SickKids patients treated to intimate performance by Alessia Cara

A whirlwind year is winding down forAlessia Cara, but not before an important pit stop.

The Brampton, Ont., singer sang at the Hospital for Sick Children on Monday, just a day after her performance at the Jingle Ball in Florida.

The 20-year-old sang her hit singleScars to Your Beautifulas well as Christmas carols to a small group of patients.

"Ithink that all of us, whether we believe it or not, we're all beautiful in so many different ways," she told the crowd.

"Ifyou see somebody in the hallway, compliment them. Compliment yourself and remind yourself that you're good enough, you're powerful enough and smart enough."

For the event, Carapartnered withDuracell, whichdonated $180,000 toSickKidsin her name. Throughout December, Duracell will donate to the Children's Miracle Network for every pack of batteries purchased at Walmart.

The children eagerly took photographs with Cara,who was once a patient at the downtown Toronto hospital.

As a two-year-old, she underwent surgery to remove the saliva glands in the left side of her mouth, she said. She calls the mark the surgery left a "battle scar."

• Alessia Cara in 2016: 'I'm here to make music'

'Happy to represent for us'

It is important forCara to use her stage to promote positivity, she told CBC Toronto's Dwight Drummond.

"I'mfortunate enough to have this platform now to be able to speak on things and have people listen."

"I would never say something that I didn't believe in or I didn't feel was right," she said.

Alessia Cara shows Brampton pride

8 years ago

Duration 2:37

Brampton, Ont., singer discusses her path to fame, her hometown pride and using her platform to deliver positivity.

Carasaid she is still getting used to her rapid rise but she will never forget where she started.

"Sometimes people will say, 'Oh, you're from Toronto' but Ialways try to correct them like Toronto's cool but I'm from Brampton. I have to represent my town," she said.

"I'm just happy to represent for us."