For almost 20 summers, Norm Lehman, sporting a goatee, waxed moustache and crisp white uniform, marched at the head of the North Battleford parade with the North Battleford City Kinsmen Band setting the tone of the festivities with a lively Sousa march.
This colourful showman arrived from Regina in 1951 to serve as an assistant to friend and band founder Robbie Robinson. His impressive credentials included performing as a coronet soloist for 12 years with the Regina Rifles Band, enlisting and serving five years as a Royal Air Force Bandmaster.
North Battleford's Outstanding Youth Movement was the label used when referring to North Battleford City Kinsmen Band. Wayne Jenner said. "Norm Lehman bands marched in perfect alignment, eyes straight ahead, horns up, and tucked under when not in use He was a firm disciplinarian, however, well respected by his members."
The influence of this man's competitive spirit on his students was reflected by the results. The band was a three-time winner at the Saskatoon Exhibition Parade and competed in the Calgary Stampede Parade in 1955, 1956 and 1958 winning the coveted T. Eaton trophy and the red ribbon for best band in the competition.
During the royal visit of 1959 the band performed in Biggar for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. The scheduled 10-minute whistle stop had to be extended to 20 minutes. At this performance, Her Majesty remarked to one of the officials, "Where do they come from and where did they learn to play like that?"
During the late 1950s and into the 1960s, the city witnessed the debut of the City Kinsmen Band's presentation on ice in the rink that at present is the Bowlarena. Band on ice presented a significant challenge as one former band member recalls. "This task proved to be a little tough, particularly for those of us who had not skated." Always the innovator, Lehman brought this unique performance to spectators throughout the province.
The '60s were filled with highlights. The Moose Jaw International Band Festival presented a great opportunity for Lehman to showcase his band's talent, winning individually and with the fancy drill marches. These routines were set to music such as the Hawaiian War Chant, Yellow Bird and El Capitan, to name a few.
In Canada's centennial year the band traveled to Montreal for Expo '67 to represent Saskatchewan. The Lehman era culminated with the first performance put on by a rural band at the Centennial Auditorium in Saskatoon, combining with the North Battleford Centennial Choir under the direction of Sheila Osborne.
For some years the band had a sign claiming "The Best Band in the Land (?)" After years of success across Saskatchewan and Alberta, the question mark was deemed unnecessary.
Across the hall from Norm's office was his workshop, where with a vise, soldering gun and plenty of spare parts he worked tirelessly to ensure all members had working instruments.
Wages of the day for a director of a band necessitated a supplemental trade. Lehman also worked as a barber at Ralph's Barber Shop. The joke was he got $50 a month and all the hair he could cut. An alumnus, Jack Ross, recalls a trip to the barbershop with his father. While getting his hair cut, Jack expressed his lifelong wish to be a drummer. Lehman said to him "Got a drum waiting for you!" and to the band hall he went, wish fulfilled.
John Norman Lehman passed away March 3, 1971 at the age of 62. He had made North Battleford his home for 20 years and made the city a better place. Different bandmasters have brought different qualities to the band over its 63-year history, but none have committed to the band and the community as Norm Lehman did. A former band member, Garnet Speer, remarked, "We always wondered if another Norm Lehman would come along."
The North Battleford City Kinsmen Band generously donated their archival material to the City of North Battleford Historic Archives. If anyone wishes to donate material, the archives can be reached at 445-1786 or by email at Archives@cityofnb.ca.
For more articles pertaining to the history of North Battleford, check out the archives' Facebook page, "City of North Battleford Historic Archives" and the City website - http://www.cityofnb.ca/city_government/archives.html.
-Terry Lumsdon is an archives committee member and Taryn Jackson is a summer student
