Jeanette Arsenault

In the space of one short year, Jeanette Arsenault has seen her ambitious, patriotic dream of a national song reach milestone views and experienced an unimaginable personal loss, the death of her daughter at the age of 23.

by Imagine Photography, Belleville

The singer-songwriter, best known for her 1992 song, “This Is My Canada”, embarked on a quest to turn the bilingual song into a celebration of national pride to honour Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017. She tackled the job with enthusiasm, dedication and charisma. An illustrious team of musicians was assembled by New Brunswick producer Don Coleman. Fundraising efforts began under the name of “Dream Team Canada” and Canadians stepped up. The goal was to film a video celebrating Canada’s diversity, beauty and uniqueness, backed by some of the best talent Canadian music had to offer. Proceeds were to support the Children’s Wish Foundation.

This Is My Canada/Mon Cher Canada, Jeanette Arsenault

The list of performers was impressive, with 6 Grammy and 13 Juno awards to their combined credit. Headliners included David Clayton-Thomas, Liberty Silver, Wilfred LeBouthillier and The Good Brothers, backed by some of the finest session musicians in the country. Malakai Daybutch, a 12-year-old indigenous dancer, also performed on the video along with Jeanette herself.

The video launched on schedule and it travelled the internet with alacrity, meeting its target view count during Canada Day festivities. This Is My Canada/Mon Cher Canada achieved 250 views in March 2018.

“250,000. Wow!” she posted on social media. “This Is My Canada/Mon Cher Canada has grown its own wings and is flying on its own. Thank you everyone for this amazing gift.”

Entrance to Children's International Memorial Place, PEI

A month later, Jeanette lost her beloved 23-year-old daughter to cancer after a courageous four year battle with what Jeanette calls “the beast”. A tree was planted in Kaitlin's memory at the Children’s International Memorial Place in Prince Edward Island in April 2018.

Kait Shannon

Kait and Jeanette

Kait had inherited Jeanette’s love of music as well as her talent for singing and composing. She was an accomplished pianist and a regular in the Prince Edward County music scene, much beloved by all. Diagnosed at age 19, mother and daughter together walked the path of treatments, remissions, hope, despair and love with grace, courage and faith.

I first met Jeanette at the studios of CKOL Radio in Campbellford in September 2016. She radiated energy and passion for the many causes she believed in. Canada. Women. Canadian Music. International humanity.

Interview Clip, Jeanette Arsenault on Sound Waves with Susan, CKOL 93.7 fm, Campbellford, September 2016

The audio clip from our interview will tell you that she is of Acadian ancestry and grew up in a large family surrounded by music, family and love. She is proud of the Acadian culture and the way the people returned from hardship. Her grandmother, Josephine, was a “remarkable” woman and a strong role model. Their music runs through her soul but, as a song-writer, she does not see herself confined to any specific genre.

She set out to follow her musical dreams in 1989 after spending ten years on Parliament Hill, an invaluable experience for a young woman raised in a rural environment. This is My Canada is the product of those turbulent times, when there was talk of secession from the union by Quebec. She released her first album in 1992 and, although it achieved some success at the time, the song didn’t come into its own with worldwide recognition until ten years later when she was asked to perform it at the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. It continued to gain momentum after that and Jeanette sang it for HRH Queen Elizabeth, at the Olympic Games in Greece, for Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill and at many other national and international events.

Fundraiser for 60 Million Girls

There was a shorter incubation period for her 2006 song, Women of the World, a tune written in celebration of International Women’s Day. The Business and Professional Women (BPW) adopted Jeanette’s song as its official anthem, having it translated to multiple languages and performed on stages all over the world. BPW is a worldwide non-profit organization dedicated to embracing empowerment and improving the economic, political, social and employment conditions of women. Jeanette is an Honourary Member. As she humourously recounts in the interview, she herself performed the song in four different languages in a "quadrilingual version" at a BPW World Congress with the assistance of a team of translators.

