Stahl’s Big Band to help our struggling veterans
A big band concert to benefit Canada’s homeless veterans will be held at Greg Frewin Theatre Sunday.
Local award-winners The Jimmy Stahl Big Band will perform, along with crooners Genevieve-Renee Bisson, Ron Dewberry and David Iannandrea. Niagara comedian David Green will emcee the night.
The show is being presented by VETS Canada and retired sergeant Garrick Halinen, who was stationed in Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall.
After his tours with the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, Halinen suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He said it was VETS Canada that helped him reclaim his life.
“I think we can do better for the veterans who sacrificed so much for our freedoms and democracy,” he said. “They need our help and they need it now.”
He said there are about 23 vets in the St. Catharines area without housing, and an estimated 3,000 across the country. Many remain undocumented.
“My fellow soldiers who encounter difficulty after service due to traumatic stressors are developing PTSD at an alarming rate,” he said. “Some so severe they cannot cope or take care of themselves. In most extreme cases, this leads to homelessness.”
Singer Bisson, who has performed with the Jimmy Stahl Big Band for years, said the concert’s timing is important with winter looming. She said the music is fitting since it was the most popular form of music during the Second World War.
“It’s a great fit for the band and we’re honoured to be part of something this special and impactful.”
The show was supposed to take place in 2020 but was derailed when the pandemic hit. Stahl said it gave organizers more time “to build an incredible lineup that includes some of the top crooners in the area.”
“Guests can expect to be impressed and it’s our hope that the community will come out to show their support for our armed forces, both past and present.”
Tickets for the 7 p.m. show are $30 to $50, available at gregfrewintheatre.com.