Family, friends, fans send Ray St. Germain off with a standing ovation at memorial

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Family, friends and fans of Manitoba Métis music icon Ray St. Germain gathered for a celebration of his life Saturday at Calvary Temple.

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St. Germain died last month from Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 83.

“It hit me when I walked in here today,” said Manitoba Métis Federation President and good friend David Chartrand who remembered St. Germain’s “thousand-watt smile” in his remarks. “I was not as hurt when I was with (his wife) Glory in the hospital.

“I accepted that Ray was leaving us. Naomi (long-time Metis Hour x2 co-host Clarke) kept me briefed all the time and I was very happy with that. It hit me when I walked in here. My friend is gone. I won’t see that face any more, that smile, that thing that gives me such warmth in my heart. Because it was automatic that every time I saw Ray, it made me feel good.”

The celebration began with one last standing ovation for St. Germain, a legend in the Manitoba music scene.

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“Looking out here I think most of us here would say that we enjoyed the best times of this life,” said singer Joey Gregorash, who served as master of ceremonies for the event. “We really did enjoy that. Ray did too but here’s the difference. Ray was one that created those best times in our lives. And I would say we were very blessed to have him as a friend.”

The celebration included a special video message from Premier Wab Kinew, who offered condolences on behalf of the Province of Manitoba.

“Ray was such a great Manitoban who contributed so many wonderful tunes, great memories, inspiring stories and good laughs to people all across this wonderful province,” said Kinew. “As Métis people have reasserted and revitalized their culture and identity, I think that we can say that Ray St. Germain was one of the troubadours, one of the travelling musicians who helped to articulate the beautiful Métis sash that is your collective identity.”

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During his remarks, federal Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal related a story about when St. Germain was honoured on June 7 with the renaming of the street his childhood home is on, St. Michael Road, with the honorary title of Big Sky Country Way that Vandal had to park five blocks away because there were so many people in attendance.

“The turnout was absolutely amazing,” said Vandal, who brought condolences on behalf of the federal government. “Stories were told, wonderful music and songs were sung. I met many, many old friends and even met some new friends who I’ve spoken to today.

“But most importantly, I got to meet Ray and say my peace about what he meant to me and what he meant to my generation of friends growing up during our lifetime. It was a really, really special morning for me and many people. He passed several days later and now I know why I absolutely had to be there in St. Vital that day.”

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Remarks were also given by former MLA Kevin Chief, Senator Gerry St. Germain – the first Métis person to serve in federal cabinet and the Senate, and St. Germain’s wife Glory.

Along with presentations and remembrances of St. Germain from friends and family, there were musical performances paying tribute to his long musical career and honouring his legacy.

The singer, television and radio host passed away quietly on June 25 at Deer Lodge Care Home, surrounded by family and dear friends, after a years-long battle with Parkinson’s disease,

St. Germain hosted television series Big Sky Country, known as Ray St. Germain Country and My Kind of Country in earlier incarnations, for 13 seasons. He also hosted a radio call-in show, Metis Hour x2 for NCI, for 20-plus years.

glen.dawkins@kleinmedia.ca

X: @SunGlenDawkins

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