Photo of Oliver Jones playing the piano at ÆßÐDzʿª½±

Legendary Jazz Pianist Oliver Jones honoured at ÆßÐDzʿª½±

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On March 10, a very special and intimate evening was held at ÆßÐDzʿª½± to honour a true legend in the world of jazz, pianist Dr. Oliver Jones. The event was a resounding success, with representatives from the college and the community coming together to pay tribute to Jones’ inspiring life and legacy for promoting future generations to pursue post-secondary education.

“As an employee of ÆßÐDzʿª½±, I am extremely proud of the way in which the College embraced the idea to honour Dr. Jones,” said Simeon Pompey, head organizer and faculty member. “When the idea was brought forth, it was immediately accepted, and an overwhelming amount of people and departments contributed their time and resources to make the evening special.”

Inspiring impact

Hosted by CBC Daybreak host Sean Henry, the event kicked off with a heart-warming welcome speech by ÆßÐDzʿª½± student and President of the Legacy Club, Ariel Marshall. Her words echoed the sentiments of many others as she shared the profoundly inspiring impact that Oliver has had on her life and of those around her.

Maeve Muldowney, Dean of Continuing Education and Community Services, addressed the crowd about Oliver’s ties to ÆßÐDzʿª½±, particularly the former Selby Campus of ÆßÐDzʿª½± located near his childhood neighbourhood of Little Burgundy. Her words were a reminder of the enduring legacy of the musical icon, and the importance of supporting the next generation of musicians and educators.

Photo of Union United Church band at the celebration of Oliver Jones event at ÆßÐDzʿª½± March 10
The Union United Church musical band. Photo by Kamelia Deleva

Followed a speech by Alex Adrien, President of the Quebec Board of Black Educators (QBBE), who spoke about ÆßÐDzʿª½±’s impact on the Montreal Black community through its longstanding partnership with the Da Costa Hall summer school, which has been held at ÆßÐDzʿª½± for over five decades.

Musical guests and a surprise treat

The evening was filled with musical performances by ÆßÐDzʿª½± students, the Union United Church Band, and the one and only Oliver Jones himself, which was an unexpected treat for all the guests in attendance. A Q&A session concluded the night, providing students and community members a rare opportunity to engage with the jazz legend.

Photo of Oliver Jones at ÆßÐDzʿª½± on March 10
Oliver Jones answers questions from ÆßÐDzʿª½± students. Photo by Kamelia Deleva.

This event was a joint effort of members of ÆßÐDzʿª½±â€™s Legacy Club with support from ÆßÐDzʿª½± staff, including the Campus Life and Leadership team, the Community, Recreation and Leadership Training Program, Continuing Education and Community Services and the Communications Office.



Last Modified: March 22, 2023