Toronto Choral Society -- Street Haven Women’s Choir -- Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The Street Haven Women’s Choir (SHWC) was founded in 2000 by Geoffrey Butler, Artistic Director, Toronto Choral Society with a grant from the United Way of Greater Toronto.

Street Haven is a multi-faceted organization located in downtown Toronto, serving women through emergency shelter beds, a drop-in program, addiction treatment programmes, a learning centre and supportive housing.

The women’s choir is comprised of women who use the services of the shelter.

Over the past nine years, the SHWC has made a number of public appearances, has been featured in several news articles and showcased on local television programs. The choir was the subject of a documentary produced for Vision TV; has performed in the music video “In Her Mother’s Eyes”, a film concerned with runaways that was accepted by the Berlin Film Festival. The choir has also performed at numerous municipal functions at Toronto City Hall, Metro Convention Centre and has been invited for several years to perform at the United Way ‘Kick-Off’ at Nathan Philip Square. The SHWC has also been featured at Toronto Choral Society concerts. In addition, the choir performs each year, with the Toronto Choral Society at the Annual Street Haven Christmas Benefit Concert.

The choir’s biggest accomplishment, however, is the joy and happiness its members and audience feel every time the women come together to share their voices in song.

Singing often gives the women a new sense of self. The members of the women’s choir have echoed sentiments similar to the one offered by this former Street Haven resident and choir member: “Singing lifts you up. It (the choir) is good for my self esteem. It’s serenity for me, singing. It’s bringing back my voice. It’s a good feeling when you go in front of people, you’re not being judged, but being heard.”

In addition to a sense of accomplishment, Geoffrey Butler, Artistic Director believes the women gain much more. “Music is a need, and we know that because every culture has it. The human spirit needs to express itself, or it withers.”

The SHWC’s repertoire ranges from Mozart to modern folk songs. The choir rehearses weekly at the Street Haven shelter.

The Street Haven Women’s Choir is funded through the Toronto Choral Society and with private donations.

For more information about Street Haven and the Street Haven Women’s Choir, please contact Leslie Venturino, Street Haven Resource Development Manager, at 416-967-6060 x225 or lventurino@streethaven.com.


	Street Haven Women’s Choir The Street Haven Women’s Choir (SHWC) was founded in 2000 by Geoffrey Butler, Artistic Director, Toronto Choral Society with a grant from the United Way of Greater Toronto. Street Haven is a multi-faceted organization located in downtown Toronto, serving women through emergency shelter beds, a drop-in program, addiction treatment programmes, a learning centre and supportive housing. The women’s choir is comprised of women who use the services of the shelter. Over the past nine years, the SHWC has made a number of public appearances, has been featured in several news articles and showcased on local television programs. The choir was the subject of a documentary produced for Vision TV; has performed in the music video “In Her Mother’s Eyes”, a film concerned with runaways that was accepted by the Berlin Film Festival. The choir has also performed at numerous municipal functions at Toronto City Hall, Metro Convention Centre and has been invited for several years to perform at the United Way ‘Kick-Off’ at Nathan Philip Square. The SHWC has also been featured at Toronto Choral Society concerts. In addition, the choir performs each year, with the Toronto Choral Society at the Annual Street Haven Christmas Benefit Concert. The choir’s biggest accomplishment, however, is the joy and happiness its members and audience feel every time the women come together to share their voices in song. Singing often gives the women a new sense of self. The members of the women’s choir have echoed sentiments similar to the one offered by this former Street Haven resident and choir member: “Singing lifts you up. It (the choir) is good for my self esteem. It’s serenity for me, singing. It’s bringing back my voice. It’s a good feeling when you go in front of people, you’re not being judged, but being heard.” In addition to a sense of accomplishment, Geoffrey Butler, Artistic Director believes the women gain much more. “Music is a need, and we know that because every culture has it. The human spirit needs to express itself, or it withers.” The SHWC’s repertoire ranges from Mozart to modern folk songs. The choir rehearses weekly at the Street Haven shelter. The Street Haven Women’s Choir is funded through the Toronto Choral Society and with private donations. For more information about Street Haven and the Street Haven Women’s Choir, please contact Leslie Venturino, Street Haven Resource Development Manager, at 416-967-6060 x225 or lventurino@streethaven.com.		Please make a donation to the Toronto Choral Society.