ATHABASCA — Nearly three months after the fire that destroyed the Grand Union Hotel, the Whispering Hills Country Music Association (WHCMA) is asking the community to gather in appreciation for the hard work of the volunteers involved in the response to the blaze.
“We are hoping that all the firefighters, EMS, police, town service personnel and volunteers present at the fire, along with their families, can join us,” said Serena Koons Elliott with WHCMA. “We also encourage all members of the community and beyond who wish to enjoy an amazing evening of music and memories to attend.”
The concert will be hosted on Oct. 25 in the Multiplex fieldhouse, and in addition to featuring a slideshow of the Union throughout the years, the vocal stylings of Karley Bilsky and the talents of the WHCMA Jam Band will also be on display.
Guests will also get to hear two original songs from local musicians as part of the celebration. WHCMA put out a call for submissions in September, requesting tunes honouring firefighters, the local community, or the Grand Union Hotel itself.
“We received seven unique songs for the competition,” said Koons Elliott. “Several of them came from our high school students, which is very exciting as we are thrilled to encourage young talent.”
A panel of judges analyzed the lyrics, theme, melody, and overall message of each of the seven submissions, and the top two numbers will be performed live at the concert.
Families with young children will have a chance to check out a fire engine and police patrol car courtesy of local firefighters and RCMP, and Grand Union merchandise like t-shirts, keychains, and playing cards will be available for purchase.
The event won’t feature a meal, but Time Out Concession will be open for attendees to grab a bite to eat before the festivities begin.
WHCMA’s Debbie Doole was the driving force behind the event, brainstorming what to include in the evening and pitching her concept to councillors and community members alike
Doole and others efforts have secured the support of both the town and county, as well as Husky, Tridon Communications, Athabasca’s Great Canadian Dollar Store, Logo Me This, and Boyle Pizza House. Each organization has sponsored message boards to be displayed with personalized thanks for the volunteer honourees.
Bubel’s store, which is celebrating its 65th anniversary this month thanks to the July 23 containment efforts of the firefighters, has also opted to sponsor the concert with a message board.
Koons Elliott said any other individuals or organizations interested in purchasing a message board can get in touch with WHCMA ahead of the event. Grand Union t-shirts will also be available for pre-order for those wanting to arrive in style.
“Our original intent was to offer the concert, and we had a number of businesses willing to help sponsor it,” said Koons Elliott. “But almost every conversation has encouraged us to make the event a fundraiser for our local fire department.”
Proceeds from the evening will be donated to the Friends of Athabasca Firefighters, the town department’s fundraising body. Doors for the Oct. 25 event open at 6:30 p.m., the concert is slated to begin at 7 p.m., and no fee will be charged for admission.
“The concert gives us an opportunity to feature some of our amazing local talent and gather round our memories of this beloved hotel and what it meant to us as a community,” said Koons Elliot.
