-  Rev. Ted Creen

I have been immersed in the current crisis in Ukraine since my family another's in Owen Sound have a unique musical connection with that country and its people.

The Georgian Bay Children's Choir was founded in the 1980s and provided generations if children with wonderful opportunities. Under the direction of Mary Lou Tremills and people like the late Bert Hood, the choir developed. This led to an invitation for the choir to participate in an international Children's Choir festival in Des Moines. At that festival a friendship was initiated with the Shchedryk Children's Choir of Kyiv. Bert followed that experience, staying in touch with other choral directors in North America. A tour on this continent was arranged in 1993 with Owen Sound hosting the children. A wonderful concert was held at the former Knox Church at which this picture was taken.

From there, Bert visited Kyiv the next year and met with the choir. Two young choir members, Oksana and Lolya expressed a desire to come to Canada for a year. They lived here with Owen Sound families during 1994-1995, and Oksana again in 1998. Bert continued to not only support that choir but also a younger Ukrainian choir as well right up until his death.

Lorraine Creen and I  have continued to keep in touch with Oksana, supporting her musical studies and visiting her and others in Kyiv. They are in close contact with her at this point as she, like so many others have had to flee Ukraine.

I am sure there are many here in Owen Sound that remember with fondness the beautiful voices of those Ukrainian children and today will be praying for them now.