At the Gala Closing Concert the first presentation ever of the Best Performance of a Canadian Work, a 250 dollar cash prize donated by Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Vanderhoeven in memory of Dr. Elmer Iseler was presented.

Don James, Master of Ceremonies, first announced that the award was for a performance of the Mi'kmaq Honour Song, which was performed both by us and two other choirs.

He then said, the award goes to the Saskatoon Children's Choir, directed by Phoebe Voigts. We were stunned!

Phoebe a little shaken, took the stage and accepted the award.

Afterwards Master Conductor, Pekka Kostiainen, came and congratulated Phoebe personally.

The glow of winning has not worn off. Everywhere you go, tourists, other choirs, and the local people greet you with congratulations. It is almost embarassing :-)

Everyone is still very excited and singing and laughing was heard as the choir went off to Common Song Rehearsal. Kristen was chosen by Ms. Voigts to be the soloist from our Choir in the song "The Spacious Firmament".

The choristers were able to take a break in the afternoon. They went off with their families, went to the beach, the pool, shopped, or slept. A logging festival had just started and a few choristers took in the competition.

The closing ceremonies were filled with song and music from the resident choirs and orchestra of the Powell River Academy.

Half way through the closing ceremonies the choir was honored a second time, as you most likely read above.

The final song, sang by all the choirs as the orchestra played, was "Hymn to Freedom" by Oscar Peterson. It was a very moving experience to hear the hall field with a great sound of praise.