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Auburn Annie · 09-09-2009, 02:19 PM

Sounds like it will be a real family affair.

Another post re the benefit concerts:

Beverley Eyers had a gut feeling that all was not right with her brother following a phone conversation one afternoon in 2002.

Her brother – none other than Gordon Lightfoot – was scheduled to perform the second of two fund-raising concerts at the Orillia Opera House that evening, and told her of the horrible pains he’d been experiencing.

Ever the trooper, Lightfoot planned to play through the hurt, but when Eyers arrived at his dressing room two hours later, she found him curled up on the floor.

Rather than call an ambulance, she promptly drove the world-famous singer/songwriter to the local hospital, located just a few blocks away.

It was there that he was first treated for a burst abdominal artery.

“He owes his life to Soldiers’ Memorial,” Eyers, a Barrie resident, said on Tuesday. “And the opera house has been his second home since he was about eight years old.”

It’s appropriate, then, that Lightfoot’s upcoming concerts at the opera house on Nov. 14 and 15 will benefit both of the local institutions.

The native Orillian will perform at no cost, with the proceeds split between the opera house and the hospital foundation, officials announced on Tuesday.

Soldiers’ president and CEO Elisabeth Riley said the hospital was grateful for Lightfoot’s “generous and continued support of his hometown hospital.

“He is truly a Canadian treasure, and we are thrilled to be able to welcome him back to the stage where his legendary career began,” Riley added.

In a statement, Lightfoot said he was “looking forward to performing in Orillia again.

“The opera house holds some very fond memories for me, and I’m pleased that the proceeds will go towards two very worthy causes that are close to my heart.”

Lightfoot has garnered 15 Juno awards over a career that has spanned more than three decades, and was inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame in 1986.

“We consider Gordon to be a very important part of our family and we are so privileged that he is offering these two great fund-raising shows,” said opera house manager Krista Storey. “It proves that he is still devoted to his home town.”

Tickets to the upcoming shows are $75, and are available online at www.orilliaoperahouse.ca beginning Sept. 11, and at the box office Sept. 14.

http://www.orilliatoday.com/orilliatoday/article/144662

09-09-2009, 02:19 PM	#4
Auburn Annie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 3,101	Re: Orillia shows in November Sounds like it will be a real family affair. Another post re the benefit concerts: Beverley Eyers had a gut feeling that all was not right with her brother following a phone conversation one afternoon in 2002. Her brother – none other than Gordon Lightfoot – was scheduled to perform the second of two fund-raising concerts at the Orillia Opera House that evening, and told her of the horrible pains he’d been experiencing. Ever the trooper, Lightfoot planned to play through the hurt, but when Eyers arrived at his dressing room two hours later, she found him curled up on the floor. Rather than call an ambulance, she promptly drove the world-famous singer/songwriter to the local hospital, located just a few blocks away. It was there that he was first treated for a burst abdominal artery. “He owes his life to Soldiers’ Memorial,” Eyers, a Barrie resident, said on Tuesday. “And the opera house has been his second home since he was about eight years old.” It’s appropriate, then, that Lightfoot’s upcoming concerts at the opera house on Nov. 14 and 15 will benefit both of the local institutions. The native Orillian will perform at no cost, with the proceeds split between the opera house and the hospital foundation, officials announced on Tuesday. Soldiers’ president and CEO Elisabeth Riley said the hospital was grateful for Lightfoot’s “generous and continued support of his hometown hospital. “He is truly a Canadian treasure, and we are thrilled to be able to welcome him back to the stage where his legendary career began,” Riley added. In a statement, Lightfoot said he was “looking forward to performing in Orillia again. “The opera house holds some very fond memories for me, and I’m pleased that the proceeds will go towards two very worthy causes that are close to my heart.” Lightfoot has garnered 15 Juno awards over a career that has spanned more than three decades, and was inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame in 1986. “We consider Gordon to be a very important part of our family and we are so privileged that he is offering these two great fund-raising shows,” said opera house manager Krista Storey. “It proves that he is still devoted to his home town.” Tickets to the upcoming shows are $75, and are available online at www.orilliaoperahouse.ca beginning Sept. 11, and at the box office Sept. 14. http://www.orilliatoday.com/orilliatoday/article/144662 Last edited by Auburn Annie; 09-09-2009 at 02:23 PM.