When award-winning Nashville musician Jelly Roll makes his Canadian debut at a St. Catharines, Ont., live performance Monday night time, he’ll achieve this whereas supporting programming for native Indigenous youth.
The 7 p.m. present on the metropolis’s Meridian Centre is elevating cash for the Heather Winterstein Basis.
The muse was arrange after Winterstein’s demise in late 2021. The 24-year-old died lower than 48 hours after she was despatched house from hospital with Tylenol, complaining of again ache.
An inquest inspecting the circumstances of Winterstein’s demise was introduced by the Ministry of the Solicitor Common final month, although a date has not been set.
Francine Shimizu, Winterstein’s mom, informed CBC Hamilton the inspiration now advocates for marginalized Indigenous youth like her daughter. All proceeds from the sold-out present will go to the inspiration, she stated.
The muse helps programming for Indigenous youth that addresses psychological well being and addictions, and safety towards human trafficking. It additionally provides scholarships for health-care research.
Shimizu, who’s Indigenous with ties to Six Nations of the Grand River, says her daughter confronted psychological well being points, habit and human trafficking earlier than she died. Shimizu believes these points might have stigmatized her daughter, and might need affected the well being care she acquired earlier than her demise.
Heather Winterstein, pictured right here in 2017, died in December of 2021 at St. Catharines Common Hospital. Winterstein’s mom says the inspiration arrange in her identify tackles points her daughter struggled with earlier than her demise. (Submitted by Rosemary Ripper)
Winterstein’s points did not make her “any much less of an individual than anyone else,” Shimizu stated. The Heather Winterstein Basis, she stated, is a approach to assist preserve others from going via what her daughter went via.
Niagara Falls to be lit pink Monday in honour of basis
Shimizu stated the fundraiser was initially deliberate as a dinner, however via her sister Jill Lunn’s connections with a music promoter, they have been capable of flip it right into a live performance with a significant headliner.
“If it weren’t for the energy of my sister, none of this could have occurred,” Shimizu stated, speaking concerning the live performance and basis.
Shimizu stated Jelly Roll’s personal story mirrors her daughter’s, and he or she’s glad somebody who’s overcome their very own struggles to turn out to be a optimistic affect for youth can be performing in tribute to her daughter.
Earlier than beginning his music profession, Jelly Roll struggled with the legislation and medicines, and earned his highschool diploma in jail on the age of 23.
This yr, now 39, he was nominated for Finest New Artist on the Grammys, dropping out to Victoria Monét. The rapper-turned-singer gained greatest new artist on the Nation Music Affiliation (CMA) Awards in November.
Lunn, Shimizu’s sister, stated Jelly Roll’s efficiency can be a “celebration of Heather’s life and a celebration of track and a celebration of therapeutic.”
“I do know she’s going to be current in that live performance,” she stated of her niece.
Concertgoers are inspired to put on pink in tribute to Winterstein. Niagara Falls and the Peace Bridge will even be lit pink that night time in honour of Winterstein and the inspiration’s trigger.
Musicians Allie Colleen and Callie Twisselman will even be performing Monday night time.
