April, 202. In this time of uncertainty and fears of the unknown due to a global pandemic, having a voice you can count on makes a big difference. Dr. Bonnie Henry is the Provincial Health Officer for BC. She delivers daily updates on how the scope of impact COVID 19 is unfolding across this province. Her grounded, compassionate approach has been so comforting through this global tragedy.

On March 31st, my friend, and long-time music mentor Phil Dwyer, called me with an idea. He had written a poem in tribute to Dr. Henry, posted it on his facebook page, and thought it would be fun to set to music. I said yes, of course! I quickly got to work in my home studio, trying my best to interpret his lyrics and melody and do them justice. Phil is an incredible composer and all-around musician, and has been a huge influence on me my entire musical life. After I finished my banjo and vocal tracks, I sent them through the internet to Ben Dwyer in Toronto, Phil’s son who is a talented bass player (and alto saxophone!), then the Pender Island fiddle player Daniel Lapp. Thanks to Rick Salt for mixing and mastering, because, by the day’s end, we had this song!

Fast forward through a few weeks to an invitation by CBC to air The Ballad Of Bonnie Henry as part of their National Town Hall on April 15. We needed to add Phil playing piano and record a video! Voila.

In the last few weeks, this song has touched many, plays on the Soundcloud have reached over 40,000 and the feedback has been a challenge to keep up with. The underlying message is this: Collectively, if we hold the line, we will get through this. And the person who has been with us from the start, providing meaningful information in a grounded, kind and compassionate way is Dr. Bonnie Henry.