Peace Arch Chorus Unstoppable
This article appeared in SAI District 26’s inaugural magazine October 2025. You can read the full pdf by clicking here.
On Thursday, we found out that our director, Elvera Collier, had suffered a cardiac issue, and she wouldn’t be joining us. Our emotions were running rampant, from trust, confidence and patience, to panic, fear, vulnerability and tears. Bev was our hero, and we applaud her, stepping up and working hours on her own to figure out what her hands were doing, so she could stop and start us. The words of our songs helped inspire us. “Feel the fear, do it anyway” was huge, and also “have faith in your dreams”. They gave us courage and daring, and we wanted to make Elvera proud.
Many people in the Region were so encouraging and helpful, including Sandy Marron, Shannon Harris, and Lisa Greenough, but the one person who stands out above all is Elaine Cotton. As soon as Elaine heard about Elvera she was there for us, a total Godsend. She got us to focus and to hold our suggestions and helpful hints inside, and really got our heads back in the game, calming us down, and getting us to trust
in the work that Elvera and the chorus had been doing. She stayed with us the whole weekend, even on the bus and through the traffic pattern, giving us a high 5 before going on stage and then rushing into the audience so she could watch. Further to Elaine’s grace, it was suggested to her from others outside PAC that she direct us on stage. She declined, saying this was Elvera’s Chorus.
Friday night, Elaine had the idea of a photo of Elvera on stage for our photo pose. A member, Sharon von Hollen went above and beyond to make this happen. Finding a picture, sending it to London Drugs photo department, and then over there first thing Saturday morning to make sure the order was in and that it would be ready for pickup by noon, and then picking the picture up before getting ready herself. It was perfect.
The community of SAI and the Region were amazing. We had so many people come up to us and give us hugs, words of encouragement, or a pat on the back, and it was so helpful to know we weren’t alone. Everyone was with us the whole way and this helped to ground us, and we appreciated everything.
One of the biggest emotional turning points for many of our chorus members was when we left the rehearsal room on Friday. We had just spent an hour going through the songs, stops and starts, listening to Elaine’s words of wisdom, perfecting what Bev needed from us, and we were still up and down emotionally. As we exited the rehearsal room, there was Desert Sounds Chorus, lining the hall, clapping and cheering for us as we went through them. Even now it brings back tears to my eyes! The support, compassion, love and kindness that they showered on us is a feeling we will never forget, and it helped so much to make us believe that we could do this. It was heartwarming and very touching.
We never had a minute of doubt that we would carry on and compete, and we wanted to make Elvera proud (we knew she would be watching the webcast). We had worked hard for many months, and Elvera would have been crushed if we had abandoned ship because she couldn’t be there with us. She had always wanted to do a “Dale Syverson”, start the chorus and then step away, but not quite like this. We knew the plan, Bev had confidence in us and we had faith in her.
The meaning of the music changed somewhat, especially “Brand New Shoes” which is a song all about stepping out of your comfort zone. Here we all were actually living the words of the song and telling our story, at the same time encouraging others to step out as well. We definitely felt the fear and did it anyway.
Before we stepped on stage we were still a bit nervous, but focused, and there was excitement mixed with apprehension, a whole gambit of emotions.
Once we had our high 5’s from Elaine and we walked on stage, we were a proud unit, determined to sing our very best for Elvera. We were very bonded and trusting of each other to give the best performance ever, the words “feel the fear, do it anyway” kept coming to mind. Plus it wasn’t just us on the stage, it was the whole Region behind us, holding us up and supporting us. What a feeling! This was very evident by the cheering and applause from the audience and we hadn’t even sung a note yet.
The things that we will remember forever are Lisa Greenough running on stage after the curtains closed, tears in her eyes, congratulating us. The reception when we came into the theater, all the people lining the walkway, laughing, crying,cheering was amazing. We found out later that Elvera was crying through the whole performance. The collective care for Elvera; support/encour- agement/joy from across Region 26 was amazing. Listening to the announcements, hearing 3rd place, thinking maybe we came 2nd, hearing 2nd, thinking we probably came 4th, only to hear we came 1st — we were ecstatic and so proud. One member said “I really didn’t think we were going to place, so when our name was announced as the winners I screamed. All the chorus mates around me screamed as well and then we sobbed, looking at each other with utter disbelief. It makes me well up just writing about it”. Bev said for her, one of the unforgettable moments was being honoured by Sandy Marron as Novice Director at the Afterglow, totally unexpected but well deserved.
This whole experience has changed the chorus. We are prouder wearing our medals for sure, but we have more confidence and trust in ourselves and each other. We are setting our goals higher and are confident in what we can achieve going forward.
For any other choruses facing hardship during contest, we would say “Believe in yourselves, stay strong and carry on, always stay confident and put your best foot forward and rely on the support of each other and the amazing Region 26 who stands with you”.
“Feel The Fear, Do It Anyway”
