Canadian to the core and proud of lending a hand, the Wildwood Benefit Concert Group scored another fundraising success.
In the group’s fifth fundraising concert, held Sunday at Carlin Hall, $1,300 was raised for the mudslide/flood victims in Sunnybrae.
Carlin Hall organizers donated the space and funds raised in the concession were also added to the fundraising total.
Spokesperson Jake Jacobson says on Sunday, the group of local musicians who are members of Wildwood, performed about 80 per cent of the recent “Coast-to-Coast-to Coast Thru Music” concert.
Held at the Nexus at First United Church, that concert was a celebration of Canada, with songs from all the provinces and territories as well as First Nations storytelling an dancing.
“The concept was to take people right across Canada in the first act and then take them back home, says Wildwood rep Jake Jacobson, noting the idea was to introduce people to the vast country through songs. “After the concert, a new immigrant to Canada said ‘I understand Canada now,’ which is cool.”
Jacobson describes Wildwood as a ‘loose group of friends,” about 30 musicians, vocalists and techies that have come together over the past six years.
“We love music, we love being of service to the community, so what better way than to combine what we love with helping out in some way,” he said. “It’s rewarding to pull the show together.”
Plans are already under way for next year’s concert to be held in May, with funds going to the Salmon Arm Women’s Shelter.