Spotlight on Annette Rolleman: Bringing Music Therapy to the Northwest

In December 2019, the ThriveNorth program successfully completed its five-year mandate. Managed by Futurpreneur Canada, the program helped young entrepreneurs in Northern B.C. launch and grow their businesses by connecting them with resources, financing and mentorship.

Annette grew up in Terrace, British Columbia where her heart for a small town grew without her even realizing it. At 18, she moved away to Edmonton for school to study music, and after completing her degree, she realized that her Bachelor of Music wasn’t the end of her education; she wanted to do something other than perform and teach. “I wanted to be in a helping profession and I really wanted to give back to my community,” she explained. After reading an article about a woman who used music therapy to work with women in Bosnia with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anette knew that being a music therapist was her calling.

Fast forward and Annette now has her own business in Terrace, Annette Rolleman Music Therapy. Her business offers music therapy services, and sessions can either be in a group or one-to-one. Her goal when working with clients is to increase, maintain and rebuild multiple areas of health. Annette explained that music therapy can benefit people of all ages, and she has experience working with the geriatric population, as well as women and young mothers who struggle with substance abuse or have children with disabilities.

I had a chance to chat with Annette about her business, and how receiving the Small Project Grant through Futurpreneur Canada and ThriveNorh helped her and her business.

What local services did you use to help start your business?

I used Futurpreneur Canada and ThriveNorth before I was even finished school, I found it beneficial for networking as well as learning and understanding more of the finer details about running a business. I’ve also found support through ArtBeat Art Therapy Studio, Alpenglow Counselling, Northwest Integrative Health, and after receiving the Small Project Grant I will be going to Spee Dee Printers and Sight and Sound.

How has the Small Project Grant helped your business?

I just completed my music therapy degree; therefore I’ve been in school for the last three years. Living on a student budget is not ideal financially when you want to start a business. The Small Project Grant has helped me acquire some of the necessary things needed to start my business. I’ve been able to purchase some of the mundane such as insurance, a printer and office supplies. I also have the ability now to increase the types of instruments I have, the most exciting being a set of hand chimes and more drums. With these I hope to start a hand chime choir and have the ability to run drumming circles with some of my existing groups.

Why did you decide you wanted to start your own business?

I would say starting a business is not something I chose, it chose me. There is no music therapy north of the Okanagan, therefore music therapy positions do not exist in any facilities in the northwest. I started my own practice in order to bring music therapy to the Northwest.

What tip do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs in Terrace?

Seek others wisdom and experience, find mentors and peer support.

To learn more about Annette’s business, click here.

Written By: Lauren Marinigh, Social Media & Content Creation Coordinator, Futurpreneur Canada