Just Voices
is a community-oriented activist choir in Ottawa, on unceded Algonquin territory.
We use our voices to inspire social change and contribute to movements for social and environmental justice,
racial and gender equality, and struggles against violence, war and poverty.
2025 MAY CONCERT
Saturday May 31 2025
7:00 to 9:00 PM
First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa
30 Cleary Avenue
We're so excited to sing on Saturday May 31 2025 with Ottawa's Blues Lady, Maria Hawkins,
our May Concert special guest.
Maria has deep roots in this community. She was born here and for the last 30 years has raised her own money to provide motivational music presentations and shows in schools and the community. She is an advocate for persons with disabilities and those who live in poverty. She is co-creator of the Ottawa Blues Society and the Blues in the Schools Program along with her own programs: Blues 4 Kids and Stop the Bullying. Her name is on the wall at City Hall as a Community Builder with too many awards to mention here. She's a Woman of Distinction, a member of Leadership Ottawa with decades of working in schools to promote arts education. She has inspired and supported some incredible talent including the fabulous Rita Carter, one of Ottawa's Top 25 for 2016.
Maria was Royal Conservatory trained from age 5 and although she didn't become the 'singing nun' that her mother had envisioned for her, Maria has taken those valuable lessons and passed them on to a whole generation and not by accident.. but through hard work, self-sacrifice and force of will.
Raising her own money from grants and concerts for 38 years, she has entertained and inspired a whole generation of Ottawa Valley youth to create a more honest dialogue around our shared history.TELUS sponsored her programs to the tune of $40,000 and Bluesfest used her to co-create the Blues in the Schools program. Maria is no longer with bluesfest having stepped away after enabling her program to become recipients of the WC Handy Award for 'Keeping the Blues Alive'. She stepped away in order to focus on her very important work in the community with persons with disabilities through her 'Stop the Bullying', 'Blues 4 Kids' and other music and motivation programs for all ages and abilities.
7 years ago, Maria was involved in a head-on car crash (not her fault) and suffered a concussion along with several other injuries. Last year saw Maria have 6 successful surgeries including a hip replacement and a cornea transplant. She has used her time away from the spotlight and the many charities she supports to work exclusively on a highly personal album AND a book… both of which are in process. She continues to share her love of life and music performing live and inspiring others.
She can be heard every Monday from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM on CKCU’s Monday Special Blend with Nathanael Newton doing interviews with local artists/activists/community builders and providing information on the arts, music events and much more!
She also does shows for Festivals, Fairs, Community and Charity events as well as for Seniors.
Get a taste of her singing in this original song created for an Indigenous Reconciliation event in 2015:
https://youtu.be/NroAPL2GjA4
While the choir varies in size between 15 and 25 people, we are always happy to receive new members.
There's no audition process, so just show up at one of our rehearsals and join in.
The main requirement is that you can carry a tune, and the ability to read music is helpful, but not essential.
Please have at look at our Welcome
if you are interested in joining us.
Bambelela
Trouble and Beauty
Living in One World
Senzenina
JustVoices' Facebook Page
The choir’s Facebook page is at https://m.facebook.com/JustVoices/.
Please share widely!
Choir History
(Above: the choir members 15 Dec 2014)
(Above: the choir at our Solstice Concert 17 Dec 2014)