News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By Cailin Cousins

Guests, members and visitors from around the province celebrated New Year’s at the Clinton Legion Branch 194 with Williams Lake’s ‘Perfect Match.’

(Cindy Nadeau from ‘Perfect Match’ is pictured here with Barb Stanko from the Clinton Legion and new Legion president Marian Nelson.)

A capacity crowd danced in the New Year, and sang ‘Auld Lang Syne’ accompanied by Williams Lake Pipes and Drums member John Visentin.

'Perfect Match' is made up of Cindy Nadeau and LeRae Haynes. They have played for the Stampede Street Party, Celtic Night, tributes to veterans, Harvest Fair, Cowboy Christmas, Canada Day in Boitanio Park, the Royal Canadian Legion and City Council.

The band is booked to play the 145th annual Clinton Ball in May this year—the longest running event of its kind in Canada. The ‘Ball’ features a beautiful sit-down dinner, period costumes and dancing and welcomes guests and dignitaries from around the province.

Cindy and LeRae both have strong roots in the Chilcotin/Coast—Cindy from the Anahim Lake area and LeRae from Bella Coola. They both played music for years, but not with each other. It wasn’t until they both ended up in Williams Lake that they officially met and started singing together.

“We figure that between us we have about 87 years’ singing experience,” Cindy laughed. “Between us we’ve covered a dozen musical genres and sung in places throughout western Canada, the US and Scandinavia." 

Cindy got her start on stage singing and playing guitar when she was about 16 years old, playing all the 'rubber boot' places throughout the east end of Vancouver. LeRae had her first stage experience at age three, singing a duet with her dad (a gospel singer for 25 years) while standing on a chair in a church.  

They describe themselves as 'gleefully illiterate' and have each played a variety of musical instruments in their lives--all without reading a single note of music. LeRae has directed kids musical groups and 'written' arrangements for groups of musical instruments and singers. Cindy had been front singer for bands, has been in music videos and recorded a CD with the 'Cycles.'

“No matter how different our skills and experience, though, it came together when we sang our first few notes together—you can play music all your life but when you find someone who ‘matches’ you when you sing, it’s magic,” Cindy said.

They are performing this weekend for a Ukrainian Christmas event, and later this month for Robbie Burns Night at the Williams Lake Legion.

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