Family
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← Previous revision | Revision as of 03:59, 29 April 2024 |
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| ==Family== | ==Family== |
| Ida Heller was born in Golden Prairie Saskatchewan to a solid farm family of German immigrants. Her parents emigrated to Canada with a number of children – Ida’s older siblings – and settled in the southwestern corner of Saskatchewan, where Ida "*****" to school often by horseback in the summer, and by horse-drawn sled in the winter. | Ida Heller, born in Golden Prairie, Saskatchewan, to German immigrant parents, grew up in the southwestern corner of the province. She attended school, commuting by horseback during the summer and by horse-drawn sled in the winter. After her parents retired from farming, the family relocated to Medicine Hat, Alberta, where Ida completed her schooling and began her career at the Royal Bank of Canada. |
| In 1956, Ida moved to Edmonton and resumed her employment with the Royal Bank before transitioning to work at the Edmonton office of MUZAK. Subsequently, she joined McConnell, Eastman, one of Canada's prominent advertising agencies, in Edmonton. | |
| In 1957, Ida became involved with the Orion Musical Theatre in Edmonton and Calgary, initially as a chorus member and later as a vocal soloist. It was there that she met Tommy Banks, the musical director, with whom she formed a vocal quartet and later married in 1959. | |
| On their retirement from active farming, the parents and family (minus one brother who stayed on the farm) moved to Medicine Hat Alberta where Ida finished her schooling, and went to work for the Royal Bank of Canada. In 1956 Ida decided to move to Edmonton, where she resumed employment with the Royal Bank. | |
| Over the years, Ida and Tommy welcomed three children into their family: Toby, Tom Jr., and Jill. Tragically, they lost Toby in 2001, which deeply affected their lives. Both Tom Jr. and Jill pursued careers in the teaching profession. | |
| Ida then moved to operate the Edmonton office of MUZAK in its early years. | |
| In 1969, Ida assumed ownership and management of Banks Associated Music Ltd., a talent agency originally founded by Tommy. Under her leadership, the agency flourished, becoming the largest and busiest talent agency between Toronto and Vancouver. Ida's dedication to the agency and the artists it represented was remarkable, and she played a pivotal role in its success. | |
| In addition to her professional endeavors, Ida was actively involved in various community organizations, including Beta Sigma Phi and the Edmonton Musical Theatre. She also contributed her time to numerous community initiatives and fundraising campaigns, including the CKUA Radio Network fundraising campaign, where she served as co-chair alongside her husband, Tommy, for Northern Alberta. | |
| The advertising business called next, and Ida moved to work in the Edmonton offices of McConnell, Eastman, then one of Canada's major advertising agencies. | |
| After a successful career in the talent agency business, Ida has since retired. She now looks forward to enjoying her retirement by indulging in her hobbies, traveling with her husband, and savoring life's simple pleasures. | |
| In 1957 Ida joined Orion Musical Theatre and performed in several of the stage shows in Edmonton and Calgary. She was a chorus member and then a vocal soloist. There she met Orion’s musical director Tommy Banks, who drafted her into a vocal quartet and simultaneously began a three-year courtship, finally convincing her to take a chance. The vocal quartet performed on a live national television program on October 2nd, and they were married on October 3rd, 1959. | |
| In July 1960, Toby, their first daughter was born; followed by their son Tom Jr., and daughter Jill. The loss of Toby in 2001 was a devastating event in the family’s life. Tom Jr. and Jill are both proud members of the teaching profession. | |
| In 1969, Ida took over the ownership and management of Banks Associated Music Ltd., a talent agency that had been started years earlier by Tommy, who had found it necessary to leave it because of other business. The company had struggled under an uneven succession of managers; and when the then-most-recent one left, Tommy was bemoaning the necessity of training yet another manager. | |
| Ida made the company into the busiest and largest talent agency between Toronto and Vancouver. At its peak, the agency’s staff of nine represented more than two hundred artists in engagements from the Lakehead to Victoria. | |
| Ida was involved for years with Beta Sigma Phi, serving as president for two terms. She served on the board of Edmonton Musical Theatre, which had been formed by her dear friend the late Dr. Dasha Goody. She contributed her time and energy to many worthwhile community undertakings; all while running her agency, almost single-handedly raising three children, and maintaining many close friendships. Ida and husband Tommy were co-chairs for Northern Alberta (with Mr. and Mrs. Lougheed for Southern Alberta) of the successful CKUA Radio Network fundraising campaign. | |
| Ida has now retired from the talent agency business, with a view to spending some time to smell flowers, and travel more frequently with her peripatetic husband. | |
| ==Education== | ==Education== |
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