The invitation British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell personally made to a Mi'kmaq children's choir to sing at the 2010 Olympic Games opening ceremonies has been withdrawn, according to Newfoundland media reports.
“The invitation came after an impressive performance by the Choir that left Premier Campbell awestruck,” according to the website for St. John's, Newfoundland radio station VOCM.
Campbell saw the Se't A'newey First Nation Choir, which is based in Conne River, Newfoundland, sing at the National Aboriginal Women's Summit in Corner Brook two years ago. In front of Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams, Conne River Band Council Chief Misel Joe and others, Campbell invited the children to make the trip to Vancouver, the story said.
“Yesterday, Chief Misel Joe told a meeting of the parents and singers that Premier Campbell had informed Premier Williams there would be no place for the Choir at the opening ceremony,” VOCM reported. “There was no apparent reason made public.”
Chief Joe was in a meeting this morning and not immediately available.
Campbell was returning from Greece where he attended the lighting of the Olympic torch this week and was unavailable. A spokesperson for the premier said she had not heard about the choir's concerns, but would look into it and call back.
The choir has been preparing for two years and the community has “spent considerable time and effort fundraising and preparing for the trip,” said a St. John's Telegram story. The paper quoted an e-mail from a community member: “A part of each and every one of these children died last night.”
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
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Karen D.
2 years ago
Re-invite them!
Is Campbell's decision to withdraw his invitation because this choir is not from B.C.? It sounds like these children are impressive enough to only make B.C. look better.
Isn't the Olympics supposed to bring people and nations together? This would have been a perfect opportunity to show that the B.C. Olympics is open to all.
I would love to see this choir be in the opening ceremonies to represent Canada. I am embarrassed for our province that we have such a thoughtless premier.
zalm
2 years ago
Mebbe there's another choir...
...a BC native choir that deserves the honour more. Let's find out why the invitation was withdrawn. It's not like Vancouver has a dearth of good choirs - we very nearly have more choirs than the rest of Canada put together, and many of them are both professional and adventurous, despite the complete lack of financial support for choirs of all types, ages and musical styles in this province, no thanks to the latest provincial government.
I speak as one who loves choirs, sings in them and attends others as often as possible. There are dozens not listed in the membership of this, the largest association of choirs in BC:
http://www.bcchoralfed.com/join_a_choir/member_choirs.php
After all, Campbell, despite what he may think, is NOT, I repeat, NOT running the Owelympics. The personal flunkie of some guy who just died is.
http://www.bcchoralfed.com/join_a_choir/member_choirs.php
Ernest Black
2 years ago
Typical
In a way I hope Campbell does not change his mind. It shows this crowd for what they are, totally un-trustworthy and totally deceitful. If he changes his mind, everybody will forget what he tried to do, as the public always seems to do.
I am sorry for the kids, they deserve better. But for these guys, they are not the offspring of multi-millionaires and their parents do not vote in BC, so to him they do not matter. And why should that be different since BC voters do not matter to him.
The BC Liberals, have a great system going. Do whatever you want, if nobody notices or gets upset then you got away with it. If there is an uproar, then back away and the public will forget what was attempted, or praise you for being reasonable and listening. Works, over and over again.
freebear
2 years ago
Another lie exposed!
This time Gordo lied to children!
Gary
2 years ago
It's not up to Campbell
This is an International Sporting Event. Not as Campbell seems to think. A political event for his own personal gain.
The IOC or VANOC could save face on this and re-invite the choir.