Halifax Mooseheads anthem singer grateful for support following brain cancer diagnosis.
Peter Baylis has done a lot in his life, but what many people may know him for now is his work as the Halifax Mooseheads' anthem singer.
'I wish everybody could feel the way I feel at that moment,' said Baylis.
Before he took on that role 15 years ago, Baylis fronted 'Steps Around the House' in the '80s and was a member of the 'Hopping Penguins' in the '90s. He was also closely involved in the Halifax restaurant scene.
'I can feel comfortable that I left my mark in Halifax through entertainment, through hospitality, and I'm proud of my city. I love my country, hence the singing of the anthems,' he said.
The 62-year-old has now been forced to take on a new challenge.
Last month, Baylis learned he had glioblastoma – a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.
'They took me in for a CT scan and saw this mass on my brain, something that the doctor said at that point, 'I wasn't expecting to have to come and tell you this.''
Before his diagnosis, his symptoms came on fairly quickly.
'I had a little bit of light-headedness at work, more so than, you know, we can all get a little dizzy once in a while,' he said. 'I was walking in circles fixing something and that merry-go-round effect came and wouldn't go away.'
He said his eyesight changed to something referred to as 'kaleidoscope vision,' he had a persistent headache, and also fell that day, which was out of the ordinary. That's when he called his wife. 'My wife is a saint. She should be a saint. Having her beside me through this, the support and compassion, it's unbelievable,' he said. Baylis has been with his wife for more than 30 years and the two share a daughter, who is back home to support her dad.
'Slap in the head'
Baylis is facing his diagnosis head-on, but it's been challenging.
'Shocking. Slap in the head, but when you're faced with that news, what can you do? You just have to accept. You have to accept it,' he said.
While there's never a good time to be diagnosed with cancer, it could not have come at a worse time for Baylis. His life insurance expired just a month before he learned the news.
'Because of our age, my wife and I, it had to transfer over. The premiums were cost prohibitive based on our income, so we just couldn't do anything about it.'
Despite that added challenge in an already difficult situation, Baylis is just thankful for how his family, friends and community are rallying around him.
'The support and feedback, I'm trying not to get choked up, the love and compassion that's coming my way is so valuable and not going unnoticed. I couldn't be more grateful,' said Baylis.
Eyes on the ice
When the Halifax Mooseheads hit the ice this fall at Scotiabank Centre, Baylis plans to be there singing the anthem as he has done for more than a decade.
'Peter is a part of our Mooseheads' family. We will be there to support him each step of the way on his challenge that lies ahead,' said Halifax Mooseheads' President Brian Urquhart in a statement to CTV News. 'He is one of the many people that helps make the Mooseheads' gameday and fan experience among the best in the CHL.'
As Baylis prepares to begin treatment, he is staying positive.
'I'm seeing sunshine, blue sky, and my brother walking the dog in the neighbourhood, and I'm going, 'Hey man, you know what? This is joy.' So, I'm going to choose to embrace that instead of thinking about the heavy. This is what we got. We only have what we have right now,' said Baylis.
He has started a GoFundMe to help with any costs while he's unable to work and undergoes treatment.
Peter Baylis
Peter Baylis is the Halifax Mooseheads' anthem singer. (CTV Atlantic/Steph Tsicos)
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