It was on the way to Bosnia to entertain military troops in 2000 when musician Mike Stevens’ plane stopped to refuel. During his brief stay he had the opportunity to visit a nearby native community and learned of the many problems facing First Nations’ youth in small towns.

The world-class harmonica player decided that he could help by starting a program to inspire youth to express themselves in positive, creative ways through music and art.

The program is called The ArtsCan Circle and volunteers donate their time and talent to go to some very distant and remote towns in Northern Ontario, Labrador, and Nunavut.

Several members of ArtsCan and the Barrie and District Association of Singers/Songwriters performed a benefit concert at Groundswell Coffeehouse in Alliston last Saturday to raise awareness and funds for future trips.

“We’re a charity that send artists and musicians to northern communities,” said ArtsCan member Carol Teal. She also performed at Groundswell.

“There are two towns in Northern Ontario. We also send people to places in Nunavut and two places in Labrador.”

The Ontario towns, Mishkeegogamang, and Pikangikum, are so remote they lack running water and are only accessible by aircraft.

Volunteers teach music and arts to the kids in the towns including songwriting workshops, play writing, musical instruction, and visual arts activities.

Teal goes on two or three trips per year.

The program gained widespread attention when the CBC picked up on the story and spread the word through one of its radio programs.

“People hear about it and want to go,” Teal explained. “Our artists are all volunteers. The biggest expense is transportation.”

A trip to one of the northern communities usually takes about a week including travel time. There are plans to start a donation program where people can donate musical instruments to start a music resource centre in each of the towns.

For more information on how you can help, visit the ArtsCan website at www.artscancircle.ca.