Canadian Icon Susan Aglukark
Brings Upinnaq-ᐅᐱᓐᓇᖅ
to the Orillia Opera House
This Christmas

Upinnaq, Inuktitut for the feeling of peace, calm, and awe, all at once, is the perfect name for what promises to be one of Orillia’s most moving holiday events this season. The Orillia Opera House, in partnership with Arts Orillia, is thrilled to welcome Susan Aglukark, one of Canada’s most celebrated singer-songwriters, for an evening of Christmas songs, stories, and memories of Christmas in Nunavut.

Born in Churchill, Manitoba, and raised in Arviat, Nunavut, Aglukark has spent more than three decades blending Inuit folk traditions with country and pop songwriting, becoming one of the most distinctive voices in Canadian music. Her 1995 single “O Siem” hit No. 1 on both the Canadian country and adult contemporary charts, making her the first Inuk artist to land a Top 40 hit. Over her career she has released seven studio albums, won three Juno Awards, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2005 in recognition of her contributions to Canadian music and her advocacy for Inuit and Indigenous youth.

For this special Orillia performance, Aglukark will perform beloved holiday favourites, including “Silent Night,” “Little Toy Trains,” and “Do You Hear What I Hear,” sung in both Inuktitut and English, songs that carry her back to her own childhood Christmas memories in the North. She’ll be joined on stage by a youth choir made up of students from Twin Lakes, Patrick Fogarty, and Orillia Secondary School, bringing a true community spirit to a night already rich with meaning.

“This is exactly the kind of event that reminds us why live performance matters,” says Emily Martin, Theatre Manager at the Orillia Opera House. “To have an artist of Susan Aglukark’s stature share the stage with our own local students… It’s a genuinely Canadian moment, and one I think our community is going to feel in their hearts long after the final note. Nights like this are why we do this work.”

Come celebrate Upinnaq-ᐅᐱᓐᓇᖅ, A Beautiful Christmas in Orillia; an evening of music, memory, and community that captures exactly what Upinnaq means. 

Don’t miss this rare chance to experience a Canadian icon in an intimate setting, surrounded by the voices of Orillia’s own next generation of performers.

Tickets are on sale now: $55 (regular), $50 (seniors), $25 (youth 25 and under) via orilliaoperahouse.ca or by calling the Box Office at 705-326-8011.