Barrie senior turns his passion for music into a legacy for his loved ones
A resident at Barrie's Amica Little Lake Retirement Home has turned his passion for music into a legacy for his loved ones.
Ron Benwell is one of five from Amica's 32 locations across Canada chosen to participate in the Lyrics and Legacies Project, now in its second year.
It's a program that teams up with the Corporation of Roy Thomson Hall & Massey Hall, pairing songwriters with seniors to turn their life stories into songs.
"When the song was finished I dedicated it to my daughter, her husband and my two grandchildren," said Benwell. "The song basically is covering some of my married life. She was everything. She's been gone 17 and a half years."
Ron Benwell, of Barrie, Ont., visits Massey Hall (Courtesy: Amica Little Lake)
Bringing his passion to life, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Sarah Hiltz helped Benwell pour his memories into a song called Strathavon Drive, the name of the street where he spent much of his life with his wife and two children.
"This is a really great opportunity for us to enhance their lives, to help them share their stories and develop their legacy for their families," said Laura Wright, community relations director with Amica Little Lake.
Ron Benwell works on his song in studio. (Courtesy: Amica Little Lake)
While it may be the first time Ron helped write a song, he's been singing in choir much of his life.
When he was 10, he performed on stage at Massey Hall, a place he recently had the chance to revisit.
"It's changed so much with all the renovations and improvements, but it was nice going and seeing it," said Benwell.
He said the experience stirred up old memories, just like the ones in his song, now a legacy for his children.
"For the residents to be able to share their stories, it's not just inspiring for them but also for the young people who get to hear them," said Wright.
Proof that pursuing your passion never goes out of style.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's most wanted fugitive arrested in P.E.I. in connection with Toronto homicide
A suspect in a fatal shooting in Toronto’s east end last summer has been arrested in Charlottetown, just one week after he topped a list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives.
Concerns about plexiglass prompt inspections at some Loblaws locations in Ottawa
Inspections are underway at more than one Loblaws location in Ottawa after complaints were filed about tall plexiglass barriers.
Wisconsin school district says active shooter 'neutralized' outside middle school
A Wisconsin school district said an active shooter was 'neutralized' outside a middle school in Mount Horeb on Wednesday, and no one inside the building was injured.
Poilievre unrepentant over calling Trudeau 'wacko' as his MPs say Speaker should resign
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he does not regret calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko,' and now his MPs are renewing calls for the House of Commons Speaker to resign, this time over ordering the Official Opposition leader to leave the chamber.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh confirms his party will support the Liberals' federal budget
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party will support the federal budget, ending any speculation that the party could pull out of its deal with the minority Liberal government.
Toddler of Phoenix first responder dies after bounce house goes airborne
A two-year-old child died after a strong gust of wind sent the bounce house he was in airborne and into a neighbouring lot in central Arizona, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said.
Dental care program accepting claims for 1 million seniors
Citizens' Services Minister Terry Beech says 1,200 seniors have already visited a dentist and had their claims processed by the federal government's new dental care plan.
Lawyers for alleged serial killer to argue he is not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers told court they will argue alleged serial killer Jeremy Skibicki is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women by way of a mental disorder.
B.C. tribunal decides first case involving non-consensual sharing of intimate images
In a first-of-its-kind case, a B.C. tribunal has ruled on a dispute involving the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, awarding damages and issuing orders that the photos be destroyed and taken offline.