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Moose Jaw-area non-profit River Street Promotions (RSP) board members gathered with sponsors and school board officials at the Moose Jaw Co-op Agro Centre yesterday afternoon to officially donate more than $28,000 to a youth mental wellness fund accessible by Prairie South and Holy Trinity Catholic School Divisions.
The money was raised by a charity concert held in the Moose Jaw Centre for Arts & Culture’s Mae Wilson Theatre in December. The concert was a ‘songwriter’s round’-style event featuring Damhnait Doyle, Jeff Cohen, and Phil Barton, with guest artists Sykamore and Ty Hunter making an appearance. Canadian actor and comedian Jonny Harris was also in the audience and did a surprise five-minute set halfway through the show.
The day before, the lineup — not including Harris — did two free shows at the Mae Wilson for more than 800 students from grades 7 to 12. Students and performers alike said the youth concerts were a special experience.
“Today we announced that we raised over $28,000 from our Night in Nashville, so just special thanks to the Moose Jaw Co-op and the Co-op Ethanol Complex for sponsoring the event,” said Jared Mathieson, one of the founders and primary organizers of River Street Promotions. “Together, after this event was done, we’ve donated over half a million dollars to the Youth Mental Wellness Fund through the school boards and through Ross Wells Park.”
Mathieson was recently awarded Citizen of the Year at the Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce Citizen & Group of the Year awards. It was his fifth time being nominated, and first win, for his work with RSP and with other groups like the Moose Jaw Transition House and the Moose Jaw Health Foundation.
“The Night in Nashville event is something we’re very proud to be title sponsor of, along with the Co-op Ethanol Complex,” said Michaela Turner, community engagement manager at the Moose Jaw Co-op.
“Seeing the work that River Street is doing in our school divisions for the students and the impacts it’s making, is huge. Everything from yoga classes to mental health speakers to just those extras that are really benefiting our kids, it’s really great to see. And the event itself that the students got to attend on the Friday was also just so rewarding.”
Turner took the opportunity to announce a fundraising initiative the Moose Jaw Co-op has created independently as a way to keep contributing to the Youth Mental Wellness Fund year-round. More details on the initiative, titled Retro Roots, to follow in a separate article.
“As always, we’re very grateful for everything that River Street Promotions does to support youth mental health,” said Amanda Olson from the Prairie South School Division. “The Nashville concert is a great opportunity for our kids to get to see some live music by amazing artists, but also to hear their stories and some very positive messaging about mental health from people that they look up to.”