Alan Doyle visits Red Roof, and may be back

Karen Post makes great butter tarts.

She is also a strong supporter of mental health programs.

Putting those two together, she has made and sold hundreds of butter tarts to raise money to support mental health and addiction programs.

It’s not all she’s done.

Alan Doyle, best-known as lead singer for Great Big Sea, has been touring with his own band for the last five years.

From Petty Harbour, N.L., and a Member of the Order of Canada, he is one of the leaders of A Dollar a Day, a charitable group which supports proven mental health and addiction programs across Canada.

Last year, Post presented a cheque to Doyle at his Jackson-Triggs Amphitheatre concert. Her fundraiser was the sale of bath bombs, and the cheque was for $1,260.

An events coordinater with Red Roof Retreat, Post invited Doyle to tour the facility, which provides day programs and respite care for those with special needs. However, his schedule did not allow it.

So instead, she and Steffanie Bjorgan arranged to have Garrett, Steffanie’s son, at the cheque presentation at the amphitheatre.

“Along with Steff, we were able to tell him a bit about Red Roof Retreat, and he was very interested in the work we did.”

In December, she raised $1,028 for the organization through the sale of stained glass Christmas ornaments, and this June, she made 1,300 butter tarts, pastry and filling — 100 baker’s dozens — and raised $2,000, for a total of $4288.

She also sent Doyle an invitation to visit Red Roof while he was in NOTL this summer for his Jackson-Triggs concert, and she and Bjorgan had Garrett with them for the cheque presentation, this time during a tour of the facility with Doyle.

“We received confirmation a week before he arrived,” said Post. “He was extremely interested in Red Roof Retreat, and very enthusiastic to have a tour of the property.”

Doyle has said he would like to do a fundraising concert at the Ranch next summer, but the date is not confirmed, and there are no details to release, said Bjorgan.

“Meeting Alan is like catching up with an old friend,” said Post.

“He is very laid back. He is one of the most gracious and generous human beings out there. It was quite humbling for all of us that he took time out to come see what Red Roof Retreat is all about.” 

He was on a tight schedule, she said, yet he still managed to take the time to chat with everyone, to be “completely present in the moment, and not at all rushed.”

This was his second meeting with Garrett, “and when Garrett hears his voice, he smiles. That’s a pretty special imprint to leave,” said Post.

Her fundraising efforts, she said, are her way of paying tribute to a special friend who died by suicide a few years ago.