Dance and choir students honour sacrifice of all Canadian veterans

Laureen F. Guenther

Times Contributor 

 

Strathmore High School (SHS) dance and choir classes will honour Canadian veterans in a Remembrance Day Showcase, presented in the school theatre on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:45 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. SHS staff members and students will attend the showcase, and the public is also welcome to attend.

Deanne Bertsch, SHS drama and dance teacher, is coordinating the presentation, along with choir and band teacher Bryan Allsop.

“We’re doing the poem In Flanders Fields,” said Bertsch. “During the poem, there’ll be five different songs sung and five different dance groups.”

There are 30 choir students and 20 dance students who will perform, with another student working on tech behind the scenes.

The students chose songs that include “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables, “No Bravery” by James Blunt, and “Highway of Heroes” by the Trews. The Showcase also includes the more traditional O Canada and the Last Post.

“Most of the songs are about the memories of people who have lost their lives in the different wars,” Bertsch said.

A slide show will also play throughout, depicting soldiers and scenes from recent and long-ago wars that involved Canadian soldiers.

“This year is interesting because (2013) is the Year of the Korean War Veteran,” Bertsch said. “So I’m hoping to get some pictures of Canadians that were part of (the Korean) war.”

“I’m mostly hoping that (everyone who attends) will just be reminded how lucky we are to live in the country that we live in,” she said, “and be reminded just of the horror of war and people have given their lives for us to live such rich, abundant, happy lives.”

Bertsch said the SHS Glee Class, which performs song and dance, will also perform a concert at 7 p.m., in the school theatre on Sunday, Nov. 3. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door.