For Jen Halpin, the connection to Sound Minds was immediate.
Sound Minds Nova Scotia, a partnership between the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia and Music Nova Scotia, provides mental health support for musicians and music industry professionals.
Jen’s husband, Peter Baylis, was deeply connected to Nova Scotia’s music and theatre communities. A gifted performer, he appeared on stages in Halifax, Toronto, and beyond, and was known to many as the voice of the Halifax Mooseheads’ national anthem and a longtime member of the Hopping Penguins.
But beyond the stage, Peter also knew what it meant to struggle.
After years of living with unresolved mental health challenges and substance use, Peter eventually found the right support through a psychiatrist who helped him understand the root of his pain. That care changed his life. Jen says Peter became sober, more at peace, and determined to leave this world “free and clear” after being diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
When the Edwards Family Foundation chose to make a gift in Peter’s memory to Sound Minds Nova Scotia, Peter’s close friend and longtime bandmate, Gary Edwards, knew it reflected something deeply important to him.
“I was looking for a way to honour Peter and acknowledge his journey with mental health and addiction,” says Edwards. “Sound Minds felt like the right fit.”
Jen believes many artists face similar challenges.
“The artistic community is full of people without resources and they need help,” she says. “You need to have a door open for you somewhere.”
That belief led Jen, together with friends of Peter Baylis in the music community, to revive a cherished Christmas tradition and create a Boxing Day Bash in his honour. Musicians, friends, neighbours, and loved ones came together at the Wooden Monkey to celebrate Peter’s life and raise awareness and funds for Sound Minds. More than 200 people attended.
For Jen, the event reflected the same thing Peter discovered in his own life: healing is possible when people are met with the right support, understanding, and care.
“I know if Peter were here today, he’d be telling all of you that you need to speak up and get the help that you need,” Jen says. “It’s not always going to be easy, but stay with it.”
Through Sound Minds Nova Scotia, Peter’s legacy continues to support others in the music community who may be struggling silently, helping ensure more artists have access to the mental health care they need.
Read more stories like this one in our 2025-2026 Community Report.