Music plays so many roles in our lives. 

It brings us together through live concerts…

It can help us change our mood or amplify how we are feeling in a certain moment…

And as you will hear in this episode, music has the power to form meaningful relationships and spark joy in people with physical and cognitive challenges. 

Candace Ukrainetz shares her passion for forming those relationships in this episode of YXE Underground. She is the music therapist at Sherbrooke Community Centre, a long term care home in Saskatoon. 

Full disclosure...I work at Sherbrooke as its Communications Leader and I have had the privilege of watching Candace for the past eight years create well-being in the lives of residents in her role. 

Candace grew up playing all sorts of instruments. She took piano and cello lessons as a kid and today can often be seen sitting next to a resident with her guitar or auto-harp in her hands. 

What Candace really loves to do, however, is sing. She would sing as a kid all through her house and says that singing gets out all of her emotions. 

Her love of music led down the path of music therapy and the 263 residents at Sherbrooke are the beneficiaries of her gifts.

One of the many things I love about this episode is that not only are we shining a light on Candace’s work at Sherbrooke but also the role music therapists can play in other settings such as hospitals.

It turns out March is Music Therapy month.

I wish I could say I planned it this way to share Candace’s story this month, but I am not that organized. However, I am hopeful this episode will spark a conversation in our Saskatoon community about the benefits music therapy has on people. 

I met with Candace in Sherbrooke’s greenhouse a few days after Valentine’s Day. She brought a cart full of musical instruments with her and you’ll hear a few during our conversation. You’ll also hear some powerful stories when it comes to music making a difference in the lives of people with physical and cognitive challenges and of course why this work means so much to Candace.

Thank you so much for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. Please leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear and don't forget to follow YXE Underground wherever you find your podcasts. 

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis