The rehearsal space for one of Canada’s oldest community bands was significantly damaged by fire over the weekend.
Firefighters were called to the Saint Mary’s Band rehearsal building on Brinley Street in Saint John early Saturday.
Chad Nickerson, the band secretary, said the fire appears to have started on the exterior wall and moved up into the roof area.
Nickerson said the Saint John Fire Department was “phenomenal” in saving the building and everything inside.
“They went into the facility, they moved all of the musical instruments, all of the materials, the technology and whatnot that we have there away from that wall area before they turned on their hoses,” Nickerson told our newsroom.
“So we’ve experienced thankfully no damage to any of the musical instruments, to any of the music, to any of the materials that we have there. That was all saved.”
While the building itself was saved, Nickerson said there is significant damage that will have to be repaired over the coming weeks.
Saint Mary’s Band has four bands that regularly rehearse every week, including beginner bands, intermediate bands, jazz bands and full concert bands.
Nickerson said Harbour View High School has offered up their band room temporarily so the bands will still be able to practice.
“We’re trying to pick up the pieces and go forward to continue our work in our community of preserving music and spreading music and seeing people involved in that, in bettering our community,” he said.
A previously scheduled fundraiser at Harbour View High School will be used to help raise funds for the band hall’s repair. It will take place on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.
Saint Mary’s Band was founded in 1903 and is the oldest continuously operating concert band in New Brunswick.
The band hall has been in the Brinley Street building for 63 years of the band’s 121-year history.
