Garth Brooks coming to Sask. for hospital fundraiser

Garth Brooks is coming to Saskatchewan.

While the legendary country singer will not be performing a concert, he will visit both Saskatoon and Regina for a Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan fundraiser.

“This is a gratitude appearance from Garth but it wouldn’t surprise us, given what he is known best for, that some surprises might be coming through on both of these events,” Brynn Boback-Lane, president and CEO of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan, said.

Co-founder of Teammates for Kids Foundation, Brooks is appearing at the two charity events free of charge.

“We are not paying any of his expenses which is really a first and an amazing offer of generousity from Mr. Brooks,” Boback-Lane said.

He will first visit Saskatoon on Aug. 26 for an 11 a.m. reception at Kreos Aviation. He will then head down to Regina for a 5:30 p.m. dinner and program at the Conexus Arts Centre.

Tickets cost $5,000. Each event is limited to 200 tickets. Guests are asked to RSVP by July 17. A 90 per cent tax receipt will be issued to ticket holders.

For the first time in Canadian history, the Teammates for Kids Foundation will create and build a new “child life zone,” which is a therapeutic play area, for the Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan. The foundation has created 11 other child life zones in major cities across the U.S.

With the expanded size of the Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan and additional funding provided by the provincial government, Boback-Lane said they realized there was an opportunity to create a child life zone. 

“Through our work with the NHL and WHL alumni, there was a Teammates for Kids representative, Kelly Chase, that had worked with the Garth Brooks foundation several years ago. It was brought to our attention that they really did focus on child life zones so this was a natural fit for us,” she said.

The play area will include things like music and art therapy. It provides a space for children to heal faster psychologically, boost their hopes, use their imagination and feel normal in a hospital setting.

The foundation is aiming to raise $2 million. Tickets are 50 per cent sold.

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