In 2015, the Eden Mills Writers’ Festival bought a church, negotiating a deal with the Eden Mills United Church to buy the 1861 historic stone building.
To help with the needed renovations, the festival received a $40,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation in November, as well as major donor support from Kim and Stu Lang and their Angel Gabriel Foundation.
The renovations are now complete and a grand opening was held on May 28.
Local MPP Ted Arnott and Winston Uytenbogaart, an Ontario Trillium Foundation volunteer, congratulated the fesetival on the work done at the renamed space: Rivermead.
“We are very grateful for the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s support for the Eden Mills Writers’ Festival,” Arnott said.
“The festival has grown to become a significant annual literary event, and is recognized across the country. I want to thank everyone involved with the Eden Mills Writers’ Festival and wish them all the best.”
Funds from the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s grant were used to restore the historic building so that it could continue as a community gathering place and artistic hub.
With a new furnace, kitchen and accessible washrooms, it will be used for small weddings and receptions.
The festival intends to hold workshops and readings there during the writers’ festival weekend and throughout the year.
“The success of this project is due to many members of the festival and community who have worked long and hard to make this a reality,” said Kim, who has been the artistic director for the past five years.
“People like Barb Marshall, Hélène Duguay, Les Zawadzki and Linda Hendry were there from concept to completion. Without their dedication and expertise we would not be here today.”
The leading grant making foundation in Canada, the Ontario Trillium Foundation strengthens the capacity of the voluntary sector through investments in community-based initiatives.
