It's been a wild ride for the Merritt Walk of Stars since our last newsletter.  As you know, Active Mountain Entertainment announced the end of Musicfest as we've known it.  But there is an active group of Merritt citizens who are working hard to make sure we continue to have a Music Festival here - we believe that it's really important to have a festival in 2010.  If you're willing to get involved, give me a call.

During Musicfest, The Walk of Stars had big names like Johnny Reid, Crystal Shawanda and the Higgins donate their time to come downtown to perform and do their handprints.  It's important to realize that no other place in Canada gets that kind of support from the artists - we should be very proud. And of course, both Johnny and Crystal won major awards at the CCMA Award show.

An impressive group of Merritt people attended the Canadian Country Music Awards in Vancouver in September and the BC Country Music Awards in October.  We made a big impression and everyone that attended worked hard to spread the word that Merritt isn't going away from the Country Music scene.

I want to give a big thank you to Chris Langhaug who has spent countless hours negotiating with the CCMA Executive to make sure we have full rights to the Canadian Country Music Hall of Honour.  We hope to have the building opened here in Merritt by the Spring.  It was pretty cool have the Hall of Honour recognized at the nationally televised Award Show when Buffy St. Marie was inducted.

The Spirit Square in downtown Merritt is nearly completed and we plan on having a Grand Opening during Merritt Country Christmas on November 28, 2009.  Please join us at 1:00pm to open this impressive square. 

 

 

Chris Langhaug, Merritt Walk of Stars Director

 

Hall of Honour/Fame

Negotiations are still continuing with Walk of Stars, CCMA and the National Music Centre (formerly Cantos Foundation) with regard to the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.  The Merritt Walk of Stars Capital Development Committee, which includes Ron Sanders, Peter Moyes and I, attended a meeting with the Executive of the CCMA Board on Saturday, September 12th at the Hyatt Hotel in Vancouver.

The intent of the meeting was to work on some of the key issues surrounding the Hall of Honour/Fame in an effort to bring the lengthy negotiations to a close.  I can say that the meeting was quite useful in that several contentious issues were discussed and, even though no final resolve was quite reached, we all left the meeting knowing that we were are definitely closer to a resolve than ever before.

CCMA President Jackie-Rae Greening and I met again on Sunday, September 13th and we have agreed that Jackie-Rae and I will meet face to face with Andrew Moskar, Executive Director of the National Music Centrein Calgary.  We will work on settling the remaining issues at that time, so that we can all move forward with our respective roles.

We have recently signed an Intent to Lease the former Urban Cabin building on Quilchena Avenue in Merritt, as the home of the new Canadian Country Music Hall of Honour/Fame.

We hope to have more exciting news in this regard for our next newsletter.

Chris Langhaug, Chair
Capital Development Committee

 November 2009

 

 

 Merritt Walk of Stars promoting Western Heritage Culture and Music in Merritt, BC - the Country Music Capital of Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

The City of Merritt and Merritt Walk of Stars invites you to the grand opening of the Spirit Square in downtown Merritt.

Spirit Square Grand Opening

Saturday, November 28, 2009

1:00pm

Merritt, BC

 

rsvp to rbrandpr@telus.net

 

 

 

Plan to stay the weekend in Merritt to enjoy

Merritt Country Christmas

Thursday, November 26th Community Concert

Friday, November 27th BC's Best Santa Light Up Parade

Saturday, November 28th Spirit Square Grand Opening

Friday and Saturday:  Santa, country craft sale, wreath auction, live entertainment - a traditional Christmas weekend of endless country activities.

 

 

 

 

 

Merritt Entertainment Park Society (MEPS)

MEPS new Board of Directors have held several meetings to discuss proposed strategies on how to not only insure that there will be a 2010 Music Festival in Merritt but to review any possible ways and means to secure the former MountainFest site as a future entertainment/event venue for many years to come.

A number of creative ideas have been proposed that include:


The MEPS Board has also met with representatives from two potential event operators, that have expressed interest in operating future festivals and events on the former MountainFest site.

We welcome Community thoughts and ideas on ways and means to achieve our goals.

Chris Langhaug, Vice-Chair
Merritt Entertainment Park Society

Purchase or renew your membership with Merritt Walk of Stars for only $10.00 per year.  Check it out at www.merrittwalkofstars.com or contact Gail Neidig, MWOS Director, at gailneidig@hughes.net   No membership has ever offered so much fun.

 

Proud Supporter of Merritt Walk of Stars 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merritt Youth Mural Project has been busy painting murals of international artists to go in the International Alleyway.   The crew has been working with Master Muralist Michelle Loughery to learn life skills.