Local Song Writer, City Combine Forces to Produce Orillia Song

Steve Van Kessel is proud to call Orillia home. In fact, the second-generation Orillian is so enamoured with his hometown, he penned a song about the Sunshine City.

It was a labour of love that took a little more than 20 years - a process fast-tracked when Van Kessel was inspired to finish the tune after feeling a fresh vibe ripple through town in the wake of November's municipal election.

Van Kessel put together a raw recording of his song and dropped a copy off early last spring for newly-elected Mayor Angelo Orsi.

The mayor fell in love with the upbeat anthem and passed the song along to Dan Landry, the city's manager of economic development. Landry then called in Darcy Hoover, marketing manager of the city's culture and heritage department. Together, they met with Van Kessel and joined forces with the musician in a bid to help him get his song - and his positive message about Orillia - heard.

The partnership has proven successful. Hoover and Landry helped Van Kessel connect with key local musicians and were able to get Juno Award-winning producer Lance Anderson to produce the song.

"It feels nice to do something for my city," said Anderson. "I like the song and Steve has been very easy to work with. I'm quite proud of what we've done."

While Van Kessel is the lead singer, he was joined by an all-star crew of Orillians: Dave Hewitt on drums, Dave Devine on bass, Jason Beers and Steve McEown of Even Steven on backing vocals and Cole Perkins from Bleeker Ridge on lead guitar. Produced by Anderson, the song was recorded at Steven Henry's studio in Warminster.

"I am really proud of the fact that this is a totally Orillia production," said Van Kessel.

In addition to producing the music, Anderson suggested Van Kessel change the song title from 'Sunshine City' to 'Proud to Call Home' - a suggestion Van Kessel quickly embraced.

"To me, the message of the song, the message that people will walk away with is embodied in 'Proud to Call Home,'" said Anderson.

It's a message the City has already adopted; it has used the song in a recent television advertising campaign on A Channel. In creating that message, Hoover shot a video of Van Kessel singing the catchy tune at various Orillia landmarks.

The video is now on You Tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acJltFlS6Ek&feature=mh_lolz&list=FLC2Q5KCti1d4

"We've had really positive feedback already," said Landry. "We're glad to be able to help Steve and we now have something to promote the city, so it's really a win-win situation."

For Van Kessel, the song is a matter of the heart. "It's easy to be negative. I just wanted to do something positive and to recognize that Orillia is a fantastic place to grow up, to live, to do business...it's a place I'm proud to call home."

For more information, contact Dan Landry, manager of economic development, at 705-325-4900 or email dlandry@orillia.ca

For more information, contact Steve Van Kessel at 705-790-3645 or email at steve@thevankessels.com