Ruth Jones McVeigh was a driving force behind the creation of a community-oriented musical gathering that’s withstood location changes and financial challenges to become one of the longest-running folk festivals in North America.
Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger among early performers at festival founded in 1961
Listen to this article
Estimated 6 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Ruth Jones McVeigh, co-founder of Canada’s influential and venerable Mariposa Folk Festival, has died at the age of 99.
Jones McVeigh, who died Wednesday in Ottawa, was a driving force behind the creation of the enduring, community-oriented annual musical gathering that’s withstood location changes and financial challenges to become one of the longest-running folk festivals in North America.
Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan are among the scores of artists who attended the festival since its founding in 1961 and graced its stages.
“It has just grown to be such a cultural phenomenon that I think most people do know — at least they’ve heard of — Mariposa, if they haven’t attended it,” said Michael Hill, a former artistic director of the Orillia, Ont.-based festival who also wrote a book about its storied history.
“And that’s all thanks to Ruth.”
