Musician Lowry Olafson has a personal interest in the work of hospice organizations. As he travels around Canada giving songwriting workshops for schools and theme song workshops for businesses, he's found himself helping to write inspiring songs for hospices in Kelowna and Cranbrook.
On a personal level, when Olafson's aged father was in the last days of his life, it was the Sunshine Coast Hospice Society who came to his home in Gibsons to provide comfort.
Olafson will be giving a fundraising concert for Hospice next Saturday, Nov. 30, at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons. It's his first close-to-home concert in five years. In keeping with the theme, it will be an intimate evening of songs and stories.
"It's a win win for me," he said. "It's what I love to do, having my music connect in a heartfelt way."
"It will also help awareness of Hospice," said Sunshine Coast Hospice president Ali Khan. When Khan heard of a friend who took hospice training, he was intrigued.
He realized how end of life support and bereavement affects us all, and he decided to volunteer. The local organization trains volunteers (currently 61 of them), with volunteers going into the community to meet people in their homes. It also employs two part-time staff, and maintains two hospice rooms and a family room at Shorncliffe in Sechelt.
"We also run a grief support group with drop-in and one-on-one support," Khan said.
Olafson will present new songs, plus a few violin instrumentals, from his forthcoming tenth album, as well as some audience favourites. David Roche, an inspirational humourist, will be a special guest and deliver the opening act.
"He's an 'in his heart' kind of guy," Olafson said.
The concert, sponsored by Insightful Visions, is one night only at 8 p.m. at the Heritage Playhouse. Tickets are $20, available at Gaia's Fair Trade, MELOmania and Fresh from the Coast. For information about Hospice programs, call 604-740-0475.
