It took seven years for Nanaimo’s Bryan Gooden to get his family approved for residency in Canada.
It was an emotional journey and a costly one.
In 2008 Gooden travelled to Uganda to work with orphans through Shanti Uganda. While he was there, he met a woman named Juliet.
“One thing led to another and we just fell in love,” said Gooden.
He married Juliet in 2008. She already had two daughters, Jackie and Kate. And in 2010, the family welcomed baby Grace to the family. Gooden’s family’s permanent residency was recently approved. However, the costs to bring the family members to Nanaimo exceeded the family’s resources. The fundraising concert is to help the family cover the debts connected to relocating the family to Canada.
The concert is Sunday (Nov. 1), 2:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s United Church, located at the corner of Fitzwilliam and Wesley streets.
Tickets are by donation at the door, with a suggested contribution of $10.
The entertainment lineup includes Sue and Dan Miron, Marty Steele, Anne Dalton and more. Styles range from everything from classical and Celtic to bluegrass and pop music.