For many Saanich Peninsula residents, it comes as a surprise that legendary Canadian rocker Barney Bentall performs in Saanichton once a year and raises big money for a local charity.
Last year, Barney Bentall & The Cariboo Express Show raised just over $27,000, which was split between the Mustard Seed Food Bank and the Sidney Lions Food Bank. This year, all fundraising efforts will go to the Sidney Lions Food Bank, which supports families on the Saanich Peninsula from Elk Lake north.
“This is our 10th year presenting this show, and it’s a huge undertaking,” says Music in the Bay’s Leslie Gentile. “For years we have been holding one show in Saanichton, then packing it all up and moving the whole cast to Victoria for a show the next night. We really needed to streamline, and holding both shows at the Charlie White Theatre is the perfect solution,” she adds. This year’s shows are taking place November 19 and 20.
The fundraising premise of the show is brilliant – a business “buys” a song, and Bentall writes a custom song intro with a hilarious monologue, delivered by Barney himself or co-host, Calgary’s Matt Masters. The songs are performed by a member of the all-star cast, including Dustin Bentall, Kendel Carson, Ridley Bent, and more. The audience loves it, and each business is given the opportunity to get their name out in a more accessible and unique way than standard advertising.
The show tours across Western Canada each fall, and a charity is chosen as a fund raising recipient by the show presenter. The tour has raised over $350,000 for various charities.
“We’re really excited about our decision to keep this show at home on the Peninsula,” continues Gentile. “We spread ourselves way too thin holding two separate shows in Saanichton and Victoria through the years. We can now focus on letting the secret out – this is an incredible show, right here at home.”
As well as the Song Sponsorships, this year’s show will feature a separate Silent Auction at each show, as well as the now Legendary “Meat Draw.” The original Meat Draw came about when Bentall himself brought in a selection of free range meats, donated from his own Cariboo ranch, to be auctioned off.
“It adds a real hilarity to the evening,” laughs Gentile, “and raises a lot of money, too!”
“The food bank is very excited to have Barney move his show to Sidney. This is a perfect time to kick off the Christmas season of giving in our community,” says Bev Elder of the Sidney Lions Food Bank. Elder is already hard at work contacting Peninsula businesses about song sponsorships and silent auction donations. “I’m already blown away by the enthusiasm and generosity from businesses for both sponsorships and our silent auction,” she says.
To become a sponsor, contact Bev Elder at fdbank@telus.net. For information, email Leslie Gentile: lesliegentile1@gmail.com.
