Following the recent floods that devastated Canada’s east and west coasts in November, Halifax couple Sondra Rutman and Jason Brown felt compelled to do something. A mere three weeks later, on Dec. 19 and 20, they had successfully co-organized an online music festival which raised over $20,000 for the Canadian Red Cross.
“At the beginning it seems almost insurmountable to do something,” said Brown. “But you realize from Judaism that you have to make a start. You don’t have to finish things, but you have to start.”
The Great Canadian Flood Relief streamed live from both coasts, with one site in Surrey, B.C., and the other in Halifax. Although it was planned to run a single day, a second was added due to the high level of interest from musicians. In total, 30 artists performed, including, according to the ads, “Juno Award winners, a Latin Grammy winner and Grammy nominee, and more music industry credits …