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.
Unison Choruses Canada Newsletter - October 2026
October 12, 2026
Unison Choruses Canada
Building Bridges through Harmony
Unison Choruses Canada has a proud history of uniting voices from coast to coast. Since its inception, Unison has played a vital role in bringing together choirs to celebrate diversity, promote inclusivity, and build lasting friendships. With festivals held across the country, Unison has become a symbol of unity and joy in the choral community.
In this issue:
Purge Fund National Monument dedicated:
On August 21, 2026 the 2SLGBTQI+ National Monument called Thunderhead was dedicated on the banks of the Ottawa River just below the National Archives and Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa. This monument came about because of injustices inflicted on citizens by their own government over a period of 40 plus years and is now known as The LGBT Purge. Between the 1950s and mid- 1990’s, the government of Canada systematically hunted, harassed and fired 2SLGBTQI+ members of the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP and the federal public service. Carried out by the highest levels of government under the false pretense of national security it was one of the largest human rights violations of any workforce in Canadian history. Thousands of lives were devastated. It formally ended after the Government of Canada was taken to court in 1992. Later survivors received a measure of justice when they won a class action lawsuit against the government in 2018. Funds from this settlement were used to build the monument and fund other projects across the country to remember and memorialize this event.
In attendance were many Purge survivors as well as other guests with strong links to the Purge fund. In 2020 Unison Choruses Canada received funding from the Purge Fund to commission three choral works that tell the story of those who were victims of The Purge. These choral works were premiered at the Unison Festival in Halifax in 2023 and are available for Unison Choruses Canada choirs to perform.
The mood at the dedication was one of relaxed celebration and on a beautiful hot day in Ottawa we were welcomed by Elder Claudette Commanda, serenaded by SoulBear, the Ottawa Queer Youth Choir, Calamine and Jeremy Dutcher. In attendance were members of the queer caucus from the House of Commons and the Senate, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, former Prime Minister of Canada who in 2017 delivered a formal apology in the House of Commons to the Purge survivors. Speeches by Ivan Coyote, former MP Svend Robinson, Canada’s first out queer MP, Rechie Valdez the Minister for Women and Gender Equality, Michelle Douglas the Executive Director of the LGBT Purge Fund, Martine Roy and Todd Ross, Co-Chairs of the LGBT Purge Fund and all purge survivors and finally Her Excellency the Right Honourable Louise Arbour, Governor General of Canada.
After the ceremony many of the dignitaries and audience members joined in an impromptu dance party at the foot of the monument with the Governor General leading the way. Canada now has a national monument that remembers our past as well as a new rallying point for the ongoing struggles of the 2SLGBTQI+ community.
(story submitted by Matthew Gillespie, President of Unison Choruses)
Singing the Story of the Purge in Halifax
listen here https://lgbtpurgefund.com/singing-the-story-of-the-purge/:
The Unison Commissions: available for download to Unison Choruses Canada member choruses
D. Geoffrey Bell/Ben Berg | Leslie Arden/Janice Martin | Mark Sirett/Wendy MacLean |
performed by the Festival TTBB Massed Chorus conducted by Willi Zwozdesky | performed by the Festival SSAA Massed Chorus conducted by Deirdre Kellerman | preformed by the Festival SATB Massed Chorus conducted by Marg Stubington |
Next Unison Round Table
Sunday October 25, 2026
Join chorus members and leaders from across the country on Zoom to share ideas, connect, and build community. The Unison Festival brings member choruses together every four years. Between festivals, Round Tables help us stay connected and share knowledge and experience from coast to coast.
Created during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Unison Round Table helped us stay connected when we could not rehearse together in person. As we move forward together, the Unison Round Table remains an essential way to stay connected. Every member chorus and every chorister is invited to join in!
Meeting ID: 843 1242 1291 Passcode: 498772
9:30 am PT \ 10:30 am MT
11:30 am CT \ 12:30 pm ET
1:30 pm AT \ 2:00 pm NT
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84312421291?pwd=OTyobERjI5dG6lbEtTTHIL3ZEXUE2P.1
Agenda
Welcome Back!
Unison News
2030 Festival news
Chorus Check In
Chorus Season Plans
Next Round Table, Spring 2027 - topic Youth Choir Development
Giving in Unison Campaign Update:
Our G
Our Goal
The Giving in Unison fundraising campaign was launched at the Vancouver Festival in May. Today, we have raised 25% of our 4-year fundraising goal!
Let's keep the Giving in Unison spirit alive!
Your gift to the Unison Legacy Projects is an investment in a more inclusive Canada. Any amount helps us reach our goal!
Please consider becoming a sustaining monthly donor of Unison Choruses Canada today and join the many other Unison members who have already made that pledge!
DONATE TODAY!
Thank you for your ongoing support of Unison Choruses Canada!
Winnipeg's Rainbow Harmony Project Youth Choir Update:
Rainbow Harmony Project Youth Choir is thrilled to celebrate our 5th Anniversary this season! Our wonderful, affirming participation in Unison Festival 2026 was a huge highlight of last year, and we're excited to build on our momentum. We have grown to almost 20 youth singers, and we're looking forward to a Spring Anniversary Concert and School Tour.
RHP Announces The Trans Voices Forward Project:
The Trans Voices Forward project (TVF) is an initiative by the Rainbow Harmony Project (RHP) that aims to support, celebrate, and empower transgender and gender expansive singers in Winnipeg through specialized vocal and choral programming.
The project will bring in experienced transgender vocal specialists to lead choir retreats, public workshops, and one-on-one vocal lessons, providing identity-affirming instruction tailored to the unique vocal development needs of transgender and gender expansive individuals. Through these activities, RHP seeks to increase participants’ confidence, vocal skills, and community connections while addressing the lack of trans-specific vocal resources in Winnipeg.
The initiative will also strengthen the capacity of RHP’s artistic team and contribute to a more inclusive and representative arts community through collaboration, education, and public engagement. The two residencies are planned for Nov 4 to 9 completely outlined on our website as well as the TVF planned March 8 - 14 and further information will be available at https://www.rainbowharmonyproject.ca/trans-voices-forward.
story submitted by Karl Johnson, Rainbow Harmony Project
Keep in touch!
Thank you for staying connected and signing up for our Quarterly Unison newsletters!
If you or your chorus has a story to share with your fellow choruses, please submit copy and photo's to info@unisonchoruses.ca and we will use it in a future edition of the Newsletter!
Follow Our Socials: Stay connected with us on: Facebook | Instagram