Thank you card signed by the cast and crew of The Magic of Ireland
It was a chilly February Sunday night. The cast of the Irish dance show The Magic of Ireland were all warmed up and about to hit the stage at an Oshawa, ON legion hall, when they heard some unsettling news.
A policeman came by and asked their producer, Peter Jacobs, if he knew who lived in a townhouse complex nearby. One of the townhouses was on fire. Peter quickly realized that it was the same townhouse the dancers had called home since arriving in Canada only three weeks before.
The dancers, concerned and worried, didn’t rush to the scene to check on their home, deciding instead that the show must go on.
“They were anxious about what was happening, but they still went on and performed, which was so courageous,” said Peter.
While the performance went ahead, Peter headed to the burning townhouse to find out what was happening. A few moments after he arrived, he met two people in Red Cross vests who were there to help him.
“I felt a big sense of relief,” he said. “I didn’t know where to turn, and then the Red Cross volunteers showed up.”
Because of large amounts of smoke and water damage, the dancers were unable to return home that night. Some also lost all their personal belongings, including clothes and computers, in the blaze. Through the Personal Disaster Assistance program, the Red Cross provided accommodations, clothing, and other support for 72 hours to help the dancers get back on their feet.
The fire hasn’t stopped the troupe. They have continued with their Canadian tour and are very grateful to the Red Cross.
“They were bowled over with the kindness and generosity. It was unbelievable,” said Peter.
Check out this Toronto Sun story about the fire.