A Campaign to End Intergenerational Poverty
“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.”
– Nelson Mandela
Social Change Through the Gift of Music
A message from Clare and Allison McCain
Honorary Co-Chairs, 10,000 Children campaign
Music as a vehicle for change
For children, an orchestra means joy, motivation, discipline, and teamwork. It builds confidence and self-esteem and it is incredibly fun. It’s a propeller for a bright future.
10,000 opportunities for a better life
Sistema New Brunswick is one of Canada’s largest organizations in the space of music and social change and it’s growing. On November 1, 2021, it announced a new vision and a campaign titled ‘10,000 Children’. Every child deserves an opportunity.
“Growing Sistema New Brunswick is important only because of the need among children and their families. We’ve seen the difference over the last 12 years here in New Brunswick,” said Ken MacLeod, president and CEO of the NB Youth Orchestra and Founder of Sistema NB. “Making Sistema New Brunswick more widely available to more children provides a significant economic, social and cultural return on investment to the community.” New Brunswick has among the highest levels of child poverty in Canada.
Sistema New Brunswick is based on a highly successful program in South America that focuses on bringing about positive social change for underserved young people through music education. In New Brunswick it was initiated as part of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra (NBYO) in 2009 with just 50 students and has since grown to 1,000 students in nine centers across the province – children participate 3 hours after school, 5 days a week. There is no cost to students, it is free.
Our kids are counting on us and we can’t let them down.
This is a moment of opportunity.
We can do this together.
Official Launch
The 10,000 Children Campaign At A Glance
Leading Volunteers
Patron:
Hon. Brenda Murphy, Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick
Honorary Campaign Cabinet:
Dr. Sharon Azrieli, The Azrieli Foundation, Montreal
George Paul, Cultural Ambassador of Mi’kmaq Nation
Measha Brueggergosman, Soprano Soloist
Larry Nelson
Donald Savoie
The Hon. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell
The Hon. Herménégilde Chiasson
The Hon. Graydon Nicholas
‘10,000 Children’ Campaign Donors
Composer
Conductor
Music Director
Allison & Clare McCain
Concert Master
Ken & Miriam MacLeod
Principal Chair
Peter Buckley
Larry Nelson
Jon & Leslie Manship
Soloist
Stephen McCain
Lounsbury
Fondation Alfonson
Desjardins Foundation
Rheal Cormier Foundation
David & Lorrie Hawkins
Musician
Margaret Roy
Fondation des Batisseurs de la Coop Dieppe
David & Cathy MacFadyen
Edward & Janice McNally
Patron
Chris Evans
Wade Hamilton
Denis Losier
Kenn Mainville
Darrell Nameth
Jacques Poitras
The Sistema New Brunswick difference is guided by three main principles: inclusion, intensity and excellence. These three principles, collectively, set Sistema NB apart among social programs in New Brunswick.