Community Well-Being News
June 2023
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From rural to urban, farm fields to farmers' markets and everything in between, the Headwaters Region is home to a diverse, active, and engaged community. As we approach the summer months Headwaters Communities in Action welcome the sunshine, the growing season, the many festivals and community events scheduled to take place and the opportunity to simply be outside and enjoy the fresh air!
In this newsletter we share the good news about what's happening across Headwaters region, how residents are helping their communities thrive, and how you might contribute to making life better in yours.
June is Pride Month and provides a great excuse to venture into the Orangeville area and Celebrate Your Awesome! For fans of great music, the reknowned Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival closes out a weekend of music and other festivities. If supporting farmers and shopping local is important to you, scroll down to our HFFA update to chart your path around our local farms, and learn how you can help protect farmland (or click here or here now to save time - Bill 97 is open for comment until June 5). Be sure to participate in National Indigenous History Month activities and the Dufferin County Multicultural Event too.
Summertime also presents an ideal opportunity to consider volunteering at a local community pollinator garden, or attend the Mono Pollinator Garden Festival to learn more about being a pollinator in your own garden.
From kayaking and swimming, to biking and hiking, there's no reason NOT to get outside, especially in Headwaters communities where there's so much to see and do. Find helpful tips in your hot-off-the-press copy of the Explore Dufferin Guide, or the soon-to-drop Summer issue of In The Hills Magazine, featuring the 2023 Headwaters Farm Fresh Guide, plus online listings and map.
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Summer is the ideal time to enjoy all the bounty that Mother Nature has to offer.
Headwaters region is home to many great farms, farmer's markets, and community gardens that together ensure a bountiful local food supply. They can also turn what is sometimes a mundane task - feeding ourselves - into endless opportunities for family fun and learning!
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Hit the road with the kids and visit local farms, markets or bakeries. Plan a "date day" and hit the patio at some of our local breweries and cideries (with a designated driver of course!)
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Plot your course using the 2023 Headwaters Farm Fresh, your guide to local food and agri-entertainment. Watch for the print guide in your Summer issue of In The Hills Magazine (in your mailbox soon!) or use the online listings and map.
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Our Farm to School programs and Community Connectors can direct you to community gardens, food literacy resources and many ways to nurture an appreciation for local food, how it is grown and how to prepare it.
- Mark your calendar for our Lavender Social: Hereward Farms Sip, Savour + Stroll on July 20. Proceeds fundraise for Farm to School programs. Stay tuned to HFFA.ca and socials for details!
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The Coalition For Healthy School Food postcard writing campaign
HFFA is a member of The Coalition for Healthy School Food, which campaigned for a national school food program in the 2023 federal budget. It did not get in, but they are now turning to a postcard-writing campaign to keep attention on this important topic.
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Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health is launching the 2023 Cannabis Survey!
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) is encouraging the community to take part in a survey about cannabis knowledge, attitudes and behaviours, and the impacts of cannabis use.The answers to the survey will help to monitor the impact of cannabis legalization in our community and identify ways to support residents through programs and services.
This community survey is open to residents of Wellington County, Dufferin County, and the City of Guelph aged 16 and older, whether they have used cannabis or not. The survey is voluntary, anonymous, and takes about 5 to 15 minutes to complete. There is a chance to win one of five $100 gift cards. The survey deadline is June 30, 2023.
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June is National Indigenous History Month
June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day
Join Dufferin County at “A Silenced History – What We Weren’t Taught in School” for an evening of learning, inspiration and change through a meaningful thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Pamela Palmater.
TUE. JUNE 20, 2023 6:30-8pm
Monora Park Pavilion
This is a FREE event.
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Indigenous Land acknowledgements
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Town of Caledon
Indigenous Peoples have unique and enduring relationships with the land.
Indigenous Peoples have lived on and cared for this land throughout the ages. We acknowledge this and we recognize the significance of the land on which we gather and call home.
We acknowledge the traditional Territory of the Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee Peoples, and the Anishnabek of the Williams Treaties.
