R.I.P. Winnipeg Folk Festival Founder Mitch Podolak

Mitch Podolak, best known as the founding artistic director of the Winnipeg Folk Festival, has died.
 
Podolak co-founded the annual Winnipeg festival in 1974 and went on to help create other events like the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. He was also responsible for the opening of the West End Cultural Centre in Winnipeg.
 
Podolak was honoured as a member of the Order of Canada in 2015 and received the Unsung Hero Award from the Canadian Folk Music Awards in 2013.
 
Below, see a string of tributes from his colleagues and admirers.
 

 

 

 

 

 

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It is with profound sadness that we share of the passing of the founder of the West End Cultural Centre, Mitch Podolak. Mitch was a lion of the Canadian music scene and generations of musicians owe a debt of gratitude to his hard work and ingenuity. Our love goes out to Ava and all of Mitch's family and friends. #music #livemusic #livemusicwinnipeg #winnipegmusic #winnipegmusicscene #westendculturalcentre #mitchpodolak

A post shared by West End Cultural Centre (@thewecc) on Aug 25, 2019 at 7:36pm PDT