Christmas Daddies to feature more Cape Breton music this year

Expect lots more Cape Breton content when the Christmas Daddies Telethon airs on Saturday, Dec. 1, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on CTV Atlantic stations.

“We have such great entertainment that comes out of the Cape Breton portion of the show,” says Liz Rigney, manager of community relations and promotions for CTV Atlantic. “We opened up the format so that they can try and fit in many more performers.”

Among those who will be appearing this year will be such well-known musicians as Matt Minglewood, The Men of the Deeps, Stephanie Beaumont, Laurel Martell, High Society and The Privateers. Fred Lavery returns as musical director.

“If you’re in Cape Breton, you’ll be weighted more heavily with the Cape Breton show,” said Rigney. “You’ll see much more of the content and obviously you’re still going to see the portions of the show that come out of Moncton and come out of Halifax — you’ll see much more Cape Breton entertainment.”

Those watching will still see portions of the show from the other broadcast centres of Halifax and Moncton. While Cape Breton audiences will see all of the Cape Breton talent, some of the local performances will also go across the Maritimes as well.

“You’ll see much more Cape Breton entertainment,” said Rigney. “I love it when people in one region see the other regions — it’s truly that Maritime feeling — that’s what I think the power of the show is. People have a Salvation Army in their community.

“We find the musicians in Cape Breton are so generous with their time — it’s nice to focus on them a little more than we have in the past and nice to be able to thank them for their generosity in giving them the airtime that showcases them.”

Hosts for the Cape Breton show include CTV National News host Lisa Laflamme, former CTV host Jeff Hutcheson, Cape Bretonborn actor Billy Maclellan, CTV reporters Kyle Moore and Ryan Macdonald and CTV Morning Live news anchor Heather Butts.

The show is one of the longest-running telethons in North America, raising more than $31 million. It partners with the Salvation Army to distribute toys and food at Christmas with more than 18,000 children and parents helped across the Maritimes last year.

Last year, the telethon raised $505,500 across the Maritimes with $101,500 of that raised in Cape Breton alone.