While they may not have a permanent location anymore, one group of men is still gathering to sing their favourite songs once a week. The Edmonton Downtown Men’s Choir began in 2012 at the Stanley Milner Library but was displaced when the location closed for renovations. But the spirit of the program lives on with conductor and organizer Eva Bostrand, who’s been with it from the start. She recounts the beginning of the program, when manager Virginia Clevette introduced social workers in a program to keep vulnerable people off the street for a little while. “Instead of calling the police over and over, they decided, ‘Why don’t we do something here at the library?’ … Instead of chasing people away, they actually supported them,” Bostrand said. Bostrand, who had once been Clevette’s teacher, reached out when she heard about a support program and offered to run a men’s choir that includes those facing social and economic challenges. Now, the choir rotates around various venues, mostly outdoors. Last Friday, they filled the gazebo at Central McDoughall Park with classic songs, including their signature, Downtown by Petula Clark. Bostrand said that, to her, the name signalled what the group was about. While the audience isn’t always large, they’re “more about meeting and singing together than about performing.” Alex Jones wishes the choir was even bigger but likes that they sing popular songs with a tighter-knit group. Besides, he says, it’s fun, and that’s what music is supposed to be. “We started out as a bunch of ragtag, throw-together downtown leftovers who came together,” Jones said. “If somebody walks by and is interested, we’ll encourage them to stand as an audience, but better yet, come and participate.” He said that he’s a bit of a “loner” but has been singing since childhood and appreciates his ability to use his expertise in music while he socializes. int Jones, like his other choirmates, especially appreciates the gazebo performances for the acoustics. “When it sounds like this, and I’m part of it, I feel like I did something important for the day … if I sang well that day with my friends,” said Lloyd Willett, who’s been singing with most of the guys in the current choir for 10 years. He met them through his church, where they performed House of the Rising Sun. “It was like a siren,” he said. “I just went and started singing with them … and I’ve been here since.” He said his choirmates are genuine connections who know his “ups and downs.” “By the grace of God, I’m not sleeping under those trees and babbling and running around … my life’s not falling apart, because I have friends and community, people I can call and go to,” Willett said. While the choir focuses on inviting vulnerable men, all men are welcome to join, and anybody who comes across them as they travel to and from venues is welcome to sing along. After all, Willett said, that’s the whole point. “These guys in the choir, we come from all different walks of life. I’ve seen the greatest successes and the greatest failures, and together, we’re better.” With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Sasha Pietramala
