National Music Centre Expands Music Therapy Initiative to Transform Lives Across the Prairies
Emerging national initiative made possible with support from Jim Pattison Foundation
(Calgary, AB — November 21, 2023) National Music Centre (NMC) is thrilled to announce the expansion of its Music Therapy Initiative, thanks to the generous support of Jim Pattison. After making an impact in Alberta, this emerging national initiative will now bring the healing power of music therapy to individuals and families across Saskatchewan, starting with a partnership with Ranch Ehrlo Society in Regina.
“We appreciate the opportunity to support this Music Therapy Initiative to people in the Prairies in Alberta and Saskatchewan,” said Jim Pattison, founder of the Jim Pattison Foundation.
Music therapy, a specialized practice that uses music as its primary intervention, has been at the forefront of transformative healthcare for years. NMC, in collaboration with JB Music Therapy, has been a trailblazer in advancing music therapy programs, harnessing the therapeutic potential of music to empower individuals facing various physical and mental health challenges.
Since 2018, NMC has partnered with JB Music Therapy and Calgary Health Foundation to support the music therapy programs at Foothills Medical Centre and South Health Campus and, in 2023, expanded to include Peter Lougheed Centre and Rockyview General Hospital. These programs have improved care for a range of patients in Calgary, including those in intensive care, palliative care, as well as stroke, brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, and patients receiving neurorehabilitation. NMC has also offered on-site music therapy programs at Studio Bell to bring the power of music therapy out of a clinical setting and into the community.
Earlier this year, NMC announced another new partnership with the ‘Naskwahamâtowin – Let’s all share in the music’ project, a collaboration between Kehewin Native Dance Theatre and non-profit Make Music Matter to offer innovative mental health support for Indigenous youth in Central Alberta.
To help build NMC’s Music Therapy Initiative nationally, the Jim Pattison Foundation has generously pledged to match every dollar raised. This matching agreement will not only increase the impact of music therapy in Saskatchewan, but also create opportunities for music therapists. NMC is actively seeking more partnerships with healthcare providers, community organizations, and educational institutions in Saskatchewan, and across the Prairies.
“This is another example of how National Music Centre is growing beyond the walls of Studio Bell and bringing the healing power of music to more people,” said Andrew Mosker, President & CEO of National Music Centre. “NMC believes in the power of music to transform lives and help alleviate many of the challenges of modern life. Our national expansion is a testament to our commitment to making music therapy accessible to all, and we are deeply grateful to the Jim Pattison Foundation for its generous support in making this vision a reality, and Ranch Ehrlo Society for partnering with us to further music therapy accessibility."
“Music Therapists bring a specialized expertise that ensures individuals within organizations connect with, understand, and benefit from the therapeutic nuances of music,” said Jennifer Buchanan, Founder of JB Music Therapy. “When words are not enough, let music start the conversation."
Ranch Ehrlo Society, a leading provider of child and family programs, will be the first site to launch this transformative program. "We are honoured to partner with NMC and JB Music Therapy to expand our music therapy programs,” said David Rivers, vice-president of clinical and family services. “This will make a profound difference in the lives of the young people and families we serve."
NMC's Music Therapy Initiative aims to increase accessibility to music therapy, create job opportunities for music therapists, forge strong partnerships with healthcare providers and communities, and elevate awareness of the therapeutic potential of music.
As part of this expansion, NMC plans to extend its music therapy services to additional sites in Saskatchewan and other parts of Canada in the coming years, ensuring that even more individuals have access to the healing power of music.
Individuals and organizations interested in supporting this initiative can get involved by donating or spreading the word about the profound impact of music therapy. For more information on NMC's music therapy expansion initiative, please visit studiobell.ca/nmc-music-therapy-initiative.
About National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique
The National Music Centre (NMC) has a mission to amplify the love, sharing, and understanding of music. It is preserving and celebrating Canada’s music story inside its home at Studio Bell in the heart of the East Village in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) on Treaty 7 territory. NMC is the home to four Canadian music halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Quebec’s ADISQ Hall of Fame. Featuring musical instruments, artifacts, recording equipment, and memorabilia, the NMC Collection spans over 450 years of music history and innovation. A registered charity with programs that include exhibitions, artist development, performance, and education, NMC is inspiring a new generation of music lovers. For more information about NMC’s onsite activities, please visit studiobell.ca. To check out the NMC experience online, including video-on-demand performances, made-in-Canada stories, and highly entertaining educational content, visit amplify.nmc.ca.
About JB Music Therapy
JB Music Therapy is a music therapy consulting company and private practice founded in Calgary, Alberta. For over three decades, JB Music Therapy has helped thousands of people through the power of music. Their dedicated team of certified music therapists provides clinical, evidence-based music therapy services. For more information, visit jbmusictherapy.com.
About Ranch Ehrlo Society
Ranch Ehrlo Society, a non-profit, was founded by the late Dr. Geoff Pawson in 1966. It started as a single home for six boys with significant complex needs and grew to a multi-service agency delivering a wide range of accredited mental health and developmental services delivered in southern Saskatchewan and in and around Saskatoon and Prince Albert. Its services include assessment and psychotherapy for members of the broader community, family treatment and reunification, early learning, counselling, emergency receiving, specialized foster care, affordable housing, group care treatment and education for children and youth with mental health, behavioural, and addictions needs, and group care and vocational services for older adolescents and adults with pervasive and complex developmental disorders, and community recreation and sports programs for at-risk youth. For more information, visit ehrlo.com.
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Media Contact:
Julijana Capone, Senior Publicist
julijana.capone@nmc.ca | @nmc_canada