Cramer, Goodon make CBC’s Future 40 list

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This article was published 23/11/2018 (2739 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For Graydon Cramer, teaching music isn’t just a job — it’s something he believes can create positive change in the world.

The Waverly Park School music teacher has been recognized by the CBC in its Future 40 list for his work with music education in Brandon and contributions to the music community across Manitoba. The list celebrates Manitobans under the age of 40 who are working to make the province a better place for future generations.

Hunter Goodon, a Métis youth and former Brandon Wheat Kings player, was also recognized on the Future 40 list.

Cramer said it’s “quite an honour” for him to be recognized for his work in this way. He said teaching someone music is something he truly loves and something he has always wanted to do.

“I always knew I loved music and I loved teaching, so by the time I got to about high school age that profession kind of made sense to me,” he said.

In addition to teaching Grade 7 and Grade 8 band, Cramer is also an associate board member of the Brandon Schools Instrumental Music Association, represents the Westman area on the Association of Music Administrators of Manitoba board, is treasurer of the Westman Band Directors Association and plays in multiple jazz bands.

“I think that learning music must be about the best possible thing you can do for a young developing mind,” Cramer said. “ It really gets the brain, and the body, and the mind, and the spirit and all those things all going together at the same time. From a learning and an educational aspect it’s super beneficial.”

Cramer said there is also a social element to music as well in terms of helping kids form relationships and communicate with each other.

“In Brandon we have a really close family of teachers, so I guess the most rewarding part of this is that my coworkers that I value so much kind of appreciate and value what I’m doing too,” he said.

Goodon said he never expected to actually make the final list.

“I was looking at some of the other names of the finalists and some of their stores, and it’s a pretty unbelievable group of people, so I’m just really happy and honoured to be within the group,” he said.

A Brandon University student, Goodon was recognized for his work volunteering at Métis cultural events and in Brandon General Hospital’s imaging diagnostic and emergency departments. He said that he hopes to study medicine in university and eventually become a paediatric oncologist.

“I guess I’ve learned a lot about the social aspect of health over the past couple years and it kind of motivated me, like when I’m a physician hopefully one day, to address those issues.”

He said he’s working on applying for an Aboriginal Ambassadors scholarship which would allow him to travel in northern Manitoba talking about why it’s important for Indigenous youth to go into medicine.

“If they were to enter into health care … they might actually come back to one of these northern communities and practice, which I think would help improve things up there.”

Goodon said he was nominated by his dad for the award.

“I didn’t really expect to win it at all, so it was definitely a pleasant surprise.”

» dmay@brandonsun.com

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