‘Tis the season to be jolly, and what better way to share your cheer then to sing along with Christmas Carollers. That’s exactly what the new Chestermere Christmas Carolling Group is doing.
Started on Facebook by Chestermere resident, Michelle Young; the group of carollers has grown close to 50 members ranging from young children to adults of all ages. Meeting approximately once a week to sing, the crowd chooses a residential area within Chestermere and simply begins to sing carols, while walking up and down the streets. The group is quickly gaining popularity, and beginning to get requests.
Even local businesses have invited the merry group to perform for their patrons; including the Chestermere Public Library and Tim Hortons. The old fashioned way of singing is being enjoyed by many, proven by one couple in Tim Hortons who treated the entire group to timbits after a performance last week. Other patrons applauded and wished the group a very Merry Christmas.
“The response has been amazing! The first evening we sang at homes, and the residents were very excited to see us,” states Young.
When asked how she got the idea to start the group, Young replied, “My grandmother passed away in June and the one thing that she probably loved as much as her family, was music. As this is my first Christmas without her, I needed to find some way to keep her memory alive and to help with the hurt of not having her here so the idea of a carolling group came to mind.”
Young decided to simply post the idea up on Facebook to get some feedback & soon created the carolling group to which she says she has received a phenomenal response for those wishing to participate.
“I have been singing my whole life – it is a deep passion of mine,” says Young. The group has plans to visit as many areas around Chestermere as possible before Christmas and Young invites anyone who wants to participate to email her at myoung2005@gmail.com for a list of the planned dates and locations.
Young adds “I really want to say a huge thank you to everyone who joined the group and who has come out to sing for making this exactly what I envisioned! It means so much & it will be something that I continue for many Christmases to come.”
