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Country star asks students to play it forward Taste Oakville, by Dominik Kurek Oakville Beaver Staff Artscene 25 | Friday, May 24, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" The students of W.H. Morden Public School got an earful, but in the most positive way possible. The youngsters were treated to a concert full of uplifting and encouraging music by rising Canadian country star Tenille, who is currently on her crosscountry Play It Forward school tour. The 19-year-old musician performed at the school on Tuesday (May 21) where she asked the students to find their passion and to play it forward. "I love to play music. That's my passion," she said. "We want you guys to go out into the world and play and then play it forward." The Alberta-based musician began her tour in March and recently released her second album Light, which features the current single Dear Hearts. At the 2012 Canadian Country Music Awards (CCMA), Tenille received the Slaight Music Humanitarian Award. That same year, she won the Female Artist of the Year award at the Alberta Country Music Association Awards, and in 2011 she was the youngest person ever to be nominated Female Artist of the Year at the CCMAs. She said she's inspired by the passion of others. "What is passion? To me, passion is the spark. It's what moves you. For some people that spark might be working support art Canadian country singer and humanitarian Tenille performed for a crowd of students at W.H. Morden Public School Tuesday morning along her Play It Forward tour. Her message to students was to find their passion and to play it forward. Here, she is pictured among students signing autographs. photo by Riziero Vertolli ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) towards a dream career someday, maybe you're going to be a firefighter or a pilot. For someone else, that spark might be working really hard in school to get great grades to get into a big university. For another person, that passion might be helping other people," she told the students in between songs. "Here's the cool thing, it doesn't matter how young you are or where you come from, you have that spark inside you and you can make a difference with it. You can ignite that spark with what you love. You can be original, be wonderful or just be you. I dare you." The musician had volunteers on stage and gave them Tim Hortons gift cards that they were to pay forward and then share their stories on her website. She gave students donations for causes of their choice and a chance to win $10,000 for causes in their community. She also told the students, they did not need to receive the donations to be able to do some good in the world and gave the students some examples of what they could do. "You can get together with a group of your friends and raise money to send soccer balls to kids overseas who might not have that opportunity to play," she said. She said students could do something in their community that they're passionate about, such as hosting a fundraiser or starting a league. "You could just smile. Just smile and be kind to someone in your class who you don't usually talk to because maybe they need a friend and maybe that friend is you and that's how you play it forward," she said. "What I'm trying to say is you can make a difference in this world so play it forward." Oakville Galleries is hosting the annual culinary event Oakville Taste on Sunday (May 26) at its Gairloch Gardens location. The Galleries will be the beneficiary of the event. Oakville Taste features some of the community's top culinary talent in an event where attendees can sample the creations made by local chefs, paired with some of the finest local wins, spirits and beers. Funds raised at the event will support Oakville Galleries' Art For All initiative. This is a program that ensures children of all economic backgrounds have access to high-quality art education. The program provides free access to a full range of art classes and camps to low-income families, as well as PA Day programs, March Break camps, after-school and Saturday morning workshops, weeklong summer camps and more. According to the Oakville Galleries, engagement in the arts during a child's formative years is among the highest indicators of self-esteem, social cohesion and leadership capacity later in life. The organization goes on to say access to an early art education encourages problem solving, critical thinking and collaboration skills at a critical juncture in a child's social development. "These are benefits we believe all young people should have access to," said Oakville Galleries director Matthew Hyland, in a news release. "With the proceeds of Oakville Taste 2013, we will be able to ensure hundreds of local children are provided with the kind of enriching art experiences that will impact them for years to come. We could not be more grateful for this support from Oakville Taste." The event runs from 3-7 p.m. Ticket cost $85. There are discount group and child rates available as well. Gairloch Gardens is located at 1306 Lakeshore Rd. E. For tickets and more information, visit www.oakvillegalleries.com. Just a few of our Featured Advertisers: SAVE UP TO $ { Sign up for free e-Offers and get the inside scoop on the best flyer deals! from our team of experts. { Check out this week's money saving deals fr 38 ON YOUR NEXT GROCERY BILL! @