This past weekend I found myself at this years ‘Mississauga Waterfront Festival” taking in the sights and sounds of children’s laughter, Carney rides and award winning Canadian musician David Usher performing his heart out on stage for the masses!

Photo credit: salima@miiken.com

I had the opportunity to sneak back stage and steal a few seconds of his precious time after the big show and caught up with the artist. David told me his decision to play at the Waterfront Festival was made due to their involvement in working so close with the community to bring people together for a fun night out. I quickly realized David’s sensitive side, while listening to him discuss how from his point of view there is more to life than “what kind of hair style he has at the moment”, which due to being in the spotlight, can sometimes over shadow a performers “image”.

David’s latest CD to hit the shelves, cleverly titled “If God had Curves” was an inspiration that began out of conversation on politics, religious affairs and sufferings occurring around the world. Simply put David mentioned it might very well be a more peaceful place if we hadn’t placed a race or gender on God so many hundreds of years ago. David told me he is constantly gaining new inspiration from watching the news and reading about current issues around the world. He is enjoying taking different roads that lead him to new places and doing so enables him the energy to embrace change within his personal life as well as change in the rest of the world.

I realized that this man who is an icon to so many of the public, is the icon he is for a reason. Politically moved, amply involved and continuously motivated, David Usher is an example of what kind of inspiration can occur if you are granted the gold of putting your art to good use and making it a creative canvas for others to be inspired from. I not only saw a glimpse of the many colors of his soul within seconds, but also walked away with certain energy of peaceful encouragement to do more good for others in my life.

By Katherine Nason