The City of Burnaby has been awarded with BC Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA)’s Program Excellence Award for its Harmony for All program, an initiative that supports Burnaby residents with free instrument lending, no-cost music outreach programs for community groups and scholarships to participate in music lessons. The Program Excellence Award from the BCRPA recognizes innovative programs that were successful in improving individual and community-level social and physical well-being.
The Harmony for All initiative, inspired by Burnaby City Councillor and musician Joe Keithley, launched in 2022.
"We are immensely proud to accept this award from the BCRPA," said Keithley. "The Harmony for All program is a testament to our commitment to making music accessible to everyone in Burnaby, breaking down financial barriers and enriching our community. I am so happy that this program has helped so many in our community. When I started this, I knew it would work, as music is the universal language of understanding, compassion and acceptance for all.”
Since the inception of the Harmony for All program, the City of Burnaby has created an inventory of 620 musical instruments. Currently, 103 of these instruments are on loan to individuals and 336 are used in outreach programs by organizations within the community. Initiated in 2023, musical scholarships under the Harmony for All program have been awarded to 24 recipients, enabling them to further their musical education. To date, over 5,000 Burnaby residents have benefitted from this initiative.
Learn More: Harmony for All