Canada's Captain Cochrane
January 17, 2005
By Cam Tait
Glasses and dishes clinking together softly sounded through the lounge just as the last few reporters and a few fans were making their way to the exits. Tom Cochrane was on top of the charts, that summer of 1987, and he was promoting an upcoming concert. He politely and graciously said goodbye to everyone who had attended the reception.
"Are you busy tomorrow night?" he asked me as we shook hands, just 15 minutes after our first introduction. "Come to the show. I'd like you to be my guest. I'll leave you tickets at the door."
I accepted. And the following night a friend and I went to hear Tom
and his band, Red Rider. Tickets were at the door as he said, but there
was another surprise: backstage passes for after the show. After hearing
Tom rock for well over two hours, building up a sweat rivaled by any
athlete, my buddy and I made our way backstage to have a few cool pops
with Tom.
He was kind and sincere. When he spoke to you, he looked you straight
in the eye and made you feel like you were the most important person
in the world. Those thoughts were dancing around my head Thursday night
when CBC showcased some of the best Canadian musicians in a three-hour
telethon fundraiser for victims of the tsunami that hit south Asia.
The person who spearheaded the effort was Tom Cochrane.
Naturally, many Canadian musicians wanted to be involved. Bryan Adams
flew in from London, England to play. Anne Murray was there. Blue Rodeo
sang. Celine Dion made a satellite appearance - and delivered a compassionate
message - from her Las Vegas concert. The Tragically Hip was there.
In fact, one CBC story said producers of the show had trouble getting
stage time for everyone that offered.
Ratings showed nearly one million people tuned into the show, Canada
For Asia. www.canadaforasia.ca
had 30,000 visitors. A total of 40,000 people contributed to the cause,
and organizers say more than $4 million has been raised so far. Funds
will be distributed to World Vision, The Canadian Red Cross, UNICEF,
Oxfam Canada, Care Canada, Save the Children Canada, Development and
Peace, and Oxfam Quebec.
It was a great event. But it needed someone...someone who could express
their emotions - sorrow, but also hope for people in countries that
were torn apart by the tsunami. Perhaps most important, someone who
is so respected by his peers that he can put together such an event
in just seven days (the event was originally announced January 7th.)
That someone was Tom Cochrane.
If history has anything to do with things, Tom was probably at the door
saying goodbye to friends and fans after Thursday night's show, doing
something for someone he just met, or for thousands of people he'll
never meet in south Asia.
Do you know someone who deserves to be in the Charity Village Spotlight? Send us their name, telephone number and details about their community involvement to cam@charityvillage.com.
