Sun Life is giving $300,000 to launch the new campus of The Sarah McLachlan School of Music (SoM) in Edmonton. The school will teach underserved and at-risk children and youth.
Students at the school will receive ensemble-based instruction in music fundamentals, guitar, piano, percussion, choir, songwriting, music theory and electronic music. This is the second time Sun Life has donated to the school; in 2014 the insurer gave $300,000 to the SoM in Vancouver. These charitable donations are part of Sun Life's Making the Arts More Accessible program, which the insurer says is meant to give Canadians access to the very best of the country's arts and cultural community, regardless of their means.
Confidence and resilience
"We've seen first-hand the amazing impact SoM has had on the lives of children and youth. Students not only learn the fundamentals of music but build essential life-long skills like confidence and resilience," says Paul Joliat, assistant vice-president of philanthropy and sponsorships at Sun Life Financial. "We are committed to supporting music schools across Canada and we look forward to seeing the impact this new school will have in Edmonton."
