The Cariboo Express will make its way through Parksville for one last ride on Oct. 28.
The Western music style band is led by Juno Award-winner Barney Bentall and has raised funds for charitable organizations with concerts around B.C. and around Canada. After two decades and $7 million raised, Bentall said it was time for the philanthropic side project to end.
“It's been wonderful and we’ve enjoyed all the seasons of it but it feels like it’s time to move on," he said. “We’ve been able to raise a lot of money for various charities and everybody’s proud of what they’ve done.”
The show will raise funds for both Knox United Church and Nanoose Community Services.
The Cariboo Express is a unique variety show hosted by Bentall and boasts up to 17 performers, including Matt Masters, Ridley Bent, Dustin Bentall, Wendy Bird, Geoff Kelly, Geoff Hicks and Kirby Barber.
For this final tour, Bentall wrote a new song about an old cowboy heading out on his last roundup.
“I still get great satisfaction when that happens — when I’m visited by that sort of creative force that somehow seems outside of yourself,” he said.
The songwriter formed the ensemble in 2005 with his son Dustin as a way to bring generations of musicians together to raise funds and awareness for the charities and services.
Initially known as the Grand Cariboo Opry, the band changed its name years ago after a letter from the Grand Ole Opry show in Nashville.
The new name was inspired by the Barnard's Express pioneer transportation company that dates back to the Cariboo Gold Rush years, and it didn't hurt that Barnard is Bentall's given name.
Once the Cariboo Express pulls into the station for the last time, Bentall will have extra time for this other projects, including a one-person musical that focuses on his life, ranching and roll and roll.
“It’s gonna be stories and visuals and songs, and so that’s a project I’m currently working on," he said.
After achieving mainstream success with the Legendary Hearts in the 1990s, including a Juno Award, Bentall stepped away from the music world and found a new life as a cattle rancher in B.C.'s Cariboo region.
He started a solo career in the mid 2000's and has released numerous studio and live albums.
Bentall has become well-known for his work with bands such as the High Bar Gang and BTU, a trio including Bentall, Tom Taylor and Shari Ulrich.
His latest album Cosmic Dreamer is his seventh solo effort and came out in 2022. It includes nine original works, plus covers of songs by Bob Dylan and Gordon Lightfoot.
The show at Knox United Church (345 Pym St.) starts at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. There will be a silent auction and other opportunities to support the church and Nanoose Community Services.
Nanoose Community Services provides assistance such as monthly grocery gift cards to help registered clients with at least one week’s worth of food per month, culinary skill sharing, emergency dental and optical care, Christmas gifts for families and seniors and referrals to partner agencies in the region. Its operations are run completely by volunteers and with money, supplies and services donated by community members.
Bentall thanked Knox United's facility coordinator Karen Freeman for promoting numerous shows over the years, including the Cariboo Express.
“It all comes to the person — Karen does a great job of promoting shows and the whole community benefits from that sort of hard work,” he said.
Tickets are $55 and are available online via Eventbrite and at with cash at Parksville retailers Close to You Boutique and Fireside Books and Edge Outdoors in Qualicum Beach.
