Pancakes and fun on tap at Sweetwater Harvest Festival
Submitted by Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, Mar 10, 2025
MIDLAND, ON: The highly anticipated Sweetwater Harvest Festival is back! Hosted by the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre in partnership with Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, this action-packed, maple syrup-filled weekend is set to be the sweetest event of the season!
Join us on March 22-23, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to celebrate the return of spring with maple-filled fun for the whole family. From sugar shack demonstrations to artisan booths, make and take crafts to maple taffy on ice, there’s something for everyone!
Pancakes are also making their Sweetwater Harvest Festival comeback, and they include the real maple syrup we all crave. Restaurant Sainte-Marie will be serving up this iconic breakfast throughout the event, ensuring you get your syrup fix from start to finish.
“The Sweetwater Harvest Festival is a sweet celebration of our local heritage and the arrival of spring,” says Eric Water, Executive Director of Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre. “Nothing beats the smell of Bannock cooking over an open fire, the taste of maple taffy rolled on snow, and seeing families creating memories together outdoors.”
This is the third year Wye Marsh and Sainte-Marie among the Hurons have worked together to host this festival experience. The neighbouring organizations, located off Highway 12 in Midland, are long-time collaborators, joining forces to offer educational programs and outdoor experiences year-round.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Wye Marsh again to host this event,” says Will Baird, General Manager of Huronia Historical Parks. “It’s a fantastic way to get outdoors, have some fun, and explore our shared heritage.”
Exciting activities await at Wye Marsh:
- Maple taffy on ice: Get your hands sticky with this sweet treat made from fresh maple syrup poured over snow!
- Sugar shack demonstrations: Meet the Sap Suckers, the Wye Marsh team of volunteers dedicated to the age-old process of turning sap into liquid gold.
- Roasting Bannock: Try your hand at cooking this delicious traditional bread over an open fire.
- Birds of prey: Meet majestic birds up close and learn from experts.
- Kids zone: Make and take crafts and check out animal pelts and other nature artifacts.
- Métis stories and jigging: Enjoy a cultural experience that will get your feet tapping!
Historical adventures at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons:
- Sweetwater Arts and Crafts Market: Shop from over 20 talented artisans for unique, locally made goods.
- Scavenger hunts and games: Indoor and outdoor hunts will keep you exploring all day long.
- Cornbread in the cookhouse: Taste a traditional treat made on-site.
- Historical fun: Try on historical clothing, play traditional First Nations games, and take part in hands-on crafts.
- Teas and stories in the longhouse: Warm up with historic tea samples, then listen to Indigenous stories.
Get your tickets early for extra savings:
Save $6 per ticket when you purchase your tickets by March 18, and avoid long lines by booking online at WyeMarsh.com/Sweetwater. But don’t worry—tickets will still be available at the gate.
A sweet thanks to our sponsors!
A big thank you to Team Jordan Real Estate, S Charlebois Haulage and Excavation Ltd, Barber & Haskill, Windlee Farms, Telequip, Bounce Radio, Pure Country, Springwater News, Charles Morden Construction Inc., Big101.1 and Fresh Radio 93.1, whose support has helped make this amazing event possible.
Striking the Right Chord
Submitted by Waypoint Centre for Mental Health, Feb. 26, 2025
Music therapy plays important role in Waypoint care
With World Music Therapy Day coming up on March 1, no one at Waypoint is better suited than Kelly Lefaive to sing the praises of music in health care.
“I use music strategies to support people in reaching their health-related goals,” explained Lefaive, the hospital’s Music Therapist. “I run groups and also offer individual services, and I work in all units here at Waypoint, as well as at the HERO Centre.”
Music therapy is more than just entertainment — it is a powerful tool for healing. Lefaive tailors her approach to each individual’s comfort level.
“I try to have the person be as involved as possible in the creation of music. This could mean playing instruments, singing or writing songs,” she said. “In some cases, if people are a little less comfortable expressing themselves through an instrument or their voice, it may be about simply listening.”
From the very first session, she works with clients to identify their health goals and determine how music can support them. Lefaive noted there’s a growing body of research around the different ways music can affect patients.
