CAROLE FEEDS THE SOUL
Jackson takes fundraiser online
This year, more communities than ever will have access to Tom Jackson's The Huron Carole show. The Canadian tradition, which usually tours coast to coast, has raised over $230 million for food banks and other charities since 1987.
Jackson is taking the show online this year, which will give arts organizations across the country the opportunity to stream the concert and raise money for those in need.
Jackson, a singer and actor who is perhaps best known for his recurring role in the TV series North of 60, and his band recorded their performance of the holiday-themed show in July at White Rock's Blue Frog Studios. We talked to the 72-year-old, Alberta-based Jackson about this year's Carole, living rough in Winnipeg and getting a promotion in the Order of Canada.
Q Shooting the show in July required some advance planning. You must have realized early on that you wouldn't be touring.
A When COVID hit, we were stuck like everybody else. We, that is my wife Alison and I, decided we had to figure out how to get unstuck. Because we'd been doing these kinds of events for so many years, we went back to what we knew. We created this 12-part series Almighty Voices to raise money for the Unison Benevolent Fund, which serves musicians in crisis. We'd been given a blank page, and we could put whatever we wanted on that page, and we tried a few things. And then we realized we could do a virtual Huron Carole tour this year. Last year we went to 17 different centres; this year we're in 34 communities, and growing.
Q Did you change or rearrange anything, knowing it was going to be virtual this year?
A It's different every year. But it's no different this year in the context of the performance. Now we have access to technology which can enhance what we do. It's not ideal to do a concert that way. But when you know that you can control certain environments, we can present things, add things, delete things, make the show more enjoyable. Plus we have a great team.
Q For a time you lived on the streets of Winnipeg. How did that lead to The Huron Carole?
A When I was 38 I lived in a crawl space and I was addicted to drugs. By the grace of God, the Creator, he sent me a message: If I could help somebody else I could help myself. It changed my world. I went to an emergency response centre and said, “You need to help me. I need to help.” Huron Carole became a vehicle to help people who help others.
Q You were recently appointed a companion of the Order of Canada for community leadership. What does that mean to you?
A I've been an officer in the Order of Canada for 20 years. This year, just last Friday (Nov. 27), this thing happened — the Governor General (Julie Payette) elevated my position to a companion of the order, which is the highest possible medal that one can receive in this country. So I'm trying to figure out how to fully appreciate that. It's numbing, elating. All of those things.