[From the Ontario District's newsletter, The Trillium, issue 61-01, January - March, 2007 , Waldo Redekop, editor.]
2006 Highlights for Ontario District chapters
Collected By Dave Daniels, District Historian
Barrie Chapter
1. Winning another district chorus championship was a very significant achievement topping off a year characterized by forward movement.
2. In November we celebrated our 30th Anniversary with a gala gathering of about 140 where charter members were recognized, along with many members, old and new, plus several past quartets featured in a full program.
Brockville Chapter
1. Culminated our first six months of activity under the direction of a five-man team with a very successful show in June with the Kingston and Cornwall chapter choruses as special guests, concluding with a massed chorus three-song finale
2. Have a potential candidate to take over the chorus director position, hopefully to be confirmed at our annual general meeting in December.
Cornwall Chapter
1. We continued our forward motion, welcoming our newest members, and introduced our excellent new website under the guidance of Doug Hill and his consistent development work making this a top-notch production.
2. Welcomed Society music specialist Jim Debusman (after Harmony College North) to conduct a town hall meeting and work with several quartets through a Youth In Harmony sponsored activity in a Kingston High School.
East York Chapter
1. We held our annual auction which raised $6,500 with 10 percent going to Harmonize For Speech.
2. We were very proud to be second-place finishers in the Ontario District fall contest, following our spring chorus entry with The Chromatics winning the novice quartet title, which, in turn led to the provision of coaching to individual members with Ron Whiteside starting in late summer.
Etobicoke-Mississauga Chapter
1. A joint barbecue with the Trentones and Etobicoke-Mississauga chapters was organized by a former Etobicoke member who moved to Wellington, giving us a wonderful afternoon of fellowship and harmony with the two choruses, seven chapter quartets and several quartets made up on the spot.
2. Our director, Bernie Lynch, resigned and has been replaced by six associate directors from the chapter. Bernie continues as a member and one of the associate directors, attending when he can and coaching the associate directors for sing outs.
Greater Toronto Chapter
1. Earned the right to enter the 2006 International chorus contest as a wild card entry and performed extremely well with new director Chris Arnold placing fifteenth.
2. Looking forward to our upcoming Russian trip with Greg Lyne.
Grimsby Chapter
1. Brought Cornerstone to Southern Ontario as the feature quartet on our annual show along with Chameleon.
2. Ran a successful membership drive titled “Outreach ‘06" which brought in several guests during October with a number expected to join.
Guelph Chapter
1. Increased our number of directors to four by adding two new men who will receive training at Harmony University.
2. We had a very active convention year with several attending the Society International following the spring district contest where five of our members sang in quartets, including our new quartet Vocal Ignition. An added highlight was having Serge Tremblay and Rod Mills win the coveted most improved editor trophy.
Hamilton Chapter
1. Our annual show at Compass Point Bible Church featured Cadence, a Juno nominated a capella vocal group.
2. Helped launch a new afternoon recreational chorus for retirees called the Golden Horseshoe Singers with Jordan Travis at the podium.
Huntsville Chapter
1. Forty-five Singing Valentines were lovingly performed this year by three chapter quartets with recipients awarded a red rose, a red balloon and a Polaroid picture for which their donors paid $30.
2. Received a positive response to our request for a Trillium Grant to aid in building numbers and improving appearance on the risers.
Kingston Chapter
1. Hosted the fall convention in Kingston in October, the first in Kingston since 1967, and opened the chorus contest with Paul Tamblyn directing over 100 Barbershoppers.
2. Helped Brockville Chapter in June by having our chorus and quartets on half of their show, before having our own show the next day.
Kitchener-Waterloo Chapter
1. The Kitchener-Waterloo Chapter’s annual show was titled “A Barbershop Diamond Jubilee” as we celebrated 60 years of harmony featuring a number of former members and former directors including Wayne Brubacher, Dave Litwiller, Lyle Pettigrew, Ken Mcpherson, Frank Parkinson and Chris Arnold; plus The Thompson Brothers and Royal Assent, the Timbertones and guests Bob’s ‘Yer Uncle.
2. The Twin City Harmonizers and Calvary United Church in St. Jacobs jointly produced a Christmas concert titled “A Musical Sleigh Ride” where we sang a variety of carols and seasonal songs for two performances at the church on Saturday, December 9, joined by A Touch of Class (ladies) who added significantly to the program.
London Chapter
1. London chorus competed in the 2006 spring contest in Toronto, after a great coaching session with Chris Arnold.
2. Held our successful annual show on May 13, 2006.
Midland Chapter
1. Continued with our very active community sing out program.
2. Sadly we have learned of our director’s health problems which, we hope, can be successfully treated.
Mount Forest Chapter
1. Grant Lawson has taken over as the director and introduced several new songs and helped welcome some new members.
2. Held a two-day show in November featuring a 45-voice children’s choir plus a local group of fiddlers and dancers called the Ballagh Bunch — all from one family
Nepean Chapter
1. Our spring show “That Old Gang of Ours” was done as a tribute to Gas House Gang with all of the songs that had been recorded or performed by the Gas House Gang.
