You may not know Syd and Pam Birrell, but if you live in Greater Peterborough, you have almost certainly benefitted from their remarkable contribution to our region’s cultural life. Syd is the founder and conductor of the Peterborough Singers, one of Canada’s top-ranked choral societies. A Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, Syd has a rich musical background and is known for his community involvement. Pam is a gifted soprano soloist, a sought-after vocal teacher, a skilled director of musical theatre and captain of the Survivors Abreast dragon boat team.
Pam’s story is one of resilience and giving back. Growing up in a stable home in a lower-income neighbourhood, she was surrounded by examples of service. Her father was a police officer, and her mother worked in family services with the Salvation Army. “So, my parents were people who helped people,” Pam stated, “We didn’t have a lot growing up, but there were always people dropping in for meals. It was always known if you were in the neighborhood on Saturday, you could stop at my family’s home and have a burger for lunch.”
This early exposure to community service laid the foundation for Pam’s own journey. Through the trials of cancer — first Pam’s battle with breast cancer 28 years ago, and a few years later with the couples’ young son James’ fight with neuroblastoma — Pam and Syd found themselves enveloped by the compassion of their community. “People surrounded us with love and kindness and generosity, and hope. They gave us hope,” Pam recalled. “Anytime that we can pay that kind of thing forward, I think we’re always looking for ways that we can do that for other people.”
One way the Birrell’s have “paid it forward” as a family is by founding the James Fund for Neuroblastoma Research, shortly after James fell ill. Just eighteen months after its launch, in 2001, James succumbed to the rare childhood disorder at the age of eight. Since then, the Fund has raised millions of dollars to help combat that disease.
Syd recounted the overwhelming support they received during those challenging times. “The degree of help, assistance, support that we got when Pam was going through her treatment was incredible,” he said. “Food was arriving, grass was being cut, snow was being shoveled, kids were being babysat. All kinds of things were there to help us, and then eleven months later, James was hit with cancer, and it was round two.”
The couple’s desire to give back has led them to lead numerous community initiatives. One notable project is the playground at Armour Heights, which was built thanks to the generosity of James’ friends and other community members. “We wanted our kids to see, to return some of the favour to the community,” Syd explained. “So that became a way of life for us; our personal challenges have led us to really want to give back.”
Pam’s involvement with the Survivors Abreast dragon boat team is another aspect of her community engagement. “I’ve been a member of that since 2009,” Pam said. “We host the Dragon Boat Festival, which raises a lot of money for the foundation at the hospital, buys equipment for breast cancer treatments and other cancer treatments.” This year, they raised $269,000, contributing to a digital pathology machine. “It’s a fun thing to be a part of, but also very meaningful.”
Syd’s contributions to the Peterborough Singers illustrate his dedication to fostering a vibrant arts community. He emphasizes the importance of connecting people through their interests, particularly in the arts. “Part of what draws newcomers to Peterborough is its vibrant arts community,” he said. “For example, when they bring prospective doctors to town, I will give them a tour, Peterborough Singers tickets, whatever it takes to make them feel at home.”
Pam and Syd’s commitment to community building also addresses broader societal issues. Pam is currently working with two young Afghan refugees, helping them adjust to their new lives in Canada. “They came to Canada via Indonesia where they lived in a refugee camp for ten years; effectively a prison. There’s a lot of trauma and suffering in the world. We know that firsthand,” Pam said. “It’s time to pay it forward.”
Their vision for a better Peterborough includes tangible actions to improve the lives of its residents. “We hear so often in politics, ‘We want to give people a helping hand up,’ but then there’s never anything specific and tangible,” Pam said. “It’s the hope that our community can build more positive, forward-thinking policies, and structures at every level.”
“I want to see neuroblastoma beaten,” Syd said when asked to reflect on what he and Pam wish their legacy to be. “When the time comes, which I’m hoping is not for a while, but when it comes, I want the Peterborough Singers to be really strong organizationally so that it can keep going once they find the right person to take over. I’d also love to see the Community Foundation double, quadruple, ten times the endowments and so on, so it can just have a much greater impact.”
“I think for me,” Pam added, “it’s amplifying the voices of people who focus on helping others. Kindness, love, passion, hard work – it makes a difference. And it’s a pretty simple recipe for making the world a better place. It’s really kind of simple, but we just don’t hear about it enough.”
The Birrell’s own story is a powerful reminder of the impact one can have through dedication, compassion, and unwavering hope. As Syd aptly puts it, “Hope is a powerful tool.” And in the hands of Pam and Syd, it’s a tool used to shape a stronger, more connected Peterborough.
Pam and Syd are long-standing monthly donors to the Foundation. Every dollar donated, no matter how small, makes a tangible difference to our community. Please consider donating today using this button: