Manitoba singer fulfills dream at Jets game

CTV’s Joseph Bernacki shares the inspiring story of Olivia Steadman, who recently performed the national anthems at a Winnipeg Jets game.

Winnipeg Jets fans were treated to an acapella performance of the national anthems on Saturday night.

Olivia Steadman, 23, took centre stage as she sang both anthems at a Jets game for the second time this year.

“I’m out on that ice with her, and I don’t even have a remote fear that she’s going to make a mistake or get worried or get nervous,” said Olivia’s father Tim Steadman.

“It’s something she loves and it makes her so incredibly happy to do it.”

Olivia lives with cerebral palsy, visual impairment, and an intellectual disability.

However, it hasn’t stopped her from belting out a tune with a smile.

“She has an incredible memory,” Tim said.

“So singing was one of the first ways she kind of learned her words. So, it was a great therapeutic option for us.”

At the Movement Centre of Manitoba, Olivia works on her mobility skills every week.

She’s been coming here since she was five.

Staff say her voice brings a smile to everyone.

“The minute Olivia walks into the doors of the centre, she lights up this space,” said Jennifer Wojcik, executive director of the Movement Centre of Manitoba.

Barbro Dick Steadman, Olivia’s mom, said it was a dream for her daughter to perform at the arena after years of singing in choir.

What seemed unrealistic became reality when True North contacted the family.

“We’ve had people say that Olivia becomes this beacon of inclusion and belonging,” Barbro said.

For now, Olivia is keeping those vocal cords in tune ahead of her next performance.