Canadian singer-songwriter promotes water safety

Canadian singer-songwriter Loreena McKennitt is well known for her melodic harp compositions and rich voice. Now, she’s gaining notoriety for a cause dear to her heart. Loreena is raising awareness about water safety. This effort comes out of personal tragedy the singer experienced last summer. Her fiancé, Ronald Rees, his brother Richard and their friend Gregory Cook all drowned in the waters of Georgian Bay after a sailing accident.

McKennitt decided to get busy soon after the summer tragedy. She set up a charitable fund called the Cook-Rees Memorial Fund for Search and Safety. But the success of the effort depended on raising money. So, the singer/songwriter decided all proceeds from her latest album would go to the fund. She finished up her concert album, Live In Paris and Toronto, and has been selling the two CD collection online. The CD will be on sale in record shops across Canada on Tuesday September 28th.

Ontario provincial police have already seen the benefits of McKennit’s fund. The OPP’s underwater and recovery unit has received a $60,000 sonar search tool.