Saskaville: Region 26 Competition April 2023

Saskaville – also known as Saskatoon.

Saskatchewan was host to Region 26’s Regional Convention and Competition in April 2023. 

JGateway Chorus – also known as Gateway Chorus - flew, drove, caravanned, hitch-hiked…and likely some of our more fitness savvy members, ran, biked, cross-fitted or some other weird way of transporting that involved exercise.  But we got there – all the way from Edmonton Alberta -  our singers arrived.

They say that when a community of like-minded people get together, extraordinary things can happen – and that is exactly what transpired. The celebrations started at 1st Nite (think opening ceremonies), and continued into the quartet contest (where Gateway’s fully-owned quartet Thumbs-Up! Became Regional Champions!), onto the chorus contest (where Gateway placed 2nd overall, maintaining our pre-pandemic STAMINA), and to the celebration of the afterglow, banquet, cabaret, shindig, shindiginanny, party of the century (pick a name – there were many)!  All members of our region came together, and not only was it  like nothing had changed since our last in-person convention four years ago, but there was a thread of resiliency and strength that kept us all connected throughout the weekend.  

Gateway also had our own personal celebrations – from our three new members who were also first-time competitors, to our 3 competing quartets– all of which met or surpassed their contest goals, to Linda from Hawaii (yes, we have a member from Hawaii), bringing leis for our quartets, and candy-leis for all members of our chorus, to Donna - who could not come with us last minute, but whose scarf we commandeered discretely bring on stage with us so that she could be “there” with us.  I don’t think she knew at the time that the scarf would end up down someone’s pants, but it did, and Donna was definitely there with us! Maybe a little “too” there for the one member in charge of the scarf! 

The entire weekend was a true testament to our Laugh.Sing.Love motto, and to see the region embrace it – whether they knew it or not – made all of our hearts grow 2 sizes that weekend.

So much so, that we are thinking of expanding out motto for next contest:   

Laugh.Sing.Love.Cry.Hug.Sleep.Dance.Stickascarfdownyourpants.  

We will let you know how it turns out!