At 80 years of age, Antoinette Knight is still using her musical gifts to give back to the community she loves.
When not playing the organ for morning mass at Church of the Assumption she is otherwise engaged, either offering her musical services for the enjoyment of seniors at Evergreen Extended Care, or volunteering at the Choraleers, a seniors choir she also directed for 50 years.
“I don’t think of it as work,” said Knight. “I just offer up help where I can.”
This model of service has been Knight’s motto since she moved to Powell River from Chilliwack 50 years ago with her family. A teacher by training, she soon found work at Assumption School, offering her services for free when budgets were tight.
“It was one of the only things that kept the school going,” she said. “It helped that the kindergarten teacher offered free daycare for my youngest, who I was still pregnant with at the time.”
Knight taught grade six at the school for 17 years, putting in extra time to direct the children’s choir, in addition to raising her four children, and staying up most nights to knit for the church bazaar. A model of time management, Knight even put in a stint as principal.
“I don’t know why they kept coming to me for things,” she laughed. “I’ve just always been busy all my life.”
Through all of this, Knight still found the time to play music at the local Moose Lodge Hall (now Carlson Community Club). Most Saturday nights she could be found at Powell River Royal Canadian Legion playing piano in a dance band called the Max Five with Danny McMaster.
Although she promised to slow down for her children, as well as her 17 grandchildren, Knight still estimates she puts in over 10 volunteer hours a week.
Knight was recently honoured with a Stewardship Award at Holy Rosary Cathedral for showing extraordinary dedication in her many years of service.
“This generation is so busy taking kids to this practice or that class that they don’t have time for volunteer service,” said Knight. “They are really missing out, as being part of community gives you so much.”
