Musician’s home tour to include memory-boosting care home performances

Gordon Edgar - Moose Jaw Express/MooseJawToday.com

Mario Crevier, a musician and musical therapist who performs under the name Elliott Barraclough, is returning to his Saskatchewan roots this summer, including as many free performances at longterm care homes as he can fit in.

Crevier was born in Montreal in 1952, and moved to Moose Jaw with his family when he was four years old. He learned English in Moose Jaw, relearned French in Gravelbourg at College Mathieu, got his start in music at St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish, and when people ask where he’s from, he says Saskatchewan.

He retired from a 30-year career in the field of electronics manufacturing management after the economic crash in 2008 devastated Ontario’s manufacturing sector, and decided to get into music therapy. Crevier has been using his talent ever since to inspire happy memories for dementia patients in long-term care homes.

“I play resident-appropriate music, so as a for instance, I sing stuff like ‘It’s a Long Way to Tipperary,’ ‘Tura Lura Lura,’ and ‘Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile,’” Crevier said. “Most people in long-term care are 75 to 100 years old, so I don’t do any new songs. … I sing in Polish, Russian, German, French, Italian, a Scottish brogue, Irish. I sing in Mandarin and Greek, and I get them all to sing with me. I try to get maximum audience participation.”

Crevier believes that music therapy is about the best thing there is for dementia patients. He finds it a joyful experience to go into dementia wards and see residents come to life and respond to his melodies.

“These songs are the milestones of their lives, and from there all the memories come flooding back. And they sing, and it’s just tribal. It’s absolutely fantastic to be in the middle of that, so that’s why I do it.

“Some of these people are in terrible condition, they can hardly move. And I go in and start singing a song and next thing you know, they’re tapping their feet, they’re whistling, they’re banging on the table, some of them just start singing right out.”

Early on, Crevier found the combination of an Italian first name and a French last name threw most people for a loop, so he decided to take on a pseudonym.

“I checked the internet for the most popular English names and came up with Elliott,” he laughed. “The other name that was most popular at the time was Rex, but I thought that was a bit too pompous, to call myself ‘Rex.’”

J.P. Crevier, Mario’s father, built the GATX railcar servicing and repair plant in 1956, and had a side gig teaching French to RCAF officers at the base — an opportunity that arose from his Rotary Club membership. Crevier’s mother Ida taught French at numerous Moose Jaw schools, including St. Agnes and Tech Collegiate.

All that is to say that his roots run deep.

The family moved to Red Deer, Alberta in 1969 so J.P. could help build another railcar repair plant, and Crevier did his final year of high school there. Nevertheless, he considers Moose Jaw home and can’t wait to come back. He has old friends and memories all over the region, from rock-and-roll and country bandmates to schoolmates from Moose Jaw and Gravelbourg.

“I figure, I’m 70 now,” Crevier said. “Before anymore people I know and haven’t seen in years die, I gotta go back and make a tour.

“It’s all pro bono, I mean, they don’t have the cash, so I say, ‘Look, instead of paying me, just watch my YouTube videos and use them as therapy for your residents.’ Because the need is there, it’s so important.”

Crevier’s other quest on this tour is for authentic Cantonese restaurants. He remembers the Chinese food, and specifically the Cantonese food, in Saskatchewan as the best he’s ever had — a lifelong love stemming from his childhood on the Prairies.

Crevier will be in the province from June 8 to June 29 and aims to play as many 2 p.m. shows as he can. He will play at Pioneer Lodge on Saturday June 10, Ross Payant in Assiniboia on June 12, Foyer d’Youville in Gravelbourg on June 13, Foyer St. Joseph in Ponteix on June 14, and more.

Check out Mario Crevier’s YouTube channel under his performing name — Elliot Barraclough — and contact him at melodistelliott@gmail.com if you’d like him to perform.

AUTO RACING

Friday

6:30 p.m. FSR NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200.

Saturday

5 p.m. FSR NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600, Qualifying.

