Popular Musical Instrument Lending Library
program expands to Prince Edward Island Public Libraries
SUMMERSIDE, PEI, June 6, 2019 /CNW/ - The East Coast will fill
with the sounds of music as residents in Prince Edward Island (PEI) will now be able to
borrow musical instruments from their public libraries, free of
charge. Similar to taking out a book, the Sun Life Musical
Instrument Lending Library program allows anyone with a valid
library card the opportunity to borrow a wide range of musical
instruments such as guitars, banjos, and drums, to name a few.
Four PEI libraries in Summerside, Charlottetown and Montague will benefit from this innovative
musical initiative. Through the program, over three million library
cardholders across Canada now have
access to musical instruments.
"The East Coast has such a vibrant and lively music scene; We're
excited to be a part of this artistic culture with the expansion of
our program to the Prince Edward
Island libraries," said Paul
Joliat, Assistant Vice-President, Philanthropy and
Sponsorships, Sun Life. "Part of Sun Life's Purpose is to help our
Clients live healthier lives. We know music has the ability to
connect us and allows us to express ourselves on a deeper level.
That's why we're honoured to allow more Canadians the opportunity
to experience the joy of making music."
Sun Life is making a philanthropic donation of $140,000 to the Government of Prince Edward Island to fund the program's
operating costs. In addition to donating 150 musical instruments,
including guitars, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, violins, drums and
portable keyboards, Sun Life has also created a series of videos to
assist with the use, care and enjoyment of the instruments. Whether
you're just starting out or you're a seasoned musician, the program
is perfect for anyone looking to explore the vast world of
music.
The Sun Life Musical Instrument Lending Library is an integral
part of the company's philanthropic support of arts and culture
through Sun Life's award-winning Making the Arts More
AccessibleTM program. Sun Life believes
arts and culture should be celebrated within our communities and
made available to everyone, regardless of their means.
"We are very pleased to partner with Sun Life in this exciting
initiative," said Education and Lifelong Learning Minister
Brad Trivers. "It will make
music accessible to more Islanders in their communities and
enhance our public libraries as places of learning."
Prince Edward Public Libraries will also be holding a musical
instrument donation drive from June 6 to
July 6 to add to the collection so that more people will
have access to instruments. Residents can drop off their donations
of new or gently used guitars, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles,
violins, drums and portable keyboards at any Prince Edward Island
Public Library branch or Long & McQuade location. Please visit
library.pe.ca for more information.
The Sun Life Musical Instrument Lending Library was first
launched at the Toronto Public Library, expanding to the
Vancouver, Montréal, Calgary, Kitchener, Ottawa, Fredericton, Regina, Halifax and St. John's Public Libraries and
has been an overwhelming success.
Connect with Sun Life
Financial
https://www.facebook.com/SLFCanada
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sun-life-financial
https://twitter.com/SunLifeCA
Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars
Sun Life Financial in the community
At Sun Life
Financial, we are committed to building sustainable, healthier
communities for life and we're proud to hold the Caring
Company designation from Imagine Canada. Community wellness is
an important part of our sustainability commitment and we believe
that by actively supporting the communities in which we live and
work, we can help build a positive environment for our Clients,
Employees, advisors and shareholders. Our philanthropic support
focuses on two key areas: health, with an emphasis on diabetes
awareness, prevention, care and research initiatives through our
Team Up Against DiabetesTM platform; and arts and
culture, through our award-winning Making the Arts More
Accessible TM program. We also partner with sports
properties in key markets to further our commitment to healthy and
active living. Our Employees and advisors take great pride in
volunteering over 18,000 hours each year and contribute to making
life brighter for individuals and families across Canada. Read more about Sun Life Financial in
the community.
PEI Public Library Service
The PEI Public Library
Service operates 26 libraries across Prince Edward Island. There are more than
300,000 items to borrow, including books, music, dvds, e books,
snowshoes, museum passes, fitness and autism kits. With the
assistance of more than 70 dedicated employees, public libraries
are community spaces for learning, engaging, creating and
enjoyment. More than 800,000 items were borrowed last year from
public libraries which are provided by the provincial government in
partnership with municipalities.
Media Relations
Contacts:
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|
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Yasna
Criscione
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Jean
Doherty
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Manager, Corporate
Communications
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Senior Communications
Officer
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Sun
Life
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Department of
Education and Lifelong Learning
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t.
416-204-8110
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t.
902-314-5702
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yasna.criscione@sunlife.com
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jmdoherty@gov.pe.ca
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SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc.