music in the school band at age 10,” she said. Tetoff taught her that first year, and then the late Mike Dewores became her band instructor after that.
“Dad liked the clarinet and I soon discovered that it was a natural instrument for me. I had the correct physical make-up for it.” Although she had also studied piano, by the time Joy was in seventh grade and a member of the school’s senior band, she was recognized as having the talent, drive and interest to continue. Graduating from the Kamsack Collegiate Institute in 1976, Joy entered DePauw University at Greencastle, Indiana on her way towards obtaining a bachelor of music degree. “Ralph and Sandra Cuervo were graduates of DePauw and they had advised me to attend that university,” she said of two other well-known Kamsack musicians. Having been raised in a tiny community surrounded by prairie, Skrapek didn’t hear a professional orchestra until she went away to university. But with the help of nurturing teachers, a strong school music program and long, happy hours spent listening to recordings, she said she learned that if she worked hard enough, it was possible to make a living from Mahler, Mozart and Strauss.
After two years at DePauw, Joy transferred to the University of Ottawa to study with James Morton, her “number one mentor,” who had worked as the principal clarinetist of the National Arts Centre Orchestra (NACO) in Ottawa from 1969 to 1983. “He was such a refined player,” she said. “He emphasized finesse and pure, beautiful playing and an overall intelligence, rather than a showy kind of playing.” After having studied history, theory, harmony, composers, conducting and everything else required towards her degree, Joy obtained her bachelor of music in performance in 1981 and started playing with the NACO as a regular extra clarinetist. “I was a first-call extra musician,” she said. Two years later, Joy enrolled in Northwestern University in Chicago, which is known as one of the top 10 schools in the USA. In 1984 she graduated with a master’s degree in music performance, having studied with Robert Marcellus, former principal clarinet of the Cleveland Orchestra. “Marcelles is the Wayne Gretzky of clarinet players,” she said. “Many call him North America’s greatest clarinet player and all the top clarinet players of my generation studied with him. Back to Ottawa in 1984, Joy was on the market as a freelance musician with no fulltime contract with any one group.
 She returned as a regular extra clarinet player for the NACO playing an average of 75 performances a year with the orchestra, which has as its core 46 members and access to about 20 extras such as herself. “It is a classical era size orchestra,” she said, contrasting its size with that of most symphonies, which have from 80 to 100 members.
“I was terrified the first times I played with them,” she said. “As one of the top classical groups in Canada, its rehearsals are highly disciplined. But it is an extremely rewarding experience to perform with the NACO.” Joy played in many of the orchestra’s regular series concerts and frequently as a member of the orchestra when it accompanied ballets and operas. At her level, one receives jobs primarily by word of mouth, she said, adding that she has performed a number of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and in 1992 spent eight weeks performing in a production of The Phantom of the Opera. With the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and conductor David Currie, in 1999, Skrapek performed a solo work for clarinet and orchestra called Bonavista, a piece Ottawa composer Patrick Cardy wrote for the Newfoundland Symphony that had been inspired by explorer John Cabot’s arrival in North America 500 years earlier. “Skrapek, who has a sunny personality and a quick laugh, has been principal clarinetist with the Ottawa Symphony since 1994,” said a story by Steven Mazey in the Ottawa Citizen in 1999. “In the Ottawa Symphony, her skilled and expressive playing has been one of the pleasures of the orchestra’s concerts in recent seasons.” “Joy has a beautiful sound and her playing is so musical and intelligent,” Currie said. “She’s also a great leader in the orchestra, with both her playing and her professionalism. The example that she and the other section leaders have set for the other musicians has helped bring the orchestra up.” Skrapek credits much of her style to James Morton. “There’s a recording of the NACO doing Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony,” she said. “There’s a beautiful clarinet solo in the second movement and he played it sublimely. I have never heard it played better on any recording or live performance.” 
