Canuck Place Children’s Hospice Concerts

The first time I visited Canuck Place Children’s Hospice was in 2016. It was a school trip, and my choir was to sing Christmas carols at the hospice. We were taught that we could not enter the building for the childrens’ safety, so we sang to them on the porch. But as we were singing, I was promptly moved to tears. I saw this girl who wore the biggest smile, had the kindest eyes, and was so full of energy. But strapped to her back was an oxygen tank. It occurred to me that the joy emanating from this little girl, much like life itself, was ephemeral. As humans, our lives are lived in constant preparation for the future—it isn't until we're confronted with the finitude of time that we learn to make meaning of our present. And so, I felt compelled to share as much kindness and warmth with these children as I could, to communicate my love through my music, to bring them the same joy that smile had brought me.

That day, I vowed that I would find a way to help children like her. Over the next couple of years, I began building my repertoire, and in 2019, I held my first charity concert for them, raising $3,660. However, in 2021, when I began to plan for my second CPCH concert, I hit roadblock after roadblock in the form of COVID-19 restrictions. People told us that getting a live in-person audience was unfeasible and that we needed to wait for the pandemic to be over to host another concert. But my resolve, hardened by that smile and those hopeful children, wouldn't let me stop there. I moved my concert online and raised $4,060. Since then, I have held concerts for Canuck Place annually, raising over $43,430, and I plan on continuing for years to come.