South Peace Historical Society

    • Home
    • About / Contact Us
    • About Dorthea Horton
    • About This Collection
    • Bibliography
    • Brief History of the Peace
    • Credits
    • South Peace Historical Society Archives (External Link)
  • Table of Contents

    • Part 1: First Nations of the Peace River Region
    • Part 2: The Fur Trade Era
    • Part 3: Transportation and Communication
    • Part 4: Old Timers and the Price of Land
    • Part 5: Dawson Creek: The Story of the Community
    • Part 6: Mysteries, Adventures and Indian Legends
    • Part 7: Arts, Crafts and Recreation
    • Part 8: Agriculture
    • Part 9: Church Histories
    • Part 10: Schools
    • Part 11: Health Care
    • Part 12: Industries and Enterprises
    • Part 13: Policing the Peace
    • Part 14: Pouce Coupe, Rolla, and Other South Peace Communities
    • Part 15: Chetwynd and the Fort St. John Area
    • Part 16: The Alberta Peace
    • Part 17: Natural History of the Peace River Region
    • Part 18: Interviews with Old Timers
    • Part 19: Remembering Our Veterans

  •  

BN07-15: Ben Heppner Proud of Order of Canada Honour

Recent History – 1999

July 19, 1999

By Kelly Henschel, Daily News Staff

Ben Heppner is catching up on his housekeeping.

“It may seem glamorous to you,” says the world-renowned tenor, just in from a seven-hour flight from London where he was recording his newest album. “Unfortunately, we have to do our laundry too,” he laughs ruefully.

As opera music plays softly in the background at his Toronto home, Heppner, once a resident of Dawson Creek, takes time from his chores to chat about his latest achievement.

At the age of 42, Heppner has been awarded the Order of Canada, joining the prestigious ranks of recipients including Celine Dion, Peter Gzowski and Lloyd Robertson. Created in 1967, the Order of Canada recognizes the lifetime achievement of people who have made a difference in the country.

It seems too early to be receiving such as honour, Heppner says.

However, he muses, “I had also said a short time ago that I felt too young to be sending my oldest daughter off to college this year.”

While Heppner now lives in Ontario with his wife and three children, he grew up in Dawson Creek and got his start singing in church and at various community events.

“People gave me opportunity and endured some not-so-good performances,” he says. “Those are really important to what eventually happened.”

In actual fact, he adds, in his early years he didn’t really enjoy the type of music he is now known for.

“I didn’t like opera at all when I was in Dawson Creek,” he says. When a music instructor suggested he could possibly make his living singing opera, he laughed.

“It seemed like such a ridiculous idea,” he laughs. “I couldn’t possibly imagine that!”

However, the graduate of South Peace Secondary School went on to study music at the University of British Columbia and in 1979 won the CBC Talent Festival, gaining national recognition. In 1988 he came to international attention, receiving top honours at the Metropolitan Opera Auditions.

He hasn’t looked back since and his web site shows proof, citing numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy and a Juno.

However, Heppner says, the Order of Canada is one-of-a-kind.

“I have to say this one is special because I proudly wear the label of Canadian and I’m very proud of my roots here,” says the singer. “I’m probably the proudest of the order of Canada.”

However proud he may be, Heppner downplays his success, crediting a strong faith and supportive family life as helping him achieve his current prominence.

“I have a very supportive home life to do this type of work,” he says, fielding another call on the line from his wife Karen, whom he hasn’t seen in over two weeks.

“My faith sustains me through the rough times,” he adds. “It’s not always sweetness and light.”

Currently Heppner has finished recording his newest release, My Secret Heart.

This article is taken from the Peace River Block Daily News, Dawson Creek, with the permission of the publisher. The Daily News retains all rights relating to this material. The information in this article is intended solely for research or general interest purposes.

« BN07-14: Garry Oker at Native Arts and Crafts Show

BN07-16: La Forge Loves to Paint God’s Creation »

© 2023 South Peace Historical Society. All Rights Reserved.