th 30 Annual Home for the Holidays Benefit Concert Program VISION MISSION VALUES For 67 years, LOFT has helped those struggling with Together, we can all live To help people achieve their Compassion Without this support, our clients would struggle to poverty, mental illness and addiction. This year, it has successfully in our community. optimal health and well-being Collaboration access care and find housing, leaving them at risk of become clear that we can no longer take for granted experiencing homelessness. Here at LOFT, we in the community, LOFT offers Community unwavering support and hope. how the pandemic will impact our own day-to-day welcome them home. For us, home is a safe place; activities, or even our own personal mental health. home means having a community, and home equals hope. That’s why, for our 30th Annual Home for the Holidays Benefit Concert, we are reconsidering It is my hope that you will enjoy this year’s the concept of “home.” spectacular musical line-up safely from your own homes. While the concert may look different this As we gather together virtually to enjoy the concert year, it remains a wonderful opportunity to come from the comfort of our own homes, the idea of together for an evening of inspiration. We home as a safe place has so much more meaning. celebrate everything we are grateful for this The pandemic has brought on struggles for all of us, holiday season — including your support. and made clear how our mind, body and spirit are intrinsically interlinked. The pandemic has taught us how to be there for each other in new ways, and we must continue to be For LOFT clients who struggle with mental illness and there for our community. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT addictions, the pandemic has made things even more difficult. At LOFT, we look past the challenges and we Thank you for being part of our community, We would like to acknowledge the original caretakers of this land. see the person. We work closely with community partners, including Toronto Community Housing, The Wendat, the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabe, with special long-term care homes and hospitals, to recognition to the Mississaugas of New Credit First Nations. We are grateful provide unwavering support, compassion and hope that they cared for the land in such a way that we are able to to the most vulnerable populations of Toronto, York Heather McDonald, CEO gather here this evening. Region and Simcoe County. Home for the Holidays Benefit Concert - 2020 HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS THROUGH THE YEARS Thank you for helping us to celebrate 30 years of our Home for the Holidays benefit concert. Whether we are together in person at St. James Cathedral, or enjoying the concert online from the comfort and safety of our homes, it remains an important and meaningful tradition that helps make LOFT’s work possible. Client Jim shares his story in 2013. St. James Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys in 2002. Kelly Walker hosts the 2014 Home for the Holidays Benefit Concert at St. James Cathedral. Adrienne Clarkson and husband John Billy Newton Davis performs at Ralston Saul attend the concert in 1999. the 2014 Home for the Holidays Benefit Concert. Wallis Giunta performs at the 2009 Home for the Holidays Benefit Jean Charles Black (Director of Concert at St. James Cathedral. Ryerson’s Production Program), Trillium Brass performs at the 2006 Peter Fleming, Sandy Black (Chair of Home for the Holidays Benefit Concert. Ryerson’s Theatre School), and Earl Barnsley (LOFT volunteer) in 2000. Home for the Holidays Benefit Concert - 2020 2020 CONCERT SPONSORS BROADCAST PRODUCTION SPONSORS Diamond Star Sponsor LOFT’s Holidays Concert Produced by Gold Ring Sponsors Set Fabrics Provided by DON FRASER, CONNOR, CLARK & LUNN GIFT IN-KIND SPONSORS Silver Bell Sponsor Grand Piano Provided by Brass Band Sponsors ELEGANT MOVERS BLG, BORDEN LADNER ENFIELD JOE & MARY FRANCES SHEEHAN, SUSAN GILLESPIE, GERVAIS LLP WOOD LLP LIFE DESIGN SYSTEMS THE BPC GROUP *Our sincere thanks to all of our supporters, including those who have contributed after this program went to print. Home for the Holidays Benefit Concert - 2020 CONCERT PATRONS James Anok and Daniel Brereton Resource Thrift Shop James Pecka and Sharon Hodgson Reverend Canon Alyson Barnett-Cowan Thank you to all of our concert patrons and donors who have made a special holiday gift in Jane Pritchard Rosa Galluzzo ** support of LOFT’s work. With you by our side, donations from the 2020 Home for the Holidays Virtual Benefit Concert will serve vulnerable people at greater risk because of the pandemic. Janis Rotman Rotary Club of Newmarket Jeff & Beth Herold Royal Ontario Museum Jim and Shayne Hutton Sharon Courrier 2020 LEAP OF FAITH CIRCLE* Jo’s Snowflake Fund at Toronto Foundation Sheila Thompson Judy Schulich, The Schulich Family St. Clement’s Anglican Church LOFT is honoured to recognize donors who give $1,000 or more each calendar year as Foundation Starbucks Canada Charitable Fund part of our Leap of Faith Circle (LOFC). With the pandemic adding many complexities to Karen and Bill Barnett Fund at Toronto Strategic Charitable Giving Foundation LOFT’s work, we are grateful now, more than ever, to our LOFC donors who contribute at Foundation Sylvia & Klaus Bogner this generous level. Thank you for taking a “leap of faith” together with us, to provide unwavering Karen O’Connor ** TD Bank Group support and hope to the most vulnerable among us. LifeCorps International Ted Reeser *Our sincere thanks to all of our supporters, including those who have contributed after this program went to print. Luzviminda Caceres ** Terry Hutchings **Indicates LOFT Staff Members M. Olivia Lee The Bishop Kenneth Maguire Trust of the Madam Justice Lauren E. Marshall Anglican Foundation Andrew Slonetsky David & Yvonne Fleck Mary Horan The Egan Family Foundation Bell Mental Health Community Fund Debra Walko ** Mona Lee Tam ** The Home Depot Canada Foundation Bill and Karen Barnett Dick Falconer Mrs. Michelle Passera The Honourable William C. Graham Brettany’s Legacy: The Brettany Biggs Fund Don & Jane Fraser Ms. Katherine Roos The Incorporated Synod of the Diocese of Carol Drummond Donald & Gretchen Ross Ms. Monique Guibert Toronto Carole Chabot & Derek Dodd Echo Foundation Paula Schipper The M.A.C. AIDS Fund Carrie Hayward Estate of Donald Owen Doritty Peter’s Food Shop Tom & Sarah Milroy and Family Catherine Graham Estate of Marion Potter Pherrill Fund of the Anglican Diocese of Toronto Foundation Clorox Canada George & Doone Estey Toronto Unionville Presbyterian Church Daniel Van Willegen ** Heather McDonald ** Philip & Linda Armstrong Foundation United Way Simcoe Muskoka David & Janis Leonard J. P. Bickell Foundation RBC Foundation United Way To & YR Grants David & Stephanie Keeley J.S. Cheng & Associates Home for the Holidays Benefit Concert - 2020 PERFORMANCES LISTING HOSTS PERFORMERS Artistic Director – Micah Barnes Tabby Micah Diane Musical Director – Diane Leah Johnson Barnes Leah Hogtown Brass “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” “In The Bleak Mid-Winter” Gospel Quartet “Oh Mary Don’t You Weep” “Travelling Shoes” dtaborah, as she prefers to be known, was a breech Born in Vienna and raised in Canada, Micah Diane Leah is an experienced pianist, composer / birth, born with the cord wrapped rather tightly around Barnes cut his teeth in the cabarets and jazz arranger, educator, and music director, with credits Hogtown her neck. Her parents were an interracial couple from clubs of the city while still a teenager, before that span 40 years in Canadian music. Brass Quintet Vanessa Sears Clark County, South Dakota and Philadelphia, touring the world as a member of the a “What Christmas Means To Me” Pennsylvania and - as it was illegal for Blacks and cappella vocal group The Nylons. A JUNO Diane has worked as a Music Director/ Pianist with Hogtown Brass Quintet is a dynamic Canadian Whites to marry in the United States - she came into Award-nominee, the years since have seen a vast array of artists, including Louise Pitre, ensemble comprised of accomplished musicians from Jackie Richardson this world in Zurich, Switzerland, fighting for breath and Barnes developing as an International solo artist Jackie Richardson, Alana Bridgewater, Thom a variety of diverse artistic backgrounds. Known for “Stand” a place to belong. She knows, in her own way, LOFT's with top-charting hits including the Billboard #1 Allison and Micah Barnes. Recent music theatre their unique arrangements and new compositions, message: A leg up, not a hand out. “Welcome To My Head,” and #1 Jazz albums credits include Beauty and The Beast (Music as well as their collaborations with vocalists and New York Stories and Vegas Breeze . Micah Director–Young People’s Theatre [YPT]) and We Thom Allison instrumentalists, Hogtown Brass is on a mission to With an American Music Award and a plethora of is also an internationally respected vocal, Will Rock You (Associate Music Director–Mirvish). “A Place Called Home” reinvigorate the entire concert experience for their nominations for her work with shows such as The Big performance, and career strategy coach. audiences. “(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays” Comfy Couch, Noddy Shoppe, and Polka Dot Door. She She was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” is a voice actor, a children's show host and performer, Micah has been the Artistic Director for LOFT's for her work on YPT’s production of A Year with Frog Hogtown Brass is committed to presenting unique and has hosted on both national and local radio stations. Home for the Holidays Benefit Concert since and Toad, and in January of 2013, Diane was concert experiences, as well as entertaining and Curtis Sullivan A certified Waldorf teacher, she has worked as an 2016.