Six church and religious organizations in and around Regent Park have banded together to promote and sponsor a four-day, multicultural, “Festival of Praise” to combat the racial unrest in that area.

The four-day festival runs from October 28 to 31 [1976] with all events being held in Saints Cyril and Methody Hall at Sackville and Dundas.

The Festival kicks off on Thursday, Oct. 28 with music, puppetry and games for kids from 3:30 to 5 p.m. The evening meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. with music from a steel band, guitar selections and a guest speaker.

Friday night the program is geared for youth and starts off at 7:30 with a Christian rock band followed by guitarists, a guest speaker, and a rap session. The guest speaker on both nights will be Major Bill Ratcliffe, a Salvation Army youth worker noted for his efforts both across Canada and in India.

The Saturday night program, starting at 7:30 p.m. is designed for the whole family and features the Newlife singers, a flute soloist, a guest speaker and guitarists.

The climax celebration on Sunday night has gospel singers, guitarists, solo singers and a guest speaker. On each evening there will be a half-hour of pre-rally warm-up music and wandering minstrels.

The guest speaker for Saturday and Sunday nights will be Rev. Gordon Turner from Harmony United Church of Oshawa. Rev. Turner, a former jazz musician, was once a student minister at Regent United Church and has done considerable evangelical work.

A choral group, made up of Regent Park teens and young adults will provide background accompaniment for the various soloists on each evening’s program.

The four day event is being coordinated by Rev. Art Dayfoot (Regent Park United Church), Capt. Len Goddard (Salvation Army), Rev. Harold Jackman (Regent Park Community Improvement Association), George Budd (Christian Youth Centre), Marion Thomson, Margaret Mays and Marilyn McCaul.

Published in Seven News – Volume 7, Number 9 – October 23, 1976

Related Topics:
Anti-Racism
Festivals
Racism
Regent Park