SUDBURY—Several elementary schools within the Rainbow District School Board (RDSB), including two on Manitoulin Island have now been included among secondary schools receiving funds through the Joan Mantle Music Trust (JMMT).
Both Charles C. McLean Public School in Gore Bay and Central Manitoulin Public School in Mindemoya are among the nine elementary schools within the RDSB that will be receiving funds for their music programs through the JMMT.
“Nine different schools will be receiving funds through the Joan Mantle Music Trust this year, along with three secondary schools (including Manitoulin Secondary School) and their respective feeder schools,” said Doreen Dewar, chair of the RDSB last week. “One of the secondary schools that is receiving funds for their music program is Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) and their feeder schools of CMPS and C.C. McLean will be receiving financial support as well for their music programs.”
Ms. Dewar pointed out, “to date, since November 2008 when the trust was established, it has raised over $240,000.”
Joan Mantle was a superintendent for the RDSB, “and a very dear friend of mine,” said Ms. Dewar. “I went to high school with her and I was at the official launch of the trust.”
At the announcement of this year’s program funding at the Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School in Sudbury on October 16, Ms. Dewar said, “I am pleased to be here this morning to bring you an update on the Joan Mantle Music Trust as we celebrate 11 years of excellence. I had the pleasure of being at the launch in the fall of 2008. Joan Mantle sat with pride in the audience as we announced that this Trust would be created in her honour.”
“Joan responded to an impromptu invitation to direct the Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School Senior Jazz Band by not only directing the group but also by stopping them in mid-performance to suggest improvements,” said Ms. Dewar. “It was vintage Joan Mantle. And it was a moment that we all remember fondly.”
“Over $175,000 has been distributed to music programs over the past 10 years,” continued Ms. Dewar. “As we begin a fourth round of funding, we are extending the trust’s outreach to our elementary instrumental music programs as well.”
This year, the nine recipient schools are Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, Confederation Secondary School and Manitoulin Secondary School, along with their respective feeder schools that have instrumental music programs. They include Algonquin Road, R.L. Beattie, Valley View, C.R. Judd, Central Manitoulin, and Charles C. McLean Public Schools.
“Since it was established in November 2008, the trust has raised just over $240,000,” said Ms. Dewar. “On behalf of (RDSB), I would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has supported and continues to support the Joan Mantle Music Trust. Thank you to Ralph McIntosh, Bela Ravi, Carolyn Otto, Line Roberge, Emily Caruso Parnell and all the members of the steering committee for their ongoing efforts on behalf of the trust. We sincerely appreciate all that you do.”
Ms. Dewar noted as well there is a long list of businesses and individuals that have helped out over the years.
“Cheryl Lavender, internally recognized music educator and composer said, “the fact that children can make beautiful music is less significant that the fact that music can make beautiful children,” continued Ms. Dewar. “The amazing success of the Joan Mantle Music Trust proves that when we work in harmony, we create beautiful music.”
Money raised to date comes from community donations, corporate donations and the annual JMMT International Dinner and Silent Auction. The dinner and auction will be held on April 13, 2019 at 6 pm at the Parkside Centre in Sudbury.
The music trust is named after long-time educator Joan Mantle who passed away on June 9, 2009.
