Making
a difference
Gallant, Canyon bring musical taste of Nova Scotia to Afghanistan
By PAUL EVEREST
For
one evening in early May at Kandahar airfield, two melodic Canadian
voices drifted through the warm Afghanistan air.
After
being given only a few hours’ notice to get ready, after travelling
more than two days, after preparing themselves for 52-degree Celsius
heat, country singer George Canyon and Atlantic crooner Lennie Gallant
reached the mountainous country and gave Canadian troops a taste
of Canadiana.
"It’s
like taking a piece of home over to them," said Canyon from
Alberta, adding the soldiers were grateful for a well-deserved distraction.
"It
was like a weight was lifted off their shoulders."
Canyon,
who grew up in Pictou County, was invited with Prince Edward Island
native Gallant to join Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay on
the trip.
After
meeting up with MacKay in Dubai, they travelled to Kandahar, where
they performed acoustic sets and signed autographs for soldiers.
Both
singers said the experience gave them new views on what Canada was
doing in the war-torn nation. Many of those serving there shared
their stories and expressed frustration that people back home might
not know the difference that is being made.
"It
certainly seems that Canada seems to be needed there," said
Gallant from Nova Scotia, noting that many of the soldiers he spoke
with thought the media was misrepresenting the mission.
"The
whole story isn’t being told."
During
an excursion to Kabul, Canyon and Gallant witnessed some of the
good things happening, such as children attending school and playing
in the streets, and women were enjoying new freedoms.
Gallant
said the Afghans are appreciative of the change.
"It’s
this push-and-pull kind of thing," he said. "Hopefully
they’ll soon be able to take care of things themselves."
"They’ve
been given so much hope," added Canyon, who played a benefit
concert for children at the IWK Health Centre on his return and
realized how little difference there is between the people of the
two countries.
"I
saw our children and I pictured the kids in Kabul," he said.
"All they want to do is play."
Canyon
and Gallant, although tired after the long journey home, said they
hoped to return to Afghanistan soon, despite the risky environment
"I
made a nice target for a sniper with my cowboy hat on," said
Canyon with a laugh.
"I
might get a little resistance from my wife," echoed Gallant.
But
they said they realized the soldiers needed a break in the tension,
and each one they met expressed appreciation for their performances,
even Brig.-Gen David Fraser.
"(He)
felt it was important for morale," said Gallant.
Gallant
said that when they spoke of Canadian soldiers who had died during
the operation, Fraser’s human side came out.
"You
could see the emotion in his face though he was very good at maintaining
his composure," he said. "But nonetheless, it was a hard
subject."
Gallant
said the general had originally been against these kinds of performances
but after the sets, he told the singers their presence meant a great
deal.
"The
Canadian troops had a hop in their step," said Canyon, referring
to the crowd’s enthusiasm for the music, as well as the tasks
they face every day in making Afghanistan a better place to live.
