Local promoter recognized

Rob Waloschuk of Performance Promotions Ltd. was the recipient of the International Entertainment Buyer of the Year Award at the International Entertainment BuyersAssociation (IEBA) Conference held in Nashville, Tenn. earlier this month.

Woloschuk, who has earned past honours, including through the Canadian Country Music Association, said the recent award is one he greatly respects.

"For me it rates very, very high," he said, adding the reason is because of who made the selection. " This particular award, it's actually voted on by my peers."

Waloschuk said having the IEBA Board of Directors involved in picking the winners, makes receiving the award. "Very, very nice," adding he had not even been aware he had been nominated.

Waloschuk explained the IEBA has been in existence for more than 40-years, with an annual convention held in Nashville annually, which he has been attending semi-regular for about a decade and a half.

"Its players in the business meeting every year to discuss the entertainment industry, trends, what's hot and what's not, how do we set trends," he said.

Waloschuk and wife Shelly own Performance Promotions Ltd, a special events management company based out of Yorkton, SK.

Perhaps best known for producing the Dauphin's Countryfest for the past 21 years, Waloschuk actually has an entertainment promotion resume with events across Western Canada.

"I book a lot of events," he said, pointing to a dozen years booking events for the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, motorsport shows at the Calgary Stampede and Edmonton Exhibition.

Waloschuk said locally people don't necessarily recognize what he does. Even when he promoted a sold out Johnny Reid concert in Yorkton, he also promoted Reid concerts in Dauphin, Brandon and Winnipeg. And, he has more upcoming.

Waloschuk said the IEBA award has people calling him with offers to promote some big name concerts. He said his next local effort will have George Canyon at the Anne Portnuff Theatre on Dec. 4, and he hinted others are close to being announced.