Charlie’s Back!!

Harmony Centre is pleased to host another Pay-What-You-Can family concert.

Once again in December we are bringing back a performance of the much-loved music from A Charlie Brown Christmas with Tyler Wagler, Adam Bowman and Thomas Hammerton.  Deanne Hallman’s Children’s Choir will add to the holiday fun.

A Charlie Brown Christmas is an Emmy Award-winning holiday tradition enjoyed by children everywhere. Equally magical is the soundtrack created by Vince Guaraldi. Tyler and friends evoke all the memories and attachments people have surrounding the music and the annual animated special. Who doesn’t know the popular Christmas Time is Here?

Join us for milk and cookies following the performance.  (All will be nut-free. Gluten-free options available, as well as non-dairy milk.)

Get tickets in advance here or pay what you can at the door.

Singer-songwriter Kevin Moyse sets to song compelling historical highlights of the golden age of Georgian Bay steamships for a special Harmony Centre fundraising event on November 9 at 7:00 pm.

“Songs of Georgian Bay” combines descriptive lyrics with evocative music, rare photographs, and newspaper clippings collected from museums and archives throughout the region.

“Songs of Georgian Bay,” tells true and sometimes mysterious stories of life, triumph, loss, and tragedy. It paints a vivid picture of the severe and unpredictable waters of Georgian Bay, which brought both riches and regret to those who sailed it. Set to song, these stories come to life with a poignant and unforgettable sensitivity that sends shivers up the spine.

Admission is pay-what-you-can at the door, or pay in advance here. Proceeds go to the Greaves Auditorium Improvement Plan.

This event is made possible by Harmony Centre’s community event sponsor: VanDolder’s Home Team.

Solidarity Sundays — a weekly intergenerational social — is returning to the Harmony Centre for its second season, beginning Sunday October 20th.

The weekly gathering began as a social experiment in January 2024, with the goal of creating space for neighbours and community members to meet and mingle. The volunteer organizers open the lower hall of the Harmony Centre from 10:30am to noon every Sunday morning, entry is by donation to cover the costs, coffee and tea are provided, and people bring potluck snacks to share.

“Solidarity Sundays started with a simple conversation at the Farmer’s Market,” said Kat Scott, co-founder and rotating weekly host. “A few of us were talking about how important it is to have spaces where neighbors of all ages can meet, connect, and just spend time together. We realized how rare those spaces are nowadays, and someone mentioned the old tradition of coffee hours after church. That sparked the idea to recreate that kind of social gathering, but in a more secular, inclusive way—and it’s been a great success.”

What began as a one month experiment, was so successful that the organizers kept it going into the spring. Solidarity Sundays was also nominated for an Owen Sound Cultural Award in the ‘most promising new event’ category.

According to Joel Pennington, another one of the organizers, it is the flexibility and openness of Solidarity Sundays that makes it so successful.

“People come to chat and make new friends, families bring games, grandparents join with their grandchildren, and some even bring puzzles and crafts. We also have musicians who jam and lead sing-alongs. It’s all donation-based, so there’s no pressure—everyone can participate as they’re able. We want to make it as welcoming and accessible as possible. As long as you’re friendly and kind, we’d love to have you join us.”

For more information about Solidarity Sundays, visit the Harmony Centre website at www.harmonycentre.ca or email Joel at pennington_joel@outlook.com

If you love to sing, Harmony Centre is the place for you. We have 3 choirs meeting weekly and a talented vocal coach giving lessons to get you started or refine your talents.

Coco Love Alcorn will begin her live choir, The Wonderland Singers, at Harmony Centre on Mondays in March. This is a non-auditioned, local, in-person community choir. The group will be singing a mix of Coco’s songs, cover songs, and music of the moment; focusing on folk, soul, and spirit lifting music. Songs will be taught by ear. Anyone who loves to sing is invited to take part. More info here.

Rock the Sound Choir led by Holly Sled is a diverse and inclusive community-based choir, creating harmonies in the genres of classic rock, pop, and modern music. This choir meets on Sundays at Harmony Centre. Come experience the power of music which unites people of all walks of life. More info here.

Under the direction of Norm Reintamm, the Georgian Bay Concert Choir rehearses Tuesdays at Harmony Centre. Originally formed as a group of singers to accompany the Georgian Bay Symphony in some of the Christmas choruses from Handel’s Messiah, the GBCC became a larger four-part ensemble to perform the major works of the music repertoire. More info here.

And finally, we have Grace McRae, best known for her work with the Roxy Young Company and youth theatre camps, giving vocal lessons weekly at Harmony Centre. If you are interested in any aspect of vocal training, get in touch with Grace g_mcrae@hotmail.com.

Chase away those winter blahs and have some fun learning to Tango, Square Dance or Contra Dance. Harmony Centre has different types of dance classes and fun dance events throughout the month.

In February, Lena Boyarskikh, an experienced dancer and teacher and will guide you through the steps and rhythms of Tango. Her course runs over 5 weeks on Friday evenings in the beautiful open dance floor in the Commons at Harmony Centre.

The Owen Sound Steppers hold Square Dances every Thursday and would love for you to join them. The fun doesn’t stop at dancing. This is also a social event. There is often a theme and those who wish can dress up and ado the fun.

On the first Saturday of every month, Fiddlefern Country Dancers will lead you through Contra Dance moves done to live music. There is a half hour class before the dance starts to orient any newbies and dancers are guided by callers who lead the group through the steps. The callers and musical performers change from month to month.

Pre-registration is required for the Tango classes but the other two are open to the public to drop in, and newcomers are always welcome. If you want to bring a partner that’s great but singles are also welcome and will be partnered up at the class/dance. Please bring indoor shoes for dancing and you’ll likely want a water bottle. So come have fun, meet new people, and learn some new moves. Check out our Events listings for more information.

Harmony Centre is happy to host Fiddlefern Country Dancers as they resume their regular dance schedule this fall with a contra dance each month. 

This group of dancers and contra dance lovers has been organizing and promoting regular dances in Owen Sound for more than 20 years. Contra dancing is a fun, friendly form of dancing done to live music with a caller leading you through the dances. Their dances feature musicians and callers from the Grey-Bruce region as well as from Ontario, Quebec, and the USA.

They would love to have you join them, even if you’re a complete beginner.  No matter what your age, on your own or with friends or family — come out for an evening of smiles and tremendous fun.  All dances are taught and prompted by the caller. Begin with a half hour of instruction and introduction to new dances, then dance until 10:00pm with lots of time for socializing and relaxing!  Beginners are always welcome to join in the fun!  No partner needed. No experience necessary. All levels welcome. 

For more info, visit http://fiddlefern.ca/