By Joanne Rodgers, Bruce Peninsula Press
On 25 July 2025, there was a dedication ceremony at the new Harbourside Stage to honour Ken Hodge for his role as the founder of Harbourside Music.
“How Harbourside started” was a touching tribute to the volunteers who supported Harbourside Music from its inception. The idea of Harbourside Music was envisaged over coffee between two local musicians Ken Hodge and John Baker. In the summer of 2011, the first Harbourside Music concert was held. Ken Hodge, the Lion’s Head Harbourmaster, was able to supply two old docks to be the stage. Sound equipment was borrowed from the local youth centre “The Hub”.
On July 8, 2011, the first ever act on the Harbourside stage was then 10-year-old Brooklyn Hewton on her violin. In the following years Brooklyn returned many times after that debut performance to the Harbourside stage. The last act on Harbourside Stage for the 2011 season was Roger Whittaker’s “The Last Farewell” performed by Ken Hodge. Sadly Ken passed away the following March.
For the dedication ceremony local musicians performed “The Last Farewell” in tribute to Ken’s last performance.
Ken had already lined up the performers for the 2012 season before he passed away. Marydale Ashcroft then took over organizing the concert series. Marydale expressed her thanks to all the volunteers including John Baker, Gerry Goldie, Brian Osbourne, John Fenton, Barb Hodge and Fred and Nancy Heise.
Gerry Goldie acted as MC for many years. Fred and Nancy Heise built the donation boxes and managed them for the concerts. Special thanks to Warren Bray who donated $5,000 to purchase the sound equipment, still in use today.
John Fenton and Brian Osbourne have tirelessly operated the sound system year after year, every Friday during the summer for the concerts. They were each presented with a t-shirt printed with the words ‘Harbourside Music Crew”.
Laurel Martin says of her dad John Baker, he was excited to be part of this event, always wanting to encourage new and seasoned performers and to bring local talent to the stage.
After 8 years of organizing Harbourside Music, Marydale passed the baton to three local musicians Dominik Franken, Rod Layman and Gerry Gregory.
Laurel says her dad and Ken would be happy to see that the “spirit” of Harbourside has continued on, staying community focused and accessible to all.
A plaque will be installed on the Harbourside stage at a later date honouring Ken Hodge. Patricia Madau read the words of the plaque to the audience:
KENNETH G. HODGE (1944-2012)
In grateful recognition of your selfless service to our community.
As a retired Police Officer with the City of Brantford for thirty-seven years and Harbourmaster for Lion’s Head.
Police Force Head for ten years, your contributions are profound.
Ken had a dream. He believed that, ‘concerts should be free for everyone in Lion’s Head’. His dream reaches us now and will touch future generations in meaningful ways.
Honouring the life and achievement of Kenneth G. Hodge, he is an inspiration to us all.
