The North Bay Ukulele Club has been in existence since June of 2012, beginning as the Music City Ukulele Club of North Bay & Area. Basic music instruction is provided to enthusiasts on a weekly basis. The ukulele is used to introduce children, teens and adults, of all ages, to the rudiments of music-making.
There is no charge for participating and everyone is welcome to attend. The club is completely volunteer-driven.
Music City, a local retail store that has been selling quality musical instruments since 1964 until 2017 when it was bought by Long and McQuade, hosts the weekly Strum & Sing sessions without charge. To show its appreciation for the store’s support, the fledgling group chose to call itself the Music City Ukulele Club of North Bay & Area before graduating to the North Bay Ukulele Club.
Between 20 – 25 of the members regularly participate in a performance group, which plays, upon request, at special community events and fundraising initiatives for non-profit organizations and local groups. To date, the performance group has played at events in North Bay and surrounding communities within the districts of Nipissing and East Parry Sound. Some examples of the initiatives/organizations that the performance group has supported include: Empire Living Centre (North Bay Retirement Residence) (monthly), Relay For Life North Bay, Powassan Library, Spirit of Giving Christmas Celebration (various Government Ministries sponsor local charities), Multiple Sclerosis Walk, Cystic Fibrosis Walk, South River Fall Fair, North Bay Canada Day Celebration, North Bay & District Multicultural Centre, service clubs (Beta Sigma Phi, Rotary Club), Near North Palliative Care Network, local church groups, Burrow’s annual fundraiser for the Food Bank, East Ferris Trade Show, Capital Centre’s Children’s Festival, Cassellholme Home For The Aged, and PADDLE (Providing Adults With Developmental Disabilities Lifelong Experiences) Learning Centre.
The musical director and members of the performance group have also been asked to provide performances and basic instruction in local schools. Most recently, a session was provided for Widdifield Secondary School’s Certification & Skills Training Day.
North Bay Ukulele Club 