Aaron Pritchett, who spent 1977 to 1982 being raised in Kitimat, returned to his roots to perform in front of the hometown crowd on October 20, part of the Lets Talk Energy forum held at Mount Elizabeth Theatre.
It was a good time back in Kitimat for the country-music singer, who hadn’t seen the town for 23 years.
“Coming back was pretty amazing, and I never really spent time like I’m going to spend this time here, since about ‘82, really,” he said.
So what does Pritchett think about how the town has developed?
“So much is the same. Driving down Haisla [Boulevard] and the trees looked like they haven’t grown, but I like that...it’s familiarity,” he said. “I feel comfortable with coming back.”
He did notice a few things missing, namely Kitimat’s former hospital. And the appearance of a Tim Horton’s didn’t pass his notice.
Pritchett can’t claim that much of his path to writing hit Canadian country music singles started in Kitimat, but he did know he always wanted to be in the entertainment business.
He even noted the room he gave his interview in, the drama room at Mount Elizabeth Middle Secondary School, was a room he knew from growing up in town.
“I gained more of a country thing when I moved down there [Vancouver] and started listening to Randy Travis in about ‘87. Still, I was a closet listener, not a lot of people listening to country music even then.”
But at 43 years, Pritchett is approaching a more sentimental time in his life.
“As I’m getting older you sort of go ‘man, I really miss that place.’”
Pritchett brought his son Jordan with him, who joined him on stage to sing a song, his son’s first time performing with his dad.
“The idea of coming back here in the first place is always something I’ve wanted to do, just never found the means and the time,” he added. “When it came up that they wanted me to be a showcase entertainer for the event, I jumped at it, of course I’m not going to turn that down.”
Pritchett admits he doesn’t keep up to date on everything that’s been happening in town, when asked given that he was performing at an energy event.
But he does find forums like this valuable to people.
“I think an event like today is necessary for people to get a better idea of what’s possibly going to be happening,” he said.