Maple Ridge ukulele group celebrates 10th anniversary

The Ridge Meadows Seniors Ukulele Group will mark its 10th anniversary with a public celebration at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Maple Ridge Seniors Activity Centre, 12150 224 St., Maple Ridge.

Founder Lillian Bilodeau started the group in 2016 at the Pitt Meadows Seniors Activity Centre, when five ukulele players were looking for a place to jam. They met for lunch and played in the lounge, bringing extra instruments for seniors who wanted to join.

By the time the official group began that September, 25 people had enrolled in Pitt Meadows. Bilodeau found more instruments with help from a friend involved with Coquitlam’s Cutie Circle, and said every participant had a ukulele by the third week. As membership grew to 37, she opened a Maple Ridge group in 2017 with friend Don Klein, who later died.

The group now has 50 participants between Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Bilodeau, who turns 79 in October, leads beginner and intermediate sessions in both communities every Thursday. Members also perform at local seniors facilities and community festivals.

New members aged 55 and older are welcome. The group’s oldest member is 96. More information is available at 604-467-4993.