LIGHTFOOT TRIBUTE CONCERT LAST NIGHT BIG BENEFIT FOR GRAVENHURST HEALTH HUB

GRAVENHURST — The legend lived on.

And the Gravenhurst Health Hub was the big beneficiary.

Steve Rae and the Pony Band helped raised more money last night for the community’s new primary care planned facility.

After the District of Muskoka just committed another $200,000 for the second floor renovation of the Cottage Family Health Team building offices, Rae and his band filled the Opera House with his second tribute there to Gordon Lightfoot.

And the crowd loved it. It was a Summertime Dream come true for some.

With many of them also learning more about the project and concert driven by the Rotary Club.

From Lightfoot’s first big hit “Early Morning Rain” to his last, the “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” the band produced song after song that entertained the Canadian folk song lovers.

Rotarian Rae and his band mates — Gerry Holden on electric guitar and Mick Torbay on bass — donated their proceeds “to a good cause,” while hitting all the highlights of the Orillia singer’s long, memorable life.

A favourite was “The Railroad Triology,” which was the first song the CBC played Jan. 1, 1967, during Canada’s Centennial, after commissinging him to write it, said Rae.

The popular band’s return was its second performance this year following a pop rock show in June.

And their fans were happy to be back and hear Rae on guitar and banjo, who they said sounded “authentically Lightfoot,” said Lightfoot fan Rob Charney, of Mexico, and a new Pony Band fan.

For more information on the Gravenhurst Health Hub plans, go to Rotary’s website at https://www.gravenhursthealthhub.com/

They hope to get proceed early next year with renovations toward attracting new medical services and physicians to follow soon after.

Watch for their information tables around town at other events or contact them and they will come to you with a presentation.