News

To enable RCCO members who work with choirs to remain informed of current research on the impact of COVID-19, the Professional Development committee offers the following online resources which draw upon current scientific research and best practices.

Please note that these external resources are offered for the information of members and are not endorsed by the RCCO.

• Singing as a Risk for Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Virus

A Rapid Evidence Report prepared by the Alberta Health Services, COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Group.

• Singing, the Church and COVID-19

Prepared by Dr Heather Nelson, an American church musician and expert in vocal health. The site provides regular updates and links to many additional studies and resources.

• Covid-19 information for choral organisations, choirs and conductors

Extensive resources prepared by the European Choral Association.

This is a challenging time for many professional organists and church musicians. Current restrictions on public gatherings due to the Covid-19 crisis have resulted in cancelled concerts and suspended church services, in turn causing significant financial hardship for many College members.  

In response to this unprecedented situation the federal government is providing financial relief in the form of the CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit) program. To find out if you are eligible and to apply please visit the CERB website at www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html .

A number of provinces currently provide additional financial assistance.  To find out more, please visit the websites below, or contact your provincial or territorial ministry of labour. 

• British Columbia: BC Emergency Benefit for Workers https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/covid-19-financial-supports/emergency-benefit-workers

• Alberta: Emergency Financial Assistance https://www.alberta.ca/emergency-financial-assistance.aspx

• Saskatchewan: Support for Workers https://www.saskatchewan.ca/government/health-care-administration-and-provider-resources/treatment-procedures-and-guidelines/emerging-public-health-issues/2019-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-information-for-businesses-and-workers/support-for-workers#saskatchewan-support

• Manitoba: Support for Individuals https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/infomanitobans/index.html#individuals

• Ontario: COVID-19 Emergency Assistance https://www.ontario.ca/page/apply-emergency-assistance

• Quebec: Government Assistance Programs COVID-19 https://www.quebec.ca/en/government-assistance-programs-covid19/

• Nova Scotia: Worker Emergency Bridge Fund https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/worker-emergency-bridge-fund/

Wash hands. Stay safe, stay well. Keep fingers nimble! 

Dear Colleagues:

I hope you are staying home and remaining healthy and finding many things to do at home which would never get done otherwise! We continue in unprecedented and unsettling times and we realize some members are facing very real professional and financial challenges. Even our ability to do some extra practising has, in many cases, come to an end, as churches lock down completely. I have unfortunately recently heard of the death of one member in Victoria as a result of COVID-19. It brings this crisis very close to home.

The RCCO office is still operating with Elizabeth Shannon and Hayley Raymond working from home and enabling the organization to carry on as much as possible. Peter Nikiforuk is going to offer some resources that support on-line teaching, as many of you are now doing that. We are looking for other resources which we may be able to provide. Our RCCO examinations have been postponed until later in the year. 

It is important for the organization to find ways to be supportive of the membership. In response to member’s concerns, and in consultation with our Vice-presidents, Secretary and Executive Director, we are temporarily suspending the membership renewal deadline. If you are able to renew your membership by May 31, that is great and appreciated, but be assured that no current member will be removed from RCCO membership for non-payment of annual dues, until further notice. The one caveat is that if you are renewing a subscription to a publication, that subscription renewal must be received by May 31. Renewing a “subscription only” cannot be done on-line. To renew a subscription please call or email the national office by May 31 for uninterrupted delivery.

We will proceed with our election process as planned. We are obligated to comply with our bylaws and it is important for the organization to fill vacant board positions in order to carry on its operations.

We are all looking forward to our lives returning to normal as soon as possible. In the meantime, make the most of your changed reality and know that the RCCO is concerned for your safety and well-being. Why not call another member this week to check on how they are doing and have a chat? This kind of contact means a lot.

Take care.

National President
Royal Canadian College of Organists

Due to the present COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Examiners has decided to suspend the current session of RCCO examinations. They will be rescheduled after the pandemic's resolution, hopefully in the fall.

The application form for the 2020 John Goss Scholarship is now available.  Please note that the deadline for receiving applications has been extended to April 30, 2020.  New this year is the provision for study under the scholarship may take place either within or outside of Canada.  For full details and the application form, click here.

We regret that due to the ongoing global health crisis Organ Festival Canada - Victoria 2020, as well as the 2020 Summer Organ Academy, have been cancelled. Every day we learn more about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and there is much uncertainty about what the next weeks and months will bring. Recent developments suggest that it will be several months before we are out the other side of this. We were very excited about the Festival and Academy and are deeply disappointed to have to take this action, but after much thoughtful discussion and consultation, we have concluded that it is not viable to proceed.

For those who have already registered for the Festival, or purchased concert tickets, please visit the Organ Festival Canada website at rccovictoria2020.ca for more details and information about obtaining a refund.

Our next Festival and Academy will be held in Hamilton, July, 2021. We hope you will join us then. 

These are challenging times but we will get through it together. Stay well, be kind, and take care of each other.

To safeguard the well-being of our office staff the National Office at 15 Case Goods Lane is closed. The Executive Director and Office Administrator are working remotely, and will respond to email and voice messages. We urge all Centres to follow the recommendations of governments and public health agencies to suspend all meetings and events.  The closure will remain in effect until further notice.

The RCCO's 2020 Table of Recommended Salaries is now available. It can be found on the Table of Recommended Salaries webpage, or directly by following this link.

The RCCO archival holdings have been successfully transitioned to the Wilfrid Laurier University Archives and the collection is now accessible online.  For complete information, please go to The RCCO Story and navigate to Archives in the right-hand column.

New requirements go into effect for the 2020 examination year.  Complete details are available on the Exam Requirements page of the website.