Musical Instrument Lending Library program expands to more cities across the country

VANCOUVER, March 6, 2017 /CNW/ - In honour of Canada's 150th birthday, Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF) is proud to put more musical instruments into the hands of Canadians. Through the expansion of the highly successful Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library program, this innovative initiative will be available in more cities across Canada, giving anyone with a valid library card the opportunity to borrow a variety of musical instruments from a local public library free of charge. The announcement was made today at the Vancouver Public Library.

Sun Life will be making a philanthropic donation to fund the program operation in addition to donating 150 instruments to each participating library, including guitars, ukuleles, violins, drums, xylophones and portable keyboards. Sun Life has also created a series of six short videos to assist individuals with the use, care and enjoyment of the instruments. Whether you're a beginner picking up an instrument for the first time or a seasoned musician, the program is designed for anyone looking to explore the world of music.

"Music is an important part of Canadian culture and heritage, which is why we're thrilled to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday by making music more accessible to individuals and their families," said Kevin Dougherty, President, Sun Life Financial Canada. "At Sun Life, we're committed to building sustainable, healthier communities and we know libraries are vibrant community hubs and a rich source of culture. Music and the arts play an important role in our society and I'm proud that we can provide the opportunity for so many Canadians to experience and enjoy the positive power of music."

The Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library program is a natural extension of Sun Life's support of music education, one that aligns perfectly with the company's award-winning Making the Arts More Accessible®™ program. Sun Life believes arts and culture should be celebrated within our communities and made available to everyone, regardless of their means.

"The Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library is thriving in Vancouver," said Sandra Singh, Chief Librarian, Vancouver Public Library. "The community response has been incredible. People of all ages - from beginners to those rediscovering their passion for playing - are borrowing these instruments, and as a result, we're able to connect more people to the love of music. We're thrilled to be part of the program, and excited to be part of supporting Vancouver's creativity, culture and artistic expression. Thanks to Sun Life's generosity, more Vancouverites are able to play and experience music."

The Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending Library was first launched at the Parkdale Branch of the Toronto Public Library in April 2016, and was later expanded to the Vancouver and Montréal Public Libraries. The program is already an overwhelming success in the first three cities and all instruments were loaned out within two to seven days of launch. The libraries are all currently experiencing wait times to borrow an instrument which demonstrates the true need for accessibility to music. To help meet the high demand, Sun Life will also be donating an additional 50 instruments to the Toronto, Vancouver and Montréal programs.

About Sun Life Financial
Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individuals and corporate Clients. Sun Life Financial has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2016, Sun Life Financial had total assets under management of $903 billion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars

Media Relations Contacts:
Alessandra Nigro
Manager, Corporate Communications
Sun Life Financial
T. 416.979.4884
C. 416.859.6918
alessandra.nigro@sunlife.com 

Stephen Barrington
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Vancouver Public Library
T. 604.331.3895
C. 604.612.4059
stephen.barrington@vpl.ca

SOURCE Sun Life Financial Canada

Copyright 2017 Canada NewsWire

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