It’s a donation that should help the Markdale Arts for Youth program expand.
The Rotary Club of Markdale has pledged almost 27 thousand dollars over the next four years to help the group purchase musical instruments and replace aging ones at Beavercrest Community School.
Spokesperson David Fries says they’ve got about 60 students in their program at the moment.
He says they never anticipated the additional benefits to the students from learning a musical instrument and playing in a band.
Fries says they saw the students’ self esteem go up as well as their marks and their ability to get along with other students.
He says they’re also hoping to expand the arts program to other genres including sketching, dance and theatre.
The Bluewater District School Board has also said they’d like to use the Markdale program as a model for other schools.