A concert to remember: Metal band rocks out at Ottawa hospital, granting patient's wish

A concert to remember: Metal band rocks out at Ottawa hospital, granting patient's wish

The Scepter put on a show to remember at Bruyère Health

Hospitals aren't the usual venue for a high-energy hard rock concert, but that's exactly what took place at Ottawa's Bruyère Health last week, helping one longtime patient live out his dream of attending a heavy metal show.

With a colourful light show, hair-blowing fans and aggressive headbanging, a board room at the hospital was transformed into a rock club last Tuesday after 27-year-old Tim Berry expressed his wish to rock out there.

Roshene Lawson, a clinical chaplain at Bruyère Health, said she was visiting Berry after he'd received some bad health news and was dwelling on the things he'd missed out on.

"I said, 'Well, we can talk about all the stuff you've lost, or we can talk about how you want to live for however much longer you're around," Lawson said.

What Berry wanted was to attend a heavy metal show. Lawson called Scott McClinton, owner of hard rock venue the Dominion Tavern in the ByWard Market, who in turn recruited local band The Scepter.

"It was a quick yes, and then he reached out to The Scepter, and they gave a quick yes," Lawson told CBC’s All In A Day. "All of a sudden, people in heavy metal outfits with guitars and stuff are asking where the chaplain is."

Berry's condition was deemed too fragile to leave the hospital, so the crew decided to bring the show to him. With Berry’s approval, it turned into a full-blown event for patients at Bruyère Health on July 21, coming together within a week.

"He had tears and I joked with him, I said, 'Are the tears because it's so bloody loud?'" Lawson said. "And he laughed and he said, ‘No, I'm happy'"

Lawson said even the "tough heavy metal guys" had tears in their eyes, too.

"It was absolutely emotional," McClinton recalled. "I never thought I'd cry during a metal show, but that definitely happened."

The Scepter pulled out all the stops, making the most of the unconventional venue by using the space between each patient as a catwalk to show off their guitar-shredding skills.

"We had enough space with all the lights and stuff to still move around and go up to the patients and give them a little taste of our heavy metal might," said guitarist Josh Collins.

After the show, Berry met with the band and got some merch including a T-shirt and CD.

Lawson said it was much more than a fun musical experience: It was about providing the best quality of life for a patient she helps navigate the ups and downs of hospital life.

"I listened to what it was that would bring him meaning and value. It's not my role to judge that," she said. "It's my role to support and listen."

She said while a strong focus on medical care is crucial, the clinical team at Bruyère Health also prioritizes spiritual wellness.

"Sometimes we've got to think outside the box, and in this case I went to a heavy metal concert."

Jenna Legge is a reporter with CBC in Ottawa. Before that, she worked as a journalist on Prince Edward Island, with earlier stints in Winnipeg and Toronto. She holds a master's degree in international journalism from City University of London, and also studied journalism, law and political science at Carleton University. She can be reached at jenna.legge@cbc.ca

With files from CBC's All in a Day