Fraser Valley Community Winds
The Fraser Valley Community Winds has a rich history of making music in the Fraser Valley and beyond. Here is some history of our group that has been sharing music since 1960.
The Abbotsford Concert Band formed in it's first capacity in 1960. Mr. Peter Rooker of the RCE Band of Camp Chilliwack gathered a group of eight youth to be part of a band. By 1964 they were 60 members strong and had played tattoos in Victoria, Kelowna and Vernon.
In 1965, a group of adults who had been playing as a group, amalgamated with the junior group to officially become the Abbotsford Concert Band. Originally, many adults were parents of the junior members.
Through the years the band has had deep community ties, playing locally thoroughout the Fraser Valley, Vancouver and Vancouver Island. ACB has played as part of the PNE Parade, Mt. Lehman's local celebrations on Canada Day and their Fall Fair, the Aldergrove Legion, the Mission Candlelight Parade, Ladner Bandfest, Brigade Days in Chilliwack and many more. The group has worked with other bands and performed combined concerts with bands, orchestras, jazz bands and youth bands.
The Abbotsford Concert Band performed at the 1967 Expo in Montreal, Quebec on August 27th, 2967. The band also performed at the Expo in Spokane, Washington in 1974 and at Expo 1986 in Vancouver
In 1969, the band cut a record called 'Memories of Expo 67'. This record was the first record to be made by a recording company in Vancouver as well as the first record of a band to be cut in Cnada.
In this history of the band, there have been many awards won both as a marching band and a concert band ensemble. As early as 1967 the Abbotsford Concert Band was an award winning ensemble, winning the Community Band Class at the Centenary Festival of Music at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver. The band has won awards at the PNE, Calgary Stampede, Leavenworth, Wa and numerous festivals throughout the years. While the ensemble today does little marching, we are proud of our heritage and the blocks this band was built upon.
Some notable historic achievements:
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1965 - The first engagement for the ACB was a parade in Nanaimo.
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1966 - PNE Parade, Vancouver
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1967 - Performance at the Canadian National Exhibition Band contest in Toronto on the way to Expo 1967 in Montreal.
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1967 - Performance at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park for the Canadian Band Masters Association.
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1968 - Participation in the Calgary Stampede and recieved 2nd place out of 25 marching bands. They were invited to parade onto the Stampede grounds.
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1969 - Performance at PNE Parade, Vancouver and were awarded 1st prize for best senior concert band.
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1969 - Paraded in Leavenworth, Washington at the Autumn Leaves Fsetival. Recieved Second Prize.
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1970 - Travelled to Edmonton for Klondike Days. Performed at least 2 concerts a day for five days and participated in parades.
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1971 - Travelled to Puyallup, Tacoma and Sumner, Washingon to the Daffodil Festival.
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1975 - Performance in Victoria with the Victoria Fireman's Band in Beacon Hill Park.
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1976 - Performance for Brigade Days and Santa Claus Parade in Chilliwack
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1977 - Participated in the Santa Claus Parade in Anacortes, Washington.
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2006 - 2011 - Ladner Band Festival, Ladner, BC
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2012 - Fraser River Heritage Park performance at the Envision Twilight Concert Series, Mission.(Link)
Historical Photos of the Abbotsford Concert Band.
