West Island Blues Festival on June 20
Contact Staff
The musicians are primed, all the major sponsors and partners are lined up and the spectators are waiting and expectant; now it’s just a matter of weeks before the West Island Blues Festival brings it all together with a day of absolute family fun at the Dollard des Ormeaux Park on June 20.
Most of the major players were at Caribbean Tasty Treats Restaurant for the festival launch on Monday, May 11, where founders and organizers Errol Johnson and Jim Beis lauded the progress made over the past 12 years and set out the program from 2015.
Johnson, a DDO city councilor unveiled a major partnership for the festival this year as they joined forces with the Alzheimer Group (AGI) to bring another growing group of Montrealers under the blues fest tent.
Linda Israel, speaking on behalf of AGI, talked about a growing constituent of West Islanders afflicted by memory loss issues and welcomed the opportunity to be part of this dynamic and community-oriented event, and a chance to bring her organization’s message and services to those who need them.
“As such,” she says, “We’re encouraged to do all we can to make the festival a success.”
Beis, mayor of the borough of Pierrefonds and now an executive committee member of the City of Montreal also hailed the festival’s community-mindedness and the wide range of charities that have been touched.
And he pledges that the festival “will be here for years to come.”
One guarantee of that, according to Johnson, is the impressive lists of sponsors that are partnering with them, including All State, MNP (SENCRL), Audie Prestige, RBC Banque Royale, Baylis Medical, Vivier Pharma, Jamaica National. Steve’s Music Store and Maetro Communication.
Johnson also excited about the performers they have lined up to hit the stage this year.
Among them are crowd-pleasers such as Freddie James, Carolyn Fe, The Rusty Hip Shakers feat. Sarah Dagenais Hakim, Clarksdale Moan, Flirt and the always impressive, Mike Goudreau.
Several area organizations that have benefited from the proceeds of the festival over the years, including The West Island Black Community Association and Action Jeunesse de l’Ouest de L’ile were on hand to lend their support.
Info: www.westislandbluesfestival.com or 514-781-0890.
