THE HURON CAROLE COMING TO SWIFT CURRENT
Tom Jackson is hoping to inspire giving during his
December 11 concert.
Tom Jackson will be sharing an over three decade long musical tradition on the Lyric Theatre stage on December 11 when he performs The Huron Carole for the first time in Swift Current.
The Huron Carole is more than just an evening of entertainment, as activist, actor and singer Jackson shares a message of philanthropy during the Christmas season and throughout the year.
“This year we have focused in on what I consider creating a path to a miracle,” Jackson said during a weekend phone interview. “We want to change ourselves, our environment. If we want to take love and create a verb, then we need to engage. We need to commit ourselves and have a mindset whereby I’m going to do something. Maybe I don’t know what it is. But my mindset tells me I’m going to do something to help somebody. And that’s the first step. Now tell me what you’re next step is going to be. We don’t know how we’re going to get to the destination, we just know what the destination is. And we have to create a path. When we create a path, then others can follow. And along the way we have to make choices. But they’re all good choices because they’re driven by a mindset that is Christmas.”
Swift Current’s concert on December 11, and a Casino Regina performance the following night are his lone two Saskatchewan shows among his 17-date 2019 tour of The Huron Carole.
Jackson began The Huron Carole tour back in 1987, and admittedly it is bitter sweet to be performing this tour in support of agencies supporting the homeless and hungry across Canada.
“On the first hand, the Huron Carole has taken on a life of its own in a lot of ways in that we continue to engage with social service agencies of varying types. We started our with Food Banks until we realized we could be as effective with other agencies just presenting the opportunity for people to make a contribution by going to a show and getting a gift out of the show, and in turn helping others. So that’s really encouraging for us and continues to fuel our passion.”
“But at the same time there’s as much fuel in the tank because of the need - the constant need to find a way to narrow the gaps between the haves and the have-nots in our country. It’s historic and it’s not going away. So if we’re to display our care and love and compassion for our communities, then we need to find alternative ways to engage. Because not everybody has the vehicle to create change. That sometimes they need a vehicle and they look for a vehicle, and we hope this is one we can provide for them.”
The theme of this year’s tour is “Defeating hunger. Feeding the soul.” and he is also sharing that message through an online video series, Six Weeks to Christmas, on both Youtube https://www.youtube.com/user/tomjacksononline and his website https://tomjackson.ca/.
“Six Weeks to Christmas is a very special and unique project. It has no commercial value. What it does it is provides you an opportunity to be reminded that you have people in your community that need you, and you may need to help them. It’s a dual purpose. But it’s just a reminder. Six Weeks to Christmas, and we’re getting there. So if you think it’s a good idea, just go and do it.”
Jackson is joined on stage by award winning musicians Tom Mckillip, Darryl Havers, John Macarthur Ellis, Kirby Barber and Chris “the wrist” Nordquist. He adds that there is a simple formula at each performance.
“You will experience Christmas stories, songs, and Tomfoolery. That’s the package,” he chuckles.
Jackson added that a personal connection prompted him to add Swift Current to this year’s tour schedule, and his tour stop is because of his good friend Gordon
Mccall.
“In a lot of ways, over the years, we’ve crossed paths and managed to create some crazy change. He started me in the field of acting,” Jackson noted.
He recalls that Mccall was the Resident Director of Prairie Regional Exchange in Winnipeg in 1979. and the two did a show together that went on tour and even performed in New York.
“Gordon Mccall is responsible for me coming to Swift Current. Not just the need of the Salvation Army Food Bank, but the love of Gordon Mccall.”
Mccall asked Jackson to write a theme song for the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games, and the resulting song The Spirit of Play was highlighted during the opening and closing ceremonies.
The Saskatchewan-born Jackson is looking forward to a ‘homecoming’ show on December 11.
“Having the opportunity to be at the Lyric, be in Swift Current for him, is like coming home.”
Advance tickets for $40 are available at Pharmasave. A collection of non perishable food items will be made to the Salvation Army Food Bank.