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Bryan Adams, Sarah McLachlan, Jann Arden, the Barenaked Ladies and Chantal Kreviazuk are teaming up for one of the biggest benefit concerts in Canadian history.

The Oct. 10 concert, to be held at GM Place in Vancouver, will benefit the B.C. Cancer Foundation. The singers hope to raise $1-million to help build the B.C. Cancer Research Centre in Vancouver.

Ms. McLachlan will announce more concert details today at a news conference. The other confirmed concert artists are expected to join by teleconference.

Mr. Adams is already famous for his dedication to the cause.

In 1998, the rock star born in Kingston, Ont., raised $250,000 for a breast-screening clinic at St. Catharines General Hospital in Ontario with a sold-out benefit concert and reception. Supermodel Linda Evangelista was his co-host.

The same year, Mr. Adams published Made In Canada, a book of photographs featuring his portraits of singers Joni Mitchell and Shania Twain, author Margaret Atwood and a friend named Donna, whose death from breast cancer inspired the project that raised funds for fighting the disease.

Two years later, he published Haven, a similar book featuring prominent British women, with proceeds going to an agency based in London, where he lives.

Haven included Mr. Adams's portraits of the Queen, Spice Girl Mel C, actress Elizabeth Hurley and author Dame Barbara Cartland.

His previous efforts in Vancouver to raise awareness of breast-cancer have not had the same success. Two years ago, Mr. Adams tried to stage a fundraising exhibit of his portraits at the Vancouver Art Gallery, a show that had been mounted at Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum and the McCord Museum in Montreal.

The event was cancelled after the gallery's board of trustees failed to convince then artistic director Alf Bogusky that Mr. Adams was a noteworthy, artistic Canadian photographer. Mr. Bogusky later resigned over the issue. Earlier this summer, Mr. Adams was one of four photographers authorized to take royal portraits commemorating the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

For the Vancouver event in October, the participating artists have agreed to donate 100 per cent of their time and fees.

Organizers estimate the event will cost $1.5-million to stage.

If the $1-million goal is reached, it could prove to be one of the most financially successful benefit concerts in Canadian history.

Last fall, ticket sales for Music Without Borders Live raised $700,000 for Afghan refugee relief. The Toronto concert, which featured Alanis Morissette, the Tragically Hip, Our Lady Peace, Bruce Cockburn, the Barenaked Ladies and rapper Choclair, raised an additional $300,000 in pledges during two televised broadcasts.

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