2026 Jim Hill Festival Builder Award Winner: Helen Crowther

For more than 15 years, Helen Crowther played an instrumental role in shaping the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival experience as the volunteer Artist Hospitality Coordinator. Through her dedication, meticulous attention to detail, and personal approach to artist care, she helped establish the festival as one of the most welcoming and artist-centered events in Canada.

Helen understood that true hospitality goes beyond logistics; it is about creating an environment where artists, crews, and volunteers/staff feel equally valued and respected. A lifelong volunteer, she recognized that festivals like SaskJazz depend on committed community members, and she led by example. Each year, she devoted vacation time to work from early morning to late night, while spending months in advance coordinating artist riders, liaising with teams, and recruiting, training, and
scheduling volunteers.

Her impact is reflected in the lasting impressions she left on artists. When Buddy Guy returned in 2009, he remarked, “Oh yeah, this is the place that treats me so well,” recalling the care he received during his 2007 visit. Little Richard publicly thanked Helen onstage in 2005 and led the audience in singing her happy birthday. Macy Gray personally called her after departing Saskatoon to express appreciation for the care she and her band received.

Helen was known for going above and beyond. She once gave a musician the shirt off her back when they admired her volunteer t-shirt. She approached every situation with care, including supporting artists with specific accessibility needs, such as Jeff Healey.

Helen fostered a culture of camaraderie, accountability, and pride, understanding that collaboration across all departments was key to the festival’s success. Helen is famously known for loving her birthday, which almost always fell during the festival. She became synonymous with donning a birthday tiara while continuing her work and became known as Queen Helen, with the staff creating her festival pass/ID with that name.

Helen’s involvement came to an end following a stage 4 cancer diagnosis ten years ago (which she faced and survived with the same can-do attitude she brought to the festival), but her legacy continues. The culture of care, excellence, and community she built remains embedded in the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival today.

Helen Crowther exemplifies the true spirit of a Festival Builder. Through her leadership, compassion, and dedication, she not only contributed to the festival’s success, she helped define it.