NS&PEI Says Yes! to Kids

Cathedral Church of All Saints Supports Girls Choir

On October 21, the Cathedral Church of All Saints in Halifax said “Yes!” to the Voices of THR!VE, by presenting a cheque for $3,000 from this year’s Anglican Foundation of Canada (AFC) Say Yes! to Kids (SYTK) campaign.

Cynthia Pilichos (left) AFC’s Diocesan Representative for the Diocese of Nova Scotia & PEI presents a cheque to THR!VE founder, Wendy Birt

“I was pleased to present this cheque to THR!VE’s founder, Wendy Birt, as the beautiful fall sunshine poured into the Cathedral,” says Cynthia Pilichos, AFC Diocesan Representative for the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. “This year, the Cathedral chose to support the Voices of THR!VE in recognition of their impressive, confident presentations of Christian and mainstream music, as well as the many great skills that young participants in this choral community develop: teamwork, leadership, discipline, perseverance, and appreciation for diversity.

Voices of THR!VE is a show choir for girls aged 5-12. According to their website, “THR!VE empowers young people to come fully alive to their God-given potential and encourages them, by example, to seek a relationship with Jesus Christ as the ultimate source of a THR!VING life.”

Pilichos is grateful to the many donors to the Cathedral’s 2024 SYTK campaign. “This is the Cathedral’s 3rd consecutive SYTK campaign, and I am proud of how our community has responded over the years, raising more than $11,000 for outreach causes in Halifax.” Past beneficiaries have included the Ward 5 Neighbourhood Centre’s summer camp, and funding to enable young newcomers to Halifax to access arts and recreation programs.

Since the Say Yes! to Kids movement began in 2021, it has been widely embraced in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, with more than $100,000 in grants—both awarded (2021) and secured (2022 to 2024)—having supported 27 projects.

In a recorded sermon this past May, to raise awareness about AFC’s first-ever Say Yes! to Kids Sunday, the Rt. Rev. Sandra Fyfe, Bishop of the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, encouraged Nova Scotia Anglicans to take part in the annual campaign: “Saying ‘Yes!’ to kids is exactly that: Finding ways to say, ‘Yes!’ Inviting young people into this life of faith in the God who knows and loves them and calls them to be part of God’s dream for the world.”

“Say Yes! to Kids has helped to connect AFC to the wider church, especially to parishes in ways that we could never have imagined,” says Dr. Scott Brubacher, Executive Director. “I am so grateful to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island Anglicans for embracing this initiative and for championing its success across Canada.”

Brubacher says planning is currently underway for the 2025 campaign, which will include another Say Yes! to Kids Sunday in June. For more information or to pre-register for the 2025 campaign, please contact Michelle Hauser, AFC’s Development & Communications Officer via email at [email protected].