CENTRE WELLINGTON – A three-part speaker series exploring the art-based approaches to health and wellness is coming to Elora next month.
Elora Centre for the Arts and Aboyne Rural Hospice have collaborated to create the Vibrant Vision: Bridging Arts, Community and Wellness event.
The goal is to shine a light on creativity and the arts in health and wellness spaces, stated officials.
“I think it’s fabulous to see the not-for-profit groups in our community collaborate,” Elora arts centre capital campaign chair Sheila Koop told the Advertiser.
JULIA
HANIGSBERG
The first event will be held at the arts centre on Sept. 22 from 2 to 4pm.
It will focus on how art contributes to “meaningful” and “healthy futures” for children with disabilities and developmental differences, titled the Creativity Connection.
“I would say there’ll be a nice blend of presentation and then a chance for dialogue between the audience and speaker,” added Koop.
This event’s guest speaker is president and CEO of Toronto-based Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Julia Hanigsberg.
Hanigsberg is a four-time Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women honouree and a member of the WXN Hall of Fame, according to officials.
She currently leads Canada’s largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital serving children and youth with disabilities and complex medical needs.
Guests attending may be a mix of those interested in the “high-profile” speakers and those interested in the “healing power” of the arts, Koop noted.
“I think it’ll be a different dynamic for every individual but just very good for the community at large,” she said.
The funds received from all three events will go towards the two capital campaigns from each organization.
Elora Centre for the Arts has raised $3.4 million of their $4.5 million campaign goal. This fall they aim to add an atrium with space for presentations and seating for 100 people.
The centre will also be prioritizing the “desperate need” for accessible washrooms, stated Koop.
With a larger space and more accessibility, the centre hopes to expand its outreach programs, specifically towards seniors.
“We haven’t really been acknowledging it as publicly as we are now and I think it’s very important for the community to see that side of the art centre,” said Koop referring to the connection between art and wellness.
Proceeds for the Aboyne Rural Hospice will go towards bringing a “much-needed” hospice to the area.
“We are excited to collaborate with the Elora Centre for the Arts on the Vibrant Vision speaker series,” said Aboyne Rural Hospice board of directors member Dr. Clarissa Burke in a news release. “These connections are crucial in supporting individuals at the end of life, their caregivers and the bereaved.”
The goal of the community-driven initiative is to bring end-of-life care closer to home.
Fundraising efforts for a new residential 10-bed hospice for rural Wellington County has been in the making for years, officials stated.
“Hospice care seeks to address every aspect of the end-of-life experience – physical, psychological, social and spiritual – and the therapeutic arts have proven beneficial across all these dimensions,” added Burke.
The other event dates and speakers will be announced soon, according to officials.
Tickets for each event in the series are set to be $30 each, $20 for students and $75 to attend all three.
To purchase tickets, visit ecfta.ca and to learn more about the rural hospice, visit aboyneruralhospice.org.
