Now is a fitting time to celebrate our First Responders Reminder

News that two volunteer firefighters died on Thursday March 17th while fighting a stubborn blaze in Listowel, Ontario has sent shockwaves through the First Responder community.

The loss reminds the public of the extremely dangerous situations First Responders face every day. Now is a fitting the time for the Bay to celebrate the actions and sacrifices the members of the local First Responder community make.

On Friday, April 1st, singer/song writer and volunteer firefighter Dave Carroll presents the very first ‘Everyday Heroes Tribute’ at the Capitol Centre.

Carroll, you may remember, broke on the international scene after he was on a United Airlines flight stopover at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport where baggage handlers were observed tossing guitars to one another. Turns out it was Carroll’s $3,500 Taylor guitar that was damaged by the careless handlers.

For nine long months Carroll tried to get restitution from United but to no avail the company refused to take responsibility and Carroll was still out a guitar. So the Timmins, Ontario native advised the company that he would take his case to the internet in a song trilogy posting on YouTube.

What happened next no one could have predicted -- the first song 'United Breaks Guitars,' went viral and had the big American corporation not only blinking, but knocking on Carroll’s door offering compensation and overnight he became a hero for millions of travelers.



Carroll has since composed another song and using the celebrity he garnered from the United Airlines situation and is paying it forward to honour the folks he considers the true heroes in society -- First Responders.



“The song came from an engagement I was doing in Colorado back in October of last year,” Carroll tells BayToday during a recent telephone interview.

“The guy who hired me heard I was a volunteer firefighter for 5yrs and that my brother Don was a fulltime firefighter and challenged me to write a song.”

“I’ve been on calls for house fires and medical calls,” he says in describing what fuelled him to write the song.

“When writing the song what it boils down to is the essence of the message -- yes they have all the technology and equipment, but it comes down to the integrity of the people who answer the call.”

"United Breaks Guitars is about breaking promises and everyday heroes is about the opposite it is about folks giving of themselves because they said they would."

Carroll says that there was such a great response to the song that his Colorado accomplice paid for the music video to be made.

“In Maine the presenter had the fire department come out … they lined up across the stage and as I preformed the song some of the guys (they were all men) were getting chocked up … when we finished the audience gave a standing ovation to the firefighters.”

“This song has had the same effect all over North America,” he notes.

“With that I decided to develop the Every Day Heroes tribute.”

Carroll says he was hired to do a firefighters conference in North Bay by Bill Bowman and decided this particular occasion was fitting to launch the tribute.

The show, preceded by a VIP cocktail party, begins with presentations by First Responder leaders, community leaders and dignitaries where a number of local Everyday Heroes will be honoured for their dedication and commitment.

Then Dave Carroll and his band present the Perfect Blue Concert which will include his new hit songs ‘Everyday Heroes and ‘United Breaks Guitars’.

“I want it (the show) to be first and foremost entertaining. I want folks to know it is a family friendly show that they and come to and leave feeling entertained.”

“I also want them to leave with a slightly different appreciation or a renewed appreciation for first responders.”

"The song has a rippling effect. I want people to carry it with them and create ripples of gratitude."

Proceeds from the tribute go to both Camp Bucko and TEMA.

Camp Bucko is an environment that allows children recovering from burn injuries to meet other children who share similar stories and gives them a temporary freedom from the everyday frustrations of being burned. They have the opportunity to share their stories and to bond with each other. View their website: http://www.campbucko.ca

TEMA is an organisation that helps men and women of our emergency and military services. These folks witness human suffering up close and it sometimes becomes very difficult to cope with the aftermath.

The TEMA Conter Memorial Trust helps end the silence and ease the suffering First Responders go through with research, education, training, and through the provision of peer and psychological support. Visit their website: http://www.tema.ca

How to get tickets?

VIP MAG (meet and greet) tickets are available online at LiveEventRegistration.ca.

Each VIP MAG ticket includes:

- One premium seat (reserved VIP seating area) for the Dave Carroll Everyday Heroes Tribute at the Capitol Theatre

- One exclusive Admission to the VIP Meet & Greet reception at the WKP Kennedy Gallery

- Hors d‟oeuvres served throughout the reception

- Access to private cash bar for beverages

- One CHANCE in the Draw of the 'Bring Dave Home for X-Mas' (for more info click here)

- A Photo opportunity with Dave

- One commemorative Photo with Dave will be taken at the VIP Meet and Greet session

FAN CLUB tickets are available online at LiveEventRegistration.ca.

Each FAN Club ticket includes:

- One free download of Dave's Perfect Blue CD (value $11.99)

- Premium seats (reserved FAN Club seating area) for the Dave Carroll Everyday Heroes Tribute at the Capitol Theatre

- One exclusive Admission to the Fan Club reception

- Meet & Greet reception (after the show) in the RBC Galaxy lounge

- Access to private cash bar for beverages

- Photo and autograph opportunity with Dave

General Admission tickets are available at the Capitol Centre Box Office.

Following the tribute everyone will is invited to meet Dave in the RBC Galaxy Lounge hosted by BayToday.ca. Here fans will be able to meet Dave for autographs and photos.