Toronto Public Library launches city’s first musical instrument lending program at Parkdale branch
April 7th, 2016
Students from the Regent Park School Of Music pose for a photo Thursday with Raine Maida, Chantal Kreviazuk and Sun Life representatives.
The Toronto Public Library is now offering a collection of musical instruments at its Parkdale branch that can be borrowed for free with a library card. Guitars, keyboards, string and percussion instruments are available with the exciting new initiative, which has been made possible with generous support from Sun Life Financial through their Making the Arts More Accessible program.
The Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library is the first of its kind in the city, and also the first in public libraries across Canada. Canadian artists Raine Maida from Our Lady Peace and Chantal Kreviazuk were on-hand at the Parkdale Library to kick-off the new initiative, which also featured performances from students from the Regent Park School of Music. During the announcements, Sun Life announced the donation of $155,000 to the Toronto Public Library to help establish the new program.
The JUNO-award winning musicians were also the first to contribute to the month-long instrument donation drive with an acoustic guitar and keyboard. For Toronto residents with extra gently used instruments, donations are being accepted from Thursday, April 7 to Saturday, May 7th at the Parkdale library branch and Toronto/North York Long & McQuade locations.
1st instruments donated in @torontolibrary month long donation drive by @MrRaineMaida @chantalkreviaz! #TOMusicCity pic.twitter.com/spy2mrg8eV
— 4479 (@4479Toronto) April 7, 2016
All of the information on the Toronto Public Library’s new musical instrument lending library can be found here.
