2024 Fiddles on the Rideau Festival Floats Into Manotick
On the weekend of June 21-23rd, fiddlers from across Canada coupled with local musicians gathered together at the Manotick United Church to play concerts, have an old tyme square dance, teach fiddle, dance, piano workshops and jam sessions. Due to the rain forecast on Sunday June 23rd, the flotilla planned for the Rideau River was cancelled but everyone quickly came back to the Manotick United Church to participate in a jam session that lasted 3 hours! The square dancing on Friday night was a huge success as fiddle enthusiasts, young and old, as well as many new Canadians assembled to celebrate Canadian culture, and to raise awareness and financial support for the Youth of Manotick Association (YOMA).
Just as the culture in Canada is diverse, so is the music. Each year the festival highlights the differences in fiddle styles between provinces. This year, the festival showcased: Canadian virtuosos from the band Cécilia, Louis Schryer from Chapeau, QC, Erin Leahy from Montreal, QC and Timi Turmel from Quebec City, QC along with square dance caller Jackson Corry originally from Alberta. On Saturday, June 22nd back by popular demand was the Fiddles on the Rideau Trio (Mark Allen, Chad Wolfe and Sherryl Fitzpatrick). New this year, we had a Women of Fiddle concert to celebrate the contribution from women in fiddle music. Included in the concert was Kelli Trottier from Kingston, ON, Karen Steven from Scotland, Terri-Lynn Mahusky from Renfrew, ON, Anna Ludlow from Antigonish, NS and founder of the festival, Sherryl Fitzpatrick from Ottawa, ON. We were pleased to welcome CBC Radio Host, Teri Loretto as our Emcee for the weekend festival.
Founded by Ottawa-area musician-educator-composer Sherryl Fitzpatrick, the FOTR event is part of a larger vision to familiarize all Canadians with the traditional and contemporary importance of fiddling to Canadian Heritage. It is also a fundraising initiative to bring awareness and support to mental health. This is the fourth year for the FOTR event but the first year for the Youth of Manotick Association (YOMA). In addition, it is a three-day music festival. RBC and Portfolio Manager, Janice Domaratzki was enthusiastic to get on board to support the festival.
“To see how the Manotick business community has embraced us and has supported such a great cause is humbling and encouraging” says Fitzpatrick. Music heals and helps to build relatinoships and bring people together. We couldn’t have operated a festival without the support of our sponsors: Lead Sponsor, Janice Domaratzki RBC Wealth Management & Dominion Securities CIM Portfolio Manager, our Official Sponsors, Beth’s on the Bay and the Dentistry at Manotick as well as community donations from Myers Manotick Dodge Jeep Chrysler RAM, Manotick BIA and various online donations. To date, FOTR has raised close to $15,000 for mental health organizations in Ottawa. This year, the Fiddles on the Rideau Festival were successful in surpassing their fundraising goal and raised $3,000 for the Youth of Manotick Association (Yoma.ca). Leeanne Van der Burgt who is a Board member at the Youth of Manotick Association says, “the $3,000.00, will go towards the continuation of their parent and caregiver support group.”
The Youth of Manotick Association provides a safe, inclusive and socially accepting environment to help support local and rural youth build positive relationships, offer support for addictions and mental health counselling, to experience new opportunities and to connect them to their community.
When asked if the festival was a success, Fitzpatrick says, “The Fiddles on the Rideau Festival was a huge success not just from a financial standpoint but seeing positive relationships being built, music being shared, new friendships being developed, new sponsor partnerships, and hearts being healed. We could not have done this without your support. Music really is therapy!”
Plans are already underway for next year to bring this live event to the Manotick and surrounding area on the weekend of June 20-22, 2025.
Visit www.fiddlesontherideau.com or follow them on Facebook and/or Instagram and watch for detailed announcements next year.
