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Stettler couple brightens community with online sing-alongs

There is plenty of stress to go around these days.
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There is plenty of stress to go around these days.

But a Stettler couple is lifting people’s spirits through song each Sunday afternoon from the comfort of their home.

“A couple friends of ours from Red Deer, who play the piano, had posted on Facebook a song that they had recorded and shared,” said Doug McKay, who hosts the singing times with his wife Shirley.

“In response to their post, I did one as well and thanked them for their inspiration. It was a fun thing to do.”

The set of tunes garnered an enthusiastic response from the community. Their most recent post attracted more than 700 views and 25 shares, along with grateful comments.

McKay’s son had encouraged his parents to utilize Facebook Live for the sing-alongs.

“He said, ‘why don’t you guys do a little concert this afternoon and I’ll help you put it live on Facebook.’

“So we did put up a little notice to friends and family, that if they wanted to tune in at 2 p.m., to feel free to do that and to sing along,” he said.

Again, the response proved positive.

“It seemed to touch people, and they were encouraging us that we should do it again,” McKay said with a laugh. “We are not professional musicians — it’s was just pretty basic.

“A lot of people said to please do it on another Sunday, so we did it this past Sunday again. I think we will do it for the next two or three Sundays,” he said.

“It seems like Sunday afternoons, people are home, and they can’t really go anywhere anyways these days, so it’s kind of met a need. That was our purpose in doing it.”