Crystal Kolt had a chuckle when she learned she was named one of Manitoba Post’s “15 unsung heroes from Winnipeg and Manitoba.”
“Unsung – I have a lot of people singing to me. I conduct the choir. I find that kind of funny,” she laughed.
Kolt appeared in the article that recognizes “remarkable men and women of our city and province who work hard and quietly in many endeavours” alongside other Manitobans including Myrna Dreidger, the Speaker of the legislature, and Sel Burrows, who received the Order of Manitoba in 2017. In the article Kolt is praised for her hand in organizing Culture Days as well as her commitment to the Flin Flon Community Choir.
Kolt was surprised when she learned she had been featured. She acknowledged many of the ventures she has been part of have come to fruition as a result of teamwork – “I think it’s more of an us than a me,” she said – and admitted she prefers to work under the radar.
“I like doing things just under the surface. Of course I’m running around and people see me when I’m doing things, but it’s always a little uncomfortable,” said Kolt.
“At the same time, I’m always happy when anything outside of Winnipeg is recognized as well. That makes me really kind of proud.”
Kolt’s passion for the arts and for her community has been an asset to Flin Flon. In some ways, she believes living in a smaller community makes her big dreams – such as facilitating the community choir singing at New York’s Lincoln Center – easier to achieve.
“In a big urban centre … you can see all these things happening, but you don’t know how to be a part of it unless you’re part of a team or a group or you have such extraordinary talent that’s been realized,” said Kolt.
“Coming to a place where you would imagine that it’s impossible to achieve, and realizing that it is the other side of the coin where it’s all achievable and fun, and in fact it’s essential for our country to really recognize and realize it and support and grow it in a meaningful way … I think we actually have an obligation not only to ourselves but to the country to engage and support that.”
Kolt said much of her energy comes from connecting with other communities of all sizes to make things happen. She has been happy to collaborate with other communities involved in culture days, and values her network.
“I love that. I think that’s the way to make this country smaller – to get these linkages somehow, and find who our sisters are in philosophy. That energizes me,” she said.
“I get one little call … and I go ‘Holy smokes! There’s somebody else who wants to connect with little old Flin Flon.’” Who knows how that translates? I think it does, eventually, translate into economic development and future sustainability of regions, and, again, conversations.”
Kolt hopes to channel some of that energy into Flin Flon’s Main Street this year, though she hasn’t fully developed the idea, yet. For now, Kolt has her sights on bringing the Flin Flon Community Choir’s production of Le Grande Opera! to fruition in May, though she also hopes to take the Flin Flon Community Choir abroad once more.
“I would like to perform – not just us, in a big chorus – with the London Philharmonic. I think that would be really fun.”
“That’s the thing with connecting with people across the country. If we can get some kind of relationship with someone in Winnipeg or New York or London… why not? It’s a small world.”
