In 2009, Grade 1's and 2's at Calgary Arts Academy learned of a wounded eagle named Spirit that was cared for at the Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale, Alberta. Spirit was found on the side of a gravel road by a woman and taken there. Spirit had been shot, and as a result was blind. Incredibly, Spirit went with the woman, and is absolutely tame and cooperative with humans. The school's theme for 2009 was "choosing to make a difference," and the students chose to make a difference by having a bake sale for Spirit, and also by writing a song to cheer Spirit up, which they performed for him in the gymnasium. Teachers at the school decided that this song was very powerful and needed to be recorded by an accomplished musician that could bring something to the song. Ian Tyson was approached, liked the song, and generously lent his voice to the project.