This land is part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
We honour and respect Indigenous heritage and the long-lasting history of the land and strive to protect the land, water, plants and animals that have inhabited this land for the generations yet to come.
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County of Dufferin
We would like to begin by respectfully acknowledging that Dufferin County resides within the traditional territory and ancestral lands of the Tionontati (Pétun), Attawandaron (Neutral), Haudenosaunee (Six Nations), and Anishinaabe peoples.
We also acknowledge that various municipalities within the County of Dufferin reside within the treaty lands named under the Haldimand Deed of 1784 and two of the Williams Treaties of 1818: Treaty 18: the Nottawasaga Purchase, and Treaty 19: The Ajetance Treaty.
These traditional territories upon which we live and learn are steeped in rich Indigenous history and traditions. It is with this statement that we declare to honour and respect the past and present connection of Indigenous peoples with this land, its waterways and resources.
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June is Pride Month
Celebrate Your Awesome takes place June 17th, 2023 in Orangeville, on Second Street and in Alexandria Park. A family-friendly event featuring food trucks, music, entertainment, an art market and both a drag show and a drag storytime.
SAT. JUNE 17, 2023 1pm-10pm
Second Street and Alexandria Park, Orangeville
This is a FREE event.
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Dufferin County Multicultural Event
The Multicultural Art show and Event, is an annual event designed to bring together the variety of cultural diversity in our community.
This year's event will be a two-day event held in partnership with the Museum of Dufferin.
Join in the celebration! Enjoy cultural arts, crafts, performances and food.
There will also be a market with some unique finds!
FRI. JUNE 23, 6-8pm
Unity in Diversity exhibition opening [Admission by donation]
SAT. JUNE 24, 2023 11am - 4pm
[FREE to attend]
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Celebrating the Blues and all that Jazz!
Wrapping up a fantastic weekend of live performances indoors, outdoors, up and down Broadway and Mill Street, the 19th Annual Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival is known throughout Ontario and beyond. Benefits of this 3-day event reverberate throughout the community all year.
Big thanks to the hard-working locals who put on this amazing event - you really started our summer off on a high note!
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Speaking up for Ontario farmland
The Ontario government recently introduced Bill 97 alongside a Proposed Provincial Planning Statement that will weaken farmland protections in several areas, including as it relates to lot severances in prime agricultural areas for non-farm uses and by weakening important protections for specialty crop areas.
Farm federations, commodity and agricultural organizations, conservation groups and municipal governments are united in their opposition to Bill 97 and the Proposed Provincial Planning Statement.
To add your comments, use one of the links below and customize your message to Hon. Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing at minister.mah@ontario.ca, and
- Doug Ford, Premier
- Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
- John Vanthof, Opposition House Leader and Critic, Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
- Marit Stiles, Leader, Official Opposition
- Mike Schreiner, Leader, Green Party of Ontario
- John Fraser, Interim Leader, Liberal Party of Ontario
- Sylvia Jones, Minister of Health and MPP for Dufferin-Caledon
Please send your letter no later than June 5, 2023.
Click now:
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Engaged citizens make all things possible. Whether you have wisdom to share, wealth to contribute or work you are able to provide, learn more about volunteering in the community by visiting Volunteer Dufferin today.
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ARE YOU...
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✅ aged 18-29 and interested in making life better in your community?
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✅ aged 55+, from a rural community and have experience in leadership?
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✅ a representative of a nonprofit organization in need of new board members and the youth voice to help shape the future?
If you answered "YES" you might be...
BOARDWARD BOUND!
Volunteer Dufferin is launching an initiative that seeks to:
- ✅ provide mentorship, leadership skills and to engage youth to inform the future direction for nonprofits
- ✅ reduce isolation among rural seniors, and access their knowledge bank
- ✅ address the need for board members in our local nonprofit sector
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Each month in this space we will feature some of the community agencies, nonprofits, funding opportunities, information services and community led partnerships that help to shape and serve Dufferin County and Caledon. If you have a message to share and would like to be featured here, reach out to our Community Engagement Coordinator, Sheralyn Roman at office@headwaterscommunities.org.
