Photo gallery: Haiti fundraiser at Le Sommet

More than 500 people attended a heartwarming fundraising concert for Haiti at Le Sommet high school in Hawkesbury last week. The concert raised $4,596.25, which translates into $9,192.50 with matching funds from the federal government. The proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross.

Well-known musician Bobby Lalonde was emcee of the concert, which welcomed Olympic medal winner Bruny Surin and the Honourable Denis Coderre, MP for Bourassa.

Lively fiddle music by Bobby Lalonde was part of the evening's programme and Le Sommet teacher Philippe Lebouthillier played accordion.

The Glengarry 57 Cadets Corps joined musical groups "First Shot", "Adrenaline" along with performances by the student choir from École Nouvel Horizon. Featured performances included musical numbers sung by Le Sommet social worker Marlaine Louis, accompanied on piano by her husband, Robert Louis. Because of their ties to Haiti, Marlaine and Robert Louis were the evening's guests of honour. Dignitaries' speeches took place between musical performances.

The evening ended with many of the performers on stage singing "We are the World" joined by the Nouvel Horizon choir and ending with the entire audience on its feet, singing along.

Event organizer and Le Sommet teacher Daniel Lalonde extended his thanks to Geneviève Chartrand, Joey Bédard et Nathalie Montpetit for their help with the Haiti fundraising concert.

Lalonde said the evening exceeded his expectations for both fundraising and the community spirit so much in evidence that evening. "It is way beyond what I imagined," he said as the audience swayed and sang during the final number of the evening.