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- calendar_today October 31, 2026
Community Rallies for Regina Band Teacher Facing Terminal Brain Cancer
Julie Atter, a dedicated musician and beloved band instructor from Regina, has inspired an outpouring of support after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer a year ago. Atter, now 65, spent her career advocating for music education and helping young students find their passion in music. Her diagnosis has led to the creation of meaningful initiatives, including a new student support fund and a commissioned band piece in her honour.
The Julie Atter Pay It Forward Fund: Continuing Her Generosity
In recognition of Atter’s years of generosity, the Saskatchewan Band Association recently established the Julie Atter Pay It Forward fund. This memorial fund aims to support aspiring student musicians by providing scholarships for band and access to music camps, extending Atter’s legacy of breaking down barriers to music education.
Atter’s daughter, Heidi, shared that learning about the fund moved her mother to tears: “Because going into music and having that place where people can express themselves and be themselves is so important.”
A Life Changed by Music
Growing up in a family that often struggled financially, Atter found opportunity and confidence through music. “She always remembered that teacher that first looked at her and told her that she deserved to be a musician,” said Heidi. That early encouragement led Atter to play trombone in the Regina Symphony Orchestra and eventually to earn a teaching degree, working with students in Regina's inner-city schools.
Dedication to Students
Throughout her teaching career, Atter was known for her tireless support and advocacy for students, many of whom faced challenges such as lack of access to instruments and transportation, or even basic necessities like meals. Atter spearheaded fundraising efforts and started a supper club to ensure kids were fed before band practice. She also arranged transportation for students to attend music camps, believing every child deserved an opportunity to experience the transformative power of music. “It did not matter if they became professional musicians … that one-hour practice or that two-hour band concert, they were the most important thing in the world to her,” Heidi recalled.
Paying Tribute Through Music
After Atter’s initial diagnosis—marked by subtle symptoms later identified as a glioblastoma—her family approached the Saskatchewan Band Association about sponsoring students in her honour. The association expanded the idea, creating a legacy fund open to support current and future music students. “Ideally, we hope we can find some musicians that are sort of the new Julies in the future,” said association CEO, Suzanne Gorman.
Further extending the tribute, Canadian composer Elizabeth Raum has written a new piece inspired by Atter, set to be performed by students in Grades 6 to 8. For Atter’s family, the song and the fund together serve as lasting reminders of her enduring spirit and lifelong mission to let children know they are not alone through the gift of music.
Looking Forward
The initiatives created in Julie Atter’s name hope to ensure that her 'magnum opus'—spreading the love of music—resonates for generations. As her daughter said, “She spent her whole life reminding little kids that they're not alone, and hopefully we can keep that going into the future and always remind people that they're not alone.”
Source: cbc.ca.
