About the Network

The Sistema Canada Network (SCN) is a national organization composed of Sistema inspired programs from across Canada. Although there is much diversity in the specifics of each Member Program, all programs share the same values and are committed to the overall mission of the Network. SCN currently operates under the administrative partnership of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, a registered charity.

Page Content:

Our Origin Story and Key Moments

Our Commitment to Reconciliation

Our Origin Story

The Network was officially launched in January 2022, although this wasn’t the beginning of Sistema in Canada, nor was it the first attempt at creating a national organization for Sistema inspired programs. But in 2020, during the initial pandemic lockdowns, Sistema programs began to connect and support one another, reigniting the drive to create a formal national organization. The timeline below shares the key milestones on the journey to creating the Sistema Canada Network.

El Sistema’s Origin Story

El Sistema is a movement that uses ensemble music making for positive social change. It began in Venezuela in 1975 by José Antonio Abreu (a musician, educator, and activist) and has inspired the development of similar programs all around the world. Canada is home to approximately 20 El Sistema inspired programs and that number is ever increasing.

Key Moments

1970

El Sistema Venezuela Beginnings - Started by Antonio Abreu

2007

Sistema Programs in Canada Launch

First Attempt to Connect Sistema in Canada, funded by The McConnell Foundation

2012-
2013

2020

National Program Conversation Re-Ignite, Research phase funded by The Azrieli Foundation begins

2021

Design Phase

2022

Launch Phase, supported by Azrieli and Eisenberg

2022

Network Lead Hired

2023

New programs and activities launch, development of Strategic Plan

Our Commitment to Reconciliation

The Sistema Canada Network acknowledges the historic and ongoing colonial violence across Turtle Island. We support the 94 Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and commit to furthering reconciliation efforts in our own work and the work of our Member Programs.

We acknowledge that education and music have been used as tools of systemic oppression and commit to promoting practices that support decolonization and healing. As our commitment to reconciliation, we pledge to take the following actions and to revisit them annually.

In 2025 we commit to:

Host a Reconciliation Working Group to further these commitments
Curate resources rooted in Indigenous experiences and perspectives
Create opportunities for Indigenous community members to share knowledge with Member Programs to deepen our collective understanding
Allocate funding to support the reconciliation work of Member Programs

In 2023/2024 we committed to:

Create a Reconciliation Working Group that will further these commitments

COMPLETE - Established in March 2024

Develop teaching materials that centre Indigenous experiences and perspectives

RETHOUGHT - Determined that ‘Teaching Materials’ are not the most relevant/appropriate resource for the Network to develop. Moving forward with curating resources rooted in Indigenous experiences and perspectives.