Unison Choruses Canada is a national not-for-profit organization serving as a hub for Canadian 2SLGBTQIA+ choruses, fostering connections and providing essential resources for administration, fundraising, and programming. Your donation helps us support these vibrant communities and ensure their voices continue to be heard.
Festival Update – November 2025
November 27, 2025
Unison Festival Vancouver 2026: Music Healing Spirit
Bringing Canada’s queer choirs together in song and celebration
With festival plans taking shape, choirs across Canada are beginning to prepare for their performances in Vancouver next spring. Behind the scenes, your organizing team continues to coordinate details large and small – from scheduling and logistics to community engagement and accessibility. This month’s update shares key milestones, new resources, and a few stories that bring the spirit of Unison 2026 to life.
In this issue:
World AIDS Day 2025 World AIDS Day on December 1 reminds us of the importance of compassion, awareness, and continued action in the fight against HIV. It is a day of reflection for many – a time to honour those we’ve lost and to recognize the resilience of our communities. |
The Festival Schedule Is Live
The Unison 2026 festival schedule is now complete. From the Opening Concert on Friday night through to Monday’s inspiring Closing Concert and 2030 Host City announcement, the weekend will be filled with music, connection, and celebration.
Over four days, delegates and audiences alike will enjoy performances by choirs from across Canada, along with our four Festival Choruses and a new two-spirit, trans, and non-binary ensemble. All performances will take place at Vancouver’s beautiful Queen Elizabeth Theatre. With morning and afternoon concert blocks, a lively banquet and dance, and plenty of opportunities to connect with singers from coast to coast, there’s something for everyone to look forward to.
The Tech Rehearsal Schedule for participating choirs has also been posted. Each group will have a short on-stage rehearsal to check sound, lighting, and placement so that everything runs smoothly when the curtain rises. The schedule is tight, and we appreciate everyone’s flexibility (especially those early-morning choirs) as we make the most of limited stage time.
Get ready for an unforgettable weekend of choral music and community spirit. Whether you’ll be singing, conducting, or cheering from the audience, Unison 2026 promises to be a festival to remember.
➤ View the Tech Rehearsal Schedule (PDF)
➤ Visit the full Festival Schedule page
Bringing “Music Healing Spirit” to Life
As your choir begins preparing for Unison 2026, we invite you to reflect on the festival’s theme – Music Healing Spirit – and how it might guide your repertoire choices.
At past festivals, the theme has been more of a backdrop than a focus. This time, we’re encouraging you to weave it into performances in a way that feels authentic to your choir’s voice and story. A shared theme adds a subtle thread that connects our concerts, and when each performance reflects some part of this shared spirit, the festival as a whole feels richer and more intentional.
There are many ways to interpret the festival theme. You could think of “music” as facilitating connection and expression, “healing” as the process of becoming whole, and “spirit” as what gives meaning and vitality to what we do. These ideas might suggest a song that soothes or comforts, one that celebrates resilience, or one that simply lifts hearts through joy and movement – all can speak to the theme.
Festival Co-Artistic Directors Willi Zwozdesky and Kim Vance-Mubanga share the excitement. “I can’t wait to see how the various choirs interpret Music Healing Spirit,” says Kim. “Every group brings its own history and heart to the stage, and that’s what will make this theme come alive – in beautiful, surprising ways. I know audiences will feel that connection.”
Whether your set is reflective or exuberant, spiritual or playful, let the festival theme help shape your story. The stage is a space for healing, celebration, and connection. Your music is the heart of it.
➤ Learn more about Music Healing Spirit: The Theme for Unison Festival 2026
Helping More Singers Take Part in Unison 2026
Unison is committed to keeping the festival within reach for as many singers as possible. To help make that happen, the Unison 2026 Delegate Registration Subsidy Program is now open for applications – but don’t wait too long to apply! The deadline is December 31, 2025, and funds are limited.
Each Unison member chorus can apply for a number of subsidized delegate registrations based on need, up to a maximum total of $1,200 per choir. Four levels of subsidy are available, reducing the Early Bird registration fee ($350) by $50 to $200 per person.
Applications must be submitted by the choir on behalf of its members and should include the requested subsidy level, reason for the request (such as low or fixed income), and any other assistance the individual has received.
Subsidies will be allocated according to need, and choirs will be notified of decisions by January 10, 2026. Anyone who applies but doesn’t receive a subsidy will still be eligible for the Early Bird rate, even if the deadline has passed.
➤ Click for full details and the application form: Unison 2026 Delegate Registration Subsidy Program
Unison Voices: Singing Out (Toronto, ON)
For more than three decades, Singing Out has been raising voices and spirits as Toronto’s largest 2SLGBTQQIA+ community choir. Founded in 1992, the mixed-voice, non-auditioned ensemble's first concert, boldly titled Sex and Chocolate, set the tone for a group that would use music to build bridges, create belonging, and celebrate queer joy.
Singing Out remains true to its mission of Pride · Music · Belonging. With weekly rehearsals, two major concerts each year, a cabaret, and community performances, the 150-member choir continues to grow. Singing Out features a professionally choreographed dance ensemble and a groundbreaking Trans & Non-Binary Ensemble creating a dedicated showcase of visibility and excellence. In 2025, Singing Out opened Pride Toronto's main stage and sold out the Royal Conservatory of Music's 900+ seat Koerner Hall for their pride concert Iconique.
“Singing Out is so much more than a choir. It’s a community where people can show up exactly as they are, find support, and create something beautiful together. Our members remind me every week that music really can heal and unite.” — Jody Malone, Artistic Director
➤ Learn more: singingout.com
Would your choir like to be featured in a future newsletter? Let us know!
