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Health Arts Society of Ontario (HASO) and the City of Toronto
launched the ArtsWay series of concerts today at City of Toronto
long-term care home Castleview Wychwood Towers (351 Christie
St.). Cast members of Canadian Opera Company's production of
Mozart's The Magic Flute generously performed a 45-minute
concert of excerpts from the opera for the benefit of the home's
residents, featuring vocalists Simone Osborne and Frederic
Antoun with COC Music Director Johannes Debus at the piano. This
was the first in a pilot series of 40 Health Arts Society
ArtsWay concerts at the City's ten long-term care homes.
The City of Toronto is Ontario's largest not-for-profit
long-term care provider, providing the highest level of care and
customer service to approximately 2,600 residents in 10
long-term care homes. Toronto Long-Term Care Homes and Services
is committed to ensuring residents' quality of life as it
pertains to their physical, psychological and emotional
well-being. The division offers a range of arts programs,
including art therapy, music therapy, and a range of volunteer
performances. "This new professional-level musical experience is
a wonderful addition to the menu of life-enriching programs we
offer our residents," said Toronto Long-Term Care Homes and
Services General Manager Sandra Pitters.
The Canadian Opera Company's production of The Magic Flute runs
from January 29 to February 25 at the Four Seasons Centre for
the Performing Arts. COC General Director, Alexander Neef, noted
that "the launch of this concert series signifies an important
step toward increasing the accessibility of arts and cultural
programming in Toronto. The Canadian Opera Company is proud to
collaborate with Health Arts Society of Ontario to draw
attention to this commendable initiative."
Health Arts Society of Ontario is grateful to the Canadian Opera
Company and to the superb cast for making this concert
available. It reflects the highest aspiration of Health Arts
Society of Ontario; to reflect professional music making for the
benefit of those no longer able to attend performances in the
community. Health Arts Society of Ontario is one of a group of
Canadian charities dedicated to providing to people isolated in
long-term care, particularly frail elders, the enjoyment and
stimulation of professionally performed music. The Society plans
to deliver 400 concerts in Ontario long-term care homes in 2011.
Associate organizations of Health Arts Society of Ontario, which
support and espouse the values of its work, include the Canadian
Opera Company, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the University of
Toronto Faculty of Music.
BMO Financial Group is generously providing initial funding for
this program. BMO Financial Group's leadership enables of the
Ontario debut of the program, one that is already established in
British Columbia and Quebec. By the end of 2011, Health Arts
Societies will be established in all provinces.
Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government,
and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people.
Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence,
creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the
size and cost of government and building a transportation city.
For information on non-emergency City services and programs,
Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24
hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Launch
of ArtsWay
