There are going to be no drum rolls for older musicians in Gimli who’ve been asking the RM for the use of a municipal venue at which they can get together to practise their instruments, sing, write songs, connect with other musicians and provide performances.
Gimli resident Bill Buckels said he is one of the musicians that has been asking the municipality for practice space for older adults but has gotten nothing except the “runaround.”
“We play instruments. We don’t go curling. We don’t swim in the outdoor pool,” said Buckels who is a member of the Sunset Jam Group. “We are Gimli taxpayers who don’t have the use of any municipal facility for musical practise or performance. Our municipality is not giving me and other Baby Boomers a place to go and play music with each other. And we deserve this at this point in our lives. And where are our kids supposed to play? We have a non-existent youth centre. The municipality doesn’t think it’s up to them to provide space for musical pursuit.”
There are bluegrass, country, spiritual and rock musicians in the community, as well as tribute bands, and “all bands need to practise somewhere,” he said. “We’ve got all this local talent but the RM is bringing in bands from Winnipeg to perform.”
Buckels said he and another of the band’s members have reached out to RM staff, various council members and Community Development Corporation staff at various times over the past several months to request practice space in one of the municipality’s facilities.
“We’ve been on to council, asking them for a space where adults can play. We’ve been asking for months and months – and maybe even a year now. But they just won’t give us a place to play,” said Buckels. “And there are other groups involved here. We’ve also asked the RM for space for kids to play in, as well as for space for adult musicians. Months ago, we had a meeting with [a senior RM staff member and a recreation staff member] and we told them we need a venue for the kids and for the adult bands.”
Buckels said the group had asked whether they could use municipal facilities such as the [former] RCMP building or the curling rink, which “sits empty all summer” and could be an ideal spot for adult groups.
Mayor Kevin Chudd told them they could use the Red Dock [at the north end of Gimli Beach] as a concert venue and they’d even “put an awning on it.” But there was objection from the RM’s tourism department, saying the sound would carry to the harbour, which is about a 600-metre stretch, he added.
“This council has been in place long enough and knows about our request. I’ve asked various people many times over the years about places to play. The same group of municipal people know there’s a need for practice space for adult bands,” said Buckels. “The CDC [whose sole shareholder is the RM] turned us down flat a few weeks ago when one of our members asked for adult space. The RM just won’t give their taxpaying seniors – and Gen Xers, Millennials, Gen Z and kids – a place to play.”
Buckels wrote a formal letter and sent white papers to the municipality, outlining the physical, mental and social benefits of older adults getting together and jamming.
“In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of lifelong learning and social engagement for maintaining the health and well-being of older adults,” wrote Buckels in his white paper titled Municipal Music Programs for Seniors and Adults in Canada: Benefits and Best Practices. “Music participation, in particular, has emerged as a powerful tool for promoting these goals. Many Canadian municipalities are beginning to recognize this potential and are implementing programs that provide seniors and adults with opportunities to play music, sing, and connect with others in a supportive and accessible environment.”
Buckels outlined the benefits of older adults playing a musical instrument. They include improved cognitive functioning, enhanced motor skills, stress reduction, pain management, improved respiratory function, reduced depression and anxiety, creativity and self-expression, sense of purpose, increased social interaction, reduced social isolation, enhanced sense of community and an opportunity to make intergenerational connections.
Some municipalities that offer recreational music programs include the City of Winnipeg’s Senior Services, the City of Toronto, the City of Vancouver, the City of Edmonton and the Halifax Regional Municipality, Buckels wrote in the report.
“All council has to do is read the white papers I sent them,” he said. “I’ve stated the benefits of older adults playing music. They can put a policy in place and follow though with it.”
In another white paper titled The Community Benefits of Adult Garage Band Style Music Programs: Healthy Jamming for a Stronger Community, Buckels wrote about “healthy” recreational music programs, comparing them to music-making in “unhealthy” environments, which could involve exposure to alcohol and/or drug use.
“This [refusal] is not right. The RM has unused infrastructure. All council is doing is creating stress for seniors. We pay tax and council is not accommodating us the way they do other recreational activities,” said Buckels. “They think music is for a bunch of drunks. We want to play music outside environments where drugs and liquor is part and parcel of the scene.”
The Express reached out to the mayor, council and RM staff regarding the request for a venue in which older adults can play. It asked what the RMs position is on providing older adults with dedicated recreational space for music, whether part of the recreation centre can be used as a musical practice space, and if no, why not, what other municipal building could be used, and why the RM dismissed Sunset’s request.
“The RM Recreation has not previously been approached regarding this matter. Our programming team is dedicated to finding solutions and is always open to new initiatives. Initially, the RM was unaware of the request. Once informed, a team member reached out to the representative to offer suggestions and gather more information,” said interim assistant chief administrative officer Christine Payne on behalf of council. “We are committed to understanding their needs and working towards a solution. As always, a delegation at council provides an avenue for public input and discussion.”
