“I began volunteering at The Salvation Army Toronto Grace Health Centre (TGHC) in the summer of 2016. A friend and colleague of mine, Eleanor Hart, was running a drum circle on Friday afternoons, but she was leaving to travel abroad. I was running similar programs at other healthcare facilities at the time, so she asked me if I would take over the program. I didn’t hesitate and I am very glad I didn’t. For the past three years, I have worked with Susana Yan and Joanna Obre the Recreation Therapy team in addition to countless other volunteers and interns. It has been a privilege to work with such a supportive and positive group of people. Susana and Joanna truly care about each patient and are dedicated to improving their quality of life. The consistent positivity and support that they offer is an awesome gift.

In September, I began training as a psychotherapist and music therapist. The experience I have had at TGHC has been invaluable for my personal and professional development. It has been a joy to see how music can affect the lives of the patients. It can help develop interpersonal relationships and reduce the isolation that patients too often feel in a hospital setting. It provides a space where patients can share their identity, their voice, and feel validated as a human-being.

There have been countless moments in my time at TGHC that have stayed with me. Seemingly simple and fleeting moments can be so beautiful. Two patients who have just met high-fiving after a session like they have known each other for years; or a patient with severe aphasia singing Edelweiss as loudly as they can; or two patients holding hands as they sing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah; or a mother holding her son’s hand as they play a drum together, looking into each other’s eyes and smiling. It has been amazing to see how individuals with varying levels of cognitive, motor and verbal capacity can engage in music. My time at Toronto Grace has been such a privilege and I owe it all to the patients, their caregivers and the extremely supportive staff.

Daniel Robinson, Recreation Therapy Volunteer