Celine Dion salutes Quebec election-night victims at benefit concert
Posted Oct 1, 2012 09:09:36 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MONTREAL – Celine Dion saluted the victims of Quebec’s election-night shooting by opening a benefit concert Monday night in their honour.
Dion, Arcade Fire and Ben Harper headlined a show at the Metropolis in Montreal — the same venue where Denis Blanchette was fatally shot on Sept. 4.
“I want to offer my sincere condolences to Denis’ whole family,” an emotional Dion told the crowd before singing the first song of the show.
Funds raised from the concert supported a trust fund for Blanchette’s young daughter.
The 48-year-old lighting technician was killed when he was struck by a single bullet at the Parti Quebecois victory rally.
Donations were also collected for Dave Courage, the other man hit by the same bullet.
After her song, Dion touched her heart and waved to loved ones of the shooting victims, who watched from balconies above the stage.
About half a dozen other Quebec musical acts performed after Dion.
Premier Pauline Marois also attended the concert.
Marois was giving her victory speech on the Metropolis stage when Blanchette and Courage were shot outside the venue — just metres away from her.
A man arrested in connection with the shooting is to reappear in court on Oct. 11.
Richard Henry Bain faces 16 charges, including first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder and arson.
