Now that weather is becoming more agreeable, a local vocal group is making its return to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital to serenade workers.

The Life Journey Singers have been giving weekly performances outside NRGH since the fall, gathering at 7 a.m., 3 p.m. or 7 p.m. to catch workers as they change shifts. Those concerts are now resuming after being disrupted earlier this month due to heavy snowfall.

B次元官网网址淲e have very few opportunities to sing at the moment so weB次元官网网址檙e also quite happy to get together and sing for our own pleasure B次元官网网址� and at the same time we bring some encouragement and thanks to the hard-working people at the hospital,B次元官网网址� founding member Dorothy Mandy said.

The Life Journey Singers were formed around 10 years ago with the primary focus of singing at bedsides for the ill and dying B次元官网网址渙r anyone who would benefit from a comforting presence in times of transition, convalescence or trauma,B次元官网网址� said Mandy. The group had been performing at Kiwanis Lodge until COVID-19 restrictions forced them out.

Mandy said the group decided to start singing at NRGH in response to the that happened there in September.

B次元官网网址淲e were dismayed by the protest that was happening up there at the hospital where the people were abusive to the health-care staff and calling them names and shouting and being terribly rude,B次元官网网址� Mandy said. B次元官网网址淚t was so upsetting because those health-care workers are working so hard for the rest of us and to have that happening was just a real shock so we decided that we would try to counteract that.B次元官网网址�

Through their masks, the ensemble performs what Mandy describes as short, repetitive chants of B次元官网网址渃omfort and love and support.B次元官网网址� Many of the pieces were written by Gabriola Island musicians Leah Hokanson, including one called IB次元官网网址檓 Listening to the Sound of the Ocean.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 quite brief and it just kind of sways in imitation of the ocean waves and the harmony weaves in and outB次元官网网址�B次元官网网址� Mandy said. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e not religious songs but you could call them spiritual.B次元官网网址�

Mandy said the singersB次元官网网址� audience of incoming and outgoing hospital staff and patients has been very appreciative and has responded by waving, blowing kisses and saying B次元官网网址渢hank you.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淪ometimes we see windows being opened and even doors so that people inside can hear us. ItB次元官网网址檚 a good feeling and people walking by sometimes stop and listen for a while and tell us how much they appreciate it. ItB次元官网网址檚 well worth doing,B次元官网网址� Mandy said. B次元官网网址淲e really enjoy it.B次元官网网址�

arts@nanaimobulletin.com
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