DURHAM -- A group of public school students -- both mainstream and special needs -- will lend their voices to the Ontario Special Olympics Spring Games in Durham Region this month.
The 120-voice strong choir 'DDSB Voices United', representing a cross-section of students from schools across Durham, will be a part of the opening ceremonies at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology in Oshawa on Thursday, May 29.
The group will sing three numbers, says Mark Magee, one of three Durham District School Board educators involved with the mass choir.
In addition to 'O Canada', the choir will sing 'I'm that Star Up in the Sky'. As well, the group is a part of the finale for the evening when the choir will launch into the Queen classics 'We Will Rock You' and 'We are the Champions' with music provided by a backup band.
So far, the choir has been rehearsing for the past several months and is practising right up until their performance, says Magee, who's also the principal of Sir William Stephenson Public School in Whitby.
Most of all, Magee says the large choir has been a wonderful experience for the students, along with fellow leaders Jodi Rigney, the music teacher at Sir William Stephenson, and Sarah Brodie, the music teacher at Coronation Public School in Oshawa.
"Oh, it's been outstanding; it's great," says Magee.
At one of the rehearsals, the choir was paid a visit by two Special Olympians, Jan Heeney and Catherine Partlow, who addressed the choir members.
Magee says the choir was formed after he made a proposal to assemble the choir to DDSB education director Martyn Beckett, who's been a supporter of the Special Olympics program.
"He supported us and put the information out to the schools. As I was the former music facilitator with the board, I thought it would be a great, fun thing to do."
DDSB Voices United will form one aspect of what promises to be an outstanding opening ceremonies, says Vince Parrell, the event producer for Special Olympics Ontario.
"It's going to be a lot of fun and a great evening of entertainment," says Parrell, who expects about 1,100 on hand to take in the festivities.
The opening ceremonies at UOIT's new athletic centre get underway at 7 p.m., with the evening presided over by master of ceremonies Rob Faulds of Rogers Sportsnet.
The parade of athletes starts at approximately 7:15 p.m. with the 12 regions of Special Olympics entering the venue, with the final group being Region 12 (Durham Region). The athletes will be piped into the gymnasium by the Durham Regional Police Services pipe band.
Durham Regional Chairman Roger Anderson and Durham Regional Police Chief Mike Ewles are expected to be among the dignitaries to speak following the parade of the athletes.
Entertainment by the seven-piece Mike Hall and the All-Stars band and the DDSB Voice United Choir will follow the speeches.
The Durham Regional Police Torch Run will enter the venue where Deputy Police Chief Chuck Mercier is expected to light the cauldron to officially open the Spring Games.
Dr. Frank Hayden, the father of the Special Olympics movement, will also speak to the audience, along with Oshawa Generals hockey star John Tavares, an honorary coach for the Games.
The closing ceremonies are on Saturday, May 31, starting at 8 p.m., to be followed by a dance at UOIT for the athletes.
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