Welcome to our 2010 website and to the SEVENTH 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, song and art. 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, 2010, the camp runs from Saturday, August 14 to Sunday, August 21. If you are interested in our camp please read on!

AlgomaTrad 2004 to 2009

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.

In 2008, AlgomaTrad was full to the brim once again and a wonderful year it was! We had a number of new staff members who were amazing additions to the camp including Pierre Schryer, fiddle, Ian Bell, songs, guitar and harmonica, Duncan Gillis, pipes, whistles and Irish flute, Ananda Kelly, Cape Breton dancing and kids program, David Rankine, Celtic design artist extraordinaire, Jake Charron, piano and guitar, Emilyn Stam, piano, and Judy Moore, children’s programs. Returning to the camp, either for their second year or to fill different roles than in previous years were 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) and Melika Lemelin (piano), and Kyle Charron (playing for dance workshops). Of course, our heartfelt thanks to Martin Gould, Merrie Klazek, Raymond Schryer, Rebecca Ardley and Claryssa Webb who offered their time and talents as volunteer instructors to make the week that little bit more special. We were not successful in our grant applications this year but we are pleased to let you know that we were able to just make ends meet thanks to all our wonderful camper/registrants! Our Bursary Fund auction was also a grand success and we thank all of you for providing auction items and services and for generously supporting the auction with funds.

In 2009, staff members returning to AlgomaTrad were Pierre Schryer, Ian Bell, Duncan Gillis, Jake Charron, David Rankine, Ananda Kelly, Judy Moore, Dan Gorno, and Emilyn Stam. James Stephens, who was a staff member in 04 and 05 returned to teach fiddle, as did Anne Lederman. New to the camp were Mark Roberts and Andrea Cooper (and their wonderful 3-year old Fenton) covering whistle, flute and banjo teaching duties; Ottawa Valley Fiddler and stepdancer Terri-Lynn Mahusky; and Chelsea Sleep, a Smithers, BC alumni and Oliver Schroer student who helped Emily with the Amazing AlgomaTrad Orchestra and teaching beginners of all ages. BIG thanks go to Merrie Klazek, Martin Van De Ven, Anne MacLeod, and Dianne Meyer for offering their huge talents to us as volunteer staff members. Another wonderful camp, great food from the kitchen (thanks Nelda). Pat and Julie cut back on their teaching duties to take over administering the daily operation of the camp which couldn’t have happened without all our incredibly hard working volunteers…all of whom go the extra mile to make it all happen. A big thanks to all of you who attended, you are the camp family that brings your enthusiasm, your hearts and souls, your humour, and your readiness to learn, and truly make the make AlgomaTrad the special experience that it is…and your generosity has made the Bursary Fund grow once again.

AlgomaTrad 2010

THAT BRINGS US TO THIS YEAR, 2010. Again, we have to say “so long for now” to those incredible staff members of 2008 and 2009 who put so much into the camp…we think the Campers would agree that our staff is all that they would wish for and then some. So Thank You a million times over to Pierre, Ian, Duncan, Ananda, David, Judy and Emilyn, you made your mark here and we are forever indebted to you for that…I’m sure we will see you all again.  Returning this year are James Stephens, Mark Roberts, Andrea Cooper, and Terri-Lynn Mahusky (as well as chef, Nelda Kent).

New to the camp is the totally inspiring traditional Québecois group “Dentdelion”.  Led by a long-time leader of the Quebec trad scene, fiddler, singer, and tune composer Claude Méthé, and his wife Dana Whittle (guitarist, singer, accordionist, foot-rhythmer), “Dentdelion” includes their 14 year old daughter, Beatrix Méthé, also a mighty fiddle player and singer, their friend Denise Levac, on flute and voice, and her son, Colin Savoie-Levac (and this guy is unbelievably good for his age, I think he’s 17, well, really he’s good for any age!) on banjo, guitar, mandolin, vocals, and percussion. Last summer, they put on a wonderful acoustic concert at the hall around the corner, and then our boys Zach and Benoit had a fun music session into the wee hours with Colin and Beatrix. Not only great music, great tunes, and great arrangements, but great folks as well!

(dentdelion.net,

Also, new to the camp is Kate Murphy, long-time member of the Ontario traditional music scene, who will be teaching piano, stepdancing and joining in on all the clawhammer banjo action as well. Kate got involved as a piano accompanist in the Old-time Ontario square dance scene in the early 70’s, accompanying fiddler Tommy McQuestin at dances. She learned stepdancing from Alex Mulligan of Bobcaygeon and performed at festivals in Canada and the USA with the Mulligan Dancers. She has also played in Muddy York (with Anne Lederman and Ian Bell) and sang in The Dawnbreakers, a group which included at one time, David Traverse-Smith and Oliver Schroer, a dear friend of Kate’s.

We are still in the process of contacting and confirming other staff members, so check back again for updates. Also, please check out Artist Bios for more information about our 2010 staff and feel free to contact us with any questions or for more information about AlgomaTrad.