Honour Roll

Awards

Congratulations to all the winners of these awards. Their efforts exemplify hard work and dedication to Barbershop singing.

The Sandy Bell Award is bestowed annually in memory of our past President, upon a member showing outstanding leadership within the Harbourtown Sound chorus.

The Barbershopper of the Year Award has been bestowed every year since 2006 to recognize exceptional commitment and service by members of Harbourtown Sound to the ideals of barbershop singing.

All winners of the award have demonstrated their dedication by exemplifying the mission of the chorus: to support local charities, while serving, educating, and entertaining community, business, and charitable organization members, as well as senior citizens and schoolchildren in the greater Halton-Hamilton region.

The Legacy Award is conferred infrequently to members who have made an outstanding contribution to the chorus, and to the world of barbershopping.

2024 Sandy Bell Award

Awarded to Dale Wood, Sue Wood

As president Chris Seaward (right) mentioned, this award is in memory of our former president. Sandy was not afraid of the spotlight but he was at his most effective working tirelessly in the background. The 2024 co-winners are the epitome of the important persons behind-the-scenes. One has chaired umpteen conventions over the past number of years and the other has been is our hard-working chapter secretary. They are a great team and we are so blessed to have Dale-Sue Wood on our team!

2024 Rookie Award

Awarded to David Luz

We had a BIG membership growth in early 2024 and from that group came a dynamic individual with lots of energy and drive. Winner David Luz (left) was recognized by President Chris Seaward as a guy who became more and more involved as the year progressed and ended the year by organizing a great Guest Night as our new Membership Vice-President.
Congratulations, David!

2024 President's Award Of Appreciation

Awarded to Steve Bendo, Beth Bendo

President Chris Seaward told the gathering how much the team of Steve Bendo (our treasurer) and his wife Beth do to keep the books of the chorus up-to-date but also how they investigate other revenue streams for Harbourtown. It is the work in the background that makes and keeps a chorus of our size viable and healthy!
(The Bendos found out about their win via email as they were absent for the ceremony).

2024 Barbershopper Of The Year

Awarded to Vic Linka, Chris Starkey

As the 2023 winner (Richard Johnstone, centre) explained, this award is voted on by all of the previous BOTY winners and when this year’s results had been tallied, there was a tie! Congratulations to Vic Linka (left) and Chris Starkey (right) for their much-deserved win

2023 Sandy Bell Award

Awarded to Chris Starkey

This will be the 5th presentation of this Award, which was named in honour of our dear friend and leader, whom we lost in 2019.
Chris Starkey is often out front at performances being an MC, or someone who tells stories and introduces our songs. That’s not easy, but Chris is the visible frontman for the chorus, with a friendly style and good
humour. He’s so great at building relationships with our audiences. And there’s more. Have you ever bought a pair of HTS-branded socks, or maybe a hat or a scarf or a duffel bag, or even beer glasses? These things like socks and duffel bags are prime
examples of why we have this reputation for being the chorus that has fun together, while at the same
time, working hard. This is leadership – quietly bringing us together in fun ways, building connections, and of course,
every week we see this same guy doing our 50/50 draw. At the end of a long rehearsal, this gets us laughing and cheering in the best way. Your leadership makes us who we are. You
embody Sandy Bell’s leadership, unquenchable enthusiasm and good humour, with a focus on fellowship.
Congratulations Chris Starkey!

2023 Jeff Pritchard Award

Awarded to Ted Church

June 11, 2024, at the Association of Past Ontario Champions (APOC) pep rally, Ted Church of Harbourtown Sound was honoured as the recipient of the 2023 Jeff Pritchard Award. This award honours long-time district quartetters who exemplify the attributes of Jeff Pritchard:
-True gentlemanliness
-Humility
-Pride in achievement
-Many years of active Quartetting
-Dedication to the goals of the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS)
-Participation in singing
Ted Church's recognition was met with a standing ovation, resounding applause, and admiration from the audience.

