For 24 years, Marie Slade has brought the transformative power of music therapy to hospitals and long-term care facilities through our music therapy community outreach program. Her dedication to therapeutic excellence, research, and compassionate care has touched countless lives, demonstrating how music can bring comfort and meaning to those she serves.
Marie’s contributions to the field have been recognized with her recent designation as an Honoured Life Member of the Music Therapy Association of BC, a testament to her unwavering commitment to advancing music therapy practice. Before coming to Victoria, Marie’s first six years of practice were on the Sunshine Coast, providing a home based palliative music therapy program while working in complex care and as a consultant for an Adult Day Program. Throughout her career, she has been a research collaborator, working with teams from the University of Victoria to study the impacts of individualized music and intergenerational choir programs for residents with memory loss at Mount St. Mary Hospital. Her earlier work at Luther Court helped inform The British Columbia Care Providers Association Report on practices to reduce the use of anti-psychotic medication in the elderly. What distinguishes Marie’s practice is her profound understanding that therapy must evolve with each person’s journey. She demonstrates exceptional skill in adapting her approach to meet the immediate needs of her residents, ensuring that goal-setting remains responsive and meaningful. At Mount St. Mary Hospital, where she has become integral to the facility’s holistic care approach, Marie coordinates two vital programs: the “Heart to Heart” choir and the volunteer-based iPod program, multiplying her impact through community engagement.
Marie’s influence extends throughout the hospital environments where she works. She builds playlists for music players in units and bathing rooms, ensuring that music supports residents’ wellbeing even beyond her direct sessions. Her commitment to meaningful content is evident in her weekly search for new music and readings for her Spiritual Music Group. In collaboration with pastoral care, she helped implement a “Blue Christmas” service for residents experiencing grief or difficulty during the holidays, and now regularly assists with memorial services, providing comfort through music during these tender moments.
Beyond her therapeutic work, Marie is professional musician, performing oboe and English horn with the professional band “The Brad Prevedoros Collective.”
Marie’s work embodies the essence of music therapy: meeting people where they are, honoring their humanity, and using music as a bridge to comfort, connection, and meaning.