Transforming Tragedy into Hope

When the power of music therapy revealed itself to them, Jewel Epp had no words to describe how it made them feel.

Jewel was just seven years old when they accompanied their mother and brother to visit their grandfather at Burnaby’s George Derby Care Home.

They remember a music therapist, guitar in hand, standing in front of a room full of senior veterans.

Many of them, like Jewel’s grandfather, were frail and suffered from cognitive decline.

“Looking back, I remember this was a room full of old soldiers, seniors who’ve been through a lot. I noticed that when she went up there, I got this feeling: ‘Everyone is feeling present. This is bringing people together.’”

Growing up in a musical household, and with years as a choral vocalist behind them, Jewel has since blossomed into a talented singer and musician. Imprinted by those early experiences, Jewel is now working toward entering the Bachelor of Music Therapy degree at CapU.

The Amanda Todd Music Therapy Legacy Award was created to support students like Jewel enrolled in the Music Therapy program looking to pursue their dreams.

This new financial award is named in tribute to the late Amanda Todd, the Port Coquitlam teenager who took her own life in 2012 after enduring years of online bullying, harassment and extortion.

Amanda’s legacy

Though the end of her life was marked by tragedy, Amanda’s legacy has evolved into something beautiful.

“Amanda passionately expressed herself through her words, her singing and her written poetry,” her mother, Carol Todd, an educator and district coordinator of Supportive Technologies and Digital Literacy in Coquitlam School District 43, fondly remembers.

After losing her daughter, Carol embarked on a national campaign to educate children, parents and educators through the Amanda Todd Legacy Society, a non-profit society that focuses on prevention and awareness of cyberbullying, exploitation and Internet safety. The foundation has since earned awards for its contributions to education, mental health and ending sexualized violence.

Amanda’s story took an artistic turn with a symphonic and multimedia performance composed by the late Vancouver composer Jocelyn Morlock. The composition, My Name is Amanda Todd, was presented as one of four stories in Life Reflected performed by the National Arts Centre Orchestra and has since been performed across North America and Europe. My Name is Amanda Todd also won a Juno award for Classical Composition of the Year in 2018.

Carol and Jocelyn were so moved by the public reaction to Amanda’s story, they discussed how the non-profit society could use the power of music as a vehicle to motivate people to help those with mental health challenges and/or suffering from trauma.

“We asked ourselves, how can music be used to help others?” Carol says. The two decided to recognize and support music therapy students who have made the decision to pursue a career focused on using their musical talents to help vulnerable populations.

Carol is pleased that she has been able to help establish the Amanda Todd Music Therapy Legacy Award with a $25,000 endowment that will assist CapU students in the Music Therapy program.

“Music therapy students have chosen this professional career path to help others. This path will lead to journeys of healing and will be both fulfilling and rewarding at the same time,” she says.

“Sunshine to overcome hard times”

Jewel says having the opportunity to receive an award like the Amanda Todd Music Therapy Legacy Award resonates with them, as they struggled with mental health.

Though Jewel says they are known as a talented and bubbly person, it is tempting for them and their peers to use “sunshine to overcome hard times.”

After completing their degree, Jewel hopes to work as a music therapist in the educational system. Until then, having access to student awards like this one helps propel them toward their goals. Jewel says it gives them the independence and time to devote to their studies with fewer worries.

“The impact of being a beneficiary of student bursaries is already visible,” Jewel says.

“I’m completely funding my education by myself and having bursary support like this has allowed me to do so. I’m so grateful and excited that there are going to be more opportunities like this for other students.”