THUNDER BAY -- A familiar face in the local music scene is thanking the community for two wonderful decades as he embarks on a new journey in life.
After spending 20 years in the community, Pierre Schryer is making an emotional goodbye as he heads west to Victoria, B.C.
The esteemed Celtic fiddler has established a prominent name in Thunder Bay as a performer, and producer.
“When I moved here, it was a niche for me to create Celtic music and Celtic dance,” says Schryer who first moved from Sault Ste. Marie.
Schryer has had the opportunity to perform alongside his two brothers - Louis and Daniel - as a part of the Schryer Triplets.
He also performs with his wife Merrie, and his children Kyran and Tamsyn who are in their teens.
In light of Merrie’s job as a trumpet professor at the University of Victoria - a title which she’s held for two years - the Schryer family is heading west.
But the Thunder Bay community will always be close to their heart, he said.
“It felt great to contribute that much to the community,” Schryer said. “What I see now is people taking that torch and continuing that tradition.”
Schryer hosted an event called Thunder Bay Connections in June. It was a celebration of the wide net of people Schryer has connected with through music, art, and dance throughout the years.
“”I felt that it was a good send-off,” he said. “It definitely enriched my perspective on local talent.”
Local talent, and the creative community at-large, is something Schryer has seen evolve throughout the years.
“People are connecting not only in their discipline but outside of that.”
Schryer says events like the one he hosted, or popular community events such as the Busker’s Festival, are proof that Thunder Bay’s creative community is growing, and thriving.
“I’ve talked to people who visit, and they think it’s vibrant… even more so than some notable places in Southern Ontario,” he continued. “I feel that when people are presenting something they’re presenting it at the highest level. And you can see the city wants that, and the community is supporting that.”
Because of that, it will be a bittersweet goodbye for Schryer as he moves onto the next chapter.
“The beauty of [Thunder Bay], the serenity, the creativity… it’s a big part of our life. We’ll never forget it.”
“I’m just going to sit with it a bit and let it ride,” said Scryer in regards to his move to Victoria. “I do know the opportunities are there and it’s a great place.”
Schryer’s final local performance (for the time being), will take place at Urban Abbey on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The concert is in support of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, tickets are available online at tbso.ca or at the door.