Paul Brandt
Small Town Big Dream (CBC acoustic version)
A message from Paul Brandt himself about this incredible tribute to the Humboldt Broncos from Monday night's CBC performance.
Friends,
For some time, I had been scheduled to board a plane to Toronto this past Sunday.
Details of the Bronco’s bus tragedy were revealed April 6th.
Since then, Liz and I have spent our days like many of you, restless, reflective, emotional and praying for
the families and community of Humboldt, Saskatchewan.
I thought about canceling my trip, but then I thought about how I might be able to use my platform to
help in this situation, and I had an idea. I thought about those boys and the sacrifices and risks that they
lived with in pursuit of their dreams.
I had a feeling that they would have wanted me to go for it.
A number of months ago, sports broadcaster Ron MacLean asked me if I would write a special song for
“Hometown Hockey”. I re-wrote “Small Towns & Big Dreams” with more of a hockey flair, and it was
used as a part of Hometown Hockey’s season finale.
Little did we know at that time that this song might be a source of comfort and encourage the entire
country, including those affected directly by this unspeakable tragedy.
After the accident, I immediately reached out to Ron and Hayley Wickenheiser to ask for their support in
helping me use my platform to pay tribute to Humboldt. They both answered with a characteristic:
“How can I help?”
I performed this special version of “Small Towns & Big Dreams” Monday on CBC Radio’s “q” and First
Play Live. You can see Hayley, Ron, and Don’s contributions on the FPL link.
Since airing, we’ve been overwhelmed with requests for access to this song for airing. We’re providing
the following .Wav files and links for your use for airing on terrestrial radio. Please feel free to use the
version you like, including interviews and introductions. Please also feel free to direct listeners to the
links provided.
More than anything, I hope that you will direct listeners who are moved by these recordings to continue
to donate to and share the verified GoFundMe link at https://ca.gofundme.com/funds-for-humboldtbroncos
Hayley and I would also like to ask that you’d encourage listeners to donate blood, and sign their donor
cards.
While funds and donations are valuable and needed, sometimes the best thing we can do in
circumstances like these is to simply walk alongside people who are suffering. I hope that is what we
can do together by using this content as a tribute to the memory of those we lost, and in mind of those
still fighting through the terrible reality of this tragedy, and I hope in some way it can be used to
encourage this inspiring and united nation we are all privileged to call home.
With thanks and a heavy heart,
Paul Brandt
This audio is courtesy of CBC.
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