A Kitchener musician is putting the rising cost of groceries into words through music. Kevin “The Canuck” Westphal recently released The Food Inflation Blues, a song inspired by the sticker shock many Canadians experience at the checkout. “I felt like something needed to be done,” Westphal said. “So, I wrote a song all about food inflation.” Known for writing humorous songs inspired by real-life issues, Westphal said he hopes his latest release shines a light on the financial pressures many families are facing. “There’s so many people right now that need help,” he said. “I just couldn’t be silent. I had to write a song to try and help the people and just shed some light on what’s going on.” Westphal said the idea for the song came to him after a conversation with a grocery store manager, who attributed rising food prices to factors including climate change, fuel prices, tariffs and wage increases. While he said those factors may contribute, Westphal also questioned why grocery retailers continue to report strong profits while many shoppers struggle with rising food costs. Danny Bailey, who directed and produced the music video, said music can be an effective way to spark conversation. “It’s a great way to deliver a message,” Bailey said. He hopes the song resonates with Canadians already feeling the pinch at the grocery store. “We want everyone in the country to feel the pain with us. They’re already feeling the pain,” Bailey said. “We’re going to add just a little comedic value to bring the thought and the story to the top.” By Thursday afternoon, the music video had already been viewed more than 26,000 times online. Music industry expert Eric Alper said humour has helped the song reach a wider audience. “By using comedy and satire, he’s actually getting the message further than if he was just going to do a straight-ahead song,” Alper said. “When you use humour, it brings people together rather than divide them.” For Westphal, the goal is to use music to draw attention to an issue affecting Canadians across the country.