2. We came third and were awarded the District Chorus Encouragement Award at the spring convention, with the fall being even better finishing fifth and having What a Blast win as novice champions.
Newmarket Chapter
1. We received a Trillium Grant which bought a lot of things for our chorus.
2. We were able to sell lots of tickets and program ads thereby reducing costs to each individual member.
Niagara Falls Chapter
1. Ran a successful “Bug and Beer Night” program on July 11 with several guests.
2. Hosted an interesting and fun filled Can-Am program on October 27.
North Bay Chapter
1. Got off to a fast start with 85 Singing Valentines by three quartets in February.
2. Had a great show in May featuring our GHC Chorus, Mirage, Heather Gardiner on piano and a stage band from the local base, inspiring us to do active recruiting in the fall which is yielding some new members.
Oakville Chapter
1. In June we conducted a four-part harmony workshop for area high school students.
2. Welcomed several members to our chapter from Roadshow [Burlington Chapter] following the retirement of that chapter and found the new blood has increased enthusiasm levels and has enabled our chapter to forge ahead with paid sing outs and fund-raisers.
Oshawa Chapter
1. Our chorus was pleased to perform again at the Newcastle Summer Concert Series to a packed house.
2. We joined forces with Durham Shores Sweet Adeline Chorus and presented a joint Christmas concert to a very receptive audience.
Ottawa Chapter
1. Our annual maintenance at Camp Smitty, where needy boys and girls can enjoy some campfire fun, produced a beautiful dining hall, now with completely finished ceiling and dramatic entrance for the benefit of young campers.
2. The Ottawa Capital City Chorus is preparing for its 50th Anniversary on June 2, 2007, with a Saturday night performance at the National Arts Centre (NAC), celebrating our rich legacy and an opportunity for us to showcase in the community the level of musical excellence which has become our CCC hallmark.
Owen Sound Chapter
1. Hosted the Heartland Division Novice contest in our Owen Sound home hall with over 60 men from Mount Forest, Guelph and Kitchener chapters in a gala evening of song, and friendly competition.
2. Our new program, borrowed from Oakville, called the Christmas Chorus Program, brought 13 outside choir members into fall practices and six Christmas sing outs, with three having since joined Encore and two more anticipated soon.
Peterborough Chapter
1. Celebrated the 40th Anniversary with a November concert featuring the Toronto Northern Lights chorus and quartets.
2. Will continue our drive to attract new members by appointing an active membership chairman to spearhead the cause.
Quinte Regional Chapter
1. Held our annual show in the beautifully restored Empire Theatre in downtown Belleville and featured Jeanette Arsenault and David Marade.
2. Received a Standing O Award for this show thereby setting up our entire year.
St. Catharines Chapter
1. Our August 12 corn roast at the Wilson farm featured several Hamilton members, Phase 4, Chameleon and the Bayside Harmony Sweet Adelines, with Chameleon stealing the show.
2. Can-Am Night was held in the CAW Hall with the Timbertones and featured Chameleon.
St. Thomas Chapter
1. We were approved for an Ontario Government Trillium grant.
2. Welcomed Fidell Stewardson as our new director of music, bringing with him a wealth of choral experience and extensive musical knowledge.
Sarnia Chapter
1. Hosted the very successful Western Division Novice contest in February with a special quartet Fermata Nowhere from the Pioneer District as judges.
2. The chapter initiated an “Adopt a School” fund to collect monies from the chapter members in support of school music programs and to provide opportunities for individual members to become involved with Youth In Harmony projects.
Scarborough Chapter
1. We are very proud of our director and International Board Member Rob Arnold. Rob headed up the team for winning the convention bid for 2013 when the International will return to Toronto for its convention, the 50th anniversary of our last Toronto International Convention.
2. On behalf of his chapters and the district, Rob launched, in April, the Barbershop Harmony Degree program for Ontario Barbershoppers, with the first 131 degrees being awarded.
Seaforth Chapter
1. Continued our charitable efforts in a town of less that 3,000 residents which is the smallest town in the Ontario District and maybe the whole Society with emphasis on community hospital services locally, raising over $5,000 this past year.
2. Successfully hosted the Western Division Barbershop Christmas Show by hosting the barbecue for the participants from Seaforth, London, Sarnia, St. Thomas and Mount Forest; staging over 100 performers at the show on November 26, 2006.
Simcoe Chapter
1. Celebrated our 50th Anniversary with a ladies night parade of quartets in August, a charter night dinner in September featuring Chameleon and then featuring FRED on our annual show.
2. Continued our very high member growth cycle which not only brought in new men but filled our meetings with enthusiasm and fun.
Strathroy Chapter
1. We happily received a twenty-nine thousand Trillium Foundation grant to purchase new uniforms and audio equipment.
2. We participated in several Western Division shows and activities during the past year.
Toronto Chapter
1. Our visit to Germany in March of 2006 featured several outstanding singing opportunities including a combined performance with Ladies First of “Alabamy Bound” which brought the house down, completing a wonderful round as Canadian ambassadors and a most memorable barbershop experience.
2. Secured a medal again at the Indianapolis International convention. k