Doug Fleming: A Tribute - theHumm June 2019

By — Jim Mountain, on behalf of the Festival of Small Halls Board, staff and volunteers

When devoting time for anything to do with communities, one appreciates the work and dedication of amazing volunteers. The true rewards too, are those lasting relationships we forge when working together. Those involved in the music sector share the common bond of the love of live music, and the continued goal of presenting music and performance experiences to appreciative audiences. Then too, there are the special ones — those who make the extra contributions that make a difference. And yes, as lifetimes go, we lose good people.

Doug Fleming was one of these. The Ontario Festival of Small Halls, held in some forty communities across Eastern Ontario, will greatly miss him in 2019. We learned he passed away earlier this month, at age 87. His funeral was held in one of the Small Halls festival’s most beautiful venues — St. Andrew’s United Church in Pakenham.

I met Doug through staging concerts in the acoustically wonderful Almonte Old Town Hall for events such as Almonte Celtfest and other community fundraisers. Doug took me to task one night for a band he deemed too loud for the space, and wrote a scathing review in the local papers — and we became friends thereafter. He was right!

Doug was a regular patron of Small Halls from the festival’s inception. He went beyond though, by organizing a host committee for the Tatlock Hall — a former Presbyterian/United Church moved from Hopetown in 1939, that has been lovingly restored. He applied to host a FOSH concert in 2017 (Old Man Luedecke) and again in 2018 (James Keelaghan) and for these successful concerts Doug was at the door as greeter and seller of tickets for an amazing gift basket of local artisan foods. He was really proud of these shows, and their association with the broader Small Halls festival.

But he went beyond just hosting. Doug has also been a huge fan, and probably attended at least a quarter of the 100+ FOSH concerts over the past five years. In his late 80s, he would show up by himself and take a preferred seat in the front row. You could see that his enjoyment level was absolutely high with every act that hit each stage. Kelly Symes (Festival of Small Halls General Manager), other crew members and I would keep an eye out for him and make a point of making him feel a part of that night’s offering. He always gave a verbal review at the end of the night — and we listened!

Doug was also a faithful attendee and supporter of the excellent Folkus Concert Series, held in Almonte’s Old Town from January onward each year. Sandy Irvin posted this tribute on Facebook when news of Doug’s passing became known: “Doug was the only person I’ve held a seat for at Folkus Concert Series. He called me and said he’d be late because he had a gig. He showed up in a medieval monk’s robes, blessed the crowd, and settled into his usual spot to the left of centre stage. He was a charming man, full of interest in everything and everyone. He never stopped being curious and he loved live music passionately”

The last time I saw him was at our Christmas concerts. A cold, snowy, dark night and a sold-out show in Lombardy along the Rideau — Doug was there early and one of the last to go. He definitely felt part of our broader musical family.

Yep. 2019 Festival of Small Halls will definitely miss his presence and energy. We’ll keep a chair for him.

Our thoughts go to Doug’s family and those close to him.

No More FOMO! - theHumm June 2019

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You would think that the editor of this area’s Arts & Entertainment paper would have a pretty good handle on the quality of talent out here in the Ottawa Valley. I thought so too, but apparentl......

Doug Fleming: A Tribute - theHumm June 2019