North Bay country artist Cory Marks will be playing close to home; one to honour of Armed Forces Day and the other a chance to give back to a good cause.
Marks was announced officially to be performing during Armed Forces Day at the North Bay waterfront on June 19.
"We can't be any more excited to finally be able share the great news with you all. Cory Marks will be joining us to perform his song SNOWBIRDS during opening ceremonies on June 19, 2024 around 11 a.m.<" Armed Forces Day North Bay stated on social media.
"He'll be backed up by the 22 Wing Band. Let us know how excited you are in the comments. Thanks for coming on board, Cory. We know how much you care for our Armed Forces."
Last summer Marks, a pilot himself, released a song to pay tribute to the Snowbirds who will be flying as part of the annual Armed Forces Day festivities this year.
In a special moment for Marks, the song was played while the Snowbirds were in the air during last June's Barrie Air Show.
"Memories I’ll cherish forever. It’s one thing to fly with the Canadian Forces Snowbirds team and meet them but to create a brotherhood and lifelong friendships, sharing the passion and love for music, airshows and flying is one of the coolest things on earth," said Marks via social media last summer.
See related: Marks' new tune pays tribute to the Snowbirds
See related: Hope Air concert being staged in Timmins
See related: Official launch for Armed Forces Day June 19 in North Bay
Before he performs in his hometown he will be up north teaming up with Hope Air.
Marks will be in Timmins for Hope Air Day on June 7 with 20 Hope Air volunteer pilots to perform a concert that will be live-streamed across the country.
“It’s a bit of an introduction to help bring awareness to what’s going on,” Marks told TimminsToday.ca LGI reporter Amanda Rabski-McColl.
“They provide the flights, accommodations, transportation, meals, and it’s good information for these patients we have in Northern Ontario that need this medical care but just can’t afford it.”
Hope Air is a service that provides medical transportation to those who need to travel to receive life-saving, non-urgent medical care.
The service’s necessity was brought home to Marks when a family friend’s child needed care at a children’s hospital in Toronto. The need to travel for surgeries and appointments showed how vital that help can be.
“I knew that they were getting transported through some company of some sort at the time, through family, but then when I found out it was Hope Air, this hit a little closer to home, these are people I actually know who are being helped,” he said.
“I know it’s a huge help and factor to make sure he’s taken care of.”
He feels those connections made the impact of Hope Air's work far more apparent.
“It kind of enlightens you on this is a real issue, this is real people dealing with real problems,” he said. “
Marks, who grew up in North Bay, said that his work with Hope Air was a chance to combine two of his greatest loves: music and flying.
“I’m still like a kid when it comes to these things,” he said. “Being able to help out through my music, of course, was kind of a 'no-brainer' for me when they reached out about it. It's just an absolute pleasure to be part of it.”
This is the first Hope Air Day celebration.
This event is the start of a busy summer for Marks, who will be touring in western Canada and the US, but being part of this event in Northern Ontario was an important moment to work into his schedule.
“It’s just really cool to be a part of this event and helping people in their day-to-day life,” he said. “And with this beautiful weather so there’s going to be a lot of flying on my part this summer too.”
With files from TimminsToday.ca LGI reporter Amanda Rabski-McColl
