Plaque dedicated to honour long-time girls’ junior choir director

By Rob Vogt

There was a time when the songs of a girls’ junior choir filled the air at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church and venues across Southern Alberta.
That choir, which existed from 1964 to 1969, was lead by Helen Swanson.
On Sunday, Sept. 14, friends, family and members of the choir gathered at Christ the King church for the dedication of a plaque in Swanson’s honour.
The event began at the end of Sunday mass with Father Dominic Nguyen, the parish priest, blessing the plaque and a photo of the choir.
Afterwards, there was a tribute in the parish hall.
Organizer Jackie Olsen explained the choir had 22 girls, ranging in age from elementary to high school, who practised almost every Thursday night.
They sang Latin high masses, Gregorian chants and other music at Sunday mass, but also participated in, and won, music festivals around Southern Alberta.
They were lead by director Helen Swanson, who taught school and music, and accompanist Merran Leeds.
“It takes a musically talented, hard-working choir director with leadership skills, who is versed in Catholic culture and Latin, yet an ecumenical person with a wide of group of friends,” Olsen said. “Who has unwavering vision, faith, energy and commitment to this motley crew of girls who must have developed a proficiency and sense of pride together.”
Helen Swanson was that choir director.
“She had charisma,” Olsen said.
Michael Swanson, Helen’s son, expressed his appreciation for the plaque and the photo, which will hang in the parish hall.
“My mother loved music, she loved this church,” he said.
Swanson added his mother taught her children a love of God and to love each other.
“Those are values my mother put into practice,” he said.
The process of dedicating this plaque began in 2023.
Olsen happened upon a book discussing Gregorian chants, reminding her of that time in the junior choir.
She pulled out a scrapbook her mother made her that contained a picture of the choir published in the Claresholm Local Press.
Olsen wanted to learn more about the choir and how it began.
Olsen found Michael Swanson’s number and called him to learn more about the choir and its director.
“This is the point from which Michael and myself started, meeting and deciding that Helen Swanson deserved recognition, indeed special recognition, better late than never, for forming and building this motley crew into a trophy-winning church choir,” Olsen said.
One day, Olsen headed to the church to talk to Father Dominic about the dedication, and met Marianne Williams, who became instrumental in organizing the plaque dedication.
All these efforts would lead to a plaque, handcrafted by local artisan Tom Goodwin, and the dedication.
In the end, they were able to connect with 17 choir members, could not locate three, and two have passed away.