A brand new set of marimbas was unveiled at a end-of-year Qualicum Beach Middle School assembly on Friday, built collaboratively by seniors, students and the woodwork teacher David Haynes.
A group of seven students and two adults took to the stage to perform a song on Friday, displaying proudly the hand-crafted, wooden instruments they have worked so hard on for the past six months.
Parent and senior mentor of the project Doug Hopwood helped teach the children to both build and play the marimbas. He has been building marimbas on Lasqueti Island and the mainland for 15 years.
The marimbas will now be available for use throughout District 69.
The project, called New Horizons for Seniors marimba program, took place thanks to the Arrowsmith Community Enhancement Society and the grant they received from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.
A second part of the project involved youth mentoring seniors to play custom built marimbas at the Bradley Centre in Coombs, and later on Friday afternoon a wind-up recital took place there.