Organizations benefit from Jason Blaine Classic

By Terry Fleurie and Gerald Tracey

Pembroke – Christmas came early for several local organizations last week, as Pembroke native and country music star, Jason Blaine returned to his hometown to distribute the proceeds from his 2021 charity golf classic and concert.

Mr. Blaine was joined by representatives of the different organizations at the announcement at the Best Western, Pembroke, last Friday where he continued his tradition of giving back to the community, he called home in his formative years. He distributed a total of $80,000 to the various organizations, ranging in amounts from $2,500 to the maximum donation of $25,000. BGC Pembroke (formerly the Boys and Girls Club of Pembroke) received $25,000; the Robbie Dean Family Counselling Centre- $15,000; the Pembroke and Area Airport - $15,000; Algonquin College - $10,000; the Pembroke/ Petawawa District Community Foundation - $8,000; Pembroke Reginal Hospital $4,000; The Grind - $2,500; and the St. Vincent de Paul and St.

Joseph’s Food Banks - $2,500 each.

“It was just really wonderful to have everybody here in one spot today,” Mr. Blaine said following the formalities. “I’m grateful to be able to be here, in person in Pembroke with my amazing committee to get to do this.

“It’s really a group team effort to make this all happen,” he added.

“They mention my name, I’m able to bring the music, but let me tell you, I cannot do this without these amazing women on the committee.”

He noted this year was very challenging being able to operate at less than half the capacity which they normally would have, but he was extremely pleased to raise the amount they did.

“I was really, really happy about that and we’re looking forward to next June and continuing to keep this going.”

Mr. Blaine said the 2021 event was the eighth annual, adding he hopes to continue it as long as possible.

“It’s a labour of love. I love to be able to give back to the area that has been so good to me, cheering me on my whole career,” he remarked.

“From all the great messages and support that I get on Facebook and social media from moving to Nashville 15 years ago.

“This town, this community, has always cheered me on and it’s just my way of using music to help give back to an area that will always be home to me.”

He said things are going really well in Nashville and his family is doing well. He was looking forward to flying home December 21 after his concert at Festival Hall on December 19 to spend Christmas with his wife,

Amy, and four children -- Grace, 15, Carter, 13, Sara, 9, and Kaden, 5.

Mr. Blaine said it’s been really tough, challenging and heartbreaking on a lot of levels in the music industry the past two years because of COVID.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty and I saw a lot of people lose their positions in the industry and have to take jobs outside of the industry, which is not their forte, their passion. And that’s really emotionally hard on people because it’s through no fault of their own.

“We’re not alone in this. A lot of other industries, small businesses were completely devastated by this,” he added. “It’s been a challenge. There’s no other way to put it.”

He said a lot of live music venues he played when he was starting his career have closed their doors forever and that is heartbreaking to see.

“And now they’re not going to be there for the next generation and that’s just unfortunate. Fortunately, some of them have hung on and thankfully, Festival Hall is one of them and I would encourage people the best thing they can do is support it when they feel comfortable and safe.”

He said it was wonderful to be able to come home to host his Christmas concert at the venue.

“I’m very thankful that we could hold a show at all. I was holding my breath all the way up, watching the news reports, hoping that we were still be able to do a show at all.

“Thankfully, we are and we’ll just be hoping and praying everything goes in the right direction so we can do this great event next year and maybe even more shows in the spring.”

He said things are very different in Tennessee, adding he’d love to bring his family to Pembroke soon, but he has no idea when he will be able to do that.

“It was hard not seeing our family here for two years. My parents weren’t able to come to the States to see their grandbabies and that was a very long two years.

“We’re a very close family and Facetime and video just don’t cut it,” he added.

He said regulations are much more relaxed in Tennessee so when he comes here, he obeys the rules and is respectful to the regulations.

Mr. Blaine said he has a new release out available digitally through Spotify, Amazon or Apple music. He also has a new music video and record coming in February.

“There’s lots of stuff in the works,” he said.