OTTAWA, ONTARIO – Alberta’s Terry Wickham is the recipient of the Slaight Music Unsung Hero Award for the 2018 Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMAs). The award was presented Friday November 30, during the CFMA Gala weekend, Nov 30 – Dec 1 at The Gateway in Calgary, Alberta.
In his 28th year as Artistic Director of the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Terry Wickham is as recognizable a symbol of the festival as its grassy-sloped ski park, named for former city’s mayor, Cornelius Gallagher. As Terry says “… a lifetime is spent at the folk festival every day…”
Terry also hosts the ‘Live at Winspear’ concert series and was Producer of the Calgary Folk Festival from 1996 to 2005.
As a result of Terry’s behind-the-scenes involvement, Canadian folk music artists have gained national and International recognition while countless thousands of people have been exposed to the best in Canadian music.
“Under Terry’s direction the Edmonton Folk Festival has been quietly using it’s financial resources to support numerous Canadian Folk organizations and even individual artists. This is not something they advertise, being more comfortable working in the background and not tooting their own horn, but the CFMAs have been aware of their activities for some years and are delighted that Terry was selected for recognition as a truly Unsung Hero.” Grit Laskin, President, CFMAs.
Born in Ireland in 1955 Terry came to Canada on a student visa. Once he decided to stay, he took on assorted gigs including banking, booking, piano mover, and even driving a Yellow Cab in Calgary.
Wickham is married to writer Lorie Miseck. They have two daughters, Maeve and Emily.
“In every sector of our society and community—and in the music sector especially—there are countless volunteers that enable all of the infrastructure. Without them, much of the music scene as we know it wouldn’t exist. The Canadian Folk Music Awards long ago recognized this and created the Unsung Hero Award. Its goal is to bring at least some of these true ‘heroes’ into the spotlight. Slaight Music is delighted to support this initiative and looks forward to our long-term association with the CFMAs.” Derrick Ross, President of Slaight Music.