A musical fundraiser organized by students and staff at Sir John Franklin High School returns for its 10th anniversary show this month.
Music for Mental Health starts at 7pm on Wednesday, May 13 at Yellowknife’s Northern Arts and Cultural Centre.
Tickets are $35. All profits go to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Mark Kilbride, who works at the school and is a member of the band Gnarwhal, remembers the initial years when Music for Mental Health’s audience was simply the acts in the lineup.
Now, he’s excited to bring a “stellar lineup” to NACC, mixing newer acts with bands that have attended every edition of the annual event.
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Gnarwhal heads this year’s bill alongside Otis Dawgwood, Ben Cornel, Flora and the Fireweeds, Hughes, Agony of the Leaves, The Five Puppeteers and Tyler Hawkins.
Kilbride linked the event’s mental health theme and this year’s funding recipient, the Canadian Cancer Society, by pointing to the journey people go through when they or their loved ones are diagnosed with cancer.
After hearing a student discuss her mother receiving a cancer diagnosis, Kilbride said he had “a light bulb moment where I was like: this is mental health.”
The money will reach the society via Sir John’s team for Relay for Life, a separate annual cancer fundraiser.
“It’s such a great opportunity to be able to do something so big and be able to raise money to help somebody,” said London, a Sir John student who is part of the team helping to organize this year’s event.
“I’m really excited. It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Music for Mental Health,” said Leah, another student member of the organizing team. “It’s really exciting to help and be there – greet people as they come in, promote the event and make the 10th year a big success.”
