Wednesday evening saw Portage la Prairie show itself Humboldt Strong, as a benefit concert was held at Stride Place. About one thousand people showed up to see Doc Walker and Petric perform, with all proceeds from the donations going toward the community of Humboldt, surviving victims, and families of those lost in the accident.
Chris Thorsteinson of Doc Walker says it's about coming together as a community.
"It doesn't matter if you're from Saskatchewan or Ontario," says Thorsteinson. "When it comes to hockey everyone's connected somehow. It's a horrible thing, but then again as a country singer and a songwriter we write about towns and communities coming together to help everybody."
Jason Petric of the duo of brothers called Petric says they wanted to do something for the cause, and took the opportunity when it came.
"It's very exciting," says Petric. "And it's very special. This is a tough event. It's not something that I think anyone really wanted to see. When Travis Roberts from the radio station reached out and wanted us to get involved, it was an instant yes."
Mayor Irvine Ferris addressed the audience at the beginning of the evening, and his heart's bursting with pride to see the support Portage la Prairie demonstrated last night.
"I think it's really good for the community to get together like this to show support for a community like Humboldt," says Ferris. "I'm very, very proud of our city and the people of our city. This is just one of the reasons I'm so proud of them."
Debbie Thorkelsson was in the audience, and the ordeal of the accident hits close to home for her.
"I was a former billet," says Thorkelsson. "We billeted for four seasons. We had a kid on the bus that we worried about. My son played a lot of minor hockey, and he was that kid on the bus. And my heart's broken."
We spoke to Lisa Shackleton as she stood in line before the show, and she says seeing the community's response makes her proud.
"Portage has always stood by its local people, and this shows," she says. "And this certainly is a testimony that, even when it's not our people, we still stand by them. So, Portage is also strong."
Terriers player Ty Enns was with the other Terriers and says it means a lot.
"Obviously it means a lot to be here, and for Portage to host an event like this for the accident that happened," notes Enns. "Hopefully we get a lot of proceeds tonight, and hopefully a lot of people come out to support it."