New Photo Album: Photos from the Toronto Autoshow

April 2006 - Colin signs as a Compasion artist.

"Our family has sponsored a fourth child. We are so abundant in this country that I believe we all need to reach out and help support those who are less fortunate. I believe strongly in what Compassion Canada is doing. I am freely donating my time and resources into helping out these kids. I challenge you to sponsor a child today. For more info click here

Big names headline small town benefit concert
 
July 5, 2004
CREDIT: CH News
Randy Bachman called up his friends Neil Young and the Barenaked Ladies for help pulling together a fundraising concert for a Cowichan Valley community group resisting a proposal by the local pulp mill that they believe will add to air pollution.

Some big names in Canada's music scene are heading to a tiny Vancouver Island town to help raise money for a community group that's gearing up for an environmental battle with the local mill.
 
Neil Young, The Barenaked Ladies and Randy Bachman are headlining the unlikely concert, which will be held in Duncan this fall. The show will benefit the Crofton Airshed Citizens Group's efforts to focus attention on toxic emissions from Norske Canada's Crofton pulp mill.
 
Bachman, a Saltspring Island resident, became engaged in the issue late last year when Norske submitted a proposal to burn what the company calls alternative fuels - including coal, tires, and creosote-laden railway ties - in order to reduce fuel costs. At a packed public meeting, Crofton residents railed against the proposal, and aired concerns about the existing pollution from the mill. It was then that Bachman decided to become personally involved.
 
"I called some friends of mine, went to visit Neil Young, called Barenaked Ladies. They said, 'We're there!'" Bachman says. "I think it's probably going to be the biggest concert ever on Vancouver Island. Just to get Neil Young alone on the Island is really great!"
 
Within hours of the concert announcement, the Cowichan Centre received a flood of ticket inquiries. Tickets for the September 17 concert go on sale Friday and will cost up to $200. Proceeds will support an independent study of the health and environmental impacts of the mill.
 
Cowichan Theatre Manager Tracy Hamilton says the 2,500-seat venue will deter scalpers by placing a cap on the number of tickets each person may purchase. 
 
The Crofton Airshed Citizens Group says mills such as the one in their town are "B.C.'s dirty secret." Federal government data shows the province is the largest source of toxic emissions such as dioxins and furans in the country.
 
In a news release, the Citizens Group says data from Canada's National Pollution Release Inventory shows that approximately 24 million cubic metres of exhaust gases leave the Crofton mill every day, carrying a tonne of fine particulate matter, a tonne of volatile organic compounds, two tonnes of hydrochloric acid, three and a half tonnes of sulphur dioxide, one and a half tonnes of methanol, dioxins and furans, chlorine dioxide, formaldehyde, PCBs and hexavalent chromium.
 
"The current emissions are significant and dangerous," says Michael Ableman of the Citizens Group. "To switch fuels is really switching poisons that are coming out of the stacks."
 
Norske Canada spokesperson Don McKendrick says the company is trying to be respectful of community feeling.
 
While many people are quick to criticize the mill's activities, others in Crofton are supportive of Norske Canada's efforts to reach out to the community. They say the mill is trying to find a balance between protecting the environment and running a viable business. 
 
"We had a lot of people gather in the community centre there in Crofton, voicing their objection to the concept of burning alternative fuels. And at that point in time I saw it quite clearly, we didn't do a good enough job of informing the community," McKendrick says.
 
The company had heard concerns before, but the public meeting was the first time that so many people stepped forward at once.
 
Norske Canada commissioned its own independent analysis of health risks associated with the mill, and is now looking for feedback from the commnity.
 
"We've come to an understanding. We've used too much science, and not enough listening in engaging the community," McKendrick says. "We need to listen better, be respectful of the feelings of the people in the community, and give them the facts as to what we are doing and what we propose to do."
 
The company will establish a peer group to evaluate the study of risks and liaise with the mill to keep everyone informed.
 
"We're all for the same thing. We're after clean air for the community and the neighbours we live and work with. And if they want to do a concert for clean air, we certainly have no objection," McKendrick says.

COLIN PLAYS KEYBOARDS WITH AN EAGLE 07-17-03

VICTORIA -- What could possibly bring Pamela Anderson, Kid Rock, Kiefer Sutherland, Alan Thicke, Patrick Duffy, David Foster, and Wayne Gretzky to Victoria all at the same time? The city famous for its hanging baskets and quaint hospitality welcomed a slew of Hollywood stars on Friday who arrived for the inaugural Courtnall Celebrity Classic golf tournament.

A small mob pounced for autographs as Anderson arrived with boyfriend Rock at the Empress Hotel, dispelling rumours that the two had split up. Kiefer Sutherland, Nickelback's Chad Kroeger, J.Lo's ex-husband/choreographer Cris Judd, musician David Foster, recording artist Barney Bentall and Toronto Maple Leafs coach Pat Quinn paraded through the front entrance of the Empress Friday evening, waving to fans before enjoying a $300-a-plate dinner and silent auction.

Colin Arthur Wiebe joined Cease & Desist on keyboards backing up Eagles' guitarist Don Felder and actor Bruce Greenwood (Double Jeopardy, 13 Days) The night began with "Hotel California", followed by Bruce Greenwood singing the standard blues classic, "Bring it on Home". A rockin version of "Life in the Fast Lane", showcasing the familiar Eagle's guitar riffs ended the set.