Baseball

Thursday

5:30 p.m. TSN MLB Baseball Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees.

Tuesday p.m. NET MLB Baseball New York Yankees at Seattle Mariners.

5 p.m. NET MLB Baseball Milwaukee Brewers at Toronto Blue Jays.

Wednesday 5 p.m. NET MLB Baseball Milwaukee Brewers at Toronto Blue Jays. 9 p.m. NET MLB Baseball New York Yankees at Seattle Mariners.

HOCKEY

Thursday

5 p.m. CBKT NHL Hockey Conference Final: Teams TBA.

Friday 5 p.m. CBKT NHL Hockey Conference Final: Teams TBA. 7 p.m. TSN 2023 Memorial Cup Hockey TBA at Kamloops Blazers.

Saturday

Sunday

5 p.m. CBKT NHL Hockey Conference Final: Teams TBA.

Monday

5 p.m. CBKT NHL Hockey Conference Final: Teams TBA.

7 p.m. TSN 2023 Memorial Cup Hockey Teams TBA.

Kimmel Live! (:35) Nightline

CTYS The Chase Law-SVU "Dead Ball" Hudson & Rex "Jai Break" Paramedics: Paramedics:

TSN (5:30) MLB Baseball SportsCentre (N) (Live) SportsCentre (N) (Live) Jay Onrait (N) (Live)

NET (6:00) Stanley Cup Live Coverage (N) (Live) Sportsnet (N) (Live) Blue Jays NHL's Best

EDACC Big Bang etalk (N) Rookie "Messy Houses" Walker (N)

Homestead Rescue Homestead Rescue 41 COM Sheldon 'Til Death Friends Friends Friends Friends Big Bang Big Bang 42 TCM (6:00) < The Seven Year It <++++ A Streetcar Named Desire ('51) Marlon Brando. (:15) < Dog Day Afternoon

47 AMC (6:00) <+++ Twister ('96) Helen Hunt. <+++ Moneyball ('11) Jonah Hill ,Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brad Pitt 48 FSR Motorcycle Racing Motorcycle Racing Motorcycle Racing Dangerous Storm Chaser s

55 CRV1 (6:40) <++ Midway ('19) Patrick Wilson, Ed Skrein. Love & Death "Sssshh" (N) Clone High Clone High

56 CRV2 (6:15) < R.I.P.D. 2: Rise o <++ Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody ('22) Movie

57 CRV3 (:20) The Office (:45) The Office (:10) Law "Whiplash" Billions "Redem ption" The First "Cracked Pot"

58 HBO (5:25) < Tina (:25) < Stay the Night ('22) Andrea Bang White "The

Mystery 101 "An Education in Murder" 29 ENCAV (:20) <++ Kicking & Screaming ('05) Will Ferr ell. < Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ric Movie 33 CMT Raymond Raymond The Office The Office Frasier Frasier Cheers Cheers 35 TLC (6:00) 90 Day: Other (N) 90 Day (N) Match Me Abroad 90 Day 90 Day: Other 38 DISC Street "Ground Chuck" Maritime Masters Homestead Rescue Homestead "Built to Thrive" 41 COM Sheldon 'Til Death Sheldon Sheldon Sheldon Sheldon Big Bang Big Bang 42 TCM (6:00) < A Walk in the Sun (:15) <+++ The Story of G.I. Joe ('45) Burgess Meredith. (:15) < They Were Expe 47 AMC <++ Heartbreak Ridge ('86) Marsha Mason, Everett McGill , Clint Eastwood. Walking "B ue Jay" 48 FSR (6:30) NASCAR North Carolina Education Lotte ry 200 (N) Dirt Slide or Di e Dangerous Drives 55 CRV1 Movie < Marvelous and the Black Hole ('21) (P) <+++ Minari ('20) Han Ye-ri, Steven Yeun (P)

56 CRV2 <++ Blue Bayou ('21) Alicia Vikander, Just in Chon. RuPaul Drag Race (N) (:10) <+++ Nobody ('21)

57 CRV3 (:20) The Office (:10) Law "All My Children" Billions "Kompenso" The First Lady "See Saw"

58 HBO Movie I Am Jackie O < Being Mary Tyler Moore ('23) (P)

SATURDAY EVENING MOVIES SPORTS SPECIALS

7 PM 7:30 8 PM 8:30 9 PM 9:30

NET (6:00) Stanley Cup Live Coverage (N) (Live) Sportsnet (N) (Live) Blue Jays NHL's Best 25 EDACC Mary Ma Mary Ma Forensic "Nature's Clues" Neighbor "Deadly Duplex" Fear Thy Neighbor

26 W < Romance Retreat ('19) Amanda Schull. < Styled with Love ('22) Cory Lee, Dennis Andres (P)

29 ENCAV (5:50) <+++ King Kong ('05) Jack Black, Naomi Watts. <+++ Buffalo 66 ('98) Christina Ricci, Vincent Gallo. (P)

33 CMT Cheers Cheers Man-Plan Man-Plan Man-Plan Man-Plan Frasier Frasier

35 TLC 90 Day Fiancé (N) 90 Day Fiancé (N) 90 Day Fiancé (N) 90 Day Fiancé

38 DISC CSI: NY "Sweet 16" CSI: NY "Raising Shane" CSI: NY "Silent Night" CSI: NY "Obsession"

41 COM Friends Friends Friends Friends Friends Friends Big Bang Big Bang

42 TCM Movie (:45) <+++ Pork Chop Hill ('59) Gregory Peck. Movie <+++ The Fallen Sparrow

47 AMC (5:00) < The Shawshank <++ The Guardian ('06) Ashton Kutcher, Sela Ward,Kevin Costner.

48 FSR NASCAR North Carolina Education Lottery 200 ARCA Menards Series Charlotte

55 CRV1 (6:30) <++ Jurassic World Dominion ('22) Chris Pratt. <++ Shazam! Fury of the Gods ('23) Zachary Levi. (P)

56 CRV2 (6:00) <+++ Minari ('20) < Marvelous and the Black Hole ('21) (:25) <++ The 355 ('22) Jessica Chastain.

Ultimate Disc NASCAR Race Hub Dirt Slide or Di e Dangerous Iraq Convoy

55 CRV1 (:15) < R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned ('22) Dark Side (:50) Dark Side-Ring (N) (:40) Yellow

56 CRV2 (5:40) <++ Midway ('19) <+++ Let Them All Talk ('20) Meryl Streep (:55) <++ The Mauritanian

57 CRV3 (:20) The Office (:45) The Office (:10) Law "Brother's Keeper"

(SP) You, Me & My Ex 7 Little Johnstons

38 DISC Gold Rush: Parker's Trail Gold Rush: White Water Homestead "The Wild Year " Homestead Rescue

41 COM Sheldon 'Til Death Bob Heart Bob Heart Bob Heart Bob Heart Big Bang Big Bang

42 TCM (6:00) <++++ North by Northwest ('59) <++++ Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? ('66) Elizabeth Taylor.

47 AMC (5:00) <+++ The Green Mile ('99) Tom Hanks. <+++ Moneyball ('11) Jonah Hill,Brad Pitt.

48 FSR (6:00) ARCA Charlotte Dirt Running the Wall NASCAR 75: Dangerous Drives

55 CRV1 <+++ Minari ('20) Han Ye-ri , Steven Yeun. <++ Shazam! Fury of the Gods ('23) Zachary Levi.

56 CRV2 (6:00) < Hallelujah: Leon <++ Stillwater ('21) Camille Cottin, Matt Damon. (:20) <++ Ambulance ('22)

57 CRV3 (:20) The Office (:45) The Office (:10) Law "School Daze" Billions The First Lady "Nadir"

58 HBO Movie (:25) < Stay the Night ('22) Andrea Bang Bill Maher ... But I'm Not Wrong Movie

WEDNESDAY EVENING MOVIES

PM

PM 9:30

PM 10:30

3 CBKFT Question (N) L'épicerie Dans l'oeil du dragon (N) Bonsoir bonsoir! (N) Le téléjournal (N)

5 CFRE Fantasy Island Family Law Top Chef Canada (N) Global News at 10 (N)

Mom Will & Grace Will & Grace So Help Me Todd <+++ Tully ('18)

