Dream Team brings This is My Canada song to life

Winners of six Grammy and 13 Juno Awards teamed up with former County resident songwriter, Jeanette Arsenault to re-produce her song ‘This is My Canada / Mon cher Canada’.

Jeanette Arsenault, singer/songwriter and executive producer with Don Coleman, producer and project manager, Liberty Silver and David Clayton-Thomas, Grammy and Juno Award winners

Through the generous donations of more than 400 Canadians from across the nation, who are affectionately known as “Dream Team Canada,” Arsenault’s patriotic bilingual song “This Is My Canada / Mon cher Canada,” and an accompanying HD music video have come to life.

The project features vocalists who have accrued six Grammy awards and 13 Juno awards combined. The result is an emotionally-charged audio/visual presentation that exudes compelling anthem-like qualities, combined with exhilarating and stunning visuals of the vast Canadian landscape.

Arsenault, now based in Belleville, is an Acadian singer-songwriter and keynote speaker. She wrote the song 25 years ago.

“My aunt Angele, who was my idol and an accomplished songwriter, always encouraged me to launch this song nationally.”

Jeanette Arsenault

Throughout her career Arsenault has performed the song for HRH Queen Elizabeth II and at the Olympic games in Salt Lake City & Athens Greece, for the PanAm Games Torch Relay, as VIA Rail Artist on Board across Western Canada, to name a few.

Through an introduction to New Brunswick-based songwriter Don Coleman, the plan to record the song and create a music video was born. He organized the multiple award-winning team and produced the song and HD music video, that are being released during Canada’s 150th birthday celebration.

“To assemble a team of this calibre for my first project as a music and video producer, is an absolute dream come true,” said Coleman. He handled a vast array of responsibilities from inception to launch, that helped the project to come to fruition.

Over the years he has been endorsed by Gordon Lightfoot, acknowledged by the Jeff Healey Estate, President Bill Clinton, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and recognized on AC/DC’s official website.

The song features an All-Canadian cast known as “Dream Team Canada Singers,” that includes five-time Grammy award-winner and Juno award-winning vocalist David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat & Tears), multiple Juno award-winner and Grammy award-winner (in collaboration with the song Tears Are Not Enough) Liberty Silver, Juno award winning recording artist Wilfred LeBouthillier from Tracadie, NB, and the eight time Juno award-winning and Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductees, The Good Brothers.

The children’s choir called, “Young Singers,” directed by Anna Lynn Murphy, also participated on the song and brought magnificent multicultural voices, energy and dynamic to the project. The recording also includes vocal performances by Arsenault and Coleman.

Some of Canada’s finest session musicians; Al Cross (Big Sugar, Ian Tyson, Great Big Sea), Russ Boswell (Corey Hart, Seals & Crofts, Holly Cole) and Richard Evans (Rita McNeil, Alan Frew, Billy Newton-Davis), delivered stellar performances on the track. Coleman says, “being surrounded by such an astounding group of talent is a dream come true, for all of the right reasons.”

A special appearance by 12-year-old Malakai Daybutch, one of Canada’s sought-after traditional indigenous dancers, added magic. Arsenault said his presence, spirit, friendship and contribution were riveting and emotional.

In the spirit of all things Canadian, both Arsenault and Coleman are community-minded and have a lengthy history of raising funds for deserving causes and organizations. An exciting partnership has developed as testament to their philosophy of giving back, that is close to their hearts.

“We are thrilled that our project is a proud supporter of The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada and we are honoured to be associated with this exceptional Canadian organization.” The fundraising initiative will strive to raise dollars on multiple levels, including via sales of the song.

The song will soon be available for purchase on iTunes and other music download sites, globally. The HD music video is now available on YouTube to enjoy, subscribe, donate and share.

Visit the official website at “nationalsong.ca” to learn more and follow this grassroots story as it grows along with the legion of Canadians, who are embracing its all-inclusive message. Become a part of “Dream Team Canada” by connecting and contributing to the dynamic of the project “@thisismycanada” on Facebook and Twitter.

Arsenault said the future will bring a documentary that represents the story of this national song, its participants and all of the serendipitous elements that made it come together. “The Making of This Is My Canada / Mon cher Canada” is being created and will be submitted to Netflix, cable networks and film festivals around the world.

Official Websites: nationalsong.ca and chansonnationale.ca

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThisIsMyCanadaMoncherCanada/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisismycanada