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.
