Local L’Arche ends at second round of Battle of the Bands

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on November 20, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

A local group competing in the Battle of the Fans lip sync competition put on by L’Arche has been beaten out in the second round by L’Arche Honduras, but the experience was still a fulfilling one.
Battle of the Fans is in its second season this year. It is an initiative of L’Arche Canada that includes communities from around the world that want to take part. It is a way to showcase the different communities and the people with disabilities in them in a creative and fun way, and to raise disability awareness and disability pride.
“In the first round, our song was Mama Mia by Abba, which was awesome because we all love that song. Everybody in our houses were really excited to perform that song,” said Marie Moyer, assistants coordinator with L’Arche Lethbridge.
With that song, they were able to win the first round against L’Arche Toronto.
“We enjoyed ourselves with that competition, it was fun to be in that competition this year,” said Brad Flaig, a L’Arche member who has been living in their houses for over 20 years.
For the second round they were asked to perform Fame, by Irene Cara. In the video they are dancing in a limo as the song’s lyrics are about being famous.
“We sing and dance inside the limo, and we dance out of the limo. I had fun doing it,” said Flaig.
In the second round, they were competing against L’Arche Honduras.
“They are an amazing team; they have such a huge YouTube following. We were in a serious battle all the way up until the last minute on Wednesday and they just got ahead of us, so we are out of the competition,” said Moyer.
Moyer added that Lethbridge came in second place from everyone in the second round with overall YouTube views and likes, and that no other team in Canada or the United States received more that 300 likes. Lethbridge received 344 likes and the only other communities that had over 300 likes were Honduras and Kenya.
Even though they are no longer in the competition, they are hopeful that they might be able to get back in it, if there is a wild card this season.
“We really enjoyed it, we had a lot of fun so we are hoping we might get back in, but if not we are ready to go for next year season three,” said Moyer.
In Lethbridge they are working towards a project of buying a new wheelchair accessible van.
“A van for Brad’s house that can include more than one person in a wheelchair at once, so we can go places together,” said Moyer.
In this season of Battle of the Fans, the money that is raised is being distributed among the communities who raised it and a program called Solidarity with L’Arche International, which distributes money to communities in other parts of the world.
The mission of L’Arche is to celebrate the value of each person and to make known the gifts of people with disabilities.
“So, this gave us a world stage to showcase the wonderful people in our community and to do it all together. So, I think that was a very important part of this whole project,” said Moyer.
Flaig was excited to be part of the competition this year and he is looking forward to next year when he hopes to be able to use a city bus for their video.
“Because I know the city buses, I know the city bus drivers… I would like them in the video with us,” said Flaig.
To check out the videos, visit the L’Arche Canada channel on YouTube.

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