[From the Ontario District's newsletter, The Trillium, issue 60-01, January - March, 2006 , Waldo Redekop, editor.]

2005 Ontario District
chapter historical highlights

Collected by Dave Daniels

Barrie Chapter — County Chordsmen

This has been a banner year for us in so many ways including  record high membership, excellence in singing, an award winning bulletin and consistently high performance.  We topped this off by jointly hosting another superb COTS Orillia Opera House Show featuring North Metro Sweet Adelines.

Brockville Chapter — Melodymen

Our chapter held a highly successful and profitable garage sale in June and a very active Carol Crawl in several local hospitals and retirement homes later in the year.

Burlington Chapter — Roadshow

Made the extremely difficult decision to cease regular chapter functioning as of January 1, 2006, but then decided to experiment with a seniors afternoon program which, hopefully, will appeal to many members in our area.

Cornwall Chapter — C-Way Sound

Continued an excellent year of progress culminating this process with a highly successful spring show with support from four Ottawa quartets and the Capital City Chorus.  Continued with the very effective recruitment program “Men Discover Your Voice.”

East York Chapter — East York Barbershoppers

Continued with business as usual adding several new members.  We continue to lead the way in our Harmonize For Speech fundraising and services activities.

Etobicoke/Mississauga Chapter — Humber Express

Participated in a memorable show on October 1, at St. Anne’s Anglican Church in Toronto, a national historic site with its Byzantine style wall painting.  Participants included Toronto Northern Lights and Inclination Quartet (Etob/Miss) who joined soloists Corinne Lynch, Laura Schatz, Bernie Lynch (also chorus director) and guest soloist Mark DuBois.  The program ended with the four soloists and the TNL doing a Steve Armstrong arrangement of “The Prayer” which earned a standing ovation.

Greater Toronto Chapter — The MegaCity Chorus

Continued to grow. Lost June Dale as director, but gained a new one — none other than
Chris Arnold, who is leading the way in the ever increasing performance curve and forward thrust of our chapter.

Grimsby Chapter — Knights of Harmony

Were all thrilled to have longtime member, Bruce Herdman, recognized with the Barbershopper of Renown designation.  The chapter continues with its very active social/sing out schedule.

Guelph Chapter — Royal City Ambassadors

Continued its upward swing with a highly successful April show just before entering the spring chorus contest. We steadily added new members and renewed plans through Town Hall meetings.

Hamilton Chapter — Harbourtown Sound

Continued in our very active community involvement program kicking off the Hamilton Children’s Telethon, the Ticat home opener and attending Harmony College North. We also assisted in several other events such as helping Harmony Inc. in their hosting of the International convention in Hamilton.

Huntsville Chapter — Muskoka Music Men

Hosted the very successful Northern Division Big Wheel Contest in October, featuring a total of 25 competitors in the combined categories.  Judges were Bob’s Yer Uncle, who entertained later in the day and re-won many of their old fans.  Also district president, Wylie Forster, attended and brought along Backroads for everyone’s entertainment in the show that followed.

Kingston Chapter — Townsmen

Our chorus re-entered the contest scene and were pleased with their eighth-place finish after launching our brand new chapter web site which heralded in our very successful spring show.

Kitchener-Waterloo Chapter — Twin City Harmonizers

Moved to a new rehearsal hall — the Schwaben Club, and had a great spring show presenting a “Salute to Satchmo,” followed by a youth recruitment program and the hosting of the highly successful June Heartland Big Wheel Contest in Kitchener.  Started preparations for our 60th anniversary show on April 29, 2006,  featuring former quartets and directors.

London Chapter — Men of Accord

Continued to improve our upward performance curve, benefiting from the coaching of Chris Arnold and a program to increase membership.

Markham Chapter — Men of Harmony

Continues in its role as one of the strong chapter contributors to the District’s H4S Program of fund raising to support persons with speech related challenges.

Midland Chapter — Huronia Harmonizers

Had a historical moment and payback at the Northern Division Big Wheel October Contest when they won, for the first time ever, the Henry Light Memorial Plaque donated many years ago by them to be awarded each year to the mini-chorus champions.  This served as an encouragement for a number of our newer members.

