The Legacy Song Project

The Legacy Song Project documents the experiences of Atlantic Canadians at the end of their lives and those who have lost loved ones.

The show at The Stage at St. Andrew’s in Halifax on June 7 is part of a five-stop tour over the
month.

“We really hope that the outcomes from this project can ignite conversation about death, and ultimately, how to live a fulfilling life,” says Sarah McInnis, the creator of The Legacy Song Project.

This has culminated in an eight-song album and short documentary film that will allow people to preserve the memories of their loved ones – and in some cases, give a living memorial to themselves and their families.

“In a death and grief-adverse society, many people end up trying to work through the
incredibly difficult experiences of approaching the end of their life, or losing a loved one, alone,” says McInnis. “This project gives a voice to dying and grieving Atlantic Canadians, and shines light on experiences that everyone, without exception, will go through, yet no one really talks about.”

Supported by Arts Nova Scotia and the Canada Council for the Arts, McInnis conducted
interviews with participants across the four Atlantic provinces and created songs out of the
stories she heard.

The reason for the project was a simple one, says McInnis.

“Having people who are at end-of-life or who have experienced the death of a loved one tell their own stories, in their own voices, and through the medium of music, to normalize the conversation about death, dying, grief and loss,” she says. “We wanted to show that even in death, our legacies are powerful gifts that can bring comfort and healing to those we leave behind.”