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Commemorating Family

Phil Washburn's connection to Vulcan and area goes back three generations, and so does his family's passion for music. At the turn of the 20th century, his grandparents, Sep and Sara, moved from Indiana to homestead near Mossleigh. "My grandmother was a university educated music teacher," said Phil, "and my grandfather played flute and piccolo." Phil recounted how his grandfather bought his grandmother a Heintzman piano, which was regularly hauled from their home to the one-room school for community dances. "Music was just about the only entertainment they had."

Phil's father, Harry, also enjoyed music. "I think if circumstances had been different, my Dad might have become a professional musician," mused Phil. "He played saxophone, clarinet and flute, and was involved in dance bands and numerous community musical activities." Phil's mother, Rosemary, appreciated music and loved to square dance.

When his father died in 1999, Phil decided to create a lasting memorial for his parents and grandparents. "I wanted to support music activity in my hometown," Phil said. "I'm proud of my parents and grandparents and the community where I grew up." Through the Lethbridge Community Foundation, he created the Washburn Memorial Endowment Fund to benefit young musicians within the County of Vulcan. The Fund supports an annual competition for musicians aged 10 to 18. Phil and other community members have organized the competition for the past nine years.

"I wanted to memorialize my parents and grandparents and give something back to my hometown," said Phil. "Setting up this fund with the Lethbridge Community Foundation enables me to achieve those goals."