‘Our legacies are powerful gifts’

Song project concerts to showcase Maritimers’ stories

A project that documented the experiences of Atlantic Canadians at the end of their lives and those who have lost loved ones will be put on stage Saturday, June 3, in Wolfville.

The Legacy Song Project show – at the Al Whittle Theatre – will kick off a five-stop tour during the month. Songs created out of the experiences of those the project focused on will be performed for the audience. The first stop is particularly special for the project’s creator.

“It’s truly incredible to finally be taking the work we’ve done for more than a year and put it on stage,” said Sarah McInnis, a Port Williams resident.

“We really hope that the outcomes from this project can ignite conversation about death, and ultimately, how to live a fulfilling life.”

The project has culminated in an eight-song album and short documentary film that will allow people to preserve the memories of their loved ones – and in some cases, give a living memorial to themselves and their families. The film is directed by local filmmakers Aly Kelly and Pat LePoidevin.

“In a death and griefadverse society, many people end up trying to work through the incredibly difficult experiences of approaching

the end of their life – or losing a loved one – alone,” McInnis said. “This project gives a voice to dying and grieving Atlantic Canadians, and shines light on experiences that everyone, without exception, will go through, yet no one really talks about.”

Supported by Arts Nova Scotia and the Canada Council for the Arts, McInnis conducted interviews with participants across the four Atlantic provinces and created songs out of the stories she heard. The reason for the project was a simple one, she said.

“We wanted to show that even in death, our legacies are powerful gifts that can bring comfort and healing to those we leave behind.”

To learn more about the project, visit https://sarahmcinnis.com/ticket-venue-infofor-the-lsp-atlantic-chapter.