Scout House Band Donating Instruments for Kids in Jamaica
Preston Scout Band Inc. is celebrating the 85th anniversary of the Band’s founding in 1938 by making a donation of brass instruments to Jamaican youth who will be participating in the Seventh Day Adventist church’s Inter-American Division (IAD) Pathfinder Camporee in Trelawny, near Montego Bay, Jamaica, in early April.
The formal presentation of six horns will take place at a Scout House Youth Band (formerly the Cadets) recruiting open house at 7 pm Thursday March 2, at Preston Royal Canadian Legion Branch 126, 334 Westminster Drive N. Members of the public, particularly potential new members of the Youth Band from ages eight to 21, are welcome to attend.
Just before the pandemic lockdown period began in 2020, local resident Jannette Ho asked if Scout House could donate instruments to be used by youth in the Beautiful Stars Band at the Hopewell Seventh Day Adventist church in Hanover parish in Jamaica.
“This is a group of musicians that meet at the Hopewell Seventh Day Adventist Church,” she stated. “Some of them are Pathfinders, but there are other members from the community. The hope is to encourage interest in music as well as keeping youth off the streets.”
Youth Ministries of the Western Jamaica Conference is hosting the 5th International Camporee at Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium. Sephton Spencer, area coordinator for the four western parishes, will be pulling musicians from the four parishes to perform at the Camporee, so the Scout House instruments could be distributed to youth as needed.
“I am a returning Jamaican who met Mr. Spencer, who was so passionate about the young musicians,” Ho stated. “I know about the Preston Scout House Band and instantly thought about reaching out.”
Camporee organizers anticipate up to 30,000 Pathfinders and Master Guides to participate in the five-day event.
The West Jamaica Conference is responsible for training and providing leadership to the youth across its four territories: St. James, Hanover, Westmoreland and St. Elizabeth. A vast majority of young people in the area have the skills and talents to play brass instruments, but the church has limited resources to provide them.
Scout House 85th anniversary year events will include a free community Open House at Preston Legion Branch 126 from 1 to 7 pm on Saturday, June 24. The event will include extensive displays of memorabilia highlighting the history of the original Preston Scout House Band from 1938 to 1967 and alumni era activities beginning in 1993 including a heritage colour guard and drill team; alumni band, Silver Leaves brass ensemble, Cadets youth drum and bugle corps and Magic competitive winter guard.
The program will also include light refreshments, cash bar, brief greetings and comments from community leaders, souvenir anniversary buttons and a wide selection of Scout House collectibles, with donations welcomed.
Preston Scout House Band Inc. is a non-profit corporation with registered charity status able to issue tax receipts to donors, incorporated under the Corporations Act of the Province of Ontario on November 29, 1956.
For more information about Preston Scout House Band Inc. activities, contact telephone (519) 653-3376, email PSHBAND [dot] INC [at] outlook [dot] com
