Carols for a good Claus
Spirit of generosity rings out at Star’s Christmas concert in support of Santa Claus Fund,
For decades, sisters Erin Khera and Shera Everett Singh joined their grandmother at the annual Toronto Star Christmas Carol Concert.
The sisters have continued the tradition since their grandmother passed away in 2014, honouring the woman by attending an event that embodies her love of music, singing and giving to those in need.
“Being here means a lot to me,” said Khera. “To keep my grandmother’s memory alive.”
The sisters joined more than 2,000 people in the vaulted sanctuary of St. Paul’s Bloor Street Church for Saturday’s performance and festive singalong, now in its 40th year of raising money for underprivileged children through the Star’s Santa Claus Fund.
Attendees were enveloped with the combined voices of six church choirs, buttressed by the soaring horns of the Canadian Staff Band of the Salvation Army and the thundering St. Paul’s organ.
There was a missing face at this year’s crowd — one renowned for his likeness to Old Saint Nicholas himself.
Giles Bryant, the bearded, longtime conductor who helped form the event four decades ago, had to skip this year’s concert after being hospitalized following some health issues.
From his home in Colborne, Bryant said he hoped to return for next year’s concert and said he was sad to miss the “marvellous” event that raises money for a worthy cause.
In his place as conductor this year was Thomas Bell, music director at St. Paul’s church.
In an address from the pulpit, Bell told the audience of a formative moment of generosity experienced by Joseph Atkinson, the founder of the Toronto Star.
As an indigent boy, one of eight children raised by his re- cently widowed mother, Atkinson watched longingly one Christmas as other children skated on a Toronto pond.
Astranger asked the young Atkinson why he wasn’t also skating and, upon hearing his tragic story, bought the boy a pair of skates.
In 1906, Atkinson founded the Santa Claus Fund, which provides children with a gift at Christmas that they might not otherwise get.
“One kindness starts another,” Bell told the audience. “This is for young children. This will make every difference to them and their families.”
The money raised at the concert goes toward the fund’s goal of raising $1.7 million. Those donations are used to deliver gift boxes to about 45,000 underprivileged children living across the GTA, Ajax and Pickering.
Each box includes a warm shirt, hat, mittens, socks, a book, a small toy, cookies, toothbrush and tooth paste.
“Every ounce of the donation goes toward the boxes for the children,” said John Honderich, chair of the Torstar board.
“You really know exactly where your money is going.”
As with many in the crowd, the concert is a family tradition for Honderich.
“For me, it’s the real beginning of the Christmas season,” he said.
Pat Fank, burrowed inside a thick jacket, was the first in line for the second of the two Christmas concerts — exactly where her friend Denise Pearson expected to find her. The two women met while waiting in line for the Christmas Carol Concert more than a decade ago.
“I always say, ‘I hope to see you in line next year. And here were are,’ ” Fank said.
For Pearson, the concert is more than just a performance.
“I remember my childhood. I always had a wonderful Christmas. This is a way to give back to less-fortunate children,” she said.