Ron and Erma Hawkes and their musical family

Music, live performance, and the arts are an integral part of a thriving, strong community. New Brunswickers, Ron and Erma Hawkes have experienced this first-hand.  

Now they are helping to ensure New Brunswickers will enjoy music and live performance for generations to come through a gift of $3.5 million to the performing arts centre in Fredericton! In recognition of the gift, the new facility will be named the Ron & Erma Hawkes Centre for the Arts.

Ron, originally from Woodstock, and Erma, from Chipman, grew up with music and have maintained it as an important family fundamental as they moved from Canada to Australia, and returned to Fredericton upon their semi-retirement.

Erma has played the piano since she was 7 years old. “Surprising me with a piano was one of the greatest gifts my parents gave me, securing a lifetime of musical experiences.”  At an early age, Erma accompanied and sang in church choirs and performed in music festivals. While a student at UNB she sang in the University choir. Following university graduation, she taught music in public and private schools, and privately tutored piano and music theory.

Ron joined the military reserve army band in Woodstock as a teenager, where he learned to play the trombone. He continued to play trombone in the military reserve army band in Fredericton and the UNB band while studying at UNB for his geology degree. Ron and Erma married while attending UNB, and following graduation moved to Bathurst, where Ron began his successful lifetime career in mineral exploration and mine development.

Wherever they have lived, Ron, Erma and family have continued to keep music in their lives.  Currently, three generations of the family sing in the Fredericton Ladies Choir. Erma has been choir director at Grace Memorial Baptist Church in Fredericton since 1996 and has sung with the Fredericton Ladies Choir since its inception in 2008. Ron, noted for his bass voice, was also part of singing groups and choirs in various places. While in Bathurst he played trombone in the City Band, sang in the church choir, and served as President of the Bathurst Music Festival.

Their younger daughter, Kim, studied trombone for 10 years in Australia, played with The Thomists for several years while attending UNB, taught music in New Brunswick schools, and has sung in the Fredericton Ladies Choir for several years. She currently applies her leadership and education experience as Principal in Anglophone School District West. Their elder daughter, Melanie, also a UNB graduate, has been involved in the organizational side of the arts serving terms on the boards of the Fredericton Playhouse and Fredericton Music Festival. She currently volunteers at the Fredericton Playhouse.

Granddaughter Brianna was a devoted 10-year performer in Fredericton’s beloved “Christmas @the Playhouse” singing and acting in various roles and a long-term TNB Theatre student. Brianna played Lucy in TNB’s MainStage Production of Narnia at the age of 10. Classically trained in voice and musical theatre, she has represented Fredericton at the Provincial Music Festival on numerous occasions, has sung with the NB Youth Choir, and currently sings with the Fredericton Ladies Choir.

Grandson Brendan toured Europe as a member of the NB Youth orchestra. He is a 2022 Olympian and the 2024 World Champion bronze medalist in Short Track Speed Skating. Brianna earned a BSc from Bishops University and Brendan earned a BComm from Concordia University.

Thanks to local Fredericton music teachers, and Erma’s encouragement and piano and theory tutelage, both Brianna and Brendan have been awarded Royal Conservatory of Music gold medals on several occasions for achieving the highest standing in the Atlantic Provinces in voice and percussion respectively.   

Ron and Erma view this generous gift to the modern and innovative performing arts centre as an opportunity to give back to Fredericton, the communities where they grew up, and New Brunswick. 

For Ron and Erma, this was at the core of their decision to step forward. “We live in a very special corner of the world, and to be able to participate in our community in this way – through music and performance that has benefitted us so much – is an honour.”