Every night, after the 7 p.m. cheer for frontline workers, a chorus of voices can be heard coming from a Victoria neighbourhood as residents come together for a singalong.
Chamberlain Street residents have found a new way to spend time together from a distance. Each night, neighbours come out of their homes B次元官网网址� many with lyrics and instruments in hand B次元官网网址� and come together for a joyful song while practising social distancing.
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The goal of the nightly singalongs is to raise peopleB次元官网网址檚 spirits amid the pandemic, said resident Susan Martin. SheB次元官网网址檚 not sure who initially came up with the idea but the singalongs have become part of the neighbourhood routine and the highlight of MartinB次元官网网址檚 day.
The group has sung everything from B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e Got a Friend in MeB次元官网网址� by Randy Newman to B次元官网网址淲ith A Little Help From My FriendsB次元官网网址� by The Beatles, Martin said. After singing the song of the night, the neighbours choose a song for the following evening so everyone has time to find the lyrics and maybe practise a chorus or two.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e on a friendship theme,B次元官网网址� she explained. The neighbours have been selecting songs with B次元官网网址渢hemes of relationships and relying on one another.B次元官网网址�
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After inviting residents from nearby streets to join in the fun, Martin said that there are now about 20 singers each night. She added that singing out loud with others is fun and helps create a sense of community even when people canB次元官网网址檛 truly get together.
Martin pointed out that she lives alone and has found the pandemic-induced isolation difficult. ItB次元官网网址檚 made her notice how much the little conversations and pleasantries B次元官网网址済rease our days.B次元官网网址� The ritual of meeting with others for a nightly singalong gives her something to look forward to. She added that several neighbours are frontline workers and the songs are also an homage to their hard work.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the most meaningful part of my day,B次元官网网址� Martin said.
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The singalong on the evening of April 21 was extra special for Chamberlain Street residents; after the group belted out B次元官网网址淟ean On MeB次元官网网址� by Bill Withers accompanied by tambourines, drums, pots and pans, they followed up with a rousing chorus of B次元官网网址淗appy BirthdayB次元官网网址� and a car parade to help neighbour Maia McKinley mark her 50th birthday.
McKinley was B次元官网网址渙verwhelmedB次元官网网址� when her neighbours began to sing to her. The Oak Bay High School alum noted that B次元官网网址淟ean On MeB次元官网网址� was her grad song, which made the evening one to remember.
This feel-good story is part of the #WereInThisTogether campaign by Black Press Media. Have an uplifting story that you think would bring joy to readers? E-mail your story, photos and videos to wereinthistogether@blackpress.ca.
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