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2A THE OSHAWA TIMES, Mondey, June 27, 1966 ~ Shop and Save EVERYDAY at Your AAA Neighborhood A & P STORE! 1150 Simcoe North Oshawa @ LOCATED AT e 501 Ritson Rd. S., Oshawa 185-186 King Se. E. Bowmanville 223 Brock St. N. Whitby And the NEW KING PARK PLAZA STORE ot Corner of King St. and Pork Rd. HARVEY SCHOOL SUCCESS SEEN I deem # an honor and Pas DANCERS READY FOR FESTIVAL priviledge te send you this greeting. May I extend to you the public of Oshawa, a most warm and cordial invitation to attend our function, held for the first time in the Ci- vic Auditorium. A fabulous program has been prepared which will warm the hearts of old and young alike. This festival is designed pri- marily to bring together all sections of the community in . good fellowship, and what bet- ter way than to participate with one another in. a _ pro- gram of music, dancing and artistry. The executive, the chair- man, and their committee members have done a fine job preparing for the event. To the various groups, private firms, public services, and all participants, our warmenst appreciation for the help giv- en in making this year's fe- stival a memorable event. The Oshawa Folk Festival has brought out the many cul- tures of the approximately 36 ethnic groups in our city. This culture is the means by which respect and understanding ma be maintained, and the date Ist July, Dominion Day, cho- sen to show our allegiance as Canadians. I would like to take this eppertunity to announce that plans are already considered fer 1967 Centenial year. A JAN DRYGALA whole week's festivities are planned, with a tremendous finale ist July making the Oshawa Folk Festival the big- gest and best attraction ever seen in this city. I sineerely believe that this project will continue to flour- ish.in the city. I personally, take great pride in what has bedn accomplished. My best wishes for a happy Dominion Day, 1966. Jan Drygala, President and general chair- man. This year's Oshawa Folk Fes- tival will have a decidedly new look, despite the retention of the key attractions that have help- ed to make it such a unique success in the past. The parade route of the big ' July 1 show starting at 10 a.m. | will be the same as last year-- |it will start at the Oshawa |Shopping Centre, proceed east |along King street to the Four |Corners where it will continue north on Simcoe to Alexandra Park. The PUC, provide a special bus service te and from the Oshawa Civic Auditorium. Buses will leave from Bond and Simcoe every | 30 minutes, starting at 10 a.m. One of the highlights of this year's parade will be the De La Salle cadets band, Toronto, |a colorful and highly-precision- once again, will | | in keeping with its high objec- Festival's New Look , ed unit which has pleased thou- |}sands of Ontario residents in recent years. There will also be the Ajax Ladies Kilty Band to warm the cockles of every Scottish heart in Oshawa and district. The Ajax band has performed here before with good results and its return engagement is a matter of pride for the program com- mittee of this year's Oshawa Folk Festival. The festival has appeal for young and old alike as its rec- ord of success readily proves-- tives, it brings people of many tongues and cultures together in a common. bond. There will be many attrac- itions for those who visit the Oshawa Civic Auditorium dur- ing the afternoon and evening performances. Lack Of Understanding Led To Festival Birth There was a lack of under-! standing of peoples and their | cultures in Canada. The idea here was started in 1959 but did not become a real- ity until 1960 for the Oshawa Folk Festival. Mrs. Jo Mdwinckle got sup- port for the festival idea from Harry Chapman, director of the Pilgrims Players and Francis J. Francis, music teacher and bandmaster, then resident in Oshawa. Results from their first meet- ing later produced a meeting of ethnic groups in the city. Mr. Jan Drygala and Hans Haag- mans were appointed to the) committee of three. The end product of that meet- ing produced the first Oshawa Folk Festival in St. 'Gregory's Auditorium on May 14, 1961, through the courtesy of Mon- signor Paul Dwyer. The audi- torium was packed to capacity. Waiting crowds blocked the sidewalks. No tickets were sold; however, a silver collec- tion was taken to defray ex-) : | the police force, | bus drivers, and letter carriers, penses, PAID EXPENSES In that initial program, 150 performers in national dress, laughing and talking together, breaking into song, joining in 15 different languages -and try- ing to explain English, was the heart and soul of that festival. The date May 14 was chosen te coincide with Citizenship Week and also the link between Mother's Day and the Mother- | land. The Mayor, City Council, | parish priests, members of the | clergy, prominent citizens and all those about to receive citi- zenship were personally in- vited. Mayor Christine Thomas per- formed the official opening. The performers set a high standard and the audience was eager, friendly and enthusiastic. Fi- nancially, however, "they were not so enthusiastic". The com- mittee spent many hours count- ing nickels and dimes, and the festival barely managed to de- fray expenses. A "miracle"? had been work- ed. Federal and provincial offi- cials and immigration officers arrived in Oshawa to find out how and what had been accom- plished. The next year, 1962, the festi- val moved to OCVI and held afternoon and evening perform- ances to take care of the num- ber of groups wishing to par- ticipate. This time the mayor had a guard of honor and a tribute was paid to those whose work it was to serve the community: firefighters, to name a few. The Kiwanis arranged a city tour for senior citizens. The Lyceum club held a display of treasures from other lands, con- tributed and staffed by mem- bers of ethnic groups. Groups never before seen in Oshawa: Israeli, Indonesian and North American Indians, put on dancing displays. Oshawa Folk Festival 1963 re- turned to St. Gregory's since at the time the majority of the performers preferred Sunday performances. ALBERT V. WALKER WALKER WRITES BEST I appreciate this opportuni- ty of extending to you a few words of greeting of Folk Festival Day, 1966. Congratulations are once again in order to the execu- tive and various committees of the Folk Festival for the work and effort they have put forth in making this im- portant event another fine success which I am sure it will be. Community spirit is. the backbone of any successful municipality and the bring- ing together on Folk Festival Day of all our ethnic groups and other organizations throu- out the city, tends to weld us as one in a bond of fellow- ship which is so important to the future: of our great city. Best wishes for a very suc- cessful day. Yours Sincerely, Albert V.. Walker. M.P.P, Oshawa GOOD WISHES -ROBARTS I am very pleased to have this opportunity to extend again on behalf of the people and Government of Ontario, greetings and good wishes to all the participants in the Osh- awa Folk Festival. Clearly, community spirit is a vital factor in the social and economic life of this Pro- vince and nation. Activities» such as the Folk Festival \ tribute a great deal to main- taining and increasing this spirit in the Oshawa area. I wish you further success in the years ahead. John P. Robaris, Prime Minister of Onitarie SERVING OSHAWA AND AREA FOR 43 YEARS BURNS JEWELLERS 20 SIMCOE STREET NORTH OSHAWA Sec whe gist. BRAT csr eR at nr