Musician Eliza Doyle is back in Stanley Mission teaching students in the community. (submitted photo/Eliza Doyle)

By Derek Cornet

musical education

Doyle returns to Stanley Mission to further develop music program

Nov 19, 2020 | 4:20 PM

Musician Eliza Doyle plans to spend more time than she expected in Stanley Mission due to the rising number of coronavirus cases in Saskatchewan.

Doyle, who in the past completed a year-long musician-in-residency in the community, returned to Stanley Mission last month after fellow musician Mitch Dureault spent time there teaching fiddling and ukulele instruction in the local schools. The teaching position was originally supposed to be split between four different teachers throughout the school year, but Doyle changed the plan to limit the number of people coming in and out of the community.

“Just because of the pandemic, I think I am going to commit to staying longer,” she said. “I’m just trying to hunker down and make this program applicable to any other community and discover the funding streams that would work best, whether it be through community or the school division.”

While Dureault was teaching in Stanley Mission, he was working with between 60 to 70 elementary school students, as well as an additional 20 high students who had signed up for the music-as-a-career work experience class. Doyle took over from Dureault, but since the further spread of the virus, she had to move classes online.

Doyle explained many of the younger students don’t have instruments, so lessons have focused on rhythm, singing and music notation. Some of the older students do have instruments at home, she said.

Freedom and Flexibility

How App-Based Work Creates Economic Opportunity

15h ago

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Seniors Scene

Christmas is Coming

Dec 09, 2025

“It has been difficult, especially if people at home don’t have Internet,” Doyle said. “I know the community is working really hard with SaskTel to get Internet into the homes for anybody who needs it, and also delivering Chromebooks and laptops to make sure there is a device in every home to make sure kids can get online.”

For those who need an instrument, Doyle noted she’s working on finding an appropriate funding stream to purchase the equipment needed. She has a non-profit called the Community Arts Mentorship Program (CAMP) to find funding for instruments or affordable music programming.

“The program is able to exist because the community has been so welcoming and supportive,” Doyle said. “It’s really what made it take off. It was really a testament to the welcoming and supportive nature of the community. I just really thank everybody up here who encouraged it.”

–

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno