BRIAN NORMAN ORVIS, CM

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BRIAN NORMAN ORVIS, CM April 22, 1931 - November 29, 2010 Succumbed to C.H.F., congestive heart failure. Predeceased by parents John and Catherine Orvis and brothers John and Charlie. Survived by Harold, Lorna, Helen, Doug, Glen, Velma, Donna and Moe (Maurice) and Boots and Meatball - his constant companions. Before completing junior high school, Brian became an organist and choirmaster, as well as a piano teacher, took the lead in an operetta, played the organ at St. Andrews-On-The-Red for a Christmas Day C.B.C., B.B.C. round the world broadcast, besides creating and directing a nine piece student instrumental ensemble that performed at school dances and concerts, and he achieved honours in his Toronto Conservatory examinations. After studies in Arts, Theology, Music and Education, Brian taught in remote communities such as Fort Severn, Big Trout Lake and Lac Suel in Ontario as well as Norway House in Manitoba. While at St. John's Ravenscourt school he created their very first choir. Throughout his career, he tutored numerous students in English, Philosophy and Greek. His most famous philosophy tutor being the future Premier of Manitoba and Governor General of Canada, His Excellency, The Right Honourable Edward R. Schreyer. After a few short years of work and travel, Brian found his way to Manitoba again, to respond to the urgent needs surfacing in the Aboriginal community, becoming in turn, Chairman of the Board of The Selkirk Friendship Centre, Secretary of the Board of The Manitoba Association of Friendship Centres and Secretary of the Board of The National Association of Friendship Centres. Later he became a Member of the Board of The Pas Trappers' Festival. He provided leadership in a variety of roles in the native community, largely through his writing, broadcasting and organization skills. For three years he was a CBC editorialist on Native Affairs. For 20 years he was a regular volunteer at the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature, in its multicultural work, culminating in providing a program for the Tercentennial of Bach, Handel and Scarlatti in 1985. He loaned both a clavichord and a harpsichord to the museum for public participation, as well, he arranged volunteer performances for the whole year in the museum foyer, performing daily at noon himself. For nine years, while on staff at The Cultural Development Branch, he provided liaison with the Aboriginal Community of Manitoba, travelling to all communities north of 53. For six of these years, he taught for The New Careers Branch in its Recreation Leadership Development Program. His northern experience and work with the Aboriginal community provided the information that helped the government of Manitoba change the Education act to allow the use of heritage languages for instruction replacing a 90 year English only policy. In 1969 he was called upon by the Premier of Manitoba to work with the Centennial Corporation to involve the Aboriginal community in all major celebrations of Manitoba's year long 100th birthday. A highlight of this work saw his Metis Children's Choir, from Patricia Beach, perform part of J. S. Bach's Cantata 147 in Cree, with harpsichord accompaniment at the grave of Chief Peguis, on July 15, 1970, in the presence of the Royal Family. He arranged for the serving of Bannock at all major centennial events. In 1971, at Lower Fort Garry, he spearheaded the food service, providing Bannock and other foods for 100,000 people on the long weekend of August 1971 for the centennial celebrations of Treaties 1 and 2. These events witnessed Bannock, an historically Scottish quick bread, move from History books and Aboriginal kitchens to the kitchens and restaurants of Manitoba. Alone, he guided the founding of the Harpsichord Association of Manitoba and utilized many other ways to foster the development of music, including the creation of a musical essay, Metis Variations, based on Manitoba's own historic Red River Jig, that was recorded both on cassette and compact disc. Over the years, he encouraged many to become patrons of the arts, being a patron himself. In whatever capacity Brian worked, he was a teacher above all else, encouraging numerous others to reach for the stars. At Rideau Hall in April of 1976, at his appointment as Member of the Order of Canada, the citation read: For creating understanding between Indians, Metis and other Canadians - a major contribution. Honours and Awards: Life Membership, the Selkirk Friendship Centre; Life Membership, the Winnipeg Friendship Centre; Special Award, Metis Community of Manitoba; Honours in Music Theory, Toronto Conservatory; Winnipeg Centennial Medal; Manitoba Centennial Medal; two Manitoba Games Medals (Administration); Folklorama Volunteer Award; The Queen's Jubilee Medal; Canada's 125th Birthday Medal; Order of Canada - Member. Service will be held at St. Chad's Assiniboia Christian Centre, 3390 Portage Ave., Saturday, December 18 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Viewing from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Donations may be sent to any animal shelter.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 03, 2010