Last March, at the Princeton Club in New York City, the International Federation of Business & Professional Women (BPW International) celebrated its 80th anniversary of empowering women around the world. During the event, they showed clips of famous movie stars and singers of the different eras who have empowered women and been role models for women. In between each era of stars, they played my song, Women of the World!!! I have since recorded 4 versions of the song at the request of the International President, Liz Benham to represent their four official languages: English, French, Italian & Spanish. I have been invited to sing all 4 versions at their next World Congress to be held in Helsinki, Finland in June 2011.
Finally I have started a collection of people wearing my This Is My Canada Tshirts & Sweatshirts! I can add to this collection at any time so if you take a photo of yourself wearing one of my shirts, send it to me & I will post it online.
I also have some more featured in my previous blog “Canada’s Really Big” but those are the ones that are posed by town signs/attractions that are featured in the song. There are 57 places in total listed in the song and I have 10 of them already. Only 47 more to go….would be so much faster if people send me photos from across the country of the places! Spread the word!!
Do you live in any of these places listed below in the song? Do you know someone who does? I’m looking for photos of the local town sign or a quirky shot of your town – prefer it with a person in the photo too. I am preparing a video & would love to have a shot of all the towns mentioned in my song! So far I have St. Lois-du-Ha!Ha!, Quebec, Blissville, NB, Minto, NB, French River, PEI & New Glasgow, PEI. My friends Norma & Ray visited Newfoundland & they added Heart’s Delight, Heart’s Desire, Waterville, Little Harbour & St. Jones Within. Only 47 more to go!!
I have been invited to sing “Women of the World” for today’s Fearless Women conference in Toronto. Here is a description from their website:
Fearless Women Day brings together women from all walks of life to create friendships, face fears and build a foundation of encouragement and support. What’s your fearless? Bring it, share it and celebrate it!
Fearless Women Day is part of the Fearless Revolution that has sprung from Mary Ann Halpin’s latest portrait book entitled, Fearless Women: Fearless Wisdom. The book features her incredible photography of sword bearing women, along with each woman’s individual story of triumph and fearlessness.
Fearless Women Day is a grassroots effort to celebrate the fearlessness in all women. Events are being organized in cities across the US and Canada to host this one-day event and celebration on August 26. The Toronto event is being sponsored by e-Women Network Foundation.
Meet my new BFF – Charlene McInnis, PEI Military Family Support Coordinator. She’s a real livewire!
And, a tireless worker for the MFSC as well as a strong advocate for the Invisible Army, which is best described on their website as “the mothers, fathers, spouses, children, siblings, friends and loved ones who all share one thing in common. A family member or friend who is serving with Canada’s military. Both at home and around the globe”
Our mutual BFF, Al “Robby” McRobb, emailed me last winter to ask me to write a song to help raise awareness for and pay tribute to the Invisible Army. I wrote “United We Stand (Divided We’ll Never Fall)” which will be on my new album due to be released this fall called “I Wish I Had Wings”. I’ll be posting it on cdbaby & i-Tunes within the next couple of weeks and then include links here. Check back soon! Read Al’s blog here: http://bit.ly/8YCtI9
I’ve also been talking to Caroline Granger at The Grange of Prince Edward Vineyards & Estate Winery www.grangeofprinceedward.com who has taken on the Invisible Army’s cause. The Grange will begin a year long campaign in support of Ontario Military Family Resource Centres. In recognition of the extraordinary contributions made by our Canadian Forces and the important work the Military Family Resource Centres provide, The Grange will donate 50¢ from every bottle of Trumpour’s Mill wine sold in LCBO stores across Ontario and $1.00 from each bottle sold in restaurants across the province.
Firefighter Michael Morin graciously wore my This Is My Canada tshirt agreed to have his photo taken in front of his fire truck in St. Louis-du-Ha!Ha!, Quebec. This is the first photo in a series of photos I want to capture for my song “Canada’s Really, Really Big”. Plans are underway to shoot several more places over the next two weeks while I’m on the East Coast - New Brunswick: Minto & Blissville; Nova Scotia: New Glasgow & Bible Hill; and, PEI: French River & New Glasgow. Only 50 more places left to shoot across Canada!!!
Finally finished the recording of the new album – it’s now at the mastering studio for some final touches. Should be ready for launching in September if all goes according to plan. It is an album of inspirational music which includes a lot of songs I’ve written to help raise awareness for worthy causes such as for the people of Haiti; the Invisible Army (http://www.invisiblearmycanada.ca); 60 Million Girls (http://www.60millionsdefilles.org/english/home.html); the choking game (http://www.gaspinfo.com), to name a few.
2. “Women of the World” has now been recorded in 4 languages: English, French, Spanish & Italian. BPW International (http://www.bpw-international.org) is an organization whose aim is to “develop women’s professional and leadership potential …
It was an elegant evening – men dressed in their beautiful suits and women in their gorgeous long gowns all sitting down to a lovely dinner at CJ’s banquet hall in Brockville, Ontario.
It was a gathering of Masons & Ladies of the Eastern Star from all across Ontario.
And what a Happy Canada Day it was in Prince Edward County, Ontario! It was a sea of red & white, smiles & cheers and great community celebration.
There was a parade and celebration in Wellington with lots of music in the park.
Delhi Park was a beehive of activity for children – an estimated 700 people enjoyed music, including my trio, Trinity, along with a myriad of games and blow up castles & slides for children.
It was a spirit-filled, inspiring concert given by Young Singers “Random Notes”, a dynamic community children’s choir from the Durham Region. Those who came to Picton United Church on June 12th were treated to stunning harmonies, energetic youth and a wonderful repertoire of songs. The most memorable song of the night for me was “O Magnum Mysterium” – they stood all along the walls in a semi-circle and the audience was surrounded by the most glorious, angelic voices that have ever descended from the heavens. I keep coming back to the word stunning. You could have heard a pin drop….
