Memories & Musings
March, 2022

The Wallaces

By Leona Keraiff

I invited the Wallace family to share their memories simply by writing to Janet. They generously shared the following:

From Janet:
The Wallace family came to spend a lot of time in the Crawford Bay Hall since moving here in 1981. Our family has been attending 4 decades of theatre performances, dances, classes, community pot-lucks, Fall Fairs, silent auctions and Craft Fairs, weddings, funerals and lively community meetings. Many fond memories.

From Johanna:
I really have so many memories in that building. Everything from twirling over the warm air vent and letting it puff my skirt out, to band practice in there, blaring my trumpet. I remember eating the amazing hot lunch started by Terry Fiddick. I remember all of our many theatre productions and classes starting when I was the snake coming out of a basket in Shahrazad and then the many productions I both participated in and watched. I still have dreams about being backstage there. So many Christmas potlucks with my kids. I even have memories of flipping around the metal railing with my friends while the adults celebrated inside. I remember falling asleep in the pile of coats in the boot room by the door. I also remember doing swing dance lessons there and having a blast!

From Nissa:
Ballet class with Jocelyn Donald. I was SO excited about the dance we did to Loveshack.. Ringing in Y2K. I was 9. I think a swing band performed and I remember swing dancing with Dad and having a blast. I was very chuffed that I got to stay up until midnight. Drama class in the hall, which solidified feeling like a real teenager because I had watched all my older siblings in plays as a kid. Being terrified of backstage and the tiny hallway behind the stage. I was convinced it was haunted and would do my best to not be back there alone. I would run as fast as I could through the little hall. Organizing and running various concession stands/bake sales. It was almost always with Stephanie Draper and I loved connecting with the community that way. Violin recital while taking Suzuki lessons with Ed Fuzzen.

From Caillie:
Taking dance classes with Evie Claire, Jocelyn Donald, teaching dance classes and lots and lots of drama!

From Cameron:
Moliere Plays Paris, Donnie Clark and the big band, Christmas potlucks. Grad breakfast! I really enjoyed acting classes with Doreen Zaiss in the hall.

From Ted:
So many life passages: weddings, funerals and other community celebrations. The funeral of Alvin Dunic comes to mind with the place overflowing, a centre and gathering place for love and care in the community. I remember playing in the hall with the Band the New Years Eve night of Y2K, a great celebration, especially when the world did not fall apart at midnight. I also took part in a number of art events including the Paintathon and a few art shows. Soon as we had enough lights to show the art, then the breaker would blow. It was always a juggling act with the electric circuits.
I did the occasional volunteer work on the building but what I remember the most was checking out the attic space over the stage. It was the middle of winter. When I finally got through the attic hatch, I shone my light around to see the state of construction. My light came across the biggest ball of bats hanging from the rafters in the middle of the attic. They were slowly circulating in the cold, each taking turns in the warm middle of the ball. We decided all work up there could wait until summer when the bats were gone.
And of course there were the many years of Grad breakfasts where all the teachers and staff would show up at the hall at 5 am on the morning after grad to cook breakfast for the Grads. They would stumble in at 6 for the joyous chaos and then say their fond farewells and thanks as they stumbled bleary eyed into the world.