Musicians for Canada: A Benefit Concert for Canadian Unity

Full schedule to come!

A number of Alberta’s finest musicians and members of the music community are coming together at the Heritage Amphitheatre in Hawrelak Park, in Edmonton’s beautiful river valley, on Wednesday July 22, 2026 to voice their collective appreciation for their country. Voicing commitment to Canada through a day of exceptional music was the idea of P.J. Perry, one of Canada’s greatest jazz musicians who was born in Calgary and who has made his home in Edmonton for a number of decades.

With a number of his friends and peers, Perry is co-producing Musicians for Canada, A Benefit Concert for Canadian Unity with event producer and broadcaster Cam Hayden, Vici Wynn a member of the Leadership Team at Hope United Church and music journalist, promoter Peter North.

“If there's ever been a time when Canadians need to stand together against separatism, and show love and respect for our beautiful province and Canada, it is now. Canada has always been a country of compassion and care, so let's celebrate with music,” says Perry, who incidentally, is a Member of the Order of Canada.

When Perry reached out to Hayden, Wynn and North, their response was to accept the challenge, and co-produce the concert. The producers reached out to the artists who have all agreed to donate their time and talents to Musicians For Canada. The artists are Secondhand Dreamcar, The McDades, Mbira Renaissance Band, Stewart MacDougall and the New Chinook Arch Riders with Tracy Millar and John Wort Hannam performing songs from The Gift: The Words & Music of Ian Tyson, Calgary’s blues aces The Porch Dogs with guests Jimmy Guiboche and Tony D, and of course The P. J. Perry Quintet with guest vocalist Mallory Chipman. Proceeds from this concert will be directed to the Edmonton Food Bank, The Bissell Centre, and Sanctuary of Peace.

“It became clear to us that a voice to encourage and celebrate Canadian unity was necessary. We were also concerned about people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity, so the idea was hatched to put on a concert to celebrate Canadian unity that would also be a platform to raise funds for agencies on the front line of helping those who need it most. And what better place to present this concert than the newly renovated Heritage Amphitheatre,” says Hayden, the long-time producer of the Edmonton Blues Festival and host of CKUA’s Friday Night Blues Party.

The Musicians for Canada project immediately attracted a number of individuals and companies who have been extremely gracious in helping offset costs in producing the show. That list includes Dept. 9, Edmonton’s world class film, television and recording facility, and a number of individuals including P. J. Perry and Bud Salloum and anonymous donors.

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Host or Publisher Peter North