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Show Tour Impressions
By Gina Gillespie, freelancer
Tyler and Amanda of the Wilkinsons along with Quebec pop idol Maritza, and
country stars Michelle Wright and Julian Austin perform for over 1500 troops
during the first show at KAF. The show was an epic four and a half hours but ended with heavy hearts as
soldiers and performers were notified of Capt Goddard's death that evening. Photo: Lyndon Goveas |
Impressions taken from articles submitted by Ann Martell, NPF HR Manager, Valcartier, (418) 844-5000 ext 6499, martell.ann@cfpsa.com; Roy Hillier, International Sports Manager, PSP, Ottawa, (613) 995-7605, hillier.roy@cfpsa.com; and Jason Hennebury, PSP Recreation Director, 5 Wing Goose Bay, (709) 896-6900 ext 7708.
From Afghanistan to Alert, CF Show Tours are doing so much more than just entertaining the troops. "The Canadian soldiers enjoy hearing music from home, having their hometown or province mentioned and even hearing jokes about their place of origin. But most of all they enjoy the attention given them by the performers and crew and the time they took to get to know them," says Ann Martell, NPF HR Manager at CFB Valcartier who was an escort officer for the Task Force Afghanistan Show Tour.
The smallest things, like a smile, or saying someone's name can boost morale. While the entertainment may be first-class, it's the time spent with genuinely sincere folks that makes the soldiers forget about the realities of their mission, if only for a few hours.
Michelle Wright bids farewell to some of the soldiers in Afghanistan before beginning her long voyage home. |
At the top of the world, in CFS Alert, the Northern Entertainment Show Tour lifted the mood in March, following a season of 24 hour darkness. The entertainment on stage was matched with Alert's own brand of entertainment as each local hosting unit took turns entertaining the tour group.
The celebrities socialized, signed autographs, sang and laughed alongside the station personnel. But a word of caution from escort officer Roy Hillier, International Sports Manager for PSP in Ottawa. He found himself kissing a fish during a Screeching In Ceremony when the show tour stopped at 5 Wing Goose Bay enroute to CFS Alert. "I loves me Labrador B'y," says Roy, downing the obligatory shot of Newfie Screech (some choose Root Beer instead).
Sudbury native Diane Chase, with her latest release 'In the Middle of
Something' earned a top 10 on the Canadian Country Charts and a top 10 for video on Country Music Television. Photo: Leann Antle, Goose Bay |
Roy Hillier, PSP International Sports Manager kissing the Northern Pike during the Screeching In Ceremonies in 5 Wing Goose Bay for the Northern Entertainment Show Tour. |
