The first week of October 2021 is the PAC’s “first” indoor in person rehearsal after 65 virtual rehearsals; 5 in person outdoor rehearsals; a gathering at Peace Arch Park to meet with our USA members; a virtual farewell party to Emma Honrud, our Music Director of 6 + years; and a summer gathering of members only with all the appropriate covid protocols.   

Peace Arch Park is an international park consisting of Peace Arch Historical State Park in the United States and Peace Arch Provincial Park in Canada. People from the USA and Canada are allowed to gather in the park without crossing an international border.

Photos: PAC meets in person for the first time in 17 months. Venue Peace Arch Park - of course! Josh and Emma’s son Max meets Joelle (above) and Emma directs her last song with PAC.

O Siem

Carol Poole Spirit of 26 honouree, Jude Goodwin, suggested that Susan Aglukark be asked permission to arrange her song in barbershop 4-part harmony and she readily agreed. Emma engaged her friend (and new director of the mixed a cappella group Soundscape) Sam Dabrusin, to arrange the music. Our task of learning the unique arrangement, recording our individual perfect tracks, videoing ourselves, and then editing it all together seemed insurmountable. The time frame for the video was during the hottest days in late June but we did it with humour and joy.

O Siem is an Inuktitut expression of joyful greeting, used when seeing family and loved ones again. For PAC, O Siem seems a perfect greeting as we, and all SAI choruses, finally begin to reunite in person to sing together again.

In addition, PAC takes inspiration from Susan Aglukark’s message in the song, asking all peoples to unite in turning away from racism and prejudice. Her words continue to be relevant and resonant today, as inspiration for our journey toward truth and reconciliation. PAC is honoured to be able pass her message along in our Barbershop world!