Welcome to the heart of Chorus of Courage, where gratitude unfolds like the notes of a melody.
Each person involved in this project has been a precious gift, contributing their unique essence to shape a collective work of resilience, unity, and shared truths.
We dedicate this page to express our deepest appreciation to every individual who breathed life into the vision of Chorus of Courage.
The beginnings
Chorus of Courage, born from Cindy Doire’s visionary spirit, is a testament to the transformative power of compassion and collaboration. Recognizing the need for a sacred space, Cindy, the founder, embarked on a journey grounded in equality and love, acknowledging the invaluable support from building community. Her vision laid the foundation for Chorus of Courage, and her dedication facilitated the entire process.
Our heartfelt thanks to the Muskoka Parry Sound Sexual Assault Services, The Sexual Assault Support Center of Ottawa, the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women, and the Timmins and Areas Women in Crisis, for their invaluable support and partnership. A special expression of gratitude to Lauren Power, whose mentorship and guidance have been a beacon of light throughout the creation of Chorus of Courage.
A special thanks to Darcy Ataman, Donna Johnson, Jan Andrews, Julie Nobert Demarchi, Jennifer Kagan, Jordan O’Connor, Rose Mary Murphy, and Paul Toffanello, who all helped plant the seeds of Chours of Courage and guide the unfolding process.
The retreat
Creating a Home: The retreat was a transformative haven where difficult experiences were explored with compassion and creativity. To all who contributed to the retreat's success, your efforts transformed a space into a sanctuary. Your dedication has been the gift that allowed us to explore difficult experiences with compassion and creativity.
A Special thanks to our Storytellers, Songwriters, Christine St-Pierre, Jodi Contin, Lauren Power, Laurie Lamont, Paige Weir, Sylvie Lamothe, Jamie Hassard, and Yamikani Msosa.
The music
To our brave songwriters and allies, your gift is the ability to translate stories into music, capturing the heartbeat of our storytellers. Through your compositions, you’ve given voice to experiences that resonate with the depth of human emotions.
A special thanks to you all: Alex Millaire, Alysha Brilla, Brad Barr, Cindy Doire, GR Gritt, Joni NehRita, Julian Taylor, Lisa Iwanycki, Marcia Chum-Gibbons, and Mike Celia.
A special note of gratitude to our exceptional music producer, Sarah MacDougall, and our talented session players, production and post-production team— Christine Bougie, Davide Direnzo, John Dymond, Kris Abbott, Nyles Spencer, Scott Lake, Steve O’Connor and the Bathouse Recording Studio —for lending their artistry, passion, and technical expertise, elevating Chorus of Courage into a sonorous masterpiece that supports the profound narratives of our storytellers.
The album release…
Musical Conversation Unveiled: With gratitude, we announce the release of the Chorus of Courage album. The collaboration between storytellers, songwriters, and allies has resulted in a profound musical dialogue. Thank you to the National Arts Centre (NAC) for opening their doors to us, and to all who played a role in bringing this conversation to life.
A special thanks to the staff and support from The NAC, our partners MPSSAS, SASC, OCTEVAW, and the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition.
Photos and artwork
Heartfelt thanks to photographer Jen Squires and creative visionary Paige Weir for capturing and crafting the visual identity of Chorus of Courage.
Supportive family
To our family, friends and allies, you are the pillars that transformed this idea into a reality. Your unwavering support and camaraderie have created a family bound by love, music, silence, acceptance, guidance, connection, and movement.
Acknowledging the unseen
Behind each person involved, there are invisible supports—those whose contributions may not be spotlighted but are indispensable. We recognize and thank every individual who are there with us, behind the scenes, adding immeasurable value and support to the project.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Canada Council for the Arts whose support and belief in the transformative power of Chorus of Courage made this project possible, creating a harmonious space for survivor’s voices to resonate with strength and resilience.