After the gala and silent auction, Kid Rock and Chad Kroeger hit the stage, jamming together, with Barney Bentall's band augmented with Colin on the keyboards, for hours of Classic rock hits. With Pamela Anderson lending her percussion talents the audience got more than they could have imagined.

At about 3:30 a.m., the party wrapped up and Kiefer Sutherland walked back to the hotel with a security guard, when a tourist bumped into him. After a late night, Sutherland didn't miss a beat yesterday and hopped into a car with Gretzky at 9:30 a.m. to go to the Royal Victoria Golf Club, where people paid $1,000 to play.

At press time, organizers were still tallying the grand total, but estimated about $500,000 had been raised -- five times the original target.

Perhaps Kroeger summed it up best when he said: "If all you have to do is show up and have some drinks and have a good time, and a lot of money can be raised for any cause, well how tough is that?

"That makes me feel good that all I have to do is show up some place and people are going to benefit from it."

The final consensus among celebs? Hollywood North rocks.

© Copyright 2003 The Province

JOY TO THE WORLD THREE DOG NIGHT 05-10-03

The black tie gala at Northview Golf Country was a huge success for The Canadian Cancer Society.This high profile event attracts 300 guests, affluent business and community leaders in the lower mainland. Colin performed "Ride of Your Life" a song he wrote for the Cops For Cancer's, Tour For a Friend. Afterwards Three Dog Night performed all their hits and the evening was

CLOSER TO YOU CD NOW SHIPPING 05/04/03

I am happy to announce the completion of my latest CD "Closer To You". I had originally titled it "Big Diamonds" The notion of Big Diamonds came from a Nashville recording session where I was playing piano along with some of Nashville's finest musicians. When discussing the chart (music notation) the band leader suggested putting a "Big Diamond" on bar 16. Later I admitted not understanding and asked what a "Big Diamond" was. He told me it meant to hold a note a little longer. The "Big Diamond" in the anniversary song and the thought of the evening stars in the photo I took of myself for the cover looking like diamonds was how I arrived at the title.I wasn't happy with alot of what I did in Nashville so I decided to re-cut some of the songs. As the project began to take shape it had less of a country flavour and it became a new project. "Closer To You" felt right as a title and it is more in step with the theme of the recording. Click here for more

RED, WHITE & FEELING BLUE REVIEW 05/02/03 Reviewed by: Naomi DeBruyn
Red, White and Feeling Blue by Colin Arthur Wiebe

"...Red is for the blood on someone's hands
White is for the dove of peace and freedom in our lands
Blue is for the sadness for those lost and lonely souls
No goodbyes - No more Hellos..."
Colin Arthur Wiebe is an outstanding performer and a very passionate song writer, who is currently touring with Randy Bachman. After the tragedy of September 11th, Colin felt he had to do something, something more than just praying and feeling overwhelmed by the patriotic display and sadness that was seen and felt worldwide. Colin was in Tennessee at the time, and experienced the bonding of the people of the US firsthand. It was there and then that he wrote this song - "Red, White and Feeling Blue."
There are two tracks on this disc. The first has Jimmy Souza doing the vocals, and you would swear it is Dennis DeYoung from Styx. Jessy and Allie Wiebe provide the background vocals, and Colin handles the keyboards with his deft touch. This is the more poignant of the two versions, and you cannot help but feel the sadness and remember the tragedy that brought this song to fruition.
The second track has Colin singing his own piece, accompanied by Carol Peters on the piano. It also has a depth of feeling that is extremely rare to experience outside of a live performance. Colin has a real gift for conveying emotions in his music, both vocally and instrumentally, and this disc is bound to touch the hearts of any who listen to it.
The lyrics aren't just stuck to the 9-11 tragedy, either. Listening to it now, I think of the recent Columbia disaster - deaths that touched friends and family over the last year - the missing children worldwide - the upcoming horror of war. There is so much suffering in our world, and this disc actually works to ease it just a little bit.
If your heart is heavy with loss, you might want to give "Red, White and Feeling Blue" a listen. Perhaps a small miracle has been performed here, with Colin as the instrument of a higher power... You will find yourself feeling a little better.ON

TOUR WITH RANDY BACHMAN 04/01/03

Five Star reviews are making every night of the"Every Song Tells a Story" tour a sellout. . . . . read more

BAND ROBBED IN GLACE BAY 03/17/03

Colin got the worst of the robbery that took place in Glace Bay Nova Scotia. An arrest has been made . . . .

Glace Bay, N.S. -- It looks like thieves were taking care of business at a concert by Canadian rock legend Randy Bachman on Sunday night.

Bachman's band had money, credit cards, cellphones and other items worth a total of about $10,000 stolen during an appearance in Glace Bay.

Police had not made any arrests by Monday.

Bachman has been touring the country as a solo artist. The rocker is known for such hits as You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet, Takin' Care of Business and No Sugar Tonight.

The theft is believed to have taken place after the concert ended at about 11 p.m., while the band was signing autographs.

"It's not fair," said Donald Ferguson, the theatre's general manager. "It was probably one of the best shows I've seen. To end on a low note like this is sad."

One of Bachman's former bands, The Guess Who, recorded a song called Glace Bay Blues some 30 years ago -- after Bachman had left the group.
CP

COLIN'S SONG IMPRESSES THE PRINCE OF JAPAN 02/03/03

Colin's song "Best of Both of Us" from the You Give Me Flavour CD has just been used in a dance performance for the Emperor of Japan and the Imperial family. The Prince of Japan actually commented after the show on how much he enjoyed the Song. . . . . To hear a sound clip of the song click here