Chorus of Courage
Chorus of Courage began as a collaborative music and storytelling project centred on the voices and lived experiences of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. Artists, storytellers, facilitators and community partners came together through retreat, conversation, movement, silence and music — creating space for experiences that are often difficult to speak about, and even more difficult to hold alone.
In its earliest form, storytellers shared experiences that became the starting point for original songs. Songwriters listened, witnessed and created alongside them, while other artists responded through songs of solidarity — forming a musical call and response between lived experience, artistic expression and community. The resulting body of work became both a record of those relationships and an exploration of what can happen when storytelling is held collectively.
Since then, Chorus of Courage has continued to evolve.
The project now brings together artists, community members, facilitators and organizations in different ways — through songwriting and story circles, retreats, gatherings, workshops, movement and embodied practices, recorded music, individual support and community-based creative experiences. Rather than following one fixed model, each iteration responds to the people, relationships and communities involved.
More recently, Chorus of Courage has expanded its work into the military and veteran community, creating opportunities for veterans, current and former Canadian Armed Forces members, families and others connected to military life to explore experiences through music, storytelling, creative practice and connection. This work has further shaped our understanding of what Chorus of Courage can be: not simply a project about telling difficult stories, but a space for exploring identity, belonging, agency, relationship and what becomes possible when people create alongside one another.
At its heart, Chorus of Courage is a fluid conversation.
It makes room for complexity — for beauty and grief, anger and joy, silence and sound, individual experience and collective witnessing. It does not ask people to turn difficult experiences into a particular story of healing or resilience. Instead, it creates conditions where people can encounter one another with curiosity, dignity and care, and where art can offer another language for what can be difficult to say.
Through music, creativity and relationship, Chorus of Courage continues to ask what can happen when we make space for people to tell their own stories, in their own ways — and when a community chooses to listen.
Finding Your Voice
Through art
When we use our expression and creativity, we tap into the essence of our being, unlocking a wellspring of emotions and experiences that we may have never fully explored or understood. Artistic expression offers a powerful tool for self-discovery, personal growth, and healing.
Through painting, drawing, sculpture, writing, or any other form of creative expression, we can externalize and process our innermost thoughts and feelings, better understanding ourselves and our place in the world. Art offers us a safe and supportive space to explore our emotions, confront and work through our pain, and find hope and joy amidst life's challenges.
The invitation is to explore the power of artistic expression for yourself. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and open, to create without judgment or expectation. Use your art to tell your story, process your emotions, and embrace the beauty and complexity of your life. Let art be your guide, your healer, and your friend.
Embodied explorations
A series that offers a unique exploration of the connection between trauma, grief, and the body, highlighting the essential role of felt awareness. The invitation is to move through what comes up, and to delve deeper with curiosity, and to explore the body's felt senses. We recognize that trauma and grief can manifest differently in various cultures, and we strive to be sensitive and inclusive in our approach. We provide a supportive and welcoming space that allows you to embrace the bodily experience of exploring the edges of your emotions and finding hidden wisdom. Our series aims to promote healing, growth, and transformation, and we believe that by coming together and sharing our experiences, we can build a stronger, more compassionate community.