“It impacts our brain chemistry. Music engagement allows for improvement in mood, lower stress, and better connection with others,” she said. “But on a basic level, people relate to music. When I meet someone in a hospital setting, I’m not saying, ‘Oh, what’s wrong?’ or ‘What brought you here?’ I’m asking them about what role music has played in their life. If we can find this common ground, that’s where the therapeutic relationship starts to build.”
This approach is especially valuable for patients reluctant to participate in other types of therapy or group settings. Through music, they find a comfortable and expressive outlet.
“I find it really special and feel very honoured when people share their own original music with me and then we start working on it together and collaborating,” Lefaive said. “With some people, we’ve gotten to the point of actually recording them singing and playing.”
Lefaive’s passion for music therapy is deeply rooted in her personal history. Coming from a musical family, she has been performing and touring with her family band, Ariko, since childhood. Music has always been a part of her identity as a person, but also her cultural identity as a francophone because their playlist includes so much traditional French Canadian music.
Her journey into this unique profession began at Wilfrid Laurier University, where she studied music therapy and psychotherapy. After completing a nine-month student placement at Waypoint in 2021, Lefaive transitioned into a full-time role in 2022, thanks to the support of her manager, John Rodnick. Since then, she has continued to bring harmony and healing to patients through her work.
Foundation celebrates as $4M fundraising goal achieved
Submitted by GBGH
March 5, 2025 – The Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation has completed the $4-million fundraising campaign for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine. After the hospital received approval of the operational funding for an MRI in early 2023, the Foundation began working with the community to provide the capital funding needed to make this important project a reality.
By December 2024, more than $3-million had been raised, but it was a special matching gift from FDC Foundation that provided the final $1-million impact. The private family foundation, based in Mississauga, matched all donations to the MRI Fund up to a total of $550,000.
“The support from the community for the MRI project has been truly inspiring, with more than 1,800 individuals, businesses and organizations making a donation,” says Nicole Kraftscik, CEO, GBGH Foundation. “We are incredibly grateful for every single gift, and especially to FDC Foundation for helping us achieve the goal in time for the completion of the new MRI suite later this month.”
Construction of the new MRI suite began in June 2024, and is expected to be completed by the end of March 2025. The addition to the hospital is a 2,500 square foot space that connects to the existing diagnostic imaging department, and incorporates the MRI, control area, separate waiting room, radiology office and staff breakroom.
“Our community is in desperate need of MRI services, with nearly 4,000 individuals having to travel to Barrie, Orillia and beyond each year,” says Mathew Lawson, president & CEO, GBGH. “That is why we have been pushing so hard to have the MRI up and running as quickly as possible. Adding this program at GBGH is going to reduce wait times across the region, and provide our patients with care close to home.”
Referrals from physicians for MRI services are already being accepted at GBGH (by fax and email), in anticipation of the opening of the department at the end of March. More information can be found on the GBGH website: https://gbgh.on.ca/programs-and-services/diagnostic-imaging/
Can You Offer Our Artists a Temporary Home?
Submitted by Drayton Theatre
Feb. 2, 2025 – It takes a village to raise the curtain on Drayton Entertainment’s productions, and that includes the community of Artist Housing Partners who play host to hundreds of performers and crew members every year. Teams of on-stage and behind-the-scenes professionals come from across the province – and beyond – to bring each season to life. And they couldn’t do it without a welcoming place to call their temporary home.
The housing crisis affects everyone, and we’re looking for bedrooms, apartments, basement or in-law suites, and houses to rent close to our theatres that will be a welcoming, temporary home for actors and creatives.
Becoming a housing partner with Drayton Entertainment is a great way to support the arts in your community.
Benefits of being an Artist Housing Partner:
Unique and rewarding way to support the arts in your community
Opportunity to connect with performers, musicians, directors, stage managers, and production crew
Exclusive complementary tickets to see your artist(s) perform on stage
Acknowledgement of your support on our website
Contribute to your local tourism and community’s economy
What we’re looking for:
Vacant furnished bedrooms, private apartments, basement or in-law suites, or vacant cottages close to one of our theatres
Various lengths of stay depending on your venue’s performance schedule
Housing Rate of $120 – $150 per week, to help offset the increased cost of utilities
If you or someone you know is able to open up their home for even a short-term stay of a couple of weeks, it can make a big difference.
For more information or to sign up, please contact our Artistic Administrative Assistant, Stephanie at stephanie@draytonentertainment.com or call 519-621-5511 ext. 229.