Driven by passion and powered by song, Jackie Bayne Murray has had an affinity for connecting with others through music since she started singing at the age of eight. In 2025, Jackie performed at Heart of the City and for her it was a full circle moment. 

Jackie remembers working at the Boys and Girls Club after moving to Edmonton from Thompson, Manitoba, where she received her undergraduate degree. Giovanni Caboto Park was familiar. “It was a hub of activity. I was front line with the kids; that’s always been what I’ve always wanted to do.” Jackie then moved on to Early Childhood Special Education for the better part of her career. “We were doing a lot of early childhood movement games. We had a tape recorder, we were recording the kids singing and playing it back and building confidence that way.” 

She retired early in 2017. “That really opened up a whole new world for me. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to do what I do now.”

Jackie is a natural performer. “I’m the youngest of five. Both of my sisters were hippies. When I was about 11, my two brothers and two sisters acted out a song, ‘Rocky Racoon’. They acted that out for my 11th birthday.” 

She sang solo singing performances throughout elementary and during high school Jackie sang in the school choir. A teacher she admired recognized her talent and encouraged her to keep pursuing music. 

Eventually, Jackie learned the guitar so she could accompany her own vocals. “We do a lot of house jams. It’s a lot of fun and it’s nice to have a lot of people there.” She says her musical influences are mostly classic rock and music from the ‘70s such as the Talking Heads and Bob Marley and the Wailers.” She describes her early days of playing: “We’d all sing along and jam and if you had a few songs that you wanted to play, you’d get called up there.” Some of the songs she writes speak to her own personal struggles: “Rising through the struggles like a flame of a fire, fueled by your soul, ignited to inspire.”

Her song “Mom is Her Title but Betty is Her Name” is a testament to the love she has for her family. She enjoys bringing music into her granddaughter’s daycare and her mom’s seniors' centre. Alongside performing, she strives to give a hand to aspiring musicians. She will encourage anyone to take advantage of “any opportunity that you get. It’s really hard to build confidence if you’re not going out there and jamming.” More recently, she has played on Friday nights during the summer with Smile-Edmonton, across the street from Hope Mission. Smile-Edmonton is a group that seeks to help Edmonton’s unhoused community.

“It’s not just for performing, but it’s also for peace of mind. It gives me my peace and lessens my stress and brings me back.” Jackie’s band jacquedup plays in pubs, halls, and at community events like Heart of the City. 

Rachael Roberts is a board member with the Heart of the City Festival, where she has volunteered since 2013, and recently joined the board of Boyle McCauley News. She is a mother, a teacher, and a lifelong Edmontonian who loves this community.