Mount Forest Chapter — Harmonaires

A year of successes and changes starting with the chapter’s participation in a special show (attended by 200) for a five-year-old girl suffering from autism. After this came a successful two-day fall show and the retirement of longtime director/friend Dave Litwiller who has turned over the directing reins to
Grant Lawson.

Nepean Chapter — North Stars Chorus

Our solid singing chorus from the near north continues its upbeat path with fine performances in the spring contest, a June show and a unique H4S fundraiser — the shaving of the chorus director and the lead of Polaris during the afterglow.  We sent five men to Harmony/Director’s College last July and had some good coaching from Sandi Nason.

Newmarket Chapter — Upper Canada Chordsmen

We continue to excel as every man’s chapter on the top of Metro —  a place where Joe Barbershoppers meet and enjoy. We also enjoyed hosting several district board functions in our unique Old Fire Hall.

Niagara Falls Chapter — A Cappella Niagara

Sang in the two Kiwanis Festivals, performing well in both and in the spring chorus contest.  We continued with participation in a busy sing out program.

North Bay Chapter — Gateway Harmony Company

Carried on as strong supporters of the Northern Division Big Wheel Contest with a win in the VLQ category by Shadfly County and Shadow, a seniors quartet.

Oakville Chapter — Entertainers

Introduced new director Anne Prins who introduced some fine new music.  Also developed a marketing plan for review and forecasting purposes.

Oshawa Chapter — Horseless Carriagemen

Had a great annual show headlining Riptide to the delight of large audiences for both afternoon and evening shows.

Ottawa Chapter — Capital City Chorus

Has won the highly deserved recognition as Ontario’s Chapter of the Year Award for 2004.  this chorus is an ongoing example of the support of district conventions with its program of advance registrations.  They also topped the list by singing 134 Valentines and donating $14,500 to both H4S and local youth club support.  Continued with their unique Camp Smitty for Boys and Girls, spending a weekend repairing buildings and culminating in a Saturday night show with great quartets.

Owen Sound Chapter — Encore

Took their whole chorus to the June Heartland Novice Contest and won honours in several categories. They followed this with a fully scripted Christmas Show package featuring both Encore and Celebration in nine sing outs.  Have moved our annual show to the fall starting in October 2006.

Peterborough Chapter — Aces of Harmony

Brisk business as usual with many sing outs and a fine annual show.

Quinte Regional Chapter — Trentones

Barbershop life midway down the Seaway continues with regular practices, sing outs and many community involvements.

St. Catharines Chapter — Singing Saints

Had and excellent May show featuring the Hamilton Harbourtown Sound Chorus and continued their tradition of participation in the Niagara-on-the-Lake “Candlelight Walk” program at Christmas.

St. Thomas Chapter — Elginaires

Continues in our director search while managing to complete a number of sing outs and remain active in the Western Division planning meetings and programs.

Sarnia Chapter — Bluewater Chordsmen

This fine chapter, our most westerly district brothers, completed a celebratory year of 60 consecutive years of barbershop activity, topping this off with an entertaining history booklet and 60-year pins.  Hats off to this chapter and its many accomplishments as our oldest chapter.

Scarborough Chapter — Dukes of Harmony

The Dukes continue on the comeback trail with the addition of many new members and a solid music program directed by Rob Arnold.  Individual coaching support and increased community profile have been highlights of the past year.

Seaforth Chapter — Harmony Kings

Have continued with their active chapter program and ongoing support of division and district programs.  Will be testing a new program which focuses on quartet singing during the new year.

Simcoe Chapter — Gentlemen of Harmony

Continues to lead the membership recruitment charge and is challenging for number one in total members, supported by the musical direction of native son Ray Danley, whose barbershop reputation just continues to grow, expand and improve.  Bravo!

Strathroy Chapter — The Vocal Federation

Had another successful show in the spring followed by a busy year of sing outs and participation in the Western Division’s unique “Annual Christmas Concert and Celebration.”

Toronto Chapter — Northern Lights

Continues to perform as one of the Society’s great choruses, introducing new and exciting ways of performing quality barbershop harmony singing for both judges and also for audiences of all kinds wherever they perform.     k