In addition to playing with the NACO and the Ottawa Symphony, Skrapek was a founding member of Ottawa’s acclaimed Bel Canto Wind Quintet. “When you’re playing chamber music with only four other musicians on stage, you’re very exposed and you feel almost like a soloist,” Skrapek said. While with the symphony, Joy began doing what most professional musicians do: teach. “When you teach, there can be these amazing moments that happen and catch you off guard,” she said. One such moment occurred when a high school student performed a Benny Goodman-style version of Lady be Good during his lesson. Skrapek accompanied him on piano. “I didn’t know he played jazz at all and I almost started crying because he played with such joy. Those can be the most cherished moments: things that happen when you least expect them.” She taught students from a private studio in her Ottawa home. It was an occupation, which she estimates provided 40 per cent of her annual income. “I averaged 20 students a year,” she said, explaining that the students were of a range of abilities, from beginners to university level players. She was employed by Carlton University and later by the University of Ottawa as an instructor of clarinet. While living and working in Ottawa, Joy also performed solo recitals and played with a jazz group with which she recorded a CD. During her career with the NAC Orchestra she performed with a number of world-famous entertainers including Eartha Kitt, Lou Rawls, Diana Krall, Anne Murray and many opera stars such as Ben Heppner and Jessye Norman.
As a member of a trio, she was once presented to Canadian politician Joe Clark and USSR foreign minister Eduard Shevardnadze. “Some of the people I met were unforgettable,” she said, describing some of the seemingly outlandish demands of one particular diva. As a teacher, a number of her students continued in music. She was pleased to have briefly taught Diana Fowler Leblanc, the wife of then Canadian Gov.-Gen. Romeo Leblanc. “I had to tell her Excellency that what she had just played was not good enough and she had to do it again,” Joy said with a laugh. “I was perhaps the only person in Ottawa who could say that to her.” Sometimes it seemed like a miracle was needed to balance all the schedules of performing and teaching, she said.
For a period every year at Christmas, the NAC Orchestra accompanies the Nutcracker Ballet performed by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal or the National Ballet. Skrapek has subsequently played the Nutcracker Ballet over 200 times. As a member of Bel Canto Wind Quintet she performed in and produced a concert series in Ottawa, toured Ontario and did many school concerts. In 1989, her tour with the NACO ended at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
“Carnegie Hall is spectacular acoustically,” she said. Skrapek has adjudicated Kiwanis music festivals in Ontario, coached woodwinds in the Ottawa Youth Orchestra and the Canadian Youth Orchestra Festival and found it interesting to have been a member of a jury responsible for providing funding for local artists. She played in a number of productions of Opera Lyra Ottawa at the National Arts Centre, which still produces two full operas each year, and many of her performances have been carried on CBC Radio. A freelance musician always has to watch the economy, she said. Since 9/11, the economy has been slowing down for musicians and many jobs were lost.  “I found that very gradually there was less and less work. The arts is the first segment of society to suffer in a recession, and often it is the last segment to recover. ”So, after having reached a high level in her career, by June 2008, she decided that it seemed like a good time to leave. She did, and returned to Kamsack in February 2009.
“I had a great time, but it was time for a change,” she said.
“I was so fortunate to have worked in one of the most beautiful buildings in Canada, the National Arts Centre and to have worked with many of the world’s finest musicians and conductors.
|  | Archive Articles: Click on the following links to read the full articles previously posted on our website. Accommodation Update
(pdf file posted January 15, 2010) Sarah Ramsland-Kamsack Lady is Sask's First Female MLA
(pdf file posted September 15, 2009)
"Pass the Quinoa", Oprah Winfrey
(pdf file posted July 31, 2009) Kamsack's New Water Treatment Plant
(pdf file posted July 8, 2009) Where are they now? James Rosowsky
(pdf file posted June 22, 2009 Playhouse Theater
(pdf file posted June 6, 2009) Kamsack Revitalized...Because once wasn't enough
(pdf file posted May 21, 2009) Letter from Mr. Fisher
(pdf file posted May 21, 2009)
Kamsack RCMP
(pdf file posted May 6, 2009) Kamsack Masonic Lodge Story
(pdf file posted April 16, 2009) Call of Kamsack... Introducing the Committee
(pdf file posted April 1, 2009) Introduction....A Kamsack Homecoming Event 2010
(pdf file posted March 18, 2009) |
