Author: CanadaSouth Rotary

A new partnership is providing unused musical instruments to inspire a new generation of musicians.

The Rotary Club of Canada South, Windsor Symphony Orchestra (WSO), Windsor Public Library (WPL), and the City of Windsor have teamed up to launch The Robert Franz Play It Forward Instrument Library. The initiative will collect donated instruments, prepare them for lending, and make them available free of charge to Windsor-Essex residents through the Windsor Public Library system.

Named in honour of the late Maestro Robert Franz (1968-2025), whose passion for music enriched countless lives throughout Windsor-Essex, the program aims to remove financial barriers to music education while encouraging creativity, learning, and participation in the arts.

Through the initiative, residents are invited to donate musical instruments they no longer use. Instruments will be evaluated and refurbished by the Windsor Symphony Orchestra before being catalogued and made available for borrowing through Windsor Public Library’s lending collection.

Instruments may be donated in the following ways:

1. At the Windsor Symphony Orchestra: During regular business hours, Monday from 12:00–5:00 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., at The Capitol Theatre, 121 University Avenue West, Windsor
2. Before a WSO concert: Instruments may be dropped off before any Windsor Symphony Orchestra concert.
3.  Instrument Pickup by Rotary Club of Canada South: Have an instrument to donate but unable to drop it off? Members of the Rotary Club of Canada South would be happy to arrange a convenient pickup. Simply email canadasouthrotary@gmail.com to make arrangements.

Accepted donations include guitars, violins, violas, cellos, trumpets, trombones, clarinets, flutes, saxophones, percussion instruments, and other portable musical instruments in playable or repairable condition. Donors are also encouraged to include cases, bows, mouthpieces, music stands and other accessories where available.

Pianos will not be accepted due to transportation and storage requirements.

Following collection, donated instruments will be transferred to the Windsor Symphony Orchestra where they will be evaluated, repaired or refurbished if required, and prepared for lending.

Once approved, instruments will be catalogued and made available through Windsor Public Library. Borrowers will require a valid adult Windsor Public Library card and will be able to borrow instruments for a three-week period, with renewals available when instruments are not reserved by another user.

The Windsor Symphony Orchestra will provide donated instruments to Windsor Public Library on a monthly basis, with the first collection expected to be available for public borrowing beginning December 1, 2026.

For more information, please contact Rebecca Ng, 519-819-1317.

The 5th Annual Burger Battle is back with seven (7) new participating restaurants.
Passports go on sale November 2, 2027 and are just $25. They make great stocking stuffers!

Last year’s Best Burger in Windsor/ LaSalle/ Tecumseh, Bender’s Bar and Grill, was thrilled with the response they received as a first time participant. “As soon as we heard about the Burger Battle we knew we wanted to be part of it. Our business boomed during the slower winter months, and the icing on the cake – we won!”, says owner Ben Fallon.

Beerded Dog Brewing Co. in Harrow won Best Fries in Essex County. “It was our first year in the event and we couldn’t be happier with the results. Lots of new customers and we won for best fries!”

Ann Hetherington, Chair of the Burger Battle, is thrilled with the response from the community and from local restaurants. “This is a program that benefits a number of audiences, most importantly the charities and non-profits in our community who receive much needed funds from the proceeds raised through the Burger Battle”.

A new Rotary Club. A new beginning. A new commitment to serve.

What an incredible evening as we celebrate the Charter Night of the Rotary Club of Canada South.

Here’s to our future – and all we can accomplish together as we
Create Lasting Impact.