Support for artists inspired by tribute to beloved music educator and teacher Jim Myles

Many who grew up in Fredericton remember the enthusiasm high school teacher Jim Myles had for music and musical productions. A longtime educator, Jim was director of musical productions at Fredericton High School for many years, giving hundreds of young people their first taste of performing. He is fondly remembered by those who have gone on to professional performing arts careers for giving them “the gift of the stage.”

Jim also loved travel and led many trips abroad for scores of students and community residents, allowing them to discover new places and experience new cultures. He made a significant contribution to the community.

That’s why, as the community campaign to raise funds for Fredericton’s new Performing Arts Centre got underway, Brenda and David Sansom came forward with an idea that would generate funding to support artists in the new space while also paying tribute to Jim.

“Jim gave so much to the community and made a tremendous impact in advancing the arts and culture of this community,” Brenda explained. “We felt that this new venue, which he would have loved, would be the perfect way to honour his legacy, by establishing a fund that supports local artist development in the new spaces within the Centre.”

The couple approached Jim’s wife, Carmel, and she and the family became one of the founding donors to the Jim Myles Artist Support Fund. Since then, with Brenda and David taking the lead, more than 200 founding donors have made gifts and over $55,000 has been raised to date.

Architectural rendering of the stage door entrance for the Performing Arts Centre, as seen from Regent Street. 

Tim Yerxa, Executive Director of Fredericton Playhouse Inc., worked with Brenda and David and the Myles family to visually pay tribute to Jim and to the donors to the Jim Myles Artist Support Fund through a plaque that will hang in the foyer of the stage door entrance of the new Performing Arts Centre. “So many artists who got their start because of Jim Myles have performed at The Playhouse over the years, so it’s truly fitting that we pay tribute to him in the stage door lobby of the Performing Arts Centre, through which all future artists will come and go. It’s heartening to see so many people step forward to support the campaign by contributing to this fund because of their respect for Jim and the role he played in their lives and in the community. That’s what a community performing arts centre is all about.”

The new Performing Arts Centre in Fredericton will be an innovative hub for arts and culture where people can come together cross-culturally to share experiences, express creativity, and connect. It will be a space where everyone - no matter their age, background, ability or financial capacity - can experience and create meaningful, cultural, unique performances together.

The Jim Myles Artist Support Fund will support programs and initiatives that enable local artists to better access the spaces and services available in the Performing Arts Centre. These include subsidy programs for rent and services for the development, production and/or presentation of artists’ work, along with residencies, training, and other activities that spur their growth and development.

“Jim strongly believed in the power of the performing arts to engage, enrich and transform lives, especially those of youth,” Brenda confirms. “Having this fund and this space dedicated to him and all those who worked alongside him and share his vision is very special.”

To contribute as a founding donor to the Jim Myles Artist Support Fund, please contact Julie O’Brien at 506-459-6207.