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The Halls are Alive ... with the Sound
Of Music
BMP patients will have occasional concerts to look forward
to in the months to come, thanks to an interesting gift made by Knowlton resident Meredith
MacKeen and her sister, Alison, daughters of former BMP Board Member, Frances MacKeen.
When Meredith recently sold her Home In PEI she chose to make a
donation to the BMP Foundation, specifically to fund entertainment for patients. "We wanted to
provide something meaningful to patients and, at the same time, remunerate the musicians and
performers somewhat for their time," Meredith added. "Unfortunately, musicians and
artists are often overlooked. This is a small way of using their talents for everyone's benefit and
having them benefit in a small way as well."
The Foundation Board liked the idea so much that we have chosen to
match the funds in order that the program might be firmly established in a meaningful way.
The first small concert was held in the Geriatric Unit of the BMP on
Friday, February 15th. Sutton violinist Marie-Clothilde Benoit played a one hour concert in the
David Tector Lounge at the Hospital for 12 to 15 people. Afterwards, she and Roxanne Bisson, a CSSS
LP leisure therapist, went from room to room to play for other patients who were unable to get to
the Lounge.
"Some of these people, particularly in the Long Term Care Unit,
rarely get out of their room," explained Roxanne. " Music is very therapeutic as it can
draw so much out of patients." Marie-Claude finds the violin a perfect instrument for this
purpose as it seems to go to people's vulnerability." It was very touching to see the way
people react. They laugh, they sing, they even dance from their chairs."
It is currently planned that the concerts will be repeated on a
regular basis, with other local musicians invited to participate.
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