March 18, 2014
March 18, 2014, Winnipeg, Manitoba – Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) announced today its partnership with MusiCounts, a program that is helping to keep music alive in schools across Canada. MusiCounts is Canada’s music education charity associated with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) that provides grants which impact thousands of young Canadians and supports diverse music programs. Many First Nations communities from coast to coast are amongst the beneficiaries.
APTN has contributed $10,000 to the program and MusiCounts matched that amount.MusiCounts Band Aid Grants were awarded to two schools specifically through this partnership, Eskasoni Elementary and Middle School in Eskasoni, Nova Scotia and Mi’kmawey School in Potlotek First Nation, Nova Scotia. Each will receive $10,000 grants for the purpose of equipping their school music programs. These schools have also been selected based upon the location of APTN’s Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration twin stage being held in Halifax, Nova Scotia on Saturday, June 21, as well as the criteria that MusiCounts uses to select their grant recipients which includes economic need in the school community, size and condition of the schools’ instrument inventory, dedication of school staff and overall impact a grant will make within a community.
“APTN recognizes the significance of musical legacy to First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples’ cultures,” says Jean La Rose, APTN Chief Executive Officer. “Music is an inspiration for many, and it’s important to foster creative expression at an early age. As a national broadcaster of cultural content, APTN is honoured to have the opportunity to travel with Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration to another part of Canada.”
The partnership between APTN and MusiCounts is only part of a larger investment that this program makes. In fact, a total of $80,000 will be invested in school music programs in First Nations communities across Canada. MusiCounts mission is to ensure that children in Canada, regardless of socio-economic circumstances or cultural background, have access to a music program through their school.
“From British Columbia, to Nova Scotia, to each of the Territories, MusiCounts will be providing grants in First Nations communities across Canada this year,” said Allan Reid, Director, MusiCounts. “Music is a universal language that is understood by all of the diverse cultures represented in Canada. We are truly thankful for the support we have received through APTN that will help us keep music alive for the next generation of Canadians.”
ABOUT MUSICOUNTS:
MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) is helping to keep music alive in schools across Canada. MusiCounts’ mission is to ensure that children in Canada, regardless of socio-economic circumstances or cultural background, have access to music programs through their schools. MusiCounts includes Band Aid musical instrument grants, the TD Community Music Grants, the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, Scholarships and other music education initiatives. MusiCounts is funded by annual contributions from Bell Media; TD; Sirius XM Canada; the Slaight Family Foundation; Music Canada, Vista Radio, Morningstar Canada and supported since inception by Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc.; Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada Ltd.; along with JUNO Songwriters’ Circle presented by SOCAN in association with Manitoba Film & Music and The Asper Foundation as well as JUNO Cup. Since MusiCounts’ establishment in 1997, nearly $7,000,000 will have been awarded to help support music education in Canada. These funds have impacted over 600 school communities from coast to coast, supported over 300 post-secondary music program graduates and honoured 9 extraordinary music teachers through the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award. For more information, visit www.musicounts.ca