OrKidstra gets permanent home for Vanier Hub after-school programs
Did you know our Vanier Hub has moved? Our after-school social development through music programs for the under-served areas of Vanier North/South and Overbrook-McArthur are now permanently located at Rideau Community Hub (previously Rideau High School) at 815 St. Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa. Our programming staff have been hard at work and the new spaces look very welcoming for our students!
It’s been quite a journey for us…our first classes for the newly launched Vanier hub were at Rideau High School in the fall of 2016. We’ve now come home to Rideau Community Hub and our fourth year of classes (2019/20) started on September 16, 2019. Big thanks to Ottawa-Carleton District School Board for continuously being supportive of OrKidstra’s after-school programs in Vanier. The Vanier Hub’s success was made possible, in part, through OCDSB Community Use of Schools program for the 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons.
The ongoing need for OrKidstra’s social development programs is clear (54.5% of kids in Overbrook-McArthur are living in poverty compared to an Ottawa average of 16.3% neighbourhoodstudy.ca). “OrKidstra is a phenomenal organization, providing children who may not have the opportunity with free music lessons,” says Councillor Rawlson King, Ward 13 Rideau-Rockcliffe. “Given the very acute need of youth in the Overbrook/Vanier area, I’m delighted that OrKidstra has an after-school programming location at the Rideau Community Hub. Now in their fourth year, I understand that the OrKidstra team is serving up to 135 children, two times a week, at their Vanier Hub location alone. Your support makes a real impact.” OrKidstra is proud to be a partner in community building in this part of our city.
