ATHABASCA — The Athabasca Seniors Centre was the place to be for music lovers Oct. 29, when members of the Whispering Hills Country Music Association (WHCMA) and Athabasca residents gathered to enjoy an afternoon of local music in tribute to a late local musician.
Debbie Doole, organizer of the O’ Time Gospel Coming to Town session that saw more than 150 guests attend the seniors centre, said the show was a mutual goal she shared with her late husband and WHCMA member Wes Rusnak.
“It was both of our dreams,” said Doole. “When he passed, he asked me to continue with it … I went ahead and did it, and I think it was a success.”
The event saw a variety of performers take the mic; individuals, small and large groups got up to share their musical stylings, with many coming from outside of Athabasca — the communities of Perryvale, Barrhead, Lac La Biche, and more were represented at the show.
Guests were intrigued by one instrument in particular: a painted, stringed apparatus reminiscent of a small school desk. Known as a dulcimer, the unique sounds made by small curled ‘hammers’ striking the strings had audience members listening raptly to the tune played by Ron Kostyk.
The niche hammered dulcimer was also Rusnak’s instrument of choice; Doole said he learned to play at age 15, and later picked the hobby back up to play for WHCMA jam sessions in town. Rusnak passed away from cancer at the age of 67 in March 2023, and was the last dulcimer player part of the WHCMA.
Doole said the event was the result of months of planning and came together with the support of WHCMA members and other residents with a passion for Athabasca’s local musicians. “There was a lot of hard work, and I had to thank a lot of people,” said Doole. “I’d like to thank the Whispering Hills group for supporting me … and Brian LeMessurier and his group,” to name a few, she added.
Despite the amount of work, Doole said she does have loose aspirations to continue planning similar events. “There’s another girl in town … that wants some help,” said Doole. “So I’m thinking about it.”
