If self-sufficiency in the face of adverse weather is a Canadian trait, then Valdy was certainly living up to it when he spoke to the Peninsula B次元官网网址 Review.

At the time, Salt Spring Island was covered in snow. His power was out, so he had a fire going and he was making coffee and hot water on a propane burner outside.

Valdy pointed out that while he uses amps, he is still a folk singer who produces everything B次元官网网址渋n an analogue and acoustic manner,B次元官网网址� so his signature sound B次元官网网址渄oes not require any power source to make it work.B次元官网网址�

The 72-year old singer is playing his fourth show in four years at the Mary Winspear Centre on Jan. 13. His concert in Sidney is his B次元官网网址渕onth-versaryB次元官网网址� with his wife of 32 years, Kathleen, B次元官网网址渟o I thought I might focus on love songs for this one, just because itB次元官网网址檚 a special day for us.B次元官网网址�

The big anniversary is August 13, but they observe it each month B次元官网网址渢o celebrate our love as the year goes along.B次元官网网址�

He moved from Victoria to Sooke and bought five acres of waterfront when he was 25. It was the early 1970s, and he met many Vietnam draft dodgers there, which he said really influenced his music in those years politically and philosophically.

Now, he said, B次元官网网址淚 tend to be a little less obscure,B次元官网网址� citing a recent tribute to StompinB次元官网网址� Tom Conners or the fire in Fort McMurray as examples.

As a bit of a Canadian folk icon, Valdy had a memorable Canada 150.

On July 1, he performed with a choir of over 100 kids between the ages of 8 and 15 where they sang O Canada in both official languages, as well as a new song that Valdy wrote himself called B次元官网网址淲e Are The Future.B次元官网网址�

Valdy said it was written with young singers in mind, because it reminds their elders to B次元官网网址渂e careful with this planet because [kids will] get it when weB次元官网网址檙e done.B次元官网网址�

The folk singer has won two Junos and has been inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005, and he still tries to play 200 shows a year, but Valdy said B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 just a target; I seldom make it.B次元官网网址� He actually thinks he plays between 140 and 160 a year.

At 72, he has no plans to slow down, saying B次元官网网址渋t does the soul good to sing.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 good for my soul and I do encourage other people to join me when IB次元官网网址檓 in concert,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚t always lifts the room when thereB次元官网网址檚 more than one voice.B次元官网网址�

Valdy is performing at the Charlie White Theatre on Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m. For info and tickets, visit tickets.marywinspear.ca.