Montreal Community Cares Foundation Awards Gala honours jazz legend Oliver Jones and everyday citizens

Since 2011, the Montreal Community Cares Foundation Awards Gala paid tribute to ordinary citizens who make an extraordinary difference in our city – and they did so once again on Thursday evening.

In addition to showcasing young local talent in the performing arts, the event is celebrating outstanding contributions and active community engagement. Oliver Jones is known as a living legend. The Canadian Jazz pianist, organist, composer and arranger received the Montreal Community Cares Life-Time Achievement Award for Music.

He says, “It’s been 85 years since I performed my first concert.”

Jones has received the Order of Canada, the National Order of Quebec and in 2023 was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

“The awards are all equal as far as I was concerned. But I think the most important thing was probably the order of Canada, because everywhere I went, I was representing the Canadian way of life, the Canadian artist of my generation, and also for myself, I was almost a little black boy from Canada that was going to all these different countries.”

He was trained by Oscar Peterson’s sister Daisy.

“Daisy herself was an extraordinary teacher and person. I think she also gave me the love of many different types of music. Of course, I was only interested in playing jazz at the time, but all my studies were classical,” explained Jones.

“And of course, I then started to enjoy the difference in different approaches that each composer had, and she would explain or at least let me understand where they were coming from. And as a youngster of seven, eight years old, she had a wonderful way of making it come to life. And at first I was kind of questioning why we were talking about Tchaikovsky, Chopin and Bach, but she soon showed me and had me listen and eventually play all of their music.”

Adding, “And so I had a varied understanding of what was going on. And of course, later on, as I got older and I started to travel, I was able to go to these same countries, and it gave me a wonderful opportunity to understand where they were coming from and the surroundings that they grew up in, in comparison to here in Canada. These were all of the stories that I was getting and learning from Daisy. This is why her particular time that she spent with me, it was well worth it for me. And I’m eternally grateful for having her in my world.”

Jones credits his parents with teaching him how to confront racism.

“You have people who were much more interested in what you do as an artist and how you conduct yourself. That was one of the saving graces I believe and be able to speak a few languages helped me tremendously,” said Jones.

The Montreal Community Cares Derek Aucoin Award went to Aliyah Baakoe. She believes in paying it forward.

“I feel like supporting community is really important because I’m a product of my community,” said Baakoe.

“Let’s say I was a part of a basketball teams so ever since I was young I’ve gotten input from other people helping me out and that’s one thing that I do think it’s important to give back because it’s like a cycle. If somebody gave back to you I feel you should do the same in your future. That’s why I think it’s pretty important to give back to your community.”