The Waynefest Story

Sometime in 2001, someone at a table of four winers-and-diners threw out the naïve challenge, “hey, how hard can it be?”… after barely six weeks of labour, WayneFest was born!

The hurdles were as high as the Dinosaur Valley is deep – but the people of Wayne said “we’re in, let’s go” … the sponsors took a chance… and from the main stage, Corb Lund proclaimed and predicted, “One day tonight’ll be legendary”.

The madness carried on through changes in board members, birthings of babies, meteorological disasters and five glorious years.

Sometime in late 2006, someone at a table of seven winers-and-diners threw out the outlandish notion that we "call it quits"... well, that can never happen! You know how the saying goes - a change is as good as a rest is as good as a holiday?

Board members:

Don Myhre, President of the Board

One of the Original Four, Don is the Creative Director at the award winning agency P40 Communications. P40 has extensive experience with marketing for the arts in Edmonton - Edmonton International Street Performers Festival, the Edmonton Opera, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Winspear Centre and others.

Brock Skywalker, Vice-President & Artistic Director

Brock is the master of ELEVEN instruments and former founding member of Captain Tractor currently handling vocals and guitar in his band Brock Skywalker & His Irregular Heartbeats. Brock also has a multi-media company called Frozen Puck.

Dale Roth, Site Director

Is 25% of the original brains that thought-up WayneFest in the beginning. Dale is co-founder of the Edmonton and Calgary based Roth & Ramberg Photography Inc. working across the province, the country and the North American continent.

Donna Jurgens, Treasurer

Donna has been a Waynefest Board member since year two and a volunteer from the beginning. By day, Donna is an advertising exec for a worldwide multi media company.

David Banks, Technical Director

Dave does sound and lights for WayneFest. I said DAVE DOES SOUND AND LIGHTS. Is this thing even ON? Dave provides production and sound services for the likes of Rita MacNeil, Stompin' Tom Connors, Charlie Pride, Painting Daisies, Captain tractor, and venues and festivals across the country.

Eleanor Cohen, Volunteer Coordinator

Having shown absolutely no fear of getting her hands dirty in the Waynefest mud (physically and metaphorically), she leads our volunteers into battle. She cafes by day and students by night (or is it the other way around?), perfect for keeping the food and drink flowing and getting good people to do it.

Past members:

Brad Stromberg, PR Coordinator

A Waynefest original. He spoke for WayneFest to the media. He travelled bar to pub in search of Wayne-worthy talent. And he was also the fingers behind all the writing that has shown up on WayneFest letterhead. Brad is the communications and policy guy for the Mayor of a certain prairie province’s Capital City.

Jackie Brock, President & Artistic Director

One of the 4 originals behind WayneFest, Jackie’s taking a Wayne-or-two off to be the best full-time Mom to Scarlet and Elijah (both younger than WayneFest itself!). We miss you Jackie! It takes five of us to wear the hat that you did.

Dustin Delfs, Volunteer Coordinator

Dustin organized our world-class volunteer troupe from year one, when we didn’t even know we needed volunteers! His award-winning photography business is called Laughing Dog.