Each year, the Thunder Bay Community Foundation (TBCF) provides funding to deserving organizations in the Thunder Bay and District areas. Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra (TBSO) received a grant from the Community Fund at the Thunder Bay Community Foundation for $8,000.00. This grant is being used to create a new musical theatre work and a free public concert, Noondaagotoon, showcasing the talent and storytelling of six local Indigenous artists on March 22 at Magnus Theatre. Noondaagotoon, Ojibwe for “play it,” is a collaboration conceived in the spirit of cultural exchange and reconciliation, features underrepresented and diverse artists, deepens the orchestra's creative partnership with Fort William First Nation, and breaks down barriers in our community.
One of the highlights of the concert will be the premiere of a new musical theatre production, Trading Places, written and performed by local Indigenous singer/songwriter/actor Sara Kae and Thunder Bay artist Fae Alexander, with original folk music arranged for TBSO by Justin Stillman. Trading Places is the story of two women living in fur trade era Fort William and uses family stories and oral histories to look at our relationship to place, gender roles, and male and white privilege with humour and honesty, tying 19th century and 21st century together.
"The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra is deeply grateful to the Thunder Bay Community Foundation for their support in bringing Noondaagotoon to life. This project is more than a concert—it is an opportunity to honour Indigenous storytelling, amplify underrepresented voices, and build meaningful relationships through music. With the generous support of TBCF, we are able to create space for powerful artistic expression, cultural exchange, and reconciliation. Noondaagotoon embodies the spirit of collaboration, and we are proud to work alongside incredible artists this year to share a story that resonates across generations and perspectives," says Ryleigh Dupuis, Executive Director & General Manager at the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra.
Without the support of their generous donors, the Thunder Bay Community Foundation could not do what it does. The Thunder Bay Community Foundation is passionate about our community, and that's why for over 50 years, they have created a variety of flexible ways to give. They make it easy to realize your philanthropic ambitions and support our community’s well-being, now and for the future. The purpose of the Thunder Bay Community Foundation is to inspire, promote and facilitate philanthropy to support the ever-changing needs of the District of Thunder Bay.
Athena Kreiner, CEO of the Thunder Bay Community Foundation explains, “We are proud to support the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra in bringing the powerful voices of Indigenous artists to the stage through the ‘Noondaagotoon’ project. By investing in local talent, we are not only enriching our community’s cultural landscape but also ensuring these important voices are heard and celebrated for generations to come.”
Tickets for Noondaagotoon are free and are available at www.tbso.ca.
