Letter from Greater Victoria Police Chorus re: Funding

13th May 2022

Your Worships,

My name is Brian Leah. I am a retired police officer who worked in Law Enforcement for 42 years. I served in the British, Royal Hong Kong and Victoria police departments and also with the legislative Assembly Protective services providing security for the MLAs.

I have also been a member of the Greater Victoria Police chorus since it was formed some thirty-seven years ago. It is this association that is the subject of this letter.

As we all know Covid -19 placed a tremendous strain on Canada and the world and one of the problems that emerged is that many types of entertainment were forced to pack up and disband forming a great hole in peoples’ support system. Our chorus was placed in a similar dilemma.

However, for the last two plus years we have maintained our chorus by conducting our Practice sessions by Zoom. We have managed to keep the body of the chorus together and we even produced a CD for use in the various Legions in Victoria on Remembrance Day.

Unfortunately, our chorus which is a nonprofit organization was faced like many others with costs arising from our attempt to keep our associate musicians together during a period when we had no revenue income stream. We normally entertain at hospitals and retirement homes and as a police chorus we are available for such events as Police honors night held at the Lt. Governor’s mansion.

The chorus is very aware of the tight budget environment that we are presently living in, but I would be remiss if I did not ask if there is any way that the various municipalities/police departments could donate to allay our operating costs which would allow the chorus to continue entertaining the citizens we serve and protect. It is this liaison with community which allows us to bond and promote a positive police image for the various police departments we represent.

I hope you can look favorably on this request, and I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Your sincerely

Brian Leah (Secretary Greater Victoria Police Chorus)