How the Festival Came to Be: The Right Place. The Right Time. The Right People For The Job

The idea for the Odlum Brown Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival manifested between four Fort Langley friends during Christmas of 2017. Karen Zukas, Dave Quinn and Andy Schildhorn and Nina Gatchalian were enjoying each other's company over a glass of wine when Dave planted a seed: "It would be awesome if Fort Langley had a music festival; it's the perfect place for it."

Andy, a long-time resident and community leader in Fort Langley (who would go on to become the Festival’s board chair) told Karen and Dave that as a matter of fact, the Fort Langley Community Association had just finished a survey in the community. One of the survey findings was that residents and businesses wanted to see more music events in the Village.

Knowing that the community had an appetite for music affirmed their idea and became the focus for bringing forward the first Festival together.

Around the same time, Karen and Dave got together with their friend and neighbour Elaine Brewer-White, an accomplished and well-known ceramic artist based out of Fort Langley. While talking about their ideas for the festival, Elaine suggested that they include a visual art component as part of the festival - hence the festival being called the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival.

Andy Schildhorn: The co-founder and board chairman who opened doors

The first hurdle to getting the Festival underway was finding financial support. The Festival didn't qualify for nonprofit grant funding as it was less than a year old, and there wasn't a previous festival to demonstrate success.

Andy's involvement in the community and his network opened doors and made it possible for Dave and Karen to present the idea of the Festival to various community organizations for funding. Some of these organizations included the Fort Langley Business Improvement Association, the Fort Langley Community Hall and the Fort Langley Legacy Society.

Support also came from the Township of Langley, Tourism Langley and local businesses that donated their services like website developer, Jelly Digital Marketing, social media consultant, Jeanette Martin, graphic designer, Paul Wood and Ultra Digital Printing.

"Every time we went to a community group or local business and presented the idea of the Festival, it was so well received," says Karen. "The Festival would not be here today without the opportunities that Andy and these community groups and businesses provided."

Dave Quinn: The Festival's Artistic Director and musician on a mission

The desire to host a music festival was a familiar one for Dave; it was a bucket list dream of his for over three decades!

While holding a few house gigs as a jazz musician and working at a music store in Vancouver in 1982, Dave made his first attempt at bringing this dream to life. He partnered with a local radio host, contacted his connections at nearby clubs, and created a typewritten newsletter that accumulated thousands of names of would-be festival supporters.

Then an announcement surfaced for another jazz festival in Vancouver - one that had considerably more financial support. This other festival would plow on while Dave's dream took a back seat. "It was a tough pill to swallow," says Dave, "but I thought to myself - one day I'm going to do it."

Dave is now the Odlum Brown Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival’s Artistic Director and handles the Festival's music programming. Since the beginning, Dave has endeavored and succeeded in creating a program that’s both diverse and innovative. In 2018, he reached out to his local contacts and local musicians who aligned with the Festival's vibe. A whopping 10 bands and 150 musicians were able to perform in the very first Festival that year.

Dave is thrilled to participate in building a legacy where people can come together and enjoy local, regional, national and international acts. "Being able to see 300 musicians employed over a weekend gives me so much satisfaction," says Dave. "Seeing emerging artists appear and having the opportunity to see them grow over the years is also something really special."

Karen Zukas: Connecting the dots as the Festival's Executive Director

"There are so many moving parts to putting on a festival that when it all comes together, it's magic," says Karen, Executive Director of the Festival. "Bringing the supporters, funders, local organizations and the community together and seeing the Village come alive with music and art wherever you go brings me so much joy."

Karen entered the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival partnership with 35+ years of experience in communications, event management, program administration and project management. In addition, her background in marketing, stakeholder relations and government relations made her the perfect person to connect the dots to bring their vision to life.

"What makes the partnership between Dave and I unique is that he brings his background as a jazz artist and an understanding of the music industry," says Karen. "My background in marketing, communications, program administration and event management means that together we bring both sides of the coin. It's a perfect partnership."

Not only are Karen and Dave partners in running the Festival, they are partners in life as well and have been together for 30 years and married for 22 years. The Festival aligns perfectly with both of their values of community involvement and community building.

From then to now: Upholding Festival values through incredible growth

Within seven months of the initial conversations, the first ever Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival was miraculously pulled together in 2018, and 5,000 people came together to enjoy jazz music in the Village.

"That year, the Festival was just one day," says Karen, reflecting on how the Festival has grown. "It was outdoors with one stage in front of the community hall during the day and a ‘Tribute to Motown’ dance in the evening."

The 2018 Festival was so successful and well received that they expanded the following year to three days with approximately 10,000 people in attendance and an incredible 266 musicians performing across multiple outdoor stages.

In 2020, when all events were negatively impacted by COVID-19, Karen, Dave and their board rose to the occasion and created a high caliber virtual event viewed by people around the world. The festival transitioned again in 2021 with a hybrid festival featuring free outdoor performances, a unique music collaboration with Kwantlen First Nation, art exhibits and in-person and live-streamed headliner acts.

In celebration of the community’s rise from the pandemic, it was fitting that the 2022 festival was the biggest one on record, attracting an estimated 15,000 people to the streets of Fort Langley.

With eight indoor and outdoor venues, 300 artists and 60 bands, two full days of free music as well as a growing list of new things to do and see, festival goers were able to share the love of music and art in all its forms.

From July 20-23, 2023, for the sixth edition of the festival, we will continue to present expansive and inclusive programming featuring international, national, regional and local world-class musicians, youth and emerging talent, Indigenous art and culture along with art installations and exhibits. This music and activities will take place throughout the Village of Fort Langley and across multiple stages and venues and include both free performances and headliner ticketed shows.

The Odlum Brown Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival continues to grow while staying true to its values of artistic excellence, innovation, collaboration, improvement, diversity and inclusion, providing opportunities for performers and emerging artists, and adapting to the community's needs.