Restore PEI's oldest grand piano and sing with us!

Let's sing together again!

Donate and you could win a stay at the Barachois Inn on Prince Edward Island

 

Hello. I'm Judy MacDonald, co-owner of the Barachois Inn, at Rustico, Prince Edward Island.

 

My husband Gary and I have owned the Barachois Inn for nearly 40 years. It has been a very difficult year for us as tourism operators, but we want to create a project that can bring us together again and lift everyone’s spirits. As we emerge carefully from this painful time of isolation and social distancing, we want to invite everyone to gather with us, to lift our voices in song, and come together again as a community.

 

The idea:

 

For decades, our guests have often commented on the beautiful grand piano that sits in the parlour off the main entrance. Many ask to play. But the piano is silent. It’s one of the oldest grand pianos made in Canada, at nearly 150 years, and it needs significant restoration and refinishing before it can be played and enjoyed again. This year especially we felt how this piano is a symbol of where we all are as a community.

 

We are looking for help to restore the voice of this piano and, in so doing, restore ourselves. Our goal is to host Christmas carol singalongs and warm community events with local musicians and chefs that bring us together in the dark, cold months again. We think that music and community and sharing with each other will help us all heal.

 

About the piano:

 

>> The piano was built in Toronto in the late 1800s by R.S. Williams and Sons. It was rescued by Gary over 30 years ago and was tuned and repaired over the years but can no longer be played without a significant overhaul that is beyond our budget -- especially this year!