Photo Credits: Tracey Savein South Paw Productions
On January 31 Barney Bentall & The Cariboo Express’ celebrated their farewell tour and final concert in Toronto, “The Last Roundup,” joined by an all-star lineup of special guests – William Prince, Jim Cuddy, Tom Wilson and Thompson Wilson, Devin Cuddy, Sam Polley, and Anne Lindsay. It was magical night with great performance by all mentioned.
This sold-out concert was the last chance for fans to catch one of Canada’s most beloved roots and folk collectives while raising funds for Classroom Champions, a nonprofit organization, connecting professional athletes, Olympians and Paralympians with underserved and Indigenous students, fostering social, emotional, and academic growth.
Over the past decade, Concert for Classrooms has raised nearly $1.5 million to change the lives of thousands of students in Canada. Classroom Champions empowers children to thrive academically, socially and emotionally. Through the mentorship and mindset of world-class athletes, we improve student engagement, build growth mindsets, and inspire positive classroom culture.
CEO Seth Rosenzweig says, “Canada was the incubator and now we are across Canada and the States, it was started 15 years ago by Steve Mesler and his sister a teacher, I came on about 8 months ago to take to embedded into the educational system throughout north America. If kids are not thriving socially, emotional from a mental health standpoint how can they thrive academically or in life.”
“This was an opportunity to partner with schools to ensure children have the tools and skills they need to navigate lives challenges, while empowering them to realize their potential through the mindset and mentorship of athletes in the classroom. I would say education is the pathway to economic mobility. In post Covid world the education system has been strained. So our goal is to partner with schools to provide a resource to help kids to make sure they are thriving socially and emotionally. We pair the Olympians, Paralympians, college and professional athletes with a classroom and they work with a teacher who teaches our curriculum, an 8 module program that focuses on life skills that kids need to succeed in life. Perseverance to managing your emotions to goal setting to giving back. The Athletes are engaging with them on a weekly basis mostly virtual zooms to share their life journey and experiences to create stickiness because kids look up to these Athletes.”
Michael Williams: “So as these kids are mentored by Athletes who share their adversities, in the case of Paralympians, whose remarkable resilience inspires them to achieve their life goals?”
Seth Rosenzweig: “Absolutely. These skills are durable skills that people assume are traits. So if we can be more intentional we can build muscle memory early in these kids, we can ensure every child has a champion in their corner from kindergarten to 8th grade, currently we are in 1000 schools across Canada, 700 internationally.”
Michael Williams: what role does music play?
Seth Rosenzweig: “I think it is another opportunity to bring people together and create community. Craig Senyk (Chair of Mawer Investments Management) Presenting Sponsor for Concerts for Classrooms and Ross Roy, they were architects behind the Concerts for Classrooms. Using music as a vehicle to build community and enjoy life. “
They had a relationship with Barney Bentall and The Cariboo Express who loved the cause and has been involved since the beginning. He as such a good and wanted and wanted to something that impacted kids lives. This will be our final concert with Barney raising 1.5 million,100% goes to low income and indigenous students across Canada. Over the past 10 years, Concert for Classrooms in Calgary and Toronto has raised nearly $1.5 Million for schools and students in Canada.
“We’ve absolutely loved being part of the fundraising efforts with Classroom Champions over the years. The energy, the cause, and the community have made it a remarkable experience for all of us in the Cariboo Express”, said Barney Bentall.
An absolutely wonderful, amazing night of music that felt like Canada was on the stage, with Barney Bentall and the Cariboo Express and friends.
For more information on how you can help www.classroomchampions.org
