White Ribbon Presents: A Conversation and Performance with Joshua Hopkins
On Friday February 17th, 2023 families, friends, colleagues and individuals joined White Ribbon for a transformational event that called for an end to gender-based violence and all forms of discrimination.
On the morning of September 22, 2015, in Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada, a man went on a killing spree, brutally murdering three ex-partners in their separate homes. The murders devastated the rural Ottawa Valley community where JUNO Award-winning and Grammy-nominated Canadian baritone Joshua Hopkins grew up – his sister Nathalie Warmerdam was one of these women.
Joshua Hopkins, JUNO Award-winning and Grammy-nominated Canadian baritone, was gracious with his time and talent. Following the World Premiere performances of Songs for Murdered Sisters with Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra, Joshua joined White Ribbon to share the connection to the poems and the complexity of the musical composition.
“Our goal is to ignite societal change that ends all forms of gender-based violence in our homes and communities. Men and boys have an important role to play as allies and agents of change to create communities, workplaces and institutions that are safe from gender-based violence, harassment, misogyny, and all forms of discrimination.”
We believe that with the right support and approaches rooted in the evidence‐base, men and boys can play a transformative role in achieving and sustaining this important goal and to bring healing to survivors, friends, and families affected by interpersonal and gender-based violence.
We are grateful for Joshua’s voice; his uplifting, empowering messages and authentic approach of sharing this story. Experiencing the connection to the poems and the musical complexity in person, transformational seems like an understatement. It was a moving, fitting tribute to the memory of his sister, Nathalie, and all victims of gender-based violence.
Songs for Murdered Sisters was developed by Joshua Hopkins with author Margaret Atwood and composer Jake Heggie following the murder of his sister, Nathalie Warmerdam.
On behalf of White Ribbon, our staff, and Board members, we would like to express our gratitude for your warm show of support and solidarity towards this worthwhile cause. Take the #WhiteRibbonSisters Pledge today. Visit whiteribbon.ca/sisters to learn more about this campaign.
Create Transformational Change:
White Ribbon aspires to create new alternative, reimagined opportunities for male dominated sectors to change their legacy, contribute financially and support equity. We invite you to be advocates for change and amplify our gender equity messages. It's an investment in your brand, but more importantly, in the future of White Ribbon's programming with young men and boys all across Canada, and the world.
For information contact Katie Taylor, at ktaylor@whiteribbon.ca.
