Leonard Graham Crawford says music helps bring people together, which is why it’s important to make it accessible to everyone.
The Thunder Bay, Ont., resident spent nine years living on the streets. Since losing his house in 2010, he’s been accessing support from Grace Place, an organization that offers free food, clothing and a seasonal shelter program on the city’s south side.
On Wednesday during lunchtime, clients were treated to a free piano performance by Mike Boguski, the keyboardist for Canadian rock band Blue Rodeo.
“When I hear this kind of music here, it soothes you,” Crawford said. “It brings everybody together, makes you forget all the bad stuff that’s happening out there.”
Grace Place serves about 300 free meals a day. Its Out of the Cold program, which launched for the winter on Oct. 1, has space for 25 emergency beds.
“People are in need at this time of year, especially with the high cost of living that’s happening now with groceries and all,” said Gary Macsemchuk, one of the pastors at Grace Place. “We’re finding that need has increased.”
For Boguski’s part, he’s set out on what he’s calling a “tour within a tour” as his band plays in communities across the province, with a stop tonight in Sault Ste. Marie. In every city they’re playing, he’s been trying to connect with local shelters, food banks and outreach centres to offer free solo performances.
“Music offers people a reprieve from whatever burdens they’re facing, and I just don’t think that should be limited to people who can pay $100 a ticket,” Boguski said. “This is just a small token that I can do to bring the healing joy of music to people who need it.”
When Boguski approached Grace Place about performing there, operations manager Melody Macsemchuk said “of course, the answer was yes.”
“It brings [our clients] alive, really, because they most often cannot afford to go to any of these concerts,” she said.
Robert Esquega, a member of Red Rock Indian Band who’s been accessing services at Grace Place for two years, said the sound of the piano made him want to dance in his seat.
“I like it,” Esquega said. “Positive, upbeat sound.”
Practitioners with Thunder Bay’s Homeless and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub were also on site Wednesday afternoon to offer a free vaccination clinic. Another clinic is scheduled at Grace Place for Oct. 29 from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m., where clients can get flu, pneumococcal, COVID-19 and RSV shots.
As temperatures continue to drop, Melody and Gary say they’re most in need of donations of warm winter wear, such as jackets and socks.
The organization also accepts monetary donations and small grocery items, which are either distributed to clients directly or incorporated into their in-house meals.
“We are part of the winter overflow emergency plan here in Thunder Bay in conjunction with the other shelters, and when we become full, I know Urban Abbey will be opening up Nov. 1 for our overflow,” Melody said.
“We just work together all winter long to make sure that nobody’s left outside in the cold.”
