Hope Bridges celebrates 14th gala

By Laureen F. Guenther Times Contributor

Hope Bridges Society, a non-profit organization serving residents of Strathmore and surrounding communities, held its 14th annual Artists Among Us gala, Sunday, Oct. 20, at Hope Community Covenant Church. The event was attended by nearly 400 people.
“Our mission is to use the arts as a connective tool to bring people together in friendship and community,” said Sheila Konschuh, Hope Bridges’ board chairperson.
“All of our activities, our actions, all of our advocacy work is grounded in the knowledge that everyone belongs, and that everyone is a person of value, and that every person has a gift to share in our community.”
Funds raised are directed toward the organization’s weekly facilitated events for people with a range of abilities. Those include a music therapy singing group called Sing Your High Note, an Adaptive Drumming Circle and the Go Green Upcycling group, where participants take things about to be discarded and turn them into something beautiful.
“All of our activities are facilitated with the intention of excellence,” Konschuh said, “but at the same time, the primary goal is connection and friendship. Every action that we take, we think about what it means to have an opportunity to connect.”
Artists Among Us, Hope Bridges’ primary annual fundraiser, is “a diverse, fully-inclusive performance. And so, it’s an actual example of what happens when we make space for each other and celebrate each other.”
David Snider of Rosebud emceed the performance.
The new group Duo Grande – Megan Konschuh and Denis Dufresne – performed an engaging blend of violin and fiddle.
The Kool Katz Band “got the place hopping,” Snider said, with their air guitar performance of Twist and Shout.
Brother-sister duo Kelsey and Aaron Krogman performed Everly Brothers and Emmy Lou Harris, and Jesse Dollimont and T. Buckley also celebrated Emmy Lou Harris.
Rhonda Bruce led an audience-interactive performance with the Adaptive Drumming Circle.
Jenn Beaupre and Lewis Frere, who performed as soloists at last year’s gala, performed as a duo, on keyboard, vocals and guitar.
Jesse Dollimont led a Sing Your High Note interactive performance. Jory Kinjo performed reggae.
The Rachel Konschuh Band, including Denis Dufresne, Megan Konschuh and Jaala Cutbill, sang an audience-infused If I Had a Million Dollars.
Ghostboy, comprised of Denis Dufresne and Aaron Young, and Jory Kinjo joined their skills to give a performance that brought the audience to their feet.
Just before the final song, Konschuh announced Chuck Bailey as the first recipient of the newly created Hope Bridges Harmony Award, saying he is dedicated to the knowledge that everyone belongs and that every person’s contribution is meaningful and valuable. When Bailey connects with people, she said, he emphasizes recognition of their abilities.
The final performance was an all-involved This Little Light of Mine, led by David Snider.
The performance was followed by dinner and fellowship.
As this story goes to press, Hope Bridges is still receiving gala donations, and Hope Bridges hopes the total might exceed their goal of $15,000.
Konschuh invites anyone who wishes to donate to contact Hope Bridges through their website, hopebridges.ca, and said she’s always happy to meet with anyone who wants to know more about Hope Bridges’ programs.
“We are very grateful for the support of our community,” Konschuh said. “We wouldn’t exist without the support of our community.”