Vancouver woman asked to stop singing in support of front line workers

"It's in celebration of the people that are helping us like the police, the firemen and the ambulance people," Patricia Faith said of her nightly serenade.

Faith, a resident of East Vancouver is a retired singer who would use a small PA system to sing nightly to her neighbourhood with the hopes of boosting morale within the community.

When she first began her nightly songs, a concert which typically lasts about 20 minutes, many neighbours were supportive. But some admit to they were confused by the gesture.

"I mean, they know what I'm doing because they give me thumbs up and wave to me when I sing but as for my neighbours it's not like they don't know what it's for and it's not like they don't know what time it's gonna happen."

Recently, Faith received a visit from a police officer who notified her that her concerts violated a noise control bylaw which, "aims to balance noise from most activities in a way that respects everyone’s right to relative comfort, within reason."

She was told that she could no longer proceed with the nightly singing from her balcony.

"I thought it would be better that I sing instead of crashing pots and pans together for 15 minutes,” said Faith, in response to another phenomenon that was regularly occurring in support of frontline workers.

Faith plans to relocate to a beach or park to continue singing for the public and for frontline workers during the pandemic. It is not yet known whether those in earshot of her new pop-up concert venue will be appreciative, or peeved, like her neighbours.