Spotlight on TD Bank Group
The TD Main Stage at the Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Festival in St. John’s. Photo: Rick West
Almost two centuries ago, the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote that “Music is the universal language of mankind.” Indeed, music has a magical quality that transcends time and space. It helps tell the human story and brings us together no matter where we live or what language we speak. From our beloved sea shanties and traditional folk ballads to classical, contemporary and everything in between, this province is one that is steeped in music. Music ties us to our history, traditions and culture in a way that nothing else can.
Top row, L-R: Shane Kennedy, TD District Vice President, NL; John Drover, Chair, Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Arts Society; and Tina Murphy, Manager, Community Banking & Charitable Donations, TD, Atlantic Region. Bottom row, L-R: Members of The Once: Andrew Dale, Geraldine Hollett and Phil Churchill. Photo: Alick Tsui
For over a decade now, TD Bank Group has been creating opportunities for Canadians coast-to-coast to come together to share and celebrate music in its many glorious forms. In 2013, TD partnered with MusiCounts to form the MusiCounts TD Community Music Program, which provides musical instruments, equipment and opportunities to youth in underserved communities. Besides supporting programs that engage and provide youth with access to music, TD supports over 100 community music programs and sponsors over 80 music festivals across the country each year, like the Fredericton Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival and the TD PEI Jazz & Blues Festival, to name a few.
TD’s love and support of music extends to this province by way of initiatives like Hot Soup Cool Jazz. The annual event sees TD partner with local restaurants, musicians and community organizations to raise awareness and money for initiatives that address homelessness and poverty. Through their sponsorship of the TD Neil Murray Stage at the Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Festival, TD has helped give young performers from around the province the chance to discover and foster a love of music. Another of TD’s initiatives is the ticket access program “TD Go NSO!” which provides students aged 14-29 with Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra concert tickets for $10.
“We are so pleased that TD sponsors our ‘Go NSO!’ program,” says Julia Halfyard, Coordinator-Community Outreach with the NSO."Currently, 823 students are enrolled in the program - up from 105 in 2009. ‘TD Go NSO!' is a risk-free opportunity for students, with no up-front cost or commitment. They have full access to premium concerts through affordable ticket pricing."
For TD, it’s all part of creating positive change and connections in the communities where their employees and clients live and work.
Scott MacIsaac playing Rachmaninov concerto No. 2 with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra at the opening night of the 2016-17 season. Photo: Greg Locke
"At TD, we love music and we understand how it brings people together. Music has the power to move us, teach us, and connect us, and that's why focusing on music is another way TD makes life more comfortable for our customers and communities across the country,” says Shane Kennedy, TD District Vice President, NL.
“We believe one of the best investments we can make is to ensure that children and youth have access to arts and culture in their communities. Providing learning and skills development through reading, music, arts or theatre is important.”
The arts, Kennedy adds, are crucial building blocks that help make communities brighter and better, no matter the medium.
“TD believes that the arts play a critical role in our communities, whether it’s the visual, digital or performing arts, or in the form of architecture in our neighbourhoods,” he says.
“We know that a thriving arts environment is essential to the overall health and vibrancy of our communities.”