Click gallery to englarge images:
 1960'sEarly photo of the Abbotsford Concert Band, believed to be from the 1960's. |  1960'sEarly group photo of the Abbotsford Concert Band |  1960'sA colour image of the first image, believed to be in the 1960's. |
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 Expo '67 - MontrealThe Abbotsford Concert Band performed at Expo '67 in Montreal. On the way there, they stopped and performed in a Toronto band festival as well. |  Expo '67 PerformanceThis image is the band performing at Expo '67 in Montreal, Quebec. |  Expo '67 FlyerThis is a scan of the flyer used to raise money to send the band to Expo '67. |
 Concert ProgramAn Abbotsford Concert Band performance program from November 16th, 1968. |  Inside the concertAn Abbotsford Concert Band performance program from November 16th, 1968. |  Bandshell PerformanceThe Abbotsford Concert Band performs at the Jubilee Bandshell, June 1969. |
 1970 NewspaperA 1970 image and short write up about the Abbotsford Concert Band. |  1970 Surrey PerformanceThis appeared in a local paper on July 5th, 1970, an image and write up about a parade performance in Surrey. |  ClarinetsYoung musicians play the clarinet. |
 TrumpetsTwo trumpet players practice as part of the Abbotsford Concert Band. |  TubaA young tubist. |  1970 - EdmontonThis article was clipped from a newspaper in 1970 and it discusses the Abbotsford Concert Band trip to Edmonton. |
 1971-NewspaperThis is from a 1971 newspaper article about another performance the band gave. |  1972-Spring FlyerThis hand flyer was used to promote the bands performance on April 30th, 1972. |  1974 - ExpoThis image is the Abbotsford Concert Band at the Spokane Worlds Fair in 1974. |
 GroupPhotoThis photo was taken in the 1980's of the Abbotsford Concert Band. |  Small EnsembleOver the years the Abbotsford Concert Band has had many smaller groups that performed to promote the band, entertain or try different genres. |  1983-FestivalThis photo was taken of the Abbotsford Concert Band at a band festival in 1983 |
 1986 - ExpoAn Expo '86 award presented to the director of the band at the time, John Beldam. |  1987- ArmstrongHere the Abbotsford Concert Band participates in the I.P.E. Parade in Armstrong, BC. |  Award WinnersAn award presentation around 1988 to the Abbotsford Concert Band in a marching competition. |
 1988-FestivalAn Abbotsford Concert Band festival group photo from 1988 |  1991-MarchingThe Abbotsford Concert Band marches in 1991. |  1992-Fall FairThe Abbotsford Concert Band still participates in the Mt. Lehman Fall Fair annually. Here the band performs in 1992. |
 1995-Keeps GoingThis newspaper clipping from February 5th, 1995 shows the Energizer Bunny marching with the Abbotsford Concert Band. Like the Energizer Bunny, the band keeps going... |  TrumpetsAlways looking for ways to spice up the performance, here trumpet players showcase a different kind of horn sometime in the 2000's. |  2008-Ladner Band FestivalHere the band sits for a performance in 2008 at the Ladner Band Festival. |
 2008-Canada DayLike the fall fair, the Abbotsford Concert Band plays annually at Canada Day in Mt. Lehman. Here is the band in 2008 preparing to play. |  2008-PerformanceA 2008 Abbotsford Concert Band performance titled 'Sailing The Seven Seas'. |  2008-HardwareSome of the bands winnings are displayed at a performance in 2008. |
 2008- We'll Meet AgainFor numerous years the Abbotsford Concert Band performed a Remembrance Day themed concert called 'We'll Meet Again'. Here, a young cadet band plays with the ACB. |  2008-Band PhotoHere the band poses after the 2008 We'll Meet Again performance. |  2008-Mission Candlelight ParadeHere in 2008 the Abbotsford Concert Band participates in the Mission Candlelight Parade. |
 2008-Bands In BloomOne of the performances from 2008, Bands In Bloom. |  2009-05-Concert.jpgBrass and baritone saxophone in 2009. |  2009-LadnerHere again the Abbotsford Concert Band performs at Ladner Band Festival. |
 2009-Outdoor Show.The Abbotsford Concert Band performs an outdoor concert in 2009. |  2009-Remembrance DayThe Abbotsford Concert Band participating in the Remembrance Day ceremony at Adlergrove Legion. |  2009-LegionThe Abbotsford Concert Band has always been a tight knit community of musicians. Here they share a meal after the Remembrance Day performance courtesy of the wonderful Aldergrove Legion. |
 2009-MountLehmanA Canada Day photo with the Cadet Band and the Abbotsford Concert Band at Mt. Lehman, Abbotsford. |  Abbotsford Concert Band LogoThe original logo for the Abbotsford Concert Band. |
We are looking for additional historical information about the Abbotsford Concert Band. If you know members of the groups pictured here, have other images, corrections or information about the group, please email us at info@abbyband.ca. Thank you!