A weekly report prepared by the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) and the Ministry of Rural Affairs (MRA). If you require further information, regarding this report, call the Elora Resource Centre at 519-846-0941. Office hours: 8:30am to 5pm. For technical information, call the Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300 or visit the OMAF and MRA website: www.ontario.ca/omafra.
PERFORMING ARTS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES SYMPOSIUM
The Symposium for Performing Arts in Rural Communities (SPARC) will bring together rural creators, producers, presenters and animateurs to initiate a dialogue about how to develop and sustain the performing arts in rural communities.
The first of its kind in Canada, the symposium will focus on the business of performing arts in a rural setting, and feature three streams of exploration – creation, production and presentation – across four disciplines of the performing arts – dance, theatre, music and media arts.
This symposium is being held on: April 24 to April 27, 2014; Fleming College – Haliburton School of the Arts, Haliburton, Ontario Deadline for submissions: Friday, Aug. 30.
SPARC invites proposals for workshops, seminars, panels and sound bytes that showcase excellence, that present innovative information and/or provide insight into the business of performing arts within these broad categories: creative approaches to engagement and investment in cultural tourism; rural adaptive capacity building; community engagement; Youth; education and training; and strategic planning and partnerships.
For more information, please contact Rachel Gillooly, project coordinator at 705-454-8107 or by email: Rachel@sparcperfarmingarts.com.
CULTURE DEVELOPMENT FUND
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport has launched the Culture Development Fund – a new $3 million grant program to strengthen the culture sector and its contributions to Ontario’s economy.
In addition to culture sector organizations, municipalities are also eligible. Learn more: program guidelines are now available on http://www.grants.gov.on.ca/GrantsPortal/en/OntarioGrants/GrantOpportunities/PRDR007505. The application deadline is Sept. 6.
The Culture Development Fund seeks to strengthen cultural organizations and their leadership, helping them to increase their knowledge, skills and toolsets so that they become better at what they do and more successful in achieving their mandates. Increased performance through new and innovative projects will build the capacity of the sector, leading to a stronger and more stable culture sector.
CONSERVATION AUTHORITIES HELP PREPARE ONTARIO FOR FLOOD EVENTS
According to Conservation Ontario, the recent record-setting rainfall and large-scale flooding underlines the need for continued effective flood forecasting, projects to limit flooding, and the management of development in flood plains.
Ontario’s flood management system is widely regarded as a positive example of risk management. Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities are local watershed management agencies, which deliver services and programs to protect and manage water and other natural resources. Conservation Authorities work with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, under a provincial emergency management framework, to deliver a flood management program to help safeguard the homes, belongings, and lives of Ontarians from flooding events.
To learn more about flood forecasting and management, visit Conservation Ontario’s website at: http://www.conservation-ontario.on.ca/projects/floodstatus.html.
COMING EVENTS:
Aug. 9 to 11 – Drayton Fall Fair. For information call: 519-638-2950.
Aug. 17 – Calf Show – Grand River Raceway, Elora. For information call: 519-846-8879.
Aug. 19 and 20 – Central Ontario Junior Holstein Show – Grand River Raceway, Elora.
Aug. 21- North American Manure Expo – 8am to 4:30 pm, University of Guelph, Arkell Research Station – Arkell, Ontario. (Tour Aug. 20 – North Wellington area). Contact: Christine Brown at: christine.brown1@ontario.ca or http://www.manureexpo2013.com.
Aug. 23 to 25 – Palmerston Fall Fair. For information contact: 519-343-3427.
Aug. 24 – Tractor Pull, Grand River Raceway, Elora.
Aug. 30 to Sept. 2 – Orangeville Agricultural Fair. Call 519-942-9597 or refer to http://www.oaseventcentre.ca.
Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 – Mount Forest Agricultural Fair. For information call: 519-323-2272.
Sept. 5 to 8 – Arthur Fall Fair. Call: 519-848-3820 or refer to website: http://www.arthurfallfair.ca.
Sept. 5 to 8 – South Waterloo (Cambridge) Fall Fair. For information call: 519-622-3247
Sept. 7 to 8 – Stratford Garlic Festival: http://www.stratfordgarlicfestival.com/.
Sept. 10 to 12 – Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show: http://www.outdoorfarmshow.com/.
Sept. 13 to 15 – Fergus Fall Fair. Call: 519-856-9621 or refer to http://www.fergusfallfair.ca .
Sept. 13 to 15 – Harriston-Minto Fall Fair. For information contact: 519-338-3903.
Sept. 17 to 21 – International Plowing Match and Rural Expo, Perth County; website: http://www.ipm2013.org/.
