His legs hurt.
asserted
legs → hurt → ?
His arthritis is acting up.
asserted
arthritis → act → ?
But 91-year-old Walter Ostanek mustered up the strength to come back to Oktoberfest in Kitchener, one last time.
asserted
Ostanek → muster → Kitchener
After playing the festival for decades, he wanted 2025 to be his final appearance, but he gave in to requests and agreed to return this year for a send-off befitting his stature within not just Oktoberfest, but the Canadian music world.
asserted
he → play → Oktoberfest
“You gotta have a dream,” he told the Star in an interview backstage.
asserted
he → got → interview
“The dream is, I wanted to be a polka star.
asserted
I → want → ?
I love polka music.
asserted
I → love → music
And that’s how you get things, is by giving.”
asserted
you → get → things
During the opening ceremonies at Willkommen Platz on Friday, Ostanek was anointed an honorary lifetime member of the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, an annual festival celebrating all things Bavarian, from beer and schnitzel to traditional music.
asserted
Ostanek → anoint → music
Ostanek kicked off the festival by participating in the beloved ritual of tapping the keg.
asserted
Ostanek → kick → keg
“WAL-ter! WAL-ter! WAL-ter!” the crowd cheered as he ascended the stage.
asserted
he → cheer → stage
An announcer touted his many achievements, including releasing more than 50 albums.
asserted
announcer → tout → albums
“106 albums!” Ostanek piped up from his seat on the stage.
asserted
Ostanek → pip → stage
He’s also received many Grammy nominations, the announcer said.
asserted
announcer → receive → nominations
“21 nominations!” Ostanek crowed.
asserted
Ostanek → crow → ?
He won three.
asserted
He → win → three
(He likes to mention that the last time he went to the Grammys, he got a photo with both Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood.)
asserted
he → like → Swift
Ostanek also was appointed to the Order of Canada, has received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame and a SOCAN Lifetime Achievement Award, and has appeared on many TV shows, including “The Phil Donahue Show” alongside legendary bandleader Lawrence Welk.
asserted
Ostanek → appoint → Welk
He even played for Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show.”
asserted
He → play → Show
He started his first band in 1957 and has been playing the accordion ever since, even inspiring the Schmenge Brothers sketches on “SCTV.”
asserted
He → start → SCTV
Many Ontarians have grown up with Ostanek.
asserted
Ontarians → grow → Ostanek
Festival attendee Kevin LaFlamme said he has been watching Ostanek play since 1967.
asserted
Ostanek → say → 1967
“He’s a constant,” said LaFlamme, who is sad that Ostanek’s long-running Oktoberfest appearances are coming to an end.
asserted
appearances → ’ → end
“It’s not just music,” he said.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
“It’s an event.”
asserted
It → ’ → ?
Wendy Relf, sporting a feathered “Kiss me, I’m German!” cap, remembers going to Kitchener’s Queensmount Arena as a kid, watching Ostanek play fun German music, and dancing with her parents.
asserted
Ostanek → sport → parents
(He performed there for 42 years, he said.)
asserted
he → perform → years
She has brought her own kids to Oktoberfest over the years.
asserted
She → bring → years
Another woman beside her shot numerous photos and videos of Ostanek performing, then texted them to someone with the message “91 years young.”
asserted
Ostanek → shoot → message
Backstage, Ostanek told the Star he now uses a cane and a walker and needs help carrying his accordion.
asserted
he → tell → accordion
“I’m 91 years old.
asserted
I → ’m → ?
From the middle up, I’m still pretty sharp,” he said.
asserted
he → ’m → middle
“But I’m hurting and I just can’t do it no more.
asserted
I → hurt → it
It’s not that I don’t want to.
asserted
I → ’ → ?
It’s just I can’t.
asserted
I → ’ → ?
You gotta know, as they say, where to fold them and where to hold them — that’s it, you know.”
asserted
you → got → them
Despite his chronic pain and health challenges, Ostanek is still remarkably jolly, joking onstage that the pacemaker he had implanted after multiple bypasses helped him keep time.
asserted
him → joke → time
“This is my last hurrah this weekend, even if I don’t want to (stop performing),” he said.
asserted
he → want → ?
“But even at 91, I’ll make you happy a little bit.”
asserted
you → make → 91
Several people in the crowd shouted, “We love you!” as Ostanek launched into treasured tunes like “The Happy Wanderer” and “Wooden Heart.”
asserted
Ostanek → shout → Wanderer
…and 6 more, not listed.
The Aporia
