Dust off your dancing shoes, Campbell Riverites, and get ready to rock.
This summer, the legendary Cod Jiggers Stomp, a cabaret of music and comedy guaranteed to get you grooving, returns to Strathcona Gardens Recreation Complex on Friday, June 30. The Campbell River Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Strathcona Regional District have partnered to bring this historic event back to the community in honour of Canada’s 150th birthday and the Salmon Festival’s 50th anniversary,
The Cod Jiggers Stomp was originally part of the Campbell River Salmon Festival. The festival was created in 1967, but it was not until 1973 that festival planners introduced the first Cod Jiggers Stomp. The event was held at the new-at-the-time Strathcona Gardens arena, and tickets were $3 each. The Cod Jiggers Stomp grew to be such a popular event that, by 1979, ticket sales were limited to six per person to avoid severe scalping, as noted by the Salmon Festival Society.
“It was the event of the year,” recalls Hector Dubois, Aerie president of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Campbell River. “People would come from all over for this event and they danced the night away. It was a great summer party and the arena was always packed with people.”
Artists such as the iconic Canadian singer-songwriter k.d. lang, the Oakridge Boys, Waylon Jennings, Bobby Curtola, Buddy Knox, the Coasters and the Platters have all graced the stage of the Cod Jiggers Stomp.
Bringing back the event started as an idea for a Canada 150 celebration. Although it did not meet all the criteria to be designated as an official Canada 150 event, the more people heard about it, the more people were excited to make this happen.
“Early on, we contacted the Salmon Festival Society to see if they had any plans to bring back the Cod Jiggers Stomp,” says Shawna Olsen, event coordinator at Strathcona Gardens. “When we learned the Campbell River Fraternal Order of Eagles was interested and had also approached the Salmon Festival Society for the same reason, we connected with the Eagles and agreed to partner with them to revive this popular community event.”
This year’s edition of the Cod Jiggers Stomp will feature local artists Completely Creedence (a widely popular Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band) and The Fabulous Mutts (a five-piece rock/rhythm and blues/soul music band featuring Juno award winner Sue Medley) and comic-musician Johnny Bagpipes (a comic collision of rock and roll and the bagpipes) who hails from Langford, B.C. Tickets are $25 and the doors open at 7:30 p.m. This is a licensed event and, as such, no minors will be allowed in the venue.
Tickets are available at Strathcona Gardens, the Eagles Hall, Strathcona Toyota, Balloons ‘N’ More Party Shop, and Red’s Hair Saloon in Black Creek.
The event is sponsored by Strathcona Toyota, which is providing a designated driver service on the evening of the event, and radio stations 99.7 2Day FM and 98.9 The Goat.