When we met, Jeanette was immersed in developing and delivering a concert series featuring the work of Canadian musicians, both known and unknown. She had, at that time, recorded 30 songs towards release of a double album of children’s music, featuring several vocals by Kaitlin. The release of the album had been deferred due to family issues, she noted in our interview.

Kait and Jeanette, who had shaved her head in solidarity and support

Kait had first been diagnosed in 2014 when she detected a small bump between her shoulder blades. Doctors initially thought it to be a benign cyst but it proved them wrong over the next six months. By November of that year, she was undergoing radiation. She was thought to be cancer-free after surgery to remove the remains of the tumour in January 2015. A year later, it was discovered that the cancer had metastisized into her lymph nodes, pectoral muscles and lungs. She was diagnosed with Epithelioid Angio Sarcoma, a condition so rare that there were few case studies or databases to refer to. Kait once again endured surgery and another 7 months of chemotherapy. She was pronounced in remission and was seemingly cancer free by the summer of 2016. Sadly, that was not to last. The beast was back.

Despite her “battle with the beast”, Kait managed to complete a three-year Business Degree in Finance at Carleton University in Ottawa, for which a posthumous Certificate of Achievement will be presented to her family at the end of November. She would delay her treatments in order not to miss a project deadline or an exam.

Life went on for the family. Jeanette penned Welcome to Canada – A Song for Syrian Refugee Families and a charter song for Students for Africa for Mutual Empowerment in the summer of 2017. Grandmothers Rising was written in November for Grannies for Africa.

They hoped for a miracle and prepared not to see one. Kait planned the celebration of her life and her legacy. She made it clear to her parents that she wanted the event to unite others in that which she loved most, music.

Kaitlin passed away in April 2018.

Kait’s Musical Celebration was held in May at Picton United Church. “The applause and ovations continued to rise as more than a dozen performers including Tom Leighton, Fraser Hardman, Mark Despault, Alec Lunn, Kim Inch, Renee Thompson, Lenni Stewart, Michelle Fraser Found, Suzanne Pasternak, Emily Fennell, Ben Vandergaast, Amy Rutherford, Jessica Bell, Gavin Massey, Caleb and Megan Hutton continued the tributes, then joined together for the finale, singing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah,” reported PEC County Live. Jeanette described it on social media as “a most incredible uplifting and moving Sunday afternoon filled with music and celebration of my daughter's life - and our mission to honour her request.”

Her request was to offer oncology patients some small luxuries and inspiration to ease the trauma of their situation through Kait’s Comfort Kits. The initiative had raised $15,000 for cancer patients at the beginning of September. Kait’s father, Dr. Michael Shannon, spoke of “the precious souls” who are in the oncology ward at Ottawa General.

Jeanette with granddaughter Pasha, 2017

Jeanette is an advocate for Childhood Cancer Awareness and was pleased to see that Quinte West, Belleville and Prince Edward County proclaimed a dedicated month in September. She has recently passed the six-month anniversary of her daughter’s death. The women in her family are close and their support has been invaluable. She has a loving relationship with her mom and surviving "other daughter", Polly, who has given her two grandchildren. Jeanette also shares a close bond with her "other child", stepson Micah.

Jeanette's mom, Priscilla Arsenault, 2012

Autumnal Healing Journey, Rivere du Loup, QC, 2018

Jeanette takes solace in the power of nature and in her faith. In October, she set off on “an autumnal healing journey” to visit family in Quebec and enjoy some of the views she loves. “Thanks for your continued support and patience,” she posted, “as I slowly find my musical path forward again.”

" My daughter, my friend you will always be
A part of my life, a part of me"
(Jeanette Arsenault, My Daughter, My Friend ©2004)

"This is what a warrior goddess looks like. The strongest woman I know. Love you, my sweet Kait." Jeanette Arsenault

Jeanette Arsenault, www.jeanettearsenault.ca
This Is My Canada, on facebook
Children's Wish Foundation, www.childrenswish.ca/thisismycanada