On Canada Day, at the behest of my daughter, I attended the second annual Hell Mend Ya at the Roll-A-Dome.
This 12-hour metal music fest is a memorial to a young man I was not fortunate enough to know, but who clearly had a profound effect on every life he touched.
Anthony Chalise Redpath Rossetti, more commonly known to his friends as Ace, was obviously an inspiring, energetic and much-loved force in the lives of those who knew him.
The effort that went into organizing the event and ensuring its success gives testament to how deeply missed Ace is, and how much those who knew and loved him best wish to honour his memory.
Knowing my daughter and many of her friends as I do, I am not in the slightest bit surprised by the outstanding character and spirit shown in the hours, days, weeks and months of hard work, planning, sponsor-solicitation, setup, teardown, and the myriad other tasks - both big and small - that go into putting on this fundraiser (all of it on a volunteer basis).
Hell Mend Ya was an incredible event, and a genuine lesson for those who might see today's youth as uncaring, directionless or lacking in focus or purpose.
Which brings me to the driving force behind Hell Mend Ya...
Founded in memory of young Mr. Rossetti by one of his closest friends, Shawn McLeod, the Ace of Arts Educational Society (who organized and hosted the event) is a local charity whose purpose is to assist cultural arts students of all music genres in and around Prince George.
The Hell Mend Ya event is their main fundraiser, and my sincerest hopes are that they raised enough to help a few starving artists, and that this event brings the A.O.A. to the attention of those who have the ability to assist them in their goals in any way possible.
Well done, Shawn, and everyone else who works so hard for the A.O.A. and Hell Mend Ya.
What a wonderfully brilliant way to make the best of a terrible tragedy.
Toya Upshaw-Fader
Prince George
