The Halton Regional Police Chorus is anticipating a great community evening at St. Paul’s United Church at 123 Main St in Milton on Saturday, May 12. With a Celtic theme in mind the Chorus will be joined by special guests, the Graham Irish Dancers, the Tim’rous Beasties, a father and son duo from Burlington, and the Halton Regional Police Pipes & Drums.

United by their love of music, a group of amateur singers from the Halton Regional Police Services (HRPS) formed a small ensemble in 1984 with the mission of spreading holiday cheer to residents of seniors’ homes and long term care facilities in the Halton Region. From these humble beginnings, the Halton Regional Police Chorus has continued to serve the communities of Halton Region, the Greater Toronto Area and beyond ever since.

In line with Halton Regional Police Service’s philosophy of ‘one team’, the Chorus is composed of HRPS employees and community volunteers. The Chorus logs thousands of hours throughout the year to bring the joy of music to senior citizen and retirement homes and hospitals in Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills. They attend many community festivals and police events, such as the Strawberry Festival and Police Day. The Chorus participates in fundraising concerts that benefit local charities in Halton Region and throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Additionally, the Chorus performs at official police functions to acknowledge volunteers and members of the Police Service for their service to the community with long-service or bravery awards.

As a member of the Ontario Association of Police Choruses, made up of groups from the York Regional Police, the Hamilton Police Service, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Durham Regional Police, the Waterloo Regional Police Service, the Ottawa Police Service and others, the Halton Regional Police Chorus forms part of the massed police chorus that participates annually in the Provincial and National Police Memorial Services in Toronto and Ottawa to honour police officers who have fallen in the line of duty. The Chorus has also regularly attended the annual Memorial Service for fallen police officers in Cleveland, Ohio and has sung at police funerals across Ontario.

The Director of the Chorus, Heide Lang, and accompanist, Natalie Artemus-Polak, are both accomplished music educators. Together, they have helped create a worldclass Chorus in Halton Region. The Chorus rehearses on Tuesday evenings from September to June in the Community Room at the Halton Regional Police Service Headquarters on Bronte Road in Oakville. Any interested member of the community with a love of singing and a desire to serve the community is welcome to join us!

Tickets are $20 p.p. and accompanied kids, 16 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased locally at St. Paul’s Church office, 905-878-8898 or Nancy Whitnell, 905- 864-6667. Mark your calendars and plan to join us at St. Paul’s for an unforgettable evening of music and dance. Celts ‘n’ Kilts begins at 7:30 pm and there will be light refreshments following.
Written By: Nancy Whitnell

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