As we head into our 35th year at Downhome, we’re taking a trip down memory lane. Every month for the next 12 months we’ll unearth a little snippet of Downhome history to give you a glimpse into what was on our radar way back when. Here’s one of the stories we ran in June 1988, our premier issue.
Emile Benoit to Receive Degree
Emile Benoit, one of Port au Port’s most famous citizens, will receive an honorary degree at the spring convocation at Memorial University on May 27.
Jim Hodder, MHA for the district, said Emile will receive his honorary Doctor of Laws degree and will then be known as Dr. Emile Benoit, LLD. He said Emile has become a well-known ambassador for the Port au Port Peninsula and for Newfoundland.
“He is an acknowledged master of the fiddle, both as aplayer and composer. He has played in festivals across Canada, the United States and France, and has just recently returned from a festival in New Orleans,” said Hodder, who added that his personal preference is the first album in which Emile composed and recorded the Jim Hodder Reel.
The MHA said Emile is well deserving of this honorary degree.
