Sharon and Bram debuted a new song with the help of YMCA Peace Medal recipients.
Children and parents alike gathered at the Imperial Theatre this weekend for a special Sharon and Bram farewell concert.
The duo had some help debuting a new song, bringing a handful of YMCA Peace Medal recipients from Saint John to the stage.
The song, called Talk About Peace, is all about creating peace and taking action in your community.
In a release, Sharon and Bram say new lyrics in the fan favourite song reflect distinctly Canadian values, emphasizing the need to care about what happens beyond our own borders with a potent reminder that strife
in other parts of the world hurts us at home too.
Angelique Simpson with the YMCA says the new song reflects their values at the Y, as well as what the medal stands for.
“The Peace Medal really is intended to acknowledge individuals who, outside of their regular work and their paid job, go above and beyond to promote peace in their community,” she said. “We typically have a youth winner and then an adult winner.”
Sharon and Bram made a stop at the Imperial Theatre on their Farewell Tour.
Ruhamma Zaheeb, 14, was the youth winner in 2018.
She is a volunteer and a champion of many community programs, and has been recognized for her work in advocating for children’s rights as well as giving a voice to refugee women.
Zaheeb and her family moved to Saint John two years ago from Sri Lanka, where they were refugees for four years.
Once she got here, she says she immediately wanted to find ways to give back to her community that “blessed her” with so much freedom.
She said winning the medal inspired her and gave her the confidence to do more volunteer work.
“I recently started doing more volunteering at my high school, and more at the library, because it really gives me some satisfaction that I can see some change in the community,” she said.
Zaheeb says being in Canada means she can choose her own path in life and follow her dreams. After high school, she plans on studying neuroscience.
The duo performed a new song with the help of YMCA Peace Medal recipients.
Li Song won the Peace medal in 2017 for her volunteer work at the Public Library and at the Asian Heritage Society of New Brunswick.
She remembers what it’s like being a newcomer, and wants to make Saint John as welcoming as possible.
“I always campaign for and am an advocate for newcomers, their enrollment,” she said.
“I’m hoping to bring our newcomers voices in the region, especially its important at this point right now, we’re trying to grow our population.”
She says Saint Johners welcomed her with an open heart and warm arms, and that welcoming feeling is what made her choose to stay.
“Even now, I am a proud Canadian, I’m still experiencing different things, and I hope others will feel the same way, feel peace, love and happiness in here so they can stay, so they can make friends, build meaningful relationships. That’s very important.”
