How ‘Community’ has Been the Backbone of Our Festival since Day One

Everything that the Odlum Brown Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival has to offer has been made possible by collaborating with our community.

Partnerships with various organizations, artist groups, local businesses, residents and sponsors have enabled us to present world class music and arts and culture activities to residents visitors from around the world. 

We think of the community as a valued stakeholder and consider our community and sustainability in every decision we make.

Community collaborations in 2023

An astounding number of local businesses and residents have stepped up to the plate over the years to make the Festival a celebration like no other.

We’re proud to highlight a few partnerships for this year’s festival:

Odlum Brown Limited, Title Sponsor of the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival

Odlum Brown Limited has been a sponsor of the Festival since 2019, starting with sponsorship of the blues show and moving into the title sponsor of the festival in 2020. They continued to support the festival during our transition to a live-streamed festival in 2020 and a hybrid festival in 2021.

Odlum Brown Limited is an investment firm that has helped generations of investors achieve their financial goals for the past 100 years. They have proudly invested in the communities where team members and clients live and work. They believe that community involvement is a foundation of community growth and is at the root of their corporate culture. After opening their Langley branch in 2018, Odlum Brown Limited has fully embraced the community and has been a part of the festival since 2019.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Brewing and Brewing Operations Diploma

Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s (KPU) will be returning as a festival sponsor for the third year in a row! New this year, their award-winning  Brewing and Brewery Operations Diploma has come on as the presenting sponsor for the licensed beer gardens at the Cool Blues Show and Community Hall Stage! 

KPU’s Brewing and Brewery Operations Diploma is the only program of its kind in BC and the only brewing program in Canada, recognized by the Master Brewers Association. KPU was named a top brewing school in North America and Brewery of the Year at the 2019 BC Beer Awards. Its students accomplished impressive bronze medals at the 2022 Canadian Brewing Awards and 2022 US Open Beer Championship and alumni can be found at many of the breweries throughout BC.

Guided by award-winning instructors with decades of brewing and beer industry experience, KPU Brewing and Brewery Operations and the Festival will be creating a beer especially for our beer gardens.

Langley Community Music School

This year marks the fifth anniversary of our Jazz Education Workshop - and the first year we have co-presented the workshop with the Langley Community Music School (LCMS).

LCMS is a nonprofit charitable organization that has been educating musicians for over 50 years and has earned national and international acclaim for its educational programming. 

The Jazz Education Workshop has continued to be a transformative experience for young and emerging jazz musicians, offering mentorship from some of Canada’s most in-demand jazz musicians and educators.

Musicians participating in the workshop are supported through improving their technique, collaborating with other musicians, gaining confidence, and deepening their understanding and appreciation for jazz music. This year, 50 young and emerging jazz musicians attended the full-day workshop that was led by JUNO award-winning pianist, trumpeter and composer, Brad Turner. 

Fort Langley Community Improvement Society

The Fort Langley Community Improvement Society has been a supporter of the Festival since our humble beginnings. 

The Fort Langley Community Hall - operated by the Fort Langley Community Improvement Society (FLCIS) - has hosted the outdoor stage in front of the historic and iconic community hall since our first festival in 2018.

This year, the FLCIS is sponsoring a $1000 scholarship in support of the Festival’s Rising Jazz Star Award! They’re also a sponsor of the upcoming Big Band Swing Dance & Silent Auction that will be held at the community hall on May 12.

The Big Band Swing Dance & Silent Auction is an amazing opportunity to step back into the big band era with free swing dance lessons and music performed by the Dal Richards Orchestra. Bid on some amazing items at the silent auction and grab a drink at the cash bar to help raise funds for the Festival!

iMADE Markets

We are delighted to partner with IMADE for the exhibitor and artisan markets at the Cool Blues Show and Indigenous Art & Cultural Exhibition. iMADE is a West Coast pop-up market whose events showcase Canadian local artists, artisans, small home based side hustles, emerging brands plus small local shops. 

Since we’re all about supporting our community, we will have a brand new exhibit area for local non-profit organizations at the Cool Blues Show at Fort Langley Park!

Contributing to livable and vibrant communities

The Festival is a significant contributor to the vibrancy of the community with our combination of great music, free entertainment, headliner acts, and community-engaging art and cultural activities (popular among all age groups).

Community members have an opportunity to experience world-class music, arts and culture close to home while helping the Village of Fort Langley gain province-wide recognition as the place to come enjoy music, arts, culture and heritage.

The festival attracts visitors from the Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver and throughout BC thus generating additional revenue for the local economies including hotels, restaurants, cafes and shops.

Encouraging intercultural interaction with Indigenous communities has always been a Festival staple. The Indigenous Art & Cultural Exhibition, Indigenous Jazz-Fusion recording and Community Art Mural Project are all examples of how we have worked to build cultural bridges and showcase Indigenous ways of being, seeing and knowing.

Finally, we couldn’t do it all without our volunteer board and the many community members who graciously donate their time and passion to the festival each year.

Learn more about the Odlum Brown Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival and grab your early bird passes for the Cool Blues Show by April 30!