Welcome to our website and to the FIFTH year of the Algoma Traditional Music and Dance Family Camp (ALGOMATRAD)! We are a non-profit, weeklong, intergenerational, residential camp offering workshops in traditional instruments, dance and song. Workshops are for campers of all ages and all levels of proficiency. Highly qualified and experienced practitioners of the traditional arts lead the workshops. Concerts and dances are scheduled each evening. We have activity programs for young children and an arts and crafts program for a variety of age groups. The camp is aimed at individuals and families who would like to experience traditional music and dance in an inclusive, caring and family-friendly environment. Although AlgomaTrad is primarily a residential camp, there are some openings for day-campers; please inquire as to availability. This year, 2008, the camp runs from Sunday, August 17 to Sunday, August 24. If you are interested in our camp please read on!

Who We Are

The first Algoma Traditional Music and Dance Family Camp (ALGOMATRAD) was inaugurated in August 2004 for an inspiring and amazing week of music, dance, song, art, great food by Jane Wildman, and huge amounts of fun with 50 attendees of all ages and an instructing staff of ten including Rick Avery, Charlie Cares, Shane Cook, Dan Gorno, Judy Greenhill, Anny Hubbard, Brian Pickell and James Stephens. Julie Schryer and Pat O'Gorman, founders, administrators and artistic directors of AlgomaTrad, had an incredible amount of help from a great board of directors, a wonderful group of local community volunteers and a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. (Thank you OTF!)

Due to requests from the board and from our 2004 attendees we decided to bring the same staff back for 2005 plus Kathy Reid Naiman, another children's workshop leader. We had, as well, 8 volunteer staff members who brought their families to the camp and gave a few workshops as well. Big thanks go to Ben Grossman, Linette Segal, Jonathan Avery, Katie Avery, Martin Gould, Bill Henry, Maureen Keating, Steve Schneider and Marsha Edgar for adding their talents and time to the success of AlgomaTrad. In 2005, we were bursting at the seams and the camp was full to capacity. Everyone had a great time, ate more amazing food and learned a whole bunch of great tunes, songs and dances. Check out our photo gallery to see some moments. Bill Henry not only led a couple of workshops but he took over 400 amazing photographs, only a fraction of which you will find here.

In 2006, staff members included Mark Sullivan, Anne Lederman, Ian Bell, Kathy Reid Naiman, John Mayberry, Laurie Cumming, Bill Russell, Barry Prophet, John Skelton and Mary Colmer as well as Julie Schryer and Pat O’Gorman. Because of class sizes (we maxed out attendance at 95 this year) we were lucky to have the wonderful fiddle and piano playing brothers, Kyle and Jake Charron, to step aboard as staff at the last minute. As usual, several volunteer staff members gave (and to this we offer our sincere gratitude) of their time and talents. These included Martin Gould, Christine Williams, Dan Gorno, Sean Brady, Steve Schneider and Diane Meyer. Another great week with great food provided by chefs Ashley and Matthew Knight. Once again the board and a large group of volunteers were indispensable in mailing it all happen.
We would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Ontario Arts Council and The East Algoma Futures Development Corporation for their aid in helping to create a wonderful learning experience and another joyful community of campers.

In 2007, We were able to once again have a marvellous staff including Anne Lederman, Bill Russell, Barry Prophet, John Skelton, Kyle Charron and Mary Colmer returning from 2006, with the addition of African drummer, Mbira player, and African Village Festival leader Njacko Backo; Canadian Old-time music practitioners Paul (fiddle and stepdance) and Melika Lemelin (piano), Cape Breton Fiddler Dan MacDonald; Rick Avery, who once again helped us stay organized and led some singing as well; Judy Greenhill, leading singers, the Gathering and the Mummer play; Jonathan Avery who helped teach fiddle, play for dancers and aid with the Mummer Play; Dan Gorno returned not only to dance but to lead Pottery workshops; Jesse and Justine Naiman worked with our teen campers as well as singing and belly-dancing!; and we were lucky once again to rely on the volunteer musical services of Martin Gould, guitar, Steve Schneider, cello and accordion, and Christine Williams, fiddle. For the second year in a row amazing food was provided by Ashley and Matthew Knight. Once again the camp was aided by an Arts Education Grant from the Ontario Arts Council and we know that all campers are thankful for the help the OAC gives to organizations like ours which try to keep our fees affordable to families.

This year, 2008, we are pleased to have several staff members returning to the camp, either for their second year or to fill different roles than in previous years. Dan MacDonald on fiddle, Rick Avery, singing and Camp coordinator, Judy Greenhill, singing and caller (her first year as the head dance caller and teacher at AlgomaTrad), Dan Gorno, stepdance and pottery, Paul Lemelin (fiddle, stepdance, guitar, etc.) and Melika Lemelin (piano), and Kyle Charron (playing for dance workshops) will be returning from 2007. So, that brings us to the new staff for 2008:

Pierre Schryer: well, if you don’t know Pierre, you’ve been under a bushel basket for the last 15 years. One of Canada’s greatest fiddlers of all time and a fine teacher;
Ian Bell: A great Canadian folk musician, Ian’s singing workshops were a highlight last time he was at AlgomaTrad, and his guitar and harmonica workshops were popular as well.
Duncan Gillis: was raised a Highland piper but has broadened his horizons over the years to tin whistle, Irish flute and Highland Hornpipe (an instrument of his own invention and make). Currently, he builds instruments and plays with Écosse, a band which includes Bobby Watt and James Stephens.
David Rankine: An internationally recognized artist of Celtic design who has taught at the Goderich Celtic College, York University, Haliburton School of Art, and Mohawk College.
Ananda Kelly: Duncan’s better half and a transplanted Cape Bretoner who stepdances and calls Cape Breton ceilidh dances. Ananda has worked extensively with children, getting them started down the ol’ road to some mighty dancing;
Jake Charron: Since Jake was last at the camp 2 years ago, he’s been very much in demand on the Ontario old-time fiddle circuit, backing up the best Canadian fiddlers on piano and guitar and acting as house accompanist at the Canadian Old-Time Fiddle Championship in Shelburne.