Musician, actor and author Alan Doyle was at the Sun Life Financial musical instrument lending library program launch Tuesday at the A.C. Hunter public library in St. John’s.

There were several instruments on display today at the A.C. Hunter public library in St. John’s, where the Sun Life Financial musical instrument lending library program was launched Tuesday.

Musician, actor and author Alan Doyle entertained a gathering at the A.C. Hunter public library Tuesday in St. John’s. Singing a Ron Hynes tune, St. John Waltz, he played a mini Taylor acoustic guitar, one of the many instruments that will be available in the Sun Life Financial musical instrument lending library program.

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Growing up in a musical family in Petty Harbour, Alan Doyle was lucky to have had many musical instruments at his fingertips as a kid.

“There were guitars and drums kicking around long before we had most of the other stuff,” he said laughing.

But Doyle realizes not all people are as fortunate. That’s why the nationally acclaimed musician and Great Big Sea frontman, actor, producer and author wanted to be a part of an initiative that gives people access to instruments that’s as easy as getting a library card.

Doyle was one of many people who were at the A.C. Hunter public library at the St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre today for the launch of the Sun Life Financial Musical Instrument Lending library program.

The program allows St. John’s area residents the opportunity to borrow a variety of musical instruments from the local public library, free of charge. Just like taking out a book, anyone with a valid library card can borrow a musical instrument for their own personal enjoyment.

Some of the available instruments — many donated by Sun Life and Long and McQuade music store — were on display at the library today, including guitars, a banjo, a violin, ukulele, mandolin and bongos.

There was also a bodhran, which Doyle said was used in Great Big Sea shows, as well as mini Taylor acoustic guitar, both of which Doyle signed.

Doyle said it’s a great option for anyone who can’t buy or rent an instrument. He said the program could help a budding musician into stardom.

“There could be a (well-known local singer and guitarist) Cory Tetford or Alan Doyle or any of us who had dreams of playing music for a living,” said Doyle, who entertained the gathering with a rendition of Ron Hynes’ tune St. John’s Waltz. “I guarantee you — I can speak for Cory and I can speak for two dozen other guys and gals I know — if we had access to this when we were kids, we’d have the door beat down trying to get in (to the library) at 9 o’clock in the morning, I tell you.”

It marks the third city in Atlantic Canada and 10th in Canada to join the musical instrument lending the program.

There was plenty of excitement Tuesday at the launch of the Sun Life Financial musical instrument lending program at the A.C. Hunter public library in St. John's. Helping to present Sun Life's financial donation to the program were, from left, Keith Vincent, Sun Life St. John's financial centre manager; musician Alan Doyle; Leigha Chiasson-Locke, St. John's regional librarian; Susan Prior, director of St. John's public libraries; Lynn Cuff, director of regional services for the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries; and Jennifer McIntosh, Sun Life Financial manager of philanthrophy.

Through the program, more than three million library card holders across Canada now have access to musical instruments.

Sun Life financial advisor Matt White said the program is special for his company, which has contributed more than $2 million to helping make arts more accessible to Canadians. Besides 150 instruments it’s donating here, Sun Life is also chipping in $140,000 to the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries to fund the program’s operational costs.

“This is just incredible,” White said looking around the room and at the instruments. “I’m so happy and almost emotional to be part of a company that’s doing such a thing. It’s just such an incredible gift to have this available here.”

Also on hand at the program launch were St. John’s Mayor Danny Breen, St. John’s regional librarian Leigha Chiasson, who said the program “makes accessible another form of literacy to our greater library community” and will help build an even bigger musical community in a province where a strong one already exists. St. John’s East MP Nick Whalen was also there, along with several other Sun Life representatives, including Jennifer McIntosh, manager of philanthropy.

“At Sun Life, we believe that arts and culture should be celebrated in our communities and made available to everyone, regardless of their means,” McIntosh said

Lynn Cuff, director of regional services of Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries, was thrilled with the program.

“That someone can actually come in and sign out an instrument is wonderful,” she said to the dozen who gathered at the library for the program’s launch.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries’ musical instrument donation drive begins today and runs until Aug. 24. Residents of the St. John’s region can drop off their donations of new or gently used instruments at the A.C. Hunter public library or Long and McQuade on Kenmount Road.

rosie.mullaley@thetelegram.com

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