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The Six String Nation guitar and related projects were conceived in 1995 by Peabody Award winning writer and broadcaster Jowi Taylor, inspired by the looming Quebec Referendum of that year and by the commitment of luthier George Rizsanyi to the value of Canadian woods over the usually preferred exotics. After years of community dialogue, research and fundraising, the guitar made its official debut at the Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in the hands of Stephen Fearing, Colin James, Michel Pagliaro, Stars, Aselin Debison, Kyle Riabko, Jean-Francois Breau and others on July 1st, 2006. Since then, it’s travelled many thousands of kilometers across Canada, been played by hundreds of different musicians and been held by thousands of Canadians – players and non-players alike – at festivals, schools, concerts and community events in a growing number of places around the country. At a ceremony launching the 2008 Festival du Voyageur in Winnipeg-St. Boniface, the guitar received the official nickname Voyageur – a moniker suggested by contest entrant Lt. Col. Susan Beharriel who attended the ceremony.

Voyageur itself is made from 63 pieces of Canadian history and heritage representing many different cultures, communities and characters from all across the country. A further handful of elements adorn the strap and the interior of the guitar-case. These materials were gathered primarily by Taylor over a two year period thanks to the generosity of individuals, corporations and public institutions in every part of the country. All materials were shipped to Nova Scotia and the guitar was crafted by luthier George Rizsanyi near Pinehurst between April and June of 2006 with inlay work and other assistance by Sara Nasr.

The goals of the Six String Nation project are simple: to invite the many voices and perspectives that together define the spectrum of Canadian identity and experience to speak to one another – each in their own voice; to celebrate the people and stories that make each part of Canada distinct; to tell the story of a country from the roots to the trunk rather than the other way around; and to encourage us to tell that story to ourselves and the world through music – the language that Canada speaks just about better than anyone else in the world.

-From the Publisher

Time: Thursday, October 14 @ 11:30am – 2:30pm

Free event, Held at the NSCC Library on Akerley Campus