Just Voices: Ottawa’s social justice choir

By Nadia Stuewer and Ann Waters

The familiar strains of Meghan Trainor’s “All About that Bass” fill the room as the basses start singing doom-do-doom. But suddenly the choir is singing, “all about… the bus?  Yes, welcome to Just Voices, Ottawa’s activist choir whose songs promotes peace, social justice, and environmental responsibility.  “All About the Bus” is a song about public transit and climate change.  

Just Voices is a friendly community choir that comprises folks from all over Ottawa, including three Lowertown residents, two of whom are the authors. Sharon O’Dell, who has sung with Just Voices since 2008, continues to participate in the choir because of the support she receives from members in learning new music. She also “enjoys the sense of music community that keeps my singing voice and overall health in balance.”  The singing has even strengthened muscles that eventually helped her in sporting activities like swimming.   

The choir was started in 2004 by a group of singers who wanted to combine music and their concern for the environment and social justice. The director at that time, Greg Furlong, had initiated the choir as a bicycling choir, while living in Toronto. When he moved to Ottawa and recreated the choir, the focus on social justice stayed, but the bicycling did not.    

Just Voices proudly celebrated our 20th anniversary last year. The choir survived the Covid lockdowns by rehearsing online. We even held a virtual concert in 2021. As restrictions slowly lifted, this dedicated choir practiced under the Bronson Street bridge until it became safe to practice indoors again.

Our dynamic music director, Bridget Grounds, keeps us in tune and on time. She was a former member of the choir who returned and we’re so glad she’s rejoined us. She’s been instrumental in improving our sound and introducing fabulous new songs.

Just Voices’ repertoire includes songs in several languages. We love to sing songs in Swahili from the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, and we sometimes rewrite lyrics to include a verse in French. In each concert we feature an Indigenous-themed number.  We’re currently working on a cover of Nobody Knows, the powerful song about missing and murdered Indigenous women by IsKwé.

Just Voices usually performs twice a year, a spring concert and a solstice event. Last December, its Solstice Cabaret featured local singers, a juggler, and a singalong. This year’s spring concert will take place on Saturday, May 31 at the First Unitarian Church in Westboro. Proceeds from our performances always go to a local charity chosen by choir members, including the Native Women’s Friendship Centre and the Ottawa Food Bank.

Just Voices is all about building community. Choir members support each other in learning the music but also through friendship outside of rehearsals. We often sing at events that champion social justice causes:  International Women’s Day, climate protests, and protests against nuclear waste.

We always welcome new members, especially tenors and basses. We don’t ask for auditions or require an ability to read music. 

 We rehearse from September to June on Wednesday evenings from 7-9 pm at The Atelier at Saint Paul’s University, 95 Clegg Street. Please email Rob Ryan (robryan@rogers.com) for more information. If you like to sing and are passionate about the environment and social justice, this may be the choir for you!