Manitoba Chamber of Commerce
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/70344
MB BIZ HONKY TONK HEROES DAUPHIN'S COUNTRYFEST GIVES ITS HOME TOWN A BIG HAND by David Schmeichel t's the longest-running country music festival in Canada — a beloved favourite of performers and audiences alike. And while it remains deeply committed to entertaining country fans of all stripes — having played host to the likes of Waylon Jennings, Alan Jackson, and Faith Hill over the years — it's even more committed to giving back to the community it calls home. Welcome to Dauphin's Countryfest, the summertime staple that for 23 years has been providing fans with access to some truly all-star lineups, drawing such heavyweights as Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley and LeAnn Rimes to the Selo Ukraina site just south of Dauphin. Since its launch in 1990, Countryfest has grown to at least 10 times its original size. It now boasts an annual programming budget of $1.5 million — the 12 MBiz June 2012 largest of any music festival in Manitoba. But even more impressive is the festival's track record in the community: Since its early days, Countryfest has supported a range of civic initiatives and organizations — a commitment that only grows stronger as attendance continues to rise. "Over the years, we've donated to a new pool, a new arena, to the Grandview Hall, to walking trails and to the Dauphin and District Community Foundation for music education," says Eric Irwin, who's both mayor of Dauphin and president of the non-profit festival. "The biggest yet was $400,000 to start up the Countryfest Community Cinema — a four-screen multiplex, stadium seating, state-of-the-art theatre. They've been open for just over a year, but they've put 72,000 people through there already." PARKLAND