Celebrating “Oh Canada” ‘live’!

Peter’s last concert leg of a phenomenal 2009 touring year is winding it’s way through Peace River Country in NW Alberta. Though Peter is playing some bigger, soft seater halls these days... every day on-the-road brings a new heartwarming story of the truly wonderful things that happen in elementary schools. At EE Oliver School in Fairview, one moment, almost 400 students would be pin-drop silent during one of Peter’s stories... and then be up on their feet singing at the top of their lungs during ‘ Proud Like a Mountain’ the next minute! Thanks to all the teachers & parents for all they do to deliver such respectful audiences to the concert hall!

Peter was heard to say... “How heartwarming to hear the whole school community singing their school song “Home of the Eagles”... with music specialist/teacher O.J. Shmyruk softly strumming her guitar and leading such angelic voices, singing lyrics she had penned... as I checked my own guitars before starting the show... Truly an honour to share the stage with a passionate educator in a school that still has a music specialist weaving the universal language across the curriculum...”

“I loved hearing about how the regular pre-recorded musical accompaniment to the daily singing of ‘ Oh Canada’ had run into technical challenges... And OJ quickly rallied three students to lead the song ‘live’ from the office intercom that first day... And now at EE Oliver School, a different set of three students accompanies the music teacher OJ playing guitar over the office mic... Every day! I can just picture them pouring their hearts into singing our National Anthem, while around the school... Everyone stops what they are doing to sing along! Now that is a patriotic school! Celebrating our peacetime freedom in the “true north strong and free” (of Alberta!). Teachers really do deserve to be recognized for the energy they invest in planting the seeds of caring and sharing... In so many ways... And in what it means to be Canadian!”

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