Charlie Sage Memorial Contest discontinued

Details

Published on Thursday, May 14, 2015

Submitted

The Neepawa Banner

After 36 years, the Charlie Sage Memorial Old Time Fiddlers Contest has come to an end. At a recent meeting of the organizing committee, a decision was reached to retire the competition. Two main factors were considered for the basis of this decision; firstly, the demise of the Neepawa and Area Lily Festival and secondly, the lack of volunteers to continue the work of the organizing committee.

Without the extensive advertising and promotion of the entertainment and individual events by the Lily Festival, it was felt it would be much more difficult to attract the number of participants, and of course the large number of out of town guests, that come to enjoy the festival, the old time dance and the Fiddlers contest. As for volunteers for the organizing committee, it appears that the volunteer base of our community is stretched to the limit.

Charlie Sage was an ardent fiddle player in Neepawa and area. As a member of the International Order of Odd Fellows lodge, he proposed his idea of an old time fiddlers contest for a local fundraiser. The first contest was held in March, 1978, but sadly, Charlie never enjoyed the success of the first contest as he passed away suddenly in February, 1978 at the age of 75. The IOOF continued on with the contest and it became known as the Charlie Sage Memorial Old Time Fiddlers Contest.

The I.O.O.F. lodge members and their families continued to support and sponsor the contest until the lodge closed. Some members continued to support the contest both as volunteers and sponsors right up to the last contest in July of 2014.

The Charlie Sage Memorial will continue as a senior’s class at the Manitoba Fiddlers Association annual championship. The class will continue to be sponsored by the local committee and the Sage and McGillivray families in memory of Charlie.

Correction May 15: Corrected age and continued support.