Brent Reaney
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 30/04) - Ten years ago, a patient in the Stanton Hospital extended care unit asked Esther Braden if she would play the organ for her. So she did.

Last week, Braden, along with Theresa Crane, Lew Delaney, and Dawn Lacey were named the territory's volunteer group of the year for their musical influence at Yellowknife's Aven Manor by the NWT Municipal and Community Affairs.

With Braden playing the keyboard and Delaney on the squeeze box (an accordion without keys), the group performs at the manor at least once a week.

"We try to sing music that the elderly people would have known in their youth," says Braden.

And during a birthday celebration at Aven Manor, residents were smiling, laughing while others clapped their hands to tunes like Bring Back My Bonnie and The More We Get Together.

The awards were presented by MACA at a ceremony honouring the territory's top volunteers Saturday, April 24 in Rae.