Singing Together is a partnership between SingWell, the Older Adult Centres Association of Ontario (OACAO), and the Alliance for Healthier Communities. Running from 2026-27, this project is providing several microgrants to Seniors Active Living and Older Adult Centres as well as Community Health Centres to create singing groups that will support wellbeing, social connection, and community-building!
Implementing Centres to be Announced Soon!
Chosen through a Call for Applications, several OACAO member centres will be selected for creating singing groups in various areas in Ontario. SingWell will support these sites with free training and resources for singing group leaders, drawing on existing best practices in group singing to promote wellbeing and communication.
As part of a peer support network, singing leaders will also connect with one another to share experiences and exchange insights. This peer network will support quality improvement and build confidence while fostering a community of practice that can grow beyond the project.
Project Timeline and Aims
Starting in fall 2026, participating centres will deliver at least 1 x 10-week group singing session. To evaluate impact, they will gather pre- and post-quantitative and qualitative data on participant experiences and outcomes related to their health (EQ-5D) and sense of community belonging.
This initial project aims to generate cross-site learning about how group singing can be introduced, supported, and sustained over the long-term within diverse community and healthcare-adjacent settings, including those with social prescribing pathways.
Founded by researchers studying the health and social impacts of group singing on stress, communication, and wellbeing, SingWell brings facilitators and community partners together to grow the practice of group singing as a powerful tool for belonging and social connection. Their world-leading research is focused on deepening our understanding of the biopsychosocial impacts of group singing, with a special focus on people living with communication challenges (e.g., Parkinson’s, aphasia, lung disease, stroke, COPD, and hearing loss).
When led using evidence-informed approaches, group singing can support:
- Meaningful social connection – synchronized activities like singing can rapidly foster a sense of unity, trust, and cooperation among strangers
- Greater emotional wellbeing – offer life-giving boosts in mood, agency, and outlook on life, diminishing depression and anxiety
- Confidence and self-expression – provide a way to express ourselves, connect with others, and diminish internalized stigma
As SingWell emphasizes, group singing for wellbeing is not about performance, having prior musical experience, or a “perfect” voice — it’s about connection, wellbeing, and creating a welcoming space where everyone can participate.
Meaningful experiences are fostered where harmony comes from the diversity of voices in the room!
Learn More
SingWell: https://www.singwell.ca/
