Backstage at Canada for Haiti: celebs speak up about helping out

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by: Sheri Block
Date: 1/22/2010 10:07:00 PM ET

Canadian actors, musicians, athletes and other celebs ranging from Nelly Furtado and Rachel McAdams to Donovan Bailey and Metric came together Friday night to lend their support for “Canada for Haiti,” a one-hour telethon that raised millions of dollars to support relief efforts in the earthquake-devastated country. Here’s what some of them had to say about getting involved:

K’naan (Musician)

On performing his song “Waving Flag:”

The visuals are the soundtrack to the song so what I speak about kind of hit on what the song is. It’s a privilege to be a part of something that’s so urgent and necessary … I’m really happy about (all the money raised). It’s a good number. We don’t need to think of that as we’ve reached (the end goal). People need your help and what you can do you should do.

Ben Mulroney (“etalk” host and co-host of “Canada for Haiti”)

On how emotional it was to be part of the event:

For me the toughest thing to see was the video of the children and the Haitian people who had to have amputations literally in fields and under tents and it was awful to watch. With the money we raised, we know that that money is going to get used to maybe put a roof over someone’s head or a hospital or help build homes but it will do the most amount of good possible.

On whether he has any plans to go to Haiti:

I have no expertise in the matter, I think we’ll let the experts do what they do first, and then maybe there’s something I can do but I absolutely would go down.

Craig Kielburger (co-founder of Free the Children)

On his recent trip to Haiti:

One thing Haiti’s lacking more than anything else right now is hope. The number of people who we met who said the greatest thing you can do is bring stories back to people and today was about sharing those stories and giving a reason for hope … hope means food, water and medicine.

On witnessing the devastation first-hand:

You have 35 – 40 per cent of the population in kids; you have a generation of orphans. You have kids who are scavenging the street, who can’t push their way to the front of the lines, kids who can’t stand in the hot sun all day for water distribution, you have kids who are desperately in need … and what people did today is helping children.

Emily Haines (lead singer of Metric)

On why she wanted to get involved:

I just think it’s a really important event. It’s hard I think at this time in history, we’re all seeing all these massive problems emerging, obviously with the climate and the economy and otherwise, and I think the best thing is to have events like this where you have the opportunity to do something concrete because it’s easy to get discouraged.

 Atom Egoyan (Oscar-nominated film director)

 On why this disaster especially hit home for him:

I’m remembering a similar situation over 20 years ago, when there was a major earthquake in Armenia, and I’m Armenian and again, Canada was able to rise to that and it meant so much. It was such an emotionally devastating confusing time so I have some sense of this feeling of hopelessness that people experience here and how amazing it is to be able to give back and feel that everyone is rising to that occasion.

On how celebrities have pitched in to help:

George Clooney (who organized “Hope for Haiti Now” in the U.S.) is an exemplary example of what a celeb can do, to be able to lend their reputation and their fame to a cause. I don’t understand how people who are in that situation don’t do that … We have a Haitian diaspora community in this country, it’s part of our fabric, so it’s natural that we would give back.

George Stroumboulopoulos (host of CBC’s “The Hour” and co-host of “Canada for Haiti”)

On why it was a no-brainer to take part in the show:

It’s why you do this right? It sounds cliché but it actually isn’t. You’re a person so whenever something like this happens you try to figure out how can I do what I can do with what I have? What is my skill set? I can’t sing a song and no one would want that and I’m not a politician, I can’t enact legislation but I do TV so I bring my skills to the table … if life is about the pursuit of meaning then you want to do meaningful things and you don’t always get afforded the opportunity to do (that).

Charlotte Arnold (Actress “Degrassi: The Next Generation”)

On what it was like to get involved:

I’m just happy to be here to lend my support to the people of Haiti and encourage people to help out any way they can. I would like to think most people would help out anyways but anything you can do to draw attention to a worthy cause can’t hurt.

Tara Spencer-Nairn (Actress formerly of “Corner Gas”)

On why she wanted to get involved:

It’s really frustrating sitting at home and watching the news and seeing the images and hearing the stories and it’s heartbreaking. It breaks your heart and you feel helpless and I just think as a compassionate human being, it’s nice to give back in any way and I think this is really all that we can do. I know that I’m not in a position where I can go down and be at ground zero and help so what I can do is lend my time and lend my money.

Brett Wilson (entrepreneur, philanthropist and co-host of CBC’s “Dragon’s Den”)

On why he’s planning to go to Haiti with his daughter to help out:

It’s a global disaster, it’s a place where we can make a difference and I’m fortunate to have time and money and I think both are of use right now … The other ‘Dragons’ I know are (also) putting up money, it’s just a question of where you can spend your time and I’m pretty proud to be in a position to both be here and ultimately be down in Haiti.

Donovan Bailey (Olympic champion and Canadian athlete)

On why he wanted to get involved:

The best asset I have is my time … I don’t sing so to lend a helping hand and to sit and call out to all Canadians for as much support as we can so that the Haitians get help so they can get back to being normal.  … As Canadians we are exceptionally blessed and what we should do is think about the people that don’t have anything to eat, have no place to sleep and have no fresh water.

Mike Holmes (TV host)

On why he wanted to get involved:

It’s important for the reasons of getting together, helping raise some money and help make a difference. That’s what we’re all about here. Win win win. I didn’t get into TV to make money. I got into TV to make a difference and I’m slowly doing that, just wait until you see what I’m doing next.