Last night, I attended the second half of the Yellow Door Choir benefit concert for Cyclo Nord-Sud. The Unitarian Church on de Maisonneuve Ouest in Westmount was full of music lovers. We were treated to a varying repertoire of songs, including a Japanese ode to the cherry blossom and an African dance ballad, which was accompanied by a dancer extraordinaire.
The Yellow Door Choir has been actively singing in support of various community organizations since 1983. Its current musical director, Eleanor Stubley, began her leadership in 1998. She also serves as director of graduate studies at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music.
The choir is run and supported by its members, who each pay $200 for two sessions, which run from September until June. They must be willing to practice weekly, participate in benefit concerts and help with ticket sales, fundraising or other administrative duties. New members must also audition for the choir prior to the beginning of each season, usually in September and February.
Cyclo Nord-Sud is non-profit charitable organization number 13096 4786 RR0001. It was founded in 1988 to send used bicycles with wheels that are larger than 20 inches to various partners in the developing world. They are then distributed to those who need transportation, rebuilt into various mechanical devices or used for parts or repair demonstrations. People who donate used bicycles pay $15 per bicycle to help defray costs. Donors receive receipts for income tax purposes.
During the summer, bikes can be dropped off at their warehouse, 7235, rue Saint-Urbain, just north of Jean-Talon at the De Castelnau metro stop. They accept bikes on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. all year, and until 7 p.m. on Thursdays during the spring (until June 15) and fall (from September 15 until November 15).
A bike drive is also tentatively scheduled for Verdun on September 9, but I’m going to verify that tomorrow.
For more information about both organizations, refer to their websites at http://yellowdoorchoir.com and http://www.cyclonordsud.org.
