Originally from: peicanada.com

Stompin’ Tom star comes home to Skinners Pond

Jillian Trainor
Published: July 4, 2018

When it was announced Stompin’ Tom Connors would be receiving a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, his family wanted to honour his time on Prince Edward Island by having a separate star installed at the Stompin’ Tom Centre in Skinners Pond.

The star was revealed on July 1 by his wife Lena and son Taw during the Stompin’ Tom Festival, which was held at the centre from June 28 until July 2.

When asked of the importance of displaying the star at the centre, as opposed to having it in their home, Ms Connors said it was for the community and what the area had meant to her late husband.

“He loved Skinners Pond, he always called Skinners Pond his home, and he loved the people in this area,” she said. “It’s suiting to have the star here.”

Also on hand for the reveal was Anne Arsenault, executive director for the Stompin’ Tom Centre.

Choking back emotion, she briefly had to pause as tears came to her eyes.

“On behalf of the Stompin’ Tom Centre and Skinners Pond, I would like to thank the family for bestowing this honour upon us,” she said. “We will proudly display it in the centre for all Stompin’ Tom fans. I couldn’t imagine a more fitting day to unveil this plaque to honour this special, great Canadian.”

Not only was it a day to celebrate Stompin’ Tom.

After the ceremony, it was announced that Canada’s Walk of Fame wants to do more to help build stronger communities across the country. To this end, as a commitment to the inductees, their legacies, and their home towns, the organization will be donating $10,000 in Stompin’ Tom’s honour for the Tignish Cultural Centre and for the startup of a stringed instrument program at M.E. Callaghan Intermediate School. The announcement was met with much cheer and applause from the audience.

Taw Connors also spoke. Although a little stockier, he’s the spitting image of his father. Even his voice is very similar.

Addressing the crowd, he said behind a great Canadian legend, there’s a great country, and great people behind him, and that’s the same thing in Tignish and Skinners Pond.

When asked what his father’s ultimate legacy was, Mr Connors said the number one thing would have to be his songs.

“His iconic songs about all our people, in every corner of this country. No matter where you’re from, he has left something for everybody to know about in each and every song,” he said. “The iconic hockey song, we all know it,our kids, two or three years old are stomping to it. They sing it in dressing rooms. It’s the same for each and every song he does.”

Mr Connors also spoke of his father’s travels throughout the country, and the help he received from people along the way. He said the determination and dedication he had to do what he did is beyond many, but if he could go through the hard times he did, others can too.

If his father were to give advice to a young musician who wants to succeed, he said it would be the same piece of advice that was given to him.

“If you’re going to do something like this, whether it be singing, or anything else, if you’re going to achieve something, go in it 150 per cent,” he said. “Make sure it’s what you want, and what you want to do. It’s achievable, but you’ve got to want it, and you’ve got to want to do it.”