Mark Donnelly to perform at Barkerville on Canada Day
If O Canada had a human face, it could easily be the bearded, smiling, jovial visage of Mark Donnelly. He is synonymous with the singing of the national anthem at Vancouver Canucks games. He was arguably the first NHL anthem singer to raise his microphone skyward and cease his own voice in order for the audience to take over for a verse or two on their own.
Yet who isn’t impressed by his operatic power leading the anthemic charge?
Donnelly will be bringing his talents for the ode to Canada to the Cariboo on none other than Canada Day. He is the special musical guest at Bakerville Historic Town on the Dominion Day.
“We are very excited to announce that Mr. O Canada himself, the Canucks’ own, Mark Donnelly, and his daughter Colleen Donnelly, will be joining us to help celebrate Canada’s birthday,” said James Douglas, manager of visitor experiences at the historic site and living theatre location.
The Donnellys will perform a pair of ticketed concerts, one at the Theatre Royal and one at St. Saviour’s Church – two of the most iconic public venues in British Columbia’s historical collection. Donnelly will also sing O Canada a pair of times in popular outdoor gathering spots for the regular audience on the street.
Dominion Day at Barkerville will also have a slate of other attractions and activities that draw entertaining attention to the birth of a nation in the gold rush era. There will be a street parade, a traditional anvil salute, a dance at the House Hotel with music by the Milburn Mountain Band, evening fireworks, vintage games, and all the usual costumed characters of 19th century Cariboo.