The National Music Centre (NMC) has announced a $500,000 multi-year investment from BMO to expand its Music Therapy Initiative, bringing evidence-based music therapy to more patients across Canada. The contribution will be matched dollar-for-dollar by The Jim Pattison Foundation, doubling the funding and significantly broadening the initiative's reach.
Expanding Access to Music Therapy
Since 2018, NMC has partnered with JB Music Therapy and the Calgary Health Foundation to deliver music therapy programs in Calgary's five acute care hospitals, supporting patients in intensive care, stroke recovery, burns, mental health, palliative care, and other specialized units. The program earned the Health Quality Council of Alberta's 2025 Patient Experience Award for excellence in patient-centred care.
The new funding will expand these services to more provinces and territories. According to Andrew Mosker, NMC's President and CEO, “We are deeply grateful to BMO for recognizing the transformative role music can play in health and wellness, and for helping us expand access to these critical services across the country. With BMO’s commitment, we are that much closer to our goal of having music therapy programs in every province and territory.”
Regional Program Expansions
In Saskatchewan, NMC collaborates with the Ranch Ehrlo Society in Regina to support youth, families, and individuals accessing mental health services. At Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon, music therapy aids infants in the NICU and their parents. In Manitoba, a partnership with Riverview Health Centre in Winnipeg focuses on palliative and long-term care patients, alongside a new clinical internship program with the University of Manitoba. In British Columbia, a pilot program at Victoria General Hospital supports individuals with complex neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.
Healing Power of Music
Sharon Haward-Laird, Group Head, Canadian Commercial Banking and North American Integrated Solutions at BMO, stated, “Music has a unique ability to comfort, connect, and heal. As a founding partner of the National Music Centre, BMO is proud to build on our legacy of support to help expand access to the Centre’s music therapy programming, ensuring more patients and families across Canada can benefit from these powerful, evidence-based techniques.”
The initiative aims to deliver measurable health benefits, including reduced anxiety, improved recovery, and enhanced patient wellbeing, particularly in underserved regions. NMC also offers on-site music therapy at Studio Bell in Calgary, bringing the power of music therapy into the community outside clinical settings.
