CALEB NICKERSON
CAMPBELL’S BAY
Nov. 2, 2018
On Friday night, dozens of animal lovers and country music fans gathered at the Campbell’s Bay R.A. Hall for a rollicking night of drinks, dancing and Shania Twain.
Put on by Animal Aide Pontiac, an organization that subisdizes spaying and neutering for local pets, the concert showcased the talents of Annette Lafond, a professional Shania impersonator with over two decades on the stage.
Lafond looked and sounded every bit the part, from her all-pink, cowgirl ensemble to the twangy power of her voice and had attendees on their feet in no time.

Though Animal Aide organizes dinners and other fundraisers throughout the year, this was their first year hosting an event of this magnitude.
“This is the biggest fundraiser that we’ve tried to put on,” explained organizer Faye Belanger, who estimated they sold 125 tickets. “I said, ‘Maybe we’ll try a bigger fundraiser.’ I’m tired of running the little ones where you get $500 here or $600 there, so I thought we’d try a big one. It’s been a lot of work.”
Belanger said she heard about Lafond through her sister Sharon, who saw her perform in Peterborough, Ont., and has been planning the evening since August. All the food for the evening was donated by volunteers and all the proceeds from tickets and the 50/50 raffle will go towards the spay and neuter program.
Faye added that their bottle collection bin outside of the Giant Tiger in Shawville has been a huge success.
“We’ve got to check that box every second day,” she said. “Honest to God, I can’t believe how Shawville drinks. We’re doing real good on that, might have to put a second box out somewhere.”