CENTRE WELLINGTON – The Fergus Brass Band joined the Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora for several Canada Day celebrations at long-term care homes across Centre Wellington on July 1.
The Rotary Club visited residents and staff at Highland Manor, Wellington Terrace, and Caressant Care in Fergus, as well as Heritage River Retirement Residence in Elora.
“All four residences were terrific,” said club president Rob Galloway.
“We offered a Canada Day cake at all four residences. Everybody got some; residents and staff.”
The club also recognized residents and staff for working hard to battle COVID-19 over the past year.
“We just want to be a good community partner and recognize the efforts that residents and staff have made to battle COVID over the last year,” Galloway said.
Accompanying the club was the Fergus Brass Band, performing multiple songs at each stop.
“The brass band was terrific. They travelled in their little carriage, and they were wonderful. They played a few songs at each location,” Galloway added.
“We thought Canada Day was the perfect time to recognize these places for this. They work so hard, and everyone loves music.”
Uwe Claussen, a member of the Fergus Brass Band, said the band did not have any performances planned until the Rotary Club asked them to join them on Canada Day.
“With the performances being outdoors and with us being in a better position with COVID than we had been, it seemed like a great opportunity to get out there and play,” Claussen said.
“Instead of doing our regular Tuesday night indoor practices, in the summer months we like to get out there and play. We often do wagon tours like this during the summer months to long-term care homes and parking lots.”
The band was transported to each location on a wagon attached to the back of Claussen’s pickup truck. Claussen said it felt good for the band to perform again, even though only 11 out of 24 band members were present.
“Some players were apprehensive, having not played for almost a year,” he said.
Claussen said the band only had one practice prior to the Canada Day performances.
“We really haven’t spent any time playing or practicing for close to a year,” Claussen said.
“We did one drive-through Christmas performance last November with just five or six players, but other than that, these were our first performances.”
