2002 Inductees: James Leslie Collis
Category: Administrative/Support
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The name, JAMES LESLIE COLLIS, may not ring quite true to many who are here tonight. He was rarely, if ever, referred to in that way. To everyone who knew him he was simply "LES".
Les was born in Harbour Grace in 1918. At a mere four years of age he began piano lessons under the tutelage of Flora Parsons, who, herself, was a student of Sister Loretta Croake of the Presentation Sisters. Sister Croake was a strong supporter of Les' talent, and had a very strong influence on his pursuit of music.
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His love for music was innate. While still in his teens he took the exams for the Junior, Senior, and Higher Local at Trinity College, and won First Place at both the Junior and Higher Local levels. Although he did not pursue a career as a professional musician, his love of music remained with him always, and was, as is well known, a major component of his life until he died.
He eventually joined the family business, A. L. Collis & Son, which had been established in Harbour Grace in 1910. When his father died in 1940, Les took over the business and moved to St. John's in 1954.
The St. John's Kiwanis Music Festival at that time was in its infancy, and still a fairly small operation, though growing at a rapid pace. By the time the Festival moved to the Arts and Culture Centre, it had become a major cultural event in the city, and Les Collis' piano business was becoming a major player. (No pun intended.) He became a very active supported of the Festival by supplying pianos on loan completely free of charge. He also provided all tuning services which were an integral part of competition at such a high level. Collis' pianos and tuning services became just as much a part of each Festival as the presentation of awards or the President's reception. He continued this practice until his death in March, 1982. A scholarship is awarded each year in his name to a participant in the Festival who excels in piano competition.
Knowing full well that his business demanded all of his time, he never became a Kiwanian. He realized that he would not be able to devote the time that was required by this worldwide service organization. But in his heart and in his actions he was as much a hard- working Kiwanian as anyone who paid his annual dues. His support for Kiwanis in general and for the St. John's Kiwanis Music Festival has been well documented over the years. Now, as the Festival enters its second half-century as a cultural fixture in this city, it is time to pay tribute to those who have helped in no small way to make it the success it has become. Les Collis is one of those people.
It is with great pleasure that we induct MR. JAMES LESLIE (LES) COLLIS into the Kiwanis Music Festival Association of St. John's HALL OF HONOUR, in the ADMINISTRATION/SUPPORT CATEGORY.
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