York University Libraries celebrates the Heritage Singers Canada archival donation to the Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections by hosting The Heritage Singers Canada: A Legacy of Caribbean Folk Music, Culture, and Community exhibit.
Inspired by the remarkable legacy of The Heritage Singers—a Toronto-based ensemble founded in 1977 by Grace Carter-Henry Lyons—Dr. Debbie Ebanks, Norda Bell, and research assistant Dina Blanco Pena curated the exhibits for visitors to explore the rich tapestry of Caribbean folk music in diaspora through a compelling blend of archival treasures and performance history.
From sacred hymns to secular ballads, lullabies to work songs, the singers’ folk music is a living archive of cultural heritage, joy, migration, and memory. The Heritage Singers, whose members hail from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Pakistan, Congo, and Canada, have spent nearly five decades preserving and performing this diverse repertoire in languages ranging from English Creole and French patois to informal Spanish and African dialects.
The Heritage Singers have not only performed across continents, but they’ve also donated to hospitals, libraries, and community organizations, embodying the spirit of service and cultural stewardship. Their work—often in collaboration with cultural icons such as the late Hon. Louise Bennett-Coverley—has shaped the landscape of Caribbean folk music and theatrical performance in Canada and beyond.
The exhibition is located across three locations in Scott Library: the 2nd Floor Atrium, the entrance to the Collaboratory (2nd floor), and outside the Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections (3rd floor). The displays showcase a curated selection of:
- Photographs capturing decades of performances, rehearsals, and international tours
- Newspaper clippings chronicling milestones, reviews, and cultural impact
- Theatrical performance flyers and reviews, including the group’s theatrical productions and pantomimes
- Tour t-shirts and costumes worn during international festivals in Accompong Town (Jamaica), Basque Country (Spain), Germany, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Venezuela, United States, and Mexico
- Brochures and promotional materials from community events and charitable performances
The exhibit will appeal to researchers across disciplines, including history, linguistics, ethnomusicology, performance art, and Caribbean studies, as well as to Caribbean community members interested. The exhibit runs from September 15 to October 15, 2025, and will culminate in a special celebratory event on October 16, 2025, featuring the Heritage Singers, special guests, and the launch of the online exhibit.
This exhibit would not have been possible without the assistance and contributions of different library units and staff members. Special thanks to Anna St. Onge, Acting University Archivist, who processed the donation, scanned the materials for the exhibit, and who created the Heritage Singers Canada fonds finding aid, Julia Holland, Archives Assistant for her guidance and expertise, and the Archives’ student workers for their assistance. We thank Darren Craig and his Facilities staff who facilitated use of the space, display cabinets and signage options, as well as Sydney Daley and the Media Creation Lab for use of their computer and equipment. Library Computing Services, under Pio Sebastiampillai’s leadership, also provided the LCD panel to display supplementary audiovisual material.