Historic Society of Ottawa Presents Songs of Old Bytown with Maura Volante
Celebrate the 200th by singing traditional folk songs of the Ottawa Valley
Sunday, November 22, 2026
1:30 to 3:00 pm
Beechwood Cemetery
Come learn the soundtrack to old Bytown in this 200th anniversary year, at a special all-ages singalong event produced by the Historical Society of Ottawa.
The loggers had songs about life in the shanties, the Irish canal workers brought ballads and love songs from the old country, and songs from England, Scotland and France circulated among the ordinary folks of the nascent settlement. You will discover much about earlier times in singing these songs, and also how the act of singing is still satisfying in today’s world.
You don’t need any previous experience to participate fully. All voices are welcome! These songs are easy to learn by ear, with lots of repetition and predictable phrasing.
Maura provides links to lyrics and source recordings, so you can learn all the songs in full later.
Imagine you are a shanty boy paddling up the Gatineau River, or a scullery maid in a lumber baron’s house in Bytown. These are some of the songs you might have sung.
Maura Volante is a talented and experienced singer and teacher living in Ottawa, Ontario. Although she has explored many styles, she is essentially a tradition bearer, and her focus is traditional Canadian folk songs, mainly in English, with some in French. Â
Over many decades, Maura has dug into old books and field recordings to learn and share songs that ordinary folks would sing in their homes and workplaces. Some were brought here by early settlers from England, Scotland, Ireland and France, and others were made in Canada, about logging, migration and other local conditions. Some tell stories, others complain about the weather and other hardships. There are also those about love and personal strife. These songs tell our history and connect us to universal human concerns.
Whether in a concert, workshop or multi-week course, Maura shares her love of folk songs and practices with people of all ages. Maura believes that group singing is a powerful tool for building community, and that folk songs are very well suited to this process. Maura is a strong advocate for inclusionary processes, and every performance or workshop is an opportunity for everyone in the room to be part of it. She creates an encouraging atmosphere, relaxed and accepting of every voice.
Check out Maura’s album: Safe & Sound: Traditional Canadian Folk Songs, on Bandcamp and all the streaming services. https://mauravolante.bandcamp.com/releases.
Website: mauravolante.ca. Email: maura.volante@gmail.com
Photo credit:Â The Stream Drivers in Canada – lumberjacks from the historic pre-1900 book “The English Illustrated Magazine 1891-1892”. Imprint and cover as released. iStock: 961724214