When Purdys Chocolates announced to its staff that the reality music competition, Canada Sings, wanted the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»sweets-maker to put a team together, Kevin Williams was the first to volunteer.
I cant tell you why, but immediately after the meeting, I said I was interested, says Williams who is an IT systems administrator. Something just told me to do it.
Shortly after, Williams and nine other staff members from departments throughout assembled a team called Sweet Day, and sent it as well as an audition tape to Toronto. The shows producers liked what they heard. Canada Sings sent a vocal coach and choreographer to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»to work with Williams and the team. They practised intensely with the coaches for one week and then rehearsed on their own for three weeks, meeting at least every other day for a few hours until the competition date.
On March 22, they flew to Toronto where they competed against Torontos GO Transit.
Everyone also practised on their own and really put a lot of work into it and was really, really enthusiastic, Williams says. They put everything into it during that four- or five-week period. It was fantastic.
All of this practice and hard work is to win $25,000 for the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society of Canada. Purdys chose the MS Society as the award-money recipient in part in honour of Williams and his wife of 19 years, Laurie, who lives with MS.
This charity is something that is very close to our hearts and has helped us out, says Williams.
Regardless of whether Sweet Day wins the competition, Purdys president Karen Flavelle announced that the chocolate-maker will donate $10,000 to the MS Society.
It was a pretty amazing moment, Williams says. It really hit me emotionally because of the close ties with the MS Society. There were already 10 people at Purdys away from their jobs for a week [because of the demands of the competition], so to add $10,000 and say, Were behind you and support what youre doing was really amazing.
Aside from a few small parts in high school plays and some singing around the house, Williams says that he has no performing experience.
So how does Laurie feel about her husbands voice?
She gets to hear my singing all of the time, but I dont think she thinks I should cut a record or anything, he says with a laugh. But she does know, now, that I can carry a tune.
To see the Purdys Sweet Day team compete for the on Canada Sings, tune into Global Television on Tuesday, June 19.
