We Are Canadian! As One We Stand: Canada's new anthem produced by award-winning Cdn artists, written by retired RCMP officer

Retired RCMP officer pens Love Song for Canada!   Listen to this new patriotic song & hear the heart of Canada beating!   First time songwriter, 89-year-old Ellis Craig has written a song expressing patriotism at its finest! “We Are Canadian! As One We Stand” is on its way to become Canada’s new unofficial anthem. A song that will echo in your memory long after hearing it.   Craig, a retired RCMP officer from Perth, ON, wrote this beautiful song, with music by Carey Blackwell, of the former Blackwell Brothers Band. When legendary Canadian songbird Anne Murray heard the song she described it as, “Pretty darn good”!   Craig wanted a well-known band to perform the song and when he connected with Leisa Way of Leisa Way & The Wayward Wind Band, magic began to happen. Way, an award-winning performer (Toronto Musician of the Year, on the Cover of International Musician Magazine) and concert producer, agreed to produce a cover of the song.   We Are Canadian! is incredibly ‘catchy’ song, Craig’s lyrics are filled with many historic and cultural references including: Terry Fox’s run, Chris Hadfield’s flights into space, our Snowbirds soaring up the sky, Gord Downie’s support for Reconciliation, and the Grey and Stanley Cups Canadian teams have won. No song about Canada would be complete without hockey!   Way’s band member, Brant Garratt, lent his beautiful, powerful vocals and guitar playing to the project. As of this press release, Garratt’s own band, Duke Street Turnaround experienced a career highlight last week. They were invited to perform as Canadian rapper Drake’s ‘house-band’ on the Kick.com show, “Stake vs. Drake”.    Garratt said, “We got the call less than 24-hrs before the live stream began & honestly, at first, we weren't sure if it was legit. Next thing you know we're rolling up to Drake’s mansion in Toronto, (dubbed “The Embassy”), ripping tunes, and flying by the seat of our pants. During the song, Freeborn Man, Drake turned around and said, "Yeah man!" "You’re a freeborn man!", Garratt said, “I think he may have caught the bluegrass bug from us!!” The band performed 6 songs, and were a highlight of the livestream show.   “We Are Canadian! As One We Stand” was mixed and mastered by Bruce Ley, in his recording studio in Mulmur, Ontario. Ley is Way’s pianist & arranger. Ley was the pianist on The Tommy Hunter Show for many years with CBC, composed music for Sesame Street, the Polka Dot Door, an Academy Award nominated film, and was nominated for a Gemini Award. Way and Ley have been long time collaborators.   “This really was a labour of love’ says Way. “We all were so impressed with Ellis’ song. His passion for Canada is so inspiring that we were determined to produce the best version of the song possible, to make Ellis proud”.   Songwriter Craig says, “We are Canadian! was my first ever attempt to write a song. The inspiration came when I realized Canada does not have a modern patriotic song that audiences can sing along to with an emphatic “We Are Canadian!” at the end of each chorus. My dream is to see WAC performed on the Canada Day stage. My goal, at 89 years old, is to leave a legacy to my country, in addition to my 35 years of service in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.”   At this all-important time in history, Craig’s song emphasizes three themes - unity, diversity and individual pride in being Canadian.    There has never been a better time to celebrate Canada!   For interviews and more information on the release of Canada’s new ‘unofficial’ anthem, please contact:   Way-To-Go Productions 519-940-5510; [email protected] www.waytogoproductions.ca   FUN FACT! There is a patriotic connection to the heart of this story. Arranger Bruce Ley (who himself scored an Academy Award nominated Canadian film) is the son-in-law of George Bist. Bist, a former Morse code operator in WWII, was the graphic designer responsible for defining the final proportions of our Canadian flag and its various elements. Bist’s calculations determined the form of the National Flag that we use today. We Are Canadian! As One We Stand *written by Ellis Pringle Craig & Carey Blackwell *vocals & guitar by Brant Garratt *additional instruments Bruce Ley *mixed, mastered and engineered by Bruce Ley at "Bruce Ley Studios" *produced by Leisa Way (Way-To-Go Productions Copyright: Ellis Pringle Craig