The Creative School selected by JAZZ.FM91 to house Canadian Jazz Time Capsule
The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University made history by partnering with JAZZ.FM91, Canada’s premier jazz radio station, to create a one-of-kind Canadian Jazz Time Capsule. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at the Allan Slaight Institute on November 28, where the Time Capsule will live permanently, to celebrate the rich history and vibrant future of jazz in Canada with students, alumni, industry professionals, and jazz enthusiasts.
The Canadian Jazz Time Capsule is not just a container; it's a captivating journey through the essence of Canadian jazz. Highlighted by artifacts belonging to the legendary jazz pianist and composer Oscar Peterson, including his last Canadian passport, business card, commemorative stamps, and vinyl recordings, the capsule pays homage to a titan in the genre. Peterson, with eight Grammy Awards to his name, remains an eternal force, making his artifacts immensely valuable in preserving the cultural heritage of Canadian jazz.
The time capsule boasts treasures from other luminaries, such as two prints from the iconic Joni Mitchell, autographed drumsticks from Grammy Award-winning drummer Larnell Lewis, a five-hour Canadian Jazz Mixtape, and a myriad of pamphlets, posters, and memorabilia from jazz venues, events, and festivals across Canada, contributing to a collection as diverse and vibrant as the jazz it represents.
Oscar Peterson's last Canadian passport before his passing in December of 2007
Pamphlets from the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, one dating back to its inaugural year of 1986
Two prints by Joni Mitchell donated to the JAZZ.FM91 Canadian Time Capsule
A signed copy of the "Sun Song" 45, donated by Sonny Greenwich, Sr., himself
The Creative School, renowned for fostering creative talent and promoting diverse artistic practices for over 75 years, offered an ideal environment for the preservation and celebration of jazz culture.
The roots of JAZZ.FM91 and Toronto Metropolitan University trace back to 1949 when the station, formerly CJRT-FM, operated as an educational FM station under the ownership of Ryerson Institute of Technology (now Toronto Metropolitan University). Over the years, JAZZ.FM91 has maintained close ties with TMU’s RTA School of Media, offering various youth programs, workshops, internships, and scholarships while hiring many graduates.
“We are honoured to be chosen as the custodian of the Canadian Jazz Time Capsule. We have a long-standing partnership with JAZZ.FM91 and our faculty and alumni have significantly contributed to Canadian Jazz and Canadian music for over seven decades. Now we get to celebrate the rich history and vibrant future of jazz in Canada, preserving its legacy for generations to come,” said Charles Falzon, Dean of The Creative School.
Dean Charles Falzon and Dani Elwell, Program Strategist at JAZZ.FM91, providing opening remarks at the unveiling of the Jazz FM Time Capsule in the Allan Slaight Institute in the Rogers Communications Centre
Dani Elwell, Creative and Programming Strategist at JAZZ.FM91, highlighted the symbolic significance of the capsule, stating “CJRT-FM began its humble educational beginnings as part of Ryerson University and first went to air November 22, 1949. It all seemed rather fitting to have this as the home and for Toronto Metropolitan University to be part of that experience.”
Dean Charles Falzon and Dani Elwell, Program Strategist at JAZZ.FM91, with the Canadian Jazz Time Capsule housed in the Allan Slaight Institute inside the Rogers Communications Centre at The Creative School, Toronto Metropolitan University. The time capsule will be opened in 50 years for the next generation of music enthusiasts to enjoy
With the opening of the capsule scheduled in 50 years, both JAZZ.FM91 and The Creative School aim to inspire future generations of jazz musicians and enthusiasts and engage students and the wider community in preserving, promoting, and celebrating the rich legacy of Canadian jazz.
For a full list and pictures of items that are included in the capsule, visit jazz.fm (external link) .
The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University
The Creative School is a dynamic faculty that is making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Made up of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.
