Homeless man gifted new violin after reporting his old one stolen

"God bless you."

Those were the first words out of the mouth of Mark Landry, a Montreal homeless man, when he saw a man approach him holding a brand new violin case.

Landry, a frequent performer in the Montreal Metro transit system, made headlines today after aMontrealer'sFacebook post this morning said Landry's violin was stolen.

When Orchestre Mtropolitain heard about it, they knew they wanted to help.

They got in touch with a local violin shop and bought him a new instrument.

They hand-delivered the Gewa violin,with a new case and bow,to LandryonTuesday afternoon.

"When we heard what happened to you, we contacted our friends at Maison du Violon...and we decided to give you back your joie-de-vivre and give you back the opportunity to do what it is you do best, which allows you to earn a small living," Jean Dupr, president of L'Orchestre Mtropolitain, told Landry.

Francis Lapointe of the Maison du Violon, who offered to sell it atcostprice,said they wanted to help "put music back in his life."

"He will have everything he needs to be playing again," Lapointe said. "It's a good instrument and it's going towork for years, hopefully, for Mark to enjoy his musicand for us to enjoy his music also."

RAW: Montreal homeless man gets new violin

8 years ago

Duration 1:32

Mark Landry, a homeless Metro performer whose violin was stolen, is playing once again thanks to Orchestre Mtropolitain and La Maison du Violon.

'Lower level of poverty' without violin

Landry says he was disappointed to wake up this morning and realize his violin was gone.

"I just said, 'OK, I gotta go through the lower level of poverty, which is to live without my violin.'"

But Landry said he never had a doubt that he would get his hands on a violin again.

"I said, 'God's gonna give me a new one.'"

"We hope that it gives you your smile back," Dupr told Landry, who has been playing the violin since he was 17.

"Oh yeah!" Landry said. "I'm going to go play right away."

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