Local Love: How Well Do You Know Vancouver? – It’s a Quiz!
Vancouver has stories tucked into every street and shoreline. Test your local knowledge or learn a few new things with this light-hearted quiz. The answers are revealed at the end of this newsletter.
1. Before it was called Vancouver, what was the townsite's official name? A) Coal Harbour B) Granville C) Gastown D) Fraser Landing
2. The name of the downtown area “Gastown” came from… A) The smell from local tanneries B) A gas-powered streetlamp C) A talkative saloon owner nicknamed “Gassy Jack” D) Early gasworks near the port
3. The Queen Elizabeth Theatre – main venue for Unison 2026 – opened in which decade? A) 1940s B) 1950s C) 1960s D) 1970s
4. What natural feature separates downtown Vancouver from the rest of the city? A) Burrard Inlet B) False Creek C) English Bay D) Capilano River
5. Granville Island was originally… A) a sandbar used by sawmills B) a floating log boom C) a shipyard D) a reclaimed landfill
6. Which mountain is not visible from downtown on a clear day? A) Grouse Mountain B) Cypress Mountain C) Mount Seymour D) Mount Washington
7. Which bridge was opened in 1938 and funded by the Guinness family? A) Granville Bridge B) Burrard Bridge C) Lions Gate Bridge D) Ironworkers Memorial Bridge
8. Which Vancouver attraction sits inside a giant dome at the top of Queen Elizabeth Park? A) VanDusen Gardens B) Bloedel Conservatory C) Museum of Vancouver D) Science World
9. What is North America’s largest urban rainforest? A) Stanley Park B) Pacific Spirit Regional Park C) Lynn Canyon Park D) Capilano Forest
10. What quirky daily tradition dates back to 1894? A) Lighting the Lions Gate Bridge B) Firing the Nine O’Clock Gun C) Sounding the SeaBus horn D) Illuminating Gastown’s steam clock
11. Vancouver banned doorknobs in favour of lever handles in 2013 for what reason? A) Energy efficiency B) Safety for children C) Accessibility D) Design aesthetics
12. What was Vancouver’s first Pride parade in 1978 primarily about? A) Celebrating Canada’s new Human Rights Act B) Protesting for equal rights C) Launching the Vancouver Pride Society D) Supporting AIDS awareness
13. Little Sister’s Book & Art Emporium is known for: A) Being the first queer bookstore in Canada B) Winning a Supreme Court case against censorship C) Publishing Canada’s first 2SLGBTQ+ magazine D) Starting Vancouver Pride Week
14. Steveston, just south of Vancouver, was once famous for what industry? A) Coal mining B) Shipbuilding C) Salmon canning D) Logging
15. What Vancouver invention became a global sushi staple? A) Spicy Tuna Roll B) Dragon Roll C) California Roll D) Rainbow Roll
16. Which mode of transport connects the airport (YVR) directly to downtown? A) SeaBus B) SkyTrain C) #99 RapidBus D) Uber Express
➤ Jump to Quiz Answers
Unison Awards: Nominations Now Open
It is time to shine a light on the people and choirs who lift up our community. Nominations are now open for the 2026 Unison Awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to choral music and community building across Canada.
Established in 2023, the Unison Awards honour individuals, choirs, and organizations that enrich their communities through service, creativity, and leadership. The inaugural awards were presented at the 2023 Unison Festival in Halifax, a milestone that began a new tradition of celebrating excellence in our 2SLGBTQIA+ choral world.
Awards will be presented in three categories:
Service – for those who have gone above and beyond in their dedication to Unison or to member choruses.
Innovation – for creative forces whose imaginative artistic work has made a lasting impact.
Legacy – for leaders and visionaries whose long-term contributions have strengthened our community and helped it grow.
If someone comes to mind, we encourage you to nominate them. Think about the volunteer who always shows up, the ensemble that tried something bold and moved audiences, or the mentor whose steady guidance has made a difference over many years. Clear examples help the review committee understand the nominee’s impact.
➤ Deadline: Submit nomination forms and any supporting documents by midnight on January 17, 2026.
➤ Learn more: See details and download the nomination form
Thank you for helping us recognize the care, creativity, and leadership that make this community sing.
Cheers!
Thanks for keeping up to date with us, as plans for Unison 2026 continue to come together. With the scheduling in place and choirs beginning their preparations, there’s a growing sense of momentum and anticipation. In the months ahead, we’ll share more details, stories, and practical information to help you get ready for Vancouver next spring. For now, enjoy the season, keep singing, and stay connected – there’s plenty more to look forward to!
Register Today: If you haven’t registered yet, now’s a great time. Early Bird registration for delegates is open until January 15, offering the best rate and plenty of time to complete your delegate profile and questionnaire. ➤ Delegate info & registration
Share Your Ideas: Have a topic you’d like to see covered in a future update, or a question about the festival or host city? We’d love to hear from you. Send us a note anytime at communications@unisonchoruses.ca
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Quiz Answers
B (Granville)
C (“Gassy Jack” Deighton)
B (1959)
B (False Creek)
A (A sandbar transformed into an industrial island)
D (Mount Washington, on Vancouver Island)
C (Lions Gate Bridge)
B (Bloedel Conservatory)
A (Stanley Park)
B (The Nine O’Clock Gun in Stanley Park)
C (Accessibility)
B (A protest march for equal rights)
B (Won a Supreme Court case in 2000)
C (Salmon canning)
C (The California Roll, created by chef Hidekazu Tojo in 1974)
B (SkyTrain: Canada Line from YVR Airport station)