On the morning of September 22, 2015, in Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada, a man went on a killing spree, brutally murdering three ex-partners in their separate homes. The murders devastated the rural Ottawa Valley community where opera singer Joshua Hopkins grew up – his sister Nathalie Warmerdam was one of these women.
Joshua has since set out to use his powerful voice to wake people up to the global epidemic of gender-based violence – and their part in it. He developed Songs for Murdered Sisters with author Margaret Atwood and composer Jake Heggie, hoping that sharing this harrowing story through song will inspire other voices to take up the call in the future, providing hope and healing for countless families who have been impacted by this global societal issue.
Joshua has since set out to use his powerful voice to wake people up to the global epidemic of gender-based violence – and their part in it. He developed Songs for Murdered Sisters with author Margaret Atwood and composer Jake Heggie, hoping that sharing this harrowing story through song will inspire other voices to take up the call in the future, providing hope and healing for countless families who have been impacted by this global societal issue.
Joshua joins White Ribbon in challenging other men to own their responsibility to end violence against women. Please take the White Ribbon Pledge to speak out against all forms of gender-based violence – and share your commitment using the hashtag #WhiteRibbonSisters.