Tidesmen Chorus

06/03/2026

Sharing this at the suggestion of Harmony Nanaimo member Alex Grant...

05/02/2026

Positive review of the Harmony Nanaimo Coaching Weekend from Island Harmony A Ca****la.

🎶💜 What a weekend of harmony, learning, laughter, and growth! 💜🎶

Island Harmony A Ca****la was so grateful to be part of the Harmony Nanaimo Coaching Weekend, alongside more than 70 singers from Pacific Edge Chorus, South Island Harmony, the host choruses Tidesmen and Rising Tide, and representatives from The Stampede City Chorus and Lions Gate Chorus.

A heartfelt thank you to the Tidesmen Chorus for organizing such a wonderful event and bringing together this amazing barbershop community. Your hard work, planning, and hospitality created a weekend full of connection, encouragement, and those “aha!” moments we all love.

We were also incredibly lucky to learn from an outstanding coaching team — Philip Grant, Donya Metzger, Don Rose, Amy Rose, Alex McDonald, and special guest Ken Lavigne. Thank you for sharing your time, talent, wisdom, humour, and heart with us. You helped us explore, grow, and find more freedom in our singing — and we are taking that inspiration back to our risers. 🎵✨

Special thanks as well to St. Paul’s Anglican Church in downtown Nanaimo for providing such a welcoming and comfortable space.

Our hearts are full, our brains are buzzing, and our voices are ready for what comes next!

Curious about singing with us? Island Harmony A Ca****la welcomes guests anytime! We meet Wednesdays from 6:30–8:30 PM upstairs at the Lantzville Legion. Come check us out, hear what we do, and experience the joy of singing in harmony. No pressure — just music, friendship, and fun! 💜🎶

****la Ca****la

04/29/2026

Again on the Harmony Nanaimo Coaching Weekend, April 24-25: It would be hard to overstate the wonderfullness of our coaches. Patient, insightful, versatile, always cheerful, leaving no one behind. In this photo, front row, Dr. Phil Grant and Donya Metzger from Vancouver, Amy Rose and Donny Rose from Bellingham, Washington, and Ken Lavigne from Victoria. In the back row, coach Alex McDonald, Nanaimo, alongside Patrick Simpson, President of Harmony Nanaimo.

04/27/2026

Our April 24-25 Coaching Weekend attracted the support of some fabulous sponsors. Our sincere thanks go out to all of them. Sing Canada Harmony promotes many types of musical activity in communities across Canada. The Evergreen District of the Barbershop Harmony Society and the Bud Leabo Memorial Fund play key roles in maintaining the health of barbershop music in the Pacific Northwest. And Thrifty Foods at Port Place in Nanaimo helped to feed the troops!

04/26/2026

Thanks! To everyone who attended the 2nd annual Harmony Nanaimo coaching weekend. More than 70 attendees, with chorus participation from Pacific Edge Chorus, South Island Harmony, and Island Harmony A Ca****la, plus the host choruses - Tidesmen and Rising Tide - and representation from The Stampede City Chorus and Lions Gate Chorus. Great singing and lots of fun. Shown here: the Tidesmen working with Dr. Phil Grant. A special thanks to St. Paul's Anglican Church in downtown Nanaimo for providing a splendid, comfortable all-purpose building to meet in.

04/08/2026

More sad news for the Tidesmen Chorus and Harmony Nanaimo. Our former president, Mike Patterson, passed away on Friday, April 3, 2026, at his home in Nanaimo. Our hearts go out to Cathy and all members of Mike’s family.

Mike Patterson grew up in Alberta and spent much of his career in Cranbrook, British Columbia, where he served as a school principal and three-term mayor. He joined the Tidesmen in 2009 after moving to Vancouver Island. During his years with the chorus he provided constant support – as president (three terms) and executive member, tour and event planner, and publicity co-ordinator. Mike often served as the Tidesmen emcee at public events. He sang the lead part in the Vintage Style quartet for nine years. Among other achievements, he helped open Harmony Nanaimo to participation by women through the Rising Tide All Voices Chorus.

Mike’s final performance with the Tidesmen and Vintage Style came just before Christmas 2025 at the Berwick on the Lake seniors’ residence in Nanaimo. He will be greatly missed.

03/25/2026

Registration for our Coaching Weekend (advertised here) is now closed. Looks like we will have a big turnout and a great time....

Thanks to the Evergreen District for promoting this weekend event.

Still room for more groups at Harmony Nanaimo...

03/21/2026

Registration for our Harmony Nanaimo coaching weekend April 24-25 2026 is now closed. Looking forward to a great weekend. The photo here is from last year's weekend at Costin Hall in Lantzville, showing Dr. Phil Grant (returning this year) and the Charisma Bypass Quartet.

03/16/2026

It's with tremendous sadness we acknowledge the passing of our good friend John Law on March 11, 2026. Everyone in our Chapter offers Bonnie and family our deepest condolences. We are still numb as we try to process how this could be. John sang with the lead section in the Tidesmen Chorus and was always the first to volunteer to help out with chorus events and to support his friends. John took part in the Tidesmen "Novice Quartet" competition on March 2, 2026 and was very pleased to be a winner. The photo here shows (left to right) Dick Dueck, John Law, Rob Quigley and Alex Grant. John entered hospital for the last time just a few days after this event. RIP John.

02/05/2026

It's with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ed Jobson a life time member of Tidesmen Chorus and Harmony Nanaimo Chapter. Ed was a 71 year member of Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) and contributed to all chapters and districts where he lived and also to the international organization in so many different ways.
For over 20 years Ed travelled 2 hours each way to attend practices in Nanaimo and at the same time was an active member of the Victoria chapter.
Ed visited Nanaimo for the last time in May 2025 before moving to New Brunswick. In the picture president Patrick Simpson presented Ed with his 70 year BHS membership card and "Certificate of Service".
Ed was a great leader and encourager.
He will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.