Canada's Great Bear Region Inspires Song

Tony Dekker is the lead singer and songwriter for Canada’s indie-folk band Great Lake Swimmers.   In 2009, their hit album, Lost Channels, was nominated for a Juno Award and their follow up album, New Wild Everywhere, launched this year. It explores the transcendence in the natural world to describe the universal themes of love, mortality and escape. Tony wrote the track “Ballad of a Fisherman’s Wife”, immediately following the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill in 2010. It’s an ode to the families affected by the disaster.

Tony Dekker © Steph Morgan / WWF-Canada
Tony Dekker during his recent visit to the Great Bear Coast © Steph Morgan / WWF-Canada

This past September, Tony joined WWF on a trip to the Great Bear. He witnessed first-hand the spectacular connection between river, sea, and forest. He was awed by the beauty and wonder of this place. And by the idea that it could all be lost in event of an oil spill. The result is this haunting song.

Today Tony is asking Canadians and people across the world to join him in saying, the Great Bear is no place for oil pipelines and tankers. Join Tony. Add your name: askacanadian.ca