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Vol. 19, No. 31, Wednesday, June 26, 2024 www.LamontLeader.com
Nestor Pistor still going strong at 90 A love of laughter still drives Don Ast as he proves he “still has it” at the Chipman Hotel BY JOHN MATHER A regular fitness program, completing crossword puzzles to stimulate thinking, and enjoying mingling with people has kept Nestor Pistor performing on stage for more than 50 years. And he’s still going strong at the age of 90. The stage name of Edmonton comedian and singer Don Ast, Pistor brought his standard routine of a soft blue humour and the crooning of classic ballads to the Chipman Hotel June 22, to perform before a sold out audience of about 40-50 patrons. After his 90-minute routine, Pistor sat down and signed autographs on old eight-track recordings and albums people brought from his catalogue, and reminisced about playing a variety of rooms across North America. One man said he had played in a band back in the late ’70s and shared a stage with Pistor twice, once in northern Alberta and then again in a Legion Hall in Calgary. “I don’t play that much anymore,” Pistor said. “But I still do about 50 shows a year, mostly small
intimate rooms like here in Chipman, or things like family reunions, or charity fundraisers.” Other patrons gathered around to have selfies taken or pictures with family members. Pistor thoroughly enjoyed the interaction. “It’s good to know some people still think I’m good,” he laughs. “I cut my first record in 1976,” he said. “I pick and choose what I want to do now. “I’ve known Dave, (Magee, owner of the Chipman Hotel) for several years and we talked and I said yeah let’s do it.” Magee said it was the third time he had brought Pistor to the Cradle of Ukrainian Settlement in Lamont County, but the previous two performances had been at the Chipman Hall. It’s obvious he enjoys performing. “As you can tell, I have as good a time up there as hopefully the audience does,” he chuckles. He said he doesn’t do a blue show. Continued on Page 19
Now 90 years of age, Don Ast, the three time Juno Award nominee with his stage name Nestor Pistor still killed it at the Chipman Hotel on Saturday.
Disappointed fans at church watch party, proud Oilers fans excited for 2025
During a Watch-Party at the Lamont Alliance Church, fans react to a near-second goal for the Oilers in the third period during game seven of the Stanley Cup playoffs on June 24. The Oilers lost the series in a 2-1 defeat during the final game. Photo: Jana Semeniuk
JANA SEMENIUK At least 50 people came out to the Lamont Alliance Church for a special hockey watch party on June 24 where the Oilers endured a devastating loss of 2-1 in game seven of the Stanley Cup Playoffs to the Florida Panthers. The Panthers, meanwhile, are enjoying their first Stanley Cup victory in the franchise’s 30-year history. Instead of hymnals, chants of ‘Let’s Go Oilers’ filled the air inside the church while children waved their homemade ‘Let’s Go Oilers’ signs. Their disappointment as the final horn blew was palpable. Despite the unexpected ending to the hockey season, some fans took to social media to express their gratitude
for the team giving it their all and making the year an exciting one. Messages of ‘Thank you Oilers! You made the city proud’ were posted in addition to ‘Thanks for a memorable season - our fans, your city and your country couldn’t be prouder’. Oilers captain Conner McDavid was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player and became only the sixth player in NHL history to do so without winning the Stanley Cup. At 27, McDavid led the playoffs with 42 points; eight goals and 34 assists, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s playoff assist record of 31. He also had eight points in a two-game span of the same series, making him the first in league history to do so.