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NEWS: Ms. Tina receives GG’s Meritorious Service Medal

10.01.2017

OrKidstra’s Tina Fedeski receives the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal for creating the program

OrKidstra enters its 10th Anniversary year in 2017

 

 

A photo of two women and one man smiling at the camera.
From L to R: Executive & Artistic Director of OrKidstra Tina Fedeski; Co-Founder and Honorary Director Gary McMillen and Co-Founder and Honorary Director Margaret Tobolowska. Photo by Robert S. Vibert

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OTTAWA, Ont. – January 10, 2017 – The Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, has awarded the Meritorious Service Medal to Tina Fedeski, Executive & Artistic Director of OrKidstra, for creating the program. This exciting news comes as OrKidstra enters its 10th Anniversary year.

Ms. Fedeski, who founded the program with Margaret Tobolowska and Gary McMillen, has shaped and nurtured OrKidstra from its small beginnings—27 children in 2007—to its current 525 children in 2017.

OrKidstra is a charitable, social development program which teaches life skills, such as teamwork, respect, commitment and pride in achievement, to children, aged 5 to 18, from under-served areas of Ottawa through learning and making music together. An inclusive program, OrKidstra counts some 42 different cultural backgrounds amongst its students, overlaid by the universal language of music.

When the award was made public over the weekend, Ms. Fedeski commented, “It is extraordinary to receive such an honour for doing something I feel I was born to do and have had the privilege and support to be able to create. None of this could have happened without my co-founders, staff, the Board and volunteers – and of course the joy and dedication of our remarkable students. This award really is for us all and I will proudly receive it for our entire OrKidstra family.”

Created by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Meritorious Service Medal recognizes Canadians for exceptional deeds that bring honour to our country and which highlight remarkable achievements in many different fields of endeavour, from advocacy initiatives and health care services, to research and humanitarian efforts.

A formal presentation of the Award will be made in Ottawa at a date to be announced.

– 30 –

Contact:

Rebecca Russell
Development & Communications Officer – OrKidstra
613.859.3559
development@OrKidstra.ca
OrKidstra.ca

View additional photos of OrKidstra here

View a PDF of the release here

 

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Families are welcome to submit applications for new students throughout the year. 

Choose your Ottawa neighbourhood:

  • Centretown/West Centretown Fields

  • Thank you for your interest in OrKidstra! We are now accepting registrations for our 2022-2023 season. We are accepting children aged 5-18 for the programs listed below.


    After-school programming for our Centretown Hub runs between 4 and 6:30 PM on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays.

    Please tick the box beside the program that interests your child:

  • Vanier/Overbrook Fields

  • Thank you for your interest in OrKidstra! We are now accepting registrations for our 2022-2023 season. We are accepting children aged 5-18 for the programs listed below.


    After-school programming for our Vanier Hub runs between 4 and 6:30 PM on Monday and Wednesday.

    Please tick the box beside the program that interests your child:

  • Heron Gate

  • Thank you for your interest in OrKidstra! We are now accepting registrations for our 2022-2023 season. We are accepting children aged 5-18 for the programs listed below.


    After-school programming for students from the neighbourhood of Heron Gate runs between 4 and 6:30 PM on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays.

    Please tick the box beside the program that interests your child:

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  • The OrKidstra program exists in order to inspire music-making in our children within a great community setting - and the goal of the OrKidstra is to make this program available to all families. The majority of our students participate free of charge.

    With this in mind, once we have reviewed your application, a fee may be requested based on your family’s financial situation. This will help cover the many costs, such as teachers, instruments and rent, ensuring that this community program will continue to be available to children who would not otherwise be able to participate. Our program will remain very affordable for all families.


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    Please note that we may require proof of income - all information is strictly confidential

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  • Please note that admission is not guaranteed. As class sizes are limited, priority will go to children who live in the Ottawa neighbourhoods listed above, as well as families of lesser means. Any students not accepted will be put on a wait-list and may be offered a spot should any become available.

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