2023 Barbershopper of the Year

Awarded to Richard Johnstone

Tony Barton (2022 Barbershopper of the Year) had the honour of announcing the Harbourtown Sound 2023 Barbershopper of the Year:
"In life and in barbershop, Richard dedicated his life to helping people: in life as a dedicated emergency room physician, and in barbershop Richard could be counted on to put his hand up whenever help was needed.
Most recently, Richard has been Show Chairman for the past several shows. Like everything he takes on, Richard applied 100% of his energy to the task, and the resulting performances went off smoothly and successfully. There are a large number of moving parts that need to be coordinated to have a performance come together properly. Richard managed the process effectively and efficiently through consultation, delegation, and constant and clear communication.
It is my great pleasure to announce Richard Johnstone as the 2023 Barbershopper of the Year! Congratulations Richard!"

2022 Sandy Bell Award

Awarded to Vic Linka, Jim Taylor

The Sandy Bell Award goes to two very deserving recipients this year: Vic Linka and Jim Taylor

Both Vic and Jim have provided significant leadership to the chorus. Not just this year, but for many years, particularly in their service in board positions. As a board member and Chorus Manager, Vic is our cheerleader, singout organizer, fundraising chair, Singing Valentines coordinator, Social Committee organizer, riser hauler and much more!

Vic is stepping away from the board, but we're lucky that he will remain as Chorus Manager and continue to share his enthusiastic leadership in the future. Congratulations Vic!

Jim Taylor is equally deserving, though his style is one of quiet strength in the background. As our Treasurer, he has guided us with a steady hand, in particular through the last couple of very challenging years.

As everyone knows, we have emerged strong from a fiscal perspective, and this is due to Jim's careful stewardship. He has offered ideas and helped point our way forward, and he too is such a fitting recipient of this honour. Congratulations Jim!

2022 Barbershopper of the Year

Awarded to Tony Barton

The Barbershopper of the Year Award was presented at our year-end dinner, December 7th, by Scott McCarthy (last year's winner) to Tony Barton.

As you know, Tony has taken the reins as our performance coach and guru with enthusiasm. We've had coaching on Wednesday evenings as well as instruction and entertaining quizzes over email.

These are just a few of the ways Tony has gone above and beyond for us, and this award is a fitting tribute to him. I know Tony has already sent an email of thanks to the chorus, but of course, it's us who owe him our gratitude.

2021 Sandy Bell Award

Awarded to Bob Roach

Congratulations to our Sandy Bell Award Winner, Bob Roach, who has tirelessly helped the Harbourtown Chorus achieve it's marketing and fund raising goals.

2021 Barbershopper of the Year

Awarded to Scott McCarthy

Congratulations to our Barbershopper of the Year, Scott McCarthy. Scott has worked above and beyond coaching the Harbourtown Sound Chorus to make our sound the best it can be.

2020 Sandy Bell Award

Awarded to Tony Barton

The winner of our 2020 Sandy Bell Award is Tony Barton, a member of our bass section. Tony joined the BHS in 1978, singing with the Oakville Entertainers, where he first met Ron Fitchett and Fred Lilley. In 1996 he met a fresh-faced kid named Jordan Travis and a somewhat older Ted Byers. These contacts led him inevitably to Harbourtown Sound.

2020 Barbershopper of the Year

Awarded to Jordan Travis

Having previously won the award in 2006, Jordan deservedly joins an exclusive club of repeat-winners, alongside Sandy Bell and Dale Wood. The founding artistic director of Harbourtown Sound in 2003, Jordan is the guiding force behind all we do. Music and teaching are his passions, especially vocal music.

2020 Barbershopper of Renown

Awarded to Andrew Dennett

Andy Dennett is recognized for his outstanding contributions at both the Chapter and District levels. In the words of his nominator, “He's always quick to lend a hand, and does every job with an energy and passion that few possess…an 'everyman' guy, blessed with talent, drive, passion, and an approachability that typifies the ideals of Ontario barbershop."

2019 Barbershopper of the Year

Awarded to Andrew Dennett

2018 Legacy Award

Awarded to Bruce Bonnyman

The Harbourtown Sound Legacy Award for 2018 is awarded to Bruce Bonnyman.

Bruce was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, and took to music like a duck to water. Early on, he learned to play clarinet, saxophone, and piano, and studied harmony at the Royal Conservatory of Music. At the age of 89, he has been a barbershopper for more than 70 years.

His wish for everyone is that we may never grow too old to respond to the caress of a Barbershop chord.