Healthcare
Healing Through Music: $500,000 Investment from BMO to National Music Centre Expands Music Therapy Programs for Patients Across Canada
Music therapy in action. A music therapy session being delivered. Photo courtesy of JB Music Therapy. $500,000 multi-year investment from BMO, matched by The Jim Pattison Foundation, doubles funding to expand evidence-based music therapy programs across CanadaExpansion will increase access to music therapy in hospitals, mental health services, and community care settings, supporting patients from neonatal care to palliative care nationwideNational Music Centre’s Music Therapy Initiative aims to
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Music therapy in action. CALGARY, Alberta, July 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Music Centre (NMC) is thrilled to announce a transformative $500,000 multi-year commitment from BMO to expand NMC's Music Therapy Initiative, bringing the healing power of music therapy to more patients, families, and communities across Canada. The five-year investment will support the delivery and expansion of evidence-based music therapy programs in hospitals and community health settings. Through a partnership with The Jim Pattison Foundation, BMO's contribution will be matched dollar-for-dollar, significantly amplifying the initiative's reach and impact. "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," said Andrew Mosker, National Music Centre's President and CEO. "With BMO's commitment, we are that much closer to our goal of having music therapy programs in every province and territory." "Music has a unique ability to comfort, connect, and heal," said Sharon Haward-Laird, Group Head, Canadian Commercial Banking and North American Integrated Solutions. "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." Since 2018, NMC has partnered with JB Music Therapy and the Calgary Health Foundation to deliver music therapy programs throughout Calgary's five acute care hospitals, supporting patients in intensive care, stroke recovery, burns, mental health, palliative care, and other specialized units. The program was recognized with the Health Quality Council of Alberta's 2025 Patient Experience Award for its excellence in patient-centred care. NMC has also offered on-site music therapy programs at Studio Bell to bring the power of music therapy out of a clinical setting and into the community. Following its success in Alberta, NMC's Music Therapy Initiative was officially launched in 2023, with the intention of expanding to new regions across Western Canada. To help build the initiative, The Jim Pattison Foundation generously pledged to match every dollar raised.