The Bank Notes (BMO Private Wealth) perform at A Different Stage of Mind: The Grand Finale
*Credit: Photo Geegee*

(Halifax, N.S. - March 1, 2024) — The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia announces a total of $260,560 raised through its A Different Stage of Mind: The Grand Finale signature fundraising event. Presented by BMO Bank of Montreal, the event showcased four volunteer fundraising teams made up of community leaders who stepped out of their comfort zones and into the spotlight to perform musical acts for a live audience.

Each team pledged to raise at least $50,000 for the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia through a combination of ticket sales, personal fundraising initiatives, corporate sponsorships, and donations. Fundraising teams included soloists and group acts.

Stu Clow, an IT strategist with Bell Canada, performed as Queen and raised $79,860, earning him the Top Fundraiser Award.
Suzette Belliveau with CTV Atlantic performed as Shania Twain and raised $59,350. Belliveau took home the People’s Choice Award.
The Carleton’s Imogen Ash, Shruti Bajaj, Megan Beamish, Jon Cornwall, Harrison Cowden, Chloe Crooks, Dustin Crooks, Madeline Dodge, Layla Fadhil, Morgan Geremia and Finn Sullivan-Ash, performed as Fleetwood Mac and raised $65,600.
BMO Private Wealth’s Colin Marinelli, Diana Acquah, Helen Cooper, Jillian Streiff, Karla Bruce, Kevin Lohnes, Sarah Hilton, and Troy Bagot performed popular TV theme songs under the group name The Bank Notes and raised $55,750.

“Now more than ever, Nova Scotians need low-barrier access to mental health supports, education, and services,” said Starr Cunningham, President & CEO of the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. “An event like A Different Stage of Mind sends a powerful message of hope — it shows that Nova Scotians truly care about making community-based mental health programming available to those who need it across this province.”

A Different Stage of Mind: The Grand Finale marked the 20th anniversary and final year of the signature fundraising event that raised over $5-million for The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia since beginning in 2004.

About A Different Stage of Mind: The Grand Finale
The signature fundraising event was presented by BMO Bank of Montreal and hosted by Mayor Mike Savage at the Halifax Convention Centre on February 29, 2024. Fundraising teams received four weeks of professional voice coaching to prepare for their performances. The event was made possible through generous sponsorships and partnerships with CTV Atlantic, Believeco, RPM Productions, Encore, Glow The Event Store, Advocate Printing and Publishing, and Zed Events. To learn more, visit www.mentalhealthns.ca/dsom

About the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia
The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia is a registered charity dedicated to increasing financial support to community initiatives that provide hope and eradicate the stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction. In 2022-23, the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia awarded $3-million in grant funding to support 241 mental health initiatives across the province.