29 ENCAV (6:45) <++ Van Helsing ('04) Hugh Jackman. Power "Divided We Stand" Blindspot (:35) Run the

33 CMT Raymond Raymond The Office The Office Frasier Frasier Cheers Cheers

35 TLC Dr. Pimple Popper (N) Crack Addicts (N) Dr. Pimple Popper Dr. Pimple Popper

38 DISC Expedition Unknown Louisiana Law Homestead Rescue Homestead "Under Si ege"

41 COM

Caronport businessman wants to be new MLA for Lumsden-Morse riding

Caronport businessman Blaine McLeod has dealt with politics in the dairy industry for more than four decades and believes that experience can also translate into handling the politics at the provincial legislature.

McLeod is running to become the new MLA for the Lumsden-Morse constituency after 24-year politician Lyle Stewart resigned in March due to health reasons.

He has lived in Caron for 48 years and has been a dairy farmer in Caronport for 42 years, where he operates Caroncrest Farms Ltd. with his two sons.

McLeod and two other candidates will speak to Sask. Party members during the nomination meeting on Thursday, June 8, at the Heritage Inn in Moose Jaw.

“The interest has always been there for politics … ,” he said. “And I have a desire to serve the constituency in whatever way I can.”

Agriculture, education, health care and the economy are the four pillars of McLeod’s platform.

Agriculture

He pointed out that agriculture is the backbone of his platform, of the province and in the constituency and he wants to ensure the Sask. Party makes that industry a priority in everything it does.

There’s plenty of talk about sustainability in agriculture, but McLeod said he prefers to talk about economic sustainability instead. That makes more sense to him because farmers have been focusing on that aspect for generations and don’t receive enough credit for the good work they’ve done.

“It’s not like we need to tear down what’s happening. What we’ve done in Saskatchewan has vindicated sustainability for a long, long time … ,” he said, adding engagement must continue at the provincial and federal levels to provide backstop programs to support producers.

Education

McLeod has two daughters-in-law who are teachers. They regularly tell him that more support could and should be given to the industry to help meet students’ diverse needs. Students who need help are slipping through the cracks because of classroom sizes and underfunding.

McLeod thought the province needed to fund education at a higher level above the status quo, especially since school divisions are facing troubles with inflation.

Health care

McLeod has a daughter who is a nurse, while some of his campaign team members also work in health care. He believes the province could more efficiently spend money in this industry and provide expedient care.

“Just getting put on a waiting list is not health care. Those waiting lists need to disappear … ,” he said. “I’m fully in favour of entirely publicly funded health care; I also in that equation say there’s room for private delivery but publicly funded.”

Economy

For decades people left Saskatchewan looking for jobs elsewhere, but McLeod believes the Sask. Party turned around that problem and made this province a desirable place to work. He also thinks the government needs to make the economy work for everyone.

McLeod says the province must add value to every item that leaves instead of just exporting raw products. He pointed out companies are building canola-crushing plants in the province, allowing Saskatchewan to import canola to crush before exporting it for sale.

Personal qualities

McLeod believes party members should vote for him because of his dedicated commitment to the community. Over the years, he has served on school boards, church boards, clubs, and organizations.

Furthermore, he has engaged with the dairy industry for decades, including with Sask. Milk and the Dairy Farmers of Canada, while he has acquired good governance training through these experiences.

“I very much desire to be a politician that brings integrity and transparency to the role — and availability as well … ,” he added. “The hard work that has made me successful as a dairy farmer will translate into a career as an MLA.”

Blaine McLeod’s campaign can be found on Facebook.