Who We Are

Doug Pettigrew

In the words of Maya Angelou:
“…people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”

Doug lived and breathed those words. He began Choirs Festivals Canada with the notion that Elementary School Children love the opportunity to SHARE their music with family, friends and community. He  believed that our children and our teachers could bring smiles to the faces of all, simply by coming outside of their classrooms and singing for others.

He thought that choirs were little communities unto themselves. Their members shared wonderful times together and built lifetime memories. Over many years of productions in many locations, people in those communities seemed to feel very differently after hearing the choirs and sharing in the excitement of the festivals.

Doug made a very conscious decision to let the teachers and the students put together their own music, with no restrictions. The choirs were always encouraged to be creative, inventive and to bring any level of experience. He felt truly blessed to be involved in his “small way” with the new schools and those that have continued to participate repeatedly throughout the years.

He hoped that he planted a seed, where wonderful musical friendships would continue to grow with teachers and their students. He wanted schools to bring new ideas, to watch and to listen to each other and to respect one another.  Doug offered tremendous support to teachers, administrators and students alike. Of the many, many things Doug gave his time to, Choirs Festivals Canada was his most cherished event.

We are ever grateful to Pickering Town Centre for their belief and support in Doug and his beloved Choirs Festivals. Pickering Town Centre provided the first ever Choirs Festival venue, and when Doug left us suddenly, there was absolutely no hesitation to continue the tradition in his honour.