George Canyon has come full circle in his career.
The country music star became a household name in 2004 with "Nashville Star." To date he has sold over 300,000 albums, is recognized as one of the most played Canadian country music artists on Canadian country radio and has two certified gold records among other major rewards.
But he started his life of music in his local community church, learning hymns and stories that would inspire his life and music. Last fall, he returned to these roots with the release of his debut worship album, "Believe."
Canyon has also become involved with the charity Compassion Canada, called the "leading Christian child development ministry in the world." The charity is committed to eliminating the root causes of poverty for children in 26 countries in Africa, Asia, Central and Â鶹´«Ã½AV America. Children with Compassion attend church-based child development centres, where they receive life-changing opportunities.
Canyon is a Compassion Canada Artist, a role that recently took him to Ecuador with Compassion to meet his sponsor children. He described the experience in glowing terms.
"Compassion is doing work with children in impoverished communities that I never even imagined possible. I was completely blown away by the uniqueness of their approach and the clear success we witnessed."
George Canyon is coming to the Battlefords as a Compassion Canada Artist, but also as a devoted churchgoer. He is inviting the community to a free Compassion Canada Worship Concert at Living Faith Chapel Nov. 17, starting at 7 p.m. There will not be tickets for the event, which will be open to the first 500 people to arrive.
Canyon will be accompanied by Bruin and Quinn Eberle, who are both from North Battleford and are now Compassion Canada sponsors. Bruin and Quinn have played music since they were young, and are both active in the church. Bruin is now playing around Saskatchewan and Alberta, and Quinn recently received a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Award.
Canyon will also be taking part in the Compassion Sunday morning service at 11 a.m. the following day.
Canyon will leave North Battleford Sunday afternoon to kick off his Canadian Classics II tour at the Dakota Dunes Casino in Saskatoon Sunday evening.
