More than $12 million raised for hundreds of non-profit organizations, thousands of volunteers pitching in, many thousands of tickets sold and too many yeehaws and howdys to count.
Magna’s Wild Wild West Hoedown marks 30 years of all-fired community impact with the Sept. 15, 2018 edition featuring returning headliner Blue Rodeo to the big-as-a-Texas tent at the Magna Corral in Aurora.
“I don’t know of another event anywhere that has lasted for 30 years, that has raised over $12 million for hundreds of charities, and involved thousands of volunteers," Steve Hinder, manager of Magna for Community and chair of the Hoedown organizing committee, said. "This year, we are over 750 volunteers. Although Magna covers the entire cost of the Hoedown, it couldn't be done without them rolling up their sleeves."
“It’s the epitome of a community event,” Hinder said of Canada’s largest fundraiser. “This year is special, with it being the 30th year.”
The backyard barbecue at the family farm that was the brainchild of Magna International founder Frank Stronach has come a long way, cowboy.
And so has the size of the tent to accommodate the 5,000 local cowboys and cowgirls, volunteers and sponsors. Raising of the massive tent — the largest in Canada at the size of three football fields — on Magna’s expansive front lawn facing Wellington Street has come to symbolize the end of summer to many residents.
The hootin’ and hollerin’ begins Friday night, Sept. 14, with Juno Award-winning headliner The Road Hammers, the top-selling Canadian country band in history, and the top 10 finalists of the Hoedown Showdown, along with 2017 finalist John Anderson. The winner will be announced that night.
The Showdown began in July, followed by a series of competitions among 20 budding artists. The finalist performs Saturday on the Hoedown stage. Their prize includes $2,500, a Yamaha guitar package and two days in a recording studio working with singer/songwriter Beverly Mahood and manager Tom Cross.
Student Hoedown, added to the roster in 2010, takes place earlier in the day for more than 1,000 special needs students, who get the first peek at the Showdown’s 10 finalists.
“For those of us who work on the Hoedown year-round, this is a highlight,” Hinder said.
Saturday's now sold-out event features the iconic Blue Rodeo — returning to the Hoedown stage after a gig in 2010 — decorated Canadian Country Music Association award-winner Gord Bamford, and Mahood, the longtime Hoedown host and Showdown judge and mentor.
The Hoedown isn’t simply a country music event, though the talent, always Canadian, might have you thinking so, Hinder said. It is a community event, and the community spirit is as big as the tent in which it takes place.
“People want to compare us to the other country music festivals, but we are so unique in terms of the corporate philosophy of Magna, committing to the community, making it a better place for their employees to live, and working together with the community. I think we do tremendously well with the talent we bring in,” he said.
“This is so much more than a country music festival,” he said. “Without Magna covering the cost, without the volunteers and sponsors, we could not have the Hoedown. We need all those ingredients.”
The Hoedown now raises about $500,000 annually for 20 non-profit organizations serving Newmarket, Aurora, Georgina and York Region.
“The pride for us is when that cheque gets flipped over and we realize that 20 charities are going to share in half-a-million dollars and it's their work that makes our community a better place for all of us. That’s a unique model. I know Magna employees are proud to work for a company that gives back to the community like that.”
Ths year's beneficiaries include:
- Aurora Football Club
- Aurora Tigers
- Autism Ontario York Region/Epilepsy York Region
- Big Brothers Big Sisters
- DeafBlind Ontario Services
- Georgina Arts/GTTI The Training Centre
- Georgina Skating Club
- Kerry’s Autism Services
- Learning Disabilities Association of York Region
- Marquee Theatrical Productions
- Newmarket Food Pantry
- Newmarket Stingrays Swim Club
- Optimist Clubs of York Region
- Shenderey Gymnastics Institute
- Southlake Regional Healthcare Centre Foundation
- St. John Ambulance
- Peer Project
- Victim Services of York Region
- Welcoming Arms
- Women’s Centre of York Region.
While the size of the party has grown, y’all shouldn’t be surprised to see Hoedown founder Frank Stronach, in cowboy cool black, strolling through the corral, stopping to chat to all who say howdy.
For tickets, available for Friday only, $30, click here
