Strong & Free

PROGRAM

• O CANADA Calixa Lavallée, arr Stephen Chatman
• CANADIAN PACIFIC Ray Griff, arr Larry Nickel
• 2024 commission by KSS
• SEEDS OF COMMUNITY Tobias Sass
• AH! SI MON MOINE VOULET DANSER Folksong, arr Donald Patriquin
• MON PAYS Gilles Vigneault, arr Larry Nickel
• FELLER FROM FORTUNE Folksong, arr Harry Somers
• 2023 30th Anniversary commission by KSS
• MISKANAW Sherryl Sewepegaham
• WHEN I FIRST STEPPED IN A CANOE Shelley Posen, Paul Mills, soloist
• BIG YELLOW TAXI Joni Mitchell
• HALLELUJAH Leonard Cohen
• THE MARY ELLEN CARTER Stan Rogers
• IN REMEMBRANCE Eleanor Daley
• NORTHWEST PASSAGE Stan Rogers
• THE HOCKEY SONG Stompin’ Tom Connors
• THIS LAND Paul Mills
• TO YOUNG CANADIANS music: James Wright, lyrics: Jack Layton
• THIS IS MY HOME Bob Buckley

This wonderful country has much to celebrate. In this concert, we will travel the route the voyageurs took by canoe as they moved west on our rivers. Join us on our journey across this great land in song, honouring Canada’s beauty and strength, diversity and heart—celebrating the unique country we call home.

Traveling coast to coast to coast with exciting and inspiring music about Canada, the choir will sing songs from our past and and present, and for our future emphasizing the qualities that make Canada unique. Songs written by Canadians, for Canadians, and made famous by Canadians—singing their love for our country.

A very special guest will be well-known Canadian folk artist, Paul Mills. Not only is Paul an accomplished performer, but he has had a stellar career as a music and drama producer for the CBC as well as producing close to 200 record albums, including those of Stan Rogers and Sharon, Lois and Bram, winning several gold and platinum records along with Junos and other awards. He also founded the Borealis Recording Company and The Millstream recording and production company. In 2017, for his contributions to the Canadian folk world, he was named a Member of the Order of Canada. Please read Paul’s bio on the Artist’s page.

Along with Paul’s phenomenal guitar skills, accompanying the choir will be the always excellent Grace Yip on piano and Greg Mainprize on percussion of all types.

For this concert, we are partnering with representatives of the Canadian Armed Forces in London. On hand will be officers of the Royal Canadian Regimental Museum and The 1st Hussars Museum to highlight our concert theme, “Strong and Free”. They will be bringing displays to the reception following the concert.

As global factions scream louder and louder, Canada can be a guiding beam valuing and honouring diversity and inclusivity. We are what a multicultural democratic society can look like, and there is nothing more important in our world at the present time. Canada is a unique and proud country in so many ways, full of goodness and compassion. Let’s celebrate that!

Come join us as we honour Canada in this, our final season. See you at the concert!