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Comox Military Wives’ Choir addresses Invictus Games fundraising

Dear editor,
8492053_web1_letter-to-the-editor-TEASER

Dear editor,

We’d like to take this opportunity to clarify for the readers and Mrs. Joyce Hallowell (Shame on government for not paying performers’ way, Sept. 12) a few details about our involvement in the 2017 Invictus Games for Wounded Warriors to take place in Toronto, On. Sept. 23-30. While we very much appreciate Mrs. Hallowell’s strong support we would like to set the record straight on a few things.

The Canadian Military Wives Choirs Association, which oversees the established nine choirs across Canada, was originally asked to send 100 local singers to participate in the Games with all expenses paid. Within our choirs you will often hear the term “Stronger Together” and it is this “motto” that prompted the Association to propose that the opportunity be extended to all choir members across Canada. For obvious financial reasons, the organizers and private sector investors of the 2017 Games could not fund travel for this many women, as well as assume the expense of accommodations for three nights. The organizers graciously agreed to pay for accommodation for all 191 women participating in Toronto, however the choirs would need to fund their own travel.

In keeping with our motto, our Comox choir decided to fundraise for travel expenses so that no member would be left behind due to financial constraints.

We are thrilled to say that thanks to the overwhelming response from the community and local businesses we have raised enough to pay for each members flight to Toronto. We couldn’t be more grateful for the support from our Comox Valley community.

It needs to be noted that the Canadian Military Wives Choirs, although closely associated with the military and their respective bases, are not funded by the government. We are a member-funded group that provides support and friendship to military women through song. Each base however, supports their choirs in various other ways. Every choir member across Canada is extremely appreciative of their home bases and their dedication to assisting where they can.

Tannis Harrison

President, CMWC -Comox

Lindsay Cunningham

CMWC Association