Since the Joan Mantle Music Trust was established in 2008, every secondary school in the Rainbow Board has benefited from it. A second round of funding throughout the board will see Lo-Ellen Park, Lockerby Composite, Manitoulin Secondary and Barrydowne College receive new instruments in the 2012-13 school year, courtesy of the trust.

So far, some $107,000 has been raised for the trust, named after the longtime educator who made an immense contribution to music education locally. She passed away from cancer in 2009.

Pictured, Grade 12 Lo-Ellen Park student Xuan Han poses with Leslie Mantle, Joan Mantle’s daughter, and Bela Ravi, Joan Mantle Music Trust Steering Committee Member at a press conference held to announce the funding.