THE Winnipeg Labour Choir began in 1994 as part of the Mayworks celebrations commemorating the 75th anniversary of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike.

The Choir uses music to tell the stories of people’s struggles to build a just and equitable society. Our repertoire includes labour songs and working songs, songs of social justice and international solidarity, protest songs and feminist songs. Choir members come from varied backgrounds and walks of life with different occupations, with and without Union affiliation. We have the shared belief that we can enshrine worker’s past struggles and instill hope for the future through song.

Since its inception, the Choir has performed at numerous concerts including the 1919 Exhibit and the Stolen Dreams Exhibit at the Museum of Man and Nature, the Joe Zuken Awards and  various May Day concerts.

The Choir has performed with Si Kahn, Utah Phillips, Joe Glazer, Hugo Torres-Cereceda, Urban Gorilla, Greg McPherson, Nellie McClung Theatre and others. We have performed at socials, rallies, conventions, conferences, memorials and concerts as well as being active on picket lines and demonstrations.
 

The Winnipeg Labour Choir practices every Wednesday evening at the Sargent Park School, 1070 Dominion Street, Room #1, the music room, from 7:30 to 9:30. If you want to exercise your vocal chords, come on out and give it a try, new voices are always welcome.

Under the spirited direction of Loa Henry, accompanied by the talented Brenda Garner and with the support from the many creative “behind the scenes” people, the Choir draws its repertoire from the songs and music of Joe Hill, Woodie Guthrie, Si Kahn, Sweet Honey on the Rock and the Little Red Song Book, to name but a few. We have added haunting melodies such as the South African National Anthem, N’kosi Sekaleli Africa and the Quilt song in memory of those who have died with AIDS. We also have fun with lively tunes like Preacher and the Slave,Union Maid, and Dump the Bosses of Your Back.
A typical performance travels the scales with renditions that will bring tears to your eyes, from spine tingling solos to rousing foot tapping audience participation numbers and everything in-between. The Choir is indeed music to your ears and food for your soul.