Celebrities issue emotional pleas for Haiti

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This article was published 22/1/2010 (3648 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO — Homegrown superstars James Cameron, Celine Dion, Michael J. Fox and an emotional Rachel McAdams were among the celebrities who issued a unified plea Friday to help victims of Haiti's devastating earthquake.

A who's who of Canadian talent lent their weight to the star-studded but sombre Canada for Haiti benefit show, which aired in tandem with a Hollywood-driven telethon led by George Clooney. That special, Hope For Haiti Now," featured entertainment giants including Steven Spielberg and Julia Roberts taking calls from viewers wishing to donate.

An early estimate suggested $2.5 million was raised during the East Coast airing of Canada's hour-long special, broadcast from CBC headquarters in Toronto on CBC, CTV and Global Television.

The show began with Nelly Furtado singing her ballad Try, and included performances by K'Naan, Metric and The Tragically Hip.

Pre-recorded and live requests for donations came from hot movie actors McAdams and Ryan Reynolds, and heavyweight directors Jason Reitman and Norman Jewison.

An emotional McAdams thanked Canadians "for opening their hearts so much."

"Let's not stop, let's keep this amazing momentum going," the Notebook star said as her voice wavered in a live address.

In a taped video message Fox spoke to Canadians' "tremendous generosity of spirit."

"It is to that spirit I'm appealing now when I ask you to please give and give as much as you can," he said.

"At the end of the day I can't think of anything more Canadian than that."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper reminded Canadians in a recorded message that the government would match donations made to aid groups.

"Together we can make a difference, so hope can return to Haiti," Harper said.

Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean spoke from Montreal of the need to support a country in distress and the shared responsibility of bringing about a better world.

The two-hour benefit Hope For Haiti Now was broadcast from New York, London, Los Angeles and Haiti. It featured performances by Canada's Neil Young in addition to Beyoncé, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, U2's Bono and the Edge, Coldplay, Keith Urban and Stevie Wonder.

Clooney, who helped put together the telethon, hosted its Los Angeles segment, while musician and Haiti-native Wyclef Jean led the New York portion by speaking of his experience after witnessing the torment of the nation first hand.

"I carried bodies of my people in the cemetery. They should have been walking," he said.

"Instead they were heavy in my arms... Right now we can see the second wave of the disaster coming... We have to make sure that the second wave never makes it to Haiti."

Donations in Canada will go to several non-profit groups including the Canadian Red Cross Society, Care Canada, Free the Children, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam Quebec, Plan Canada, Save the Children Canada, UNICEF Canada and World Vision Canada.

— The Canadian Press

To donate:

"ö Canadians can donate by visiting http://www.canadaforhaiti.com dialling 1-877-514-2484 or

texting AID to 45678