FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2020
WEYBURN THIS WEEK - PAGE 15
Cleo Coderre decides to hang up his guitars, sell Music Craft
By Sabrina Kraft After 40 years in the business, Cleo Coderre is taking a step back from owning and operating Music Craft. “It is time for me to hang up my guitars. My plan is to just sell the retail side of the business and continuing on with installations and live sound production.” Music Craft is a unique little store on Railway Avenue, and is known for many Weyburn musicians, music teachers and students, and local bands “One of my favorite memories would have been the teaching guitar lessons. You meet all these people, and you make a lot of friends. That was a highlight for me,” said Coderre. “Serving the community was a pleasure for me. I appreciate how the community has supported me over the years.” With live sound production, Cleo has volunteered his time with many community organizations, including Communithon, Crocus 80, Fiddle Contest, Wheat Festival, Concert Series, Concert Jam, Family Place, Chamber of Commerce events, and local churches and schools. “A person could take that for granted, but as I look back it is events and local customers and local trade in the area that kept me in business. Without their support, there would
not have been a music store. Local people are really loyal customers,” said Coderre. “I made a lot of connections with the local musicians and the local bands,” noted Coderre. “I like music, I enjoy playing, and I played with a lot of the musicians who came through the store. It is a good feeling to have that connection, because out of all that time you make friends, that become friends forever. You bond over the music and it ends up being a friendship.” “My business is a perfect example of enduring the economic times. People have been shopping local, which is great. Those people have kept me here, to this point, which is really appreciated. I just hope that someone comes forward to take over the retail side of Music Craft.” As he takes a step back from being an entrepreneur, Coderre said “I will really miss my students; they have been a huge side of my life. I will also miss my employees; I have had lot of employees who worked here, and they all have been really good people.” “I also really appreciated the support of the local piano teachers and the students, who kept the printed music department of the store alive. We made great friends there too,” added Coderre.
Many friendships formed through love of music
Photo — Sabrina Kraft
Cleo Coderre posed alongside the display of guitars at Music Craft, a business he will be selling after 40 years in operation. He will be selling the retail side of the shop, but will still do sound installations in the future. One unique feature of Music Craft is that they still sell piano music sheets.
Career fairs goes virtual for Southeast College
Career fairs and student recruitment events may look different this fall, but residents can be certain that Southeast College will still provide the best experience possible for their students and prospective students. Southeast College hosted their 2020 Virtual Career Fairs for students of the Southeast Cornerstone
Public School Division on October 27. Advisors were on hand to answer questions on various topics including funding, and admittance procedures. For any students who missed the Virtual Career Fair, where will be a Student Service Advisor available via Zoom every Wednesday evening until Nov. 25, to answer post-
secondary questions. There are two time frames to choose from, so that local students preparing for post-secondary education can find a day and time that fits their schedule. Upcoming times include today, October 28, from 6 to 7 p.m., or 7 to 8 p.m.; and those same times on Wednesday, Nov. 4; Wednesday, Nov. 18; and
Wednesday, Nov. 25. The Zoom invite link is available on the Southeast College’s website, which is www.southeastcollege.org. Students at the Southeast College receive valuable hands-on postsecondary education and are expertly trained for careers in a wide variety of fields, with an emphasis on trades and technology.
