Malia Afonso performs for US and Canadian officials

When Cardinal Carter student Malia Dilana Afonso recently received a special invitation to a reception for Team Canada at the Detroit Athletic Club, she naturally assumed it was for a hockey team.

The invitation, which came from the Consul General of Canada in Detroit — Colin Bird — invited Malia to perform the Canadian and American national anthems at the reception on Tuesday, March 5. 

Much to her surprise, the Team Canada they were referring to was a government team made up of the Canadian Ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman, and Canadian cabinet ministers Francois-Philippe Champagne and Mary Ng.

The popular 17-year-old has performed the national anthems at hockey games, basketball games and other special events, but this would be her first time at a political event and she did her country proud.

A hand-written note given to her by Mr. Bird during the reception read, “Dear Malia, thank you so much for your beautiful voice tonight. You made the event sing! On behalf of Canada, thank you!”

As excited as Malia was to be there, her mom Lucilia was equally ecstatic.

“This was definitely an experience for the books and as I watched this 17-year-old easily engage with officials and go-getters two and three times her age, I was beyond proud,” said Mom.

Mingling with officials from both countries was certainly a highlight for the young singer and she was flooded with compliments on her performance, with many of the Americans shocked she could do their anthem so well too.

She was introduced to many of the attendees by the heads of mission operations for the Canadian Consulate, Pamela Ambundo and Steve Neves.

“I know this was a political networking event, but I’m nobody, just there to sing, yet the warmth and eye contact was insane,” said Malia. “Really awesome people.”

She was also in awe of Minister Francois-Phillipe Champagne, who made a big entrance.

“Did you see him come in?” she asked her mom. “He’s not even a big man and it was like Moses parting the Red Sea.”

All-in-all it was quite an experience for Malia and her mom and just another thing to add to her already impressive performance resumé.