Downtown Vernon piano program is over

Photo: Darren Handschuh

The Vernon Public Piano Project has come to an end.

The sound of music has stopped in downtown Vernon.

Local artist Dave Stanfield said he has been looking after the Vernon Public Piano Project in the city centre for the past few years.

A piano had been set up in the 3200 block of 30th Avenue where anyone could sit down and play a tune.

The piano drew numerous people who delighted passersby with their musical talent, but on Saturday Stanfield said the program is no more.

Thursday, someone tipped the piano over, damaging it and effectively ending the program.

Stanfield said at this point, he is not willing to have the piano repaired and is frustrated and upset by the situation and the end of a program he invested so much time and effort into.

“The program has come to a grinding halt,” said Stanfield. “It's closed permanently. The program has been going on for five years and this was the final attempt to make it work.”

Stanfield said he knows who tipped and damaged the piano, but said he is not vengeful, just upset the program has come to an end.

“It's quite a big loss and a lot of people are upset about it,” said Stanfield, who himself is a musician.

Stanfield said with the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down so many venues, there is not a lot of opportunities to see a live performance, making the loss of the VPPP even greater.

“I've got a sign on it that says 'Due to idiotic behaviour of fully grown adults, the piano is closed permanently,'” said Stanfield.