A fundraising concert for rehabilitation equipment and A Better World charity projects is set for this month.
Featuring Patti Vaillant, Jessica Hall, Deepa Johnny and Emily Vaillant, the musical variety concert will be held on Feb. 28th at Canadian University College.
Lacombe physiotherapist and event organizer Patti Vaillant said the evening will be entertaining but is also an opportunity for attendees to look outside themselves.
“The night will be full of positive and encouraging songs,” she said. There will be a mix of musical theatre, opera, classical and folk, truly something for everyone’s listening ear.”
Hall, Johnny and Patti’s Vaillant’s daughter, Emily have all participated in music recitals, concerts and festivals and enjoy sharing their youthful musical talent with others. All four of the vocalists, accompanied by Nicole Bartley, will perform a variety of musical numbers ranging from musical theatre to inspirational songs.
Patti noted that all of the young performers are talented in their own right and she wanted to, “Have an opportunity to use the talents they have for a good cause.”
All the proceeds from the concert will be used to provide access to rehabilitation equipment for residents of Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Patti was inspired to make a difference in Bolivia after hearing about the work being done by A Better World Canada, a well-known Lacombe-based international development organization.
For the past 25 years, A Better World has engaged volunteers in Canada from all walks of life to manage projects, monitor progress and development.
Canadian volunteers visit the communities throughout each year and prepare progress reports.
The organization complements project development with education and technology provided by experts as needed. Over 2,000 people, like Patti and her daughter, have turned their vacation into a humanitarian service project and have spent time at project sites.
A Better World works primarily in Eastern Africa, but also has invested in communities throughout the world like Afghanistan, Tibet and Bolivia.
“After attending the A Better World Humanitarian Day, I was encouraged by the efforts of everyday people,” said Patti. She plans to travel to Bolivia with her daughter at the end of July to work on some of the projects A Better World has sponsored.
“I wanted the opportunity to take her on a humanitarian trip and give her a view from the other side of the window from someplace else,” said Patti. “It seemed like a good way to get a different world view.”
She plans to offer up her 25 years of experience as a physiotherapist in more of a rehab-focused basis on the trip.
“I hope to help set up a rehab facility there, with a treatment area,” she explained. “I want to leave something that staff can follow through with when I’m gone.”
Proceeds raised will go towards not only accessing rehabilitation equipment for the facility but also towards clean water initiatives and other needs seen through the trip.
As for the coming variety concert, a free will offering will be taken. The doors to the CUC Administration Building will open at 6:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 7 p.m.
For more information, contact Patti at 403-596-2454 or Rob Weich, A Better World operations manager at 403-350-9574.