Local Tragically Hip tribute band 50 Mission will be returning to the Sanderson Centre for the third annual Hip for Hospice benefit concert in support of the Stedman Community Hospice on Saturday, January 4, 2025.
The hospice, which serves residents living in Brantford, the County of Brant, Six Nations of the Grand River, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Norfolk and Haldimand counties, provides-end-of-life patient care through its ten bed in-residence program, community outreach, and grief and bereavement support programs.
Given that the Provincial government provides 50 per cent of funding for the hospice, St. Joseph’s Lifecare Foundation (the official fundraising organization for Stedman) depends on the community to help cover the 50 per cent.
When organizations, individuals and community groups choose to support the hospice, they help fund Stedman’s day-to-day bills for things like utilities, food, and frontline grief and bereavement support programs.
The five-piece band first held the event in January 2024 and has raised nearly $25,700 for Stedman Community Hospice since.
50 Mission lead singer Mike Campbell, who works at SC Johnson and is a volunteer firefighter with the County of Brant, said that he and his fellow band members are happy to support the hospice and its work in the community.
“I think everybody has been touched by Stedman in some way or another,” he said. “Even if you or your own family haven’t been directly supported by the hospice, you probably know someone who has. As a firefighter who has had some of my fire family involved, it’s always been close. It’s just a great place that really steps up, and that reach is felt across the entire community; not just Brantford, but the County of Brant, Norfolk, Haldimand, Six Nations and Mississaugas of the Credit too.”
With the third edition of Hip for Hospice just around the corner, Campbell said that attendees can expect another great show with all the Hip’s classic hits.
“Last year we had Empty Hours opening for us and the year before that was Peeler, but this year it’s just us, so we’re going to be pulling out all the stops with lights and everything,” he said. “As far as the music goes, we do a lot of the classics that everybody knows with some B-side stuff as well. We’ll of course have the sing-alongs like Wheat Kings and Bobcaygeon, but we’re also going to have the rockers and bangers that everyone loves to dance along to, so it’s going to be a real variety of tunes.”
The lead singer said that proceeds from the concert will go back to the hospice.
“We do have to pay for the theatre and the staff working that night, but everything else will go directly to Stedman; the band even plays for free and I do all the organizing so we can make that happen,” he said. “Black Fly Beverage Company has also come on as a sponsor this year. They’re a Canadian, family-owned company out of London and have donated beverages, and so $8 from every sale is also going to the hospice, which is great. The Sanderson Centre agreed to have them on board, so we’re happy to have them.”
Overall, Campbell said he and the band are looking forward to welcoming everyone back and “filling the theatre with Hip fans.”
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
