Artists on Rails brings children’s performer to town

Dawn Bissett had a busy schedule ahead of her when she got off the train in Jasper last week, but it’s nothing she’s not used to.

The Edmonton musician, songwriter and instructor brought her talent to town as part of Via Rail’s Artists on Rails program, and started Friday with two musical engagements at the Jasper Centre for Early Childhood Learning and Care before playing a show at the Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre.

Since coming to town last year, Bissett has shifted from her administrative role at the University of Alberta to a full-time career visiting classrooms to teach children through music.

She got started teaching youngsters after playing music for her own young son and finding what a great experience it was.

“It’s fun, I really get to stretch my creative wings writing songs, designing activities, the children just fill your joy component right up,” she said. “The rewards are many.”

On top of that, Bissett performs for adults and leads guitar lessons, and does musical shows for children with a group called Time Flies. “We do things that are unexpected, we break down barriers,” Bissett said. “We like to think we’re taming the musical frontier.”

Last year’s ride on the rails got Bissett’s creativity rolling. “When it comes to Jasper, it’s very inspirational to be here,” she said. “The rhythm of the train is what got me started.”

Another piece to the song-writing puzzle was a young woman Bissett met in the train station, who was moving to town by herself.

“She was so full of optimism, opportunity, it contrasted with the steadfast mountains,” Bissett said. “These were huge changes for her, but it wasn’t influencing the mountains. The more things change, the more they stay the same.”