Canadian rock and roll legend Bobby Curtola took to the stage in Peterborough, Ont. Saturday to honour his fiancée and longtime partner who died in a car crash on Dec. 15.
The 72-year-old singer considered cancelling the show, which was the final stop on his Christmas tour.
“I never thought I’d be doing this show,” said Curtola on Saturday.
Karyn Rochford was involved in a three-car crash on Highway 103 in Maitland, N.S. She was driving one of the cars on her way to the airport to fly to Montreal to meet Curtola.
A 68-year-old male driver of another vehicle was taken to hospital.
There have been calls over the years to have Highway 103 twinned.
"Although Bobby Curtola is asking for his privacy at this time I believe he would like something positive to come out of this tragedy,” said Curtola’s marketing manager in a statement. “If his notoriety can draw attention to the issue I think he would want that."
The Nova Scotia government is exploring the option of tolling eight sections of the 100-series highways to pay for twinning. A $1.5 million feasibility study is underway.
“Consultants are rolling through the work as being prepared with respect to the corridors, the routes, obviously what the capital costs would look like,” said Transportation Minister Geoff MacLellan.
MacLellan says people are looking to improve safety, and they need to have specific information in order to make decisions.
“We certainly hope to have updates early in the new year, get into public consultations in late January, early February, with the final report ready for release by the end of March,” he said.
Curtola says he's grateful for the outpouring of support, and taking to the stage was not only to celebrate Karyn’s life, but to say, 'thank you.'
He feels performing was something he had to do.
"If you saw us together, you'd understand. We were one."
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Jacqueline Foster.
