About Us
In 1995, the Heart of the City Music Program (HCMP) began as a single dream to enhance the lives of at-risk youth through a structured music program. Richard Dube, the music teacher of Pleasant Hill Community School in Saskatoon, started the program with the strong belief that involvement in the HCMP will help students to make positive lifestyle choices and prevent them from becoming involved in drugs, alcohol and violence.
The HCMP has since spread to 6 cities across Canada, including Edmonton. Here in Edmonton, the HCMP is a registered student group at the University of Alberta. It is run by students with the invaluable support of the Edmonton Public School Board, Edmonton Catholic School Board, and the Norwood Child & Family Resource Centre.
Our mission is to enhance the lives of and learning opportunities for at-risk youth through a structured music program that continues throughout the school year. We strive to proactively address the social issue of poverty and social justice by the advancement of a more equitable opportunity for disadvantaged youth to participate in music lessons.