Profile Kathleen Heron

My history
My mom, dad and brother were living in Abbotsford, B.C. when I arrived and since then I have lived in Yorkton, Sask; Kitimat, B.C.; Don Mills, Richmond Hill, north Toronto, and Guelph, On; Calgary, Alta; and finally settling in Orangeville in 1986.

My family & pets
I have three tall boys from my first marriage – Alex, living in Vancouver, B.C.; Eric and my daughter-in-law Brooke, living in Mississauga; Daniel, living in Halifax, N.S. Chuck & I have a daughter Emily, who is off to University in Sept. We have two cats and now a “grand-puppy”.

Where I live
I live in Orangeville – the longest I have ever lived in one place.

My work
I own & operate KIDS CAN DO, your neighbourhood toy store and have done so for 21 years.

My volunteering:
I have done lots of volunteering throughout my life. Most recently I was a Court Support Worker for Family Transition Place.

My other pastimes, hobbies & passions
I sing with the Celebration Choir at Westminster U.C. and knit for the Prayer Shawl ministry offered there. I enjoy sewing and love to read.

Musical instruments I play (or have played)
When I was seven my mom took me to a piano teacher, Mrs. Gillies, and she told my mom, “Don’t do this to your daughter.” She suggested singing lessons instead, which I didn’t try until much later.

Unusual things I have done
I was adopted and before my adoption became final, I had my parents “on the run” from B.C.

Chorus trips

Paris, France! When do we go again? I have also been to International contests in New Orleans, Nashville, Orlando, Portland, Indianapolis and Hawaii.

Other travel
I went on a European Tour with my church choir when I was 17 years old to England, Holland, France, Italy and Germany. I have been back to Rome.

How & why I got started with Sweet Adelines
Joan Borden and Anne Richardson were in the choir at Westminster Church when I joined that choir. I couldn’t join Sweet Ads at that time, although I was interested. But in 1993, Emily was two years old, and the boys were old enough to babysit her if needed. I’ve never looked back.

Chorus committees
Correspondence Secretary, Membership, Costumes, President, and Treasurer.

Quartets/Double quartets
CD Characters; Groovy Girls; Blonde Edition; two configurations of “no-name” quartets; Sister Act; and Sister Act renamed.

Chorus connections
Anne & Joan from church; Shelley & Joan L. from Anne Maire’s Dance Studio where Emily and Shelley’s daughter, Kat were taking lessons; Sylvia from I can’t remember; Janet Horner from university and eating her food at events she has catered; Joann from Deb Lawson’s baseball games; Karen Hickman, a customer at KIDS CAN DO; and Joanne D. at university the same time I was but I don’t think we met then.

A chorus moment I will always remember (other than winning!)
It was my third night as a member when we were given a brand new song and there were NO other tenors there that night. Joan suggested I stay in with the leads. I think I only got the 1st note right as we muddled through the song (and that was because it was the pitch note!). I was thinking that I couldn’t do this harmony stuff, but I bumped into Joan B during the week, and she was so encouraging that I came back. Somehow, I have got this figured out better and love it.