What better way to acknowledge CanadaB次元官网网址檚 birthday than with a performance from a group that celebrates integration and age diversity, cultures and abilities?

This yearB次元官网网址檚 Sidney Days will feature REACH! Performing Company. Half of the 25-member group have a disability including cerebral palsy, autism, Down Syndrome, blindness and a number of other developmental challenges.

REACH! is a part of the newly-registered nonprofit West Coast Reach Association. Sidney local Anne-Marie Brimacombe is the groupB次元官网网址檚 musical and artistic director and her husband Peter Brimacombe is the musical arranger. The pair founded REACH! this year, inspired by the success of a similar program they created in the past in Tobago.

Valerie Berben, from Deep Cove, has always belonged to a choir so when Anne-Marie asked her to join REACH! she was interested.

B次元官网网址淚 had never worked with anyone with special needs before B次元官网网址� but each week, I got a better feeling as it went on. I just think it was watching the joy B次元官网网址� the look on their faces and seeing how much they enjoyed it,B次元官网网址� Berben says.

Berben performs closely with a young adult who is wheelchair bound due to multiple sclerosis. Berben helps her with the choreography and pushes her wheelchair when needed.

B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 help but look over at her and see how happy she is and how inspiring she is. ItB次元官网网址檚 almost like IB次元官网网址檓 fighting back the tears,B次元官网网址� she says.

The group rehearses and performs original songs that Berben says are inspiring and uplifting.

B次元官网网址淚 find the songs so powerful. You relate the lyrics to the people who are singing them and itB次元官网网址檚 like, wow. The theme song called B次元官网网址楻eachB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� if you listen to the lyrics itB次元官网网址檚 about reaching out to others. ItB次元官网网址檚 also open for interpretation. I look at the song like itB次元官网网址檚 about reaching personal goals,B次元官网网址� she says.

The Sidney Days performance starts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 30 at the Beacon Avenue Bandshell in Sidney.