By Will McGuirk

Gord Downie put out a call to action for all Canadians – do whatever we can to help move towards healing and reconciliation through awareness, education and action. Michael Boguski (Blue Rodeo) has teamed up with like-minded musicians Chris Mason and Lucas Goetz (formerly of Deep Dark Woods), Jim Bowskill (The Sheepdogs, Blue Rodeo), Chris Sleightholm and Dustin Bentall. Together, they recorded Cold Manitoba – a song penned originally by Toronto songwriter, Eddie Orso.

One hundred per cent of the proceeds from Cold Manitoba will benefit the Native Addictions Council of Manitoba – a Native-owned and operated treatment centre that directly targets the addictions problems facing First Nations Peoples in Manitoba and the surrounding area.

“The goal of this project is to move people towards healing – healing as individuals, and as communities,” says Boguski. “I think it’s important to find ways where we can reach out to each other and find common ground. We can begin to get through the hurt by coming together and understanding that there are similarities between all of us. Substance abuse and mental health are not isolated issues – they’re global and affect all people from all communities. My hope is that Cold Manitoba will help bring more awareness to these unifying issues, and can help us think of ways to reconcile and move towards peace and togetherness.” - press release.