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Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services
Who are they and what do they do?
The Dufferin County office of Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services provides a range of much needed services to newcomers and residents of the area. Identifying a need in the community to assist families, seniors, job seekers and youth; they assist with english language education and conversational practice, provide guidance and support in accessing information and completing government forms, offer a safe space for children to hang out, play and read while their parents and caregivers take part in programs and so much more.
Offering services in multiple languages and respecting the rich diversity that exists in Canada and right here in Headwaters, Polycultural is rapidly becoming a vital and important community hub. Together with Volunteer Dufferin, the organization is exploring opportunities for collaboration that will allow members of the community who would like to get more involved through volunteering, to connect with the staff and program participants at the centre.
Their Orangeville office location at 15 Brenda Blvd. also plays host to a weekly Art Hive hosted by volunteers from the Art As Therapy organization. This unique opportunity is open to all residents who would love the chance to connect with their inner artist, share some family arts and craft time or simply enjoy meeting others over a shared interest in art.
Visit Volunteer Dufferin and register to find out when new volunteer opportunities become available or contact Polycultural to see how else you can help!
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2023 Dufferin County Community Grants
On May 11 Dufferin County Council approved a total of $120,000 for 31 grants to support local groups serving residents across Dufferin County. Working with the County Clerk's office, HCIA oversees the grant assessment process each year. This team works diligently to ensure that its recommendations advance the County’s strategic priorities and that funds are equitably distributed throughout the community. Approved projects range from services that address urgent needs, like food insecurity and children's mental health to cultural events and programs that enhance community vitality, like dinners, music festivals and multicultural events.
As the 2023 funded projects are completed we will share more stories about the amazing work being done across Dufferin County.
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Dufferin Board of Trade Business Excellence Awards |
The Dufferin Board of Trade held their Business Excellence Awards in May, with many categories that recognize both for- and not-for-profit organizations in the community that stand out for their contributions that go beyond the bottom line, for programs and practices that contribute to social and environmental wellbeing and for driving economic success in Dufferin County.
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Ontario Trillium Foundation invests in community farm
Long-time HFFA partner Albion Hills Community Farm recently celebrated receiving an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant to support their farm infrastructure and to improve and enhance educational programming.
The farm, located within the Albion Hills Conservation Area north of Palgrave, received over $119,000. Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones was on hand during AHCF's spring festival and plant sale to see the results of some of the programming that is underway.
According to a recent article in the Caledon Citizen, Karen Hutchinson, president of the AHCF, said the impact of the OTF grant can’t be overstated. “As we have recovered from COVID, the grant has allowed us to rebuild and strengthen our education programs for the community, especially for students and youth,” said Hutchinson. “It is at a time in which there is increased demand for getting kids outside and learning about food as part of their personal health and wellness… at the end of the day, we just love seeing kids get outside in nature and eating fresh, healthy local food.”
A chicken coop, beehives and a greenhouse are also located on the farm which was first launched in 2011, in partnership with the TRCA (Toronto Region Conservation Authority). The farm supports the concept of "near-urban agriculture", which included community allotment gardens in addition to education and other programming.
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Be an Engaged Citizen
Are you interested in "Making life better together"?
If you are passionate about your community, turn that passion into action with HCIA.
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More ways to let your voice be heard
Visit your local municipal website to learn more about how you can get involved, have your say, and make a difference right where you live!
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Stay Up-To-Date With Our Project Areas
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hffa.ca/farmtoschool
headwatersfarmfresh.ca
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We couldn’t do it without you!
Thank you to our many partners, stakeholders and volunteers who make up HCIA and its project groups. Our primary funders are Dufferin County, Ontario Trillium Foundation and United Way of Guelph Wellington Dufferin. We`re all "Making life better together"!
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Headwaters Communities in Action
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