ELORA – An all-ages music festival fundraiser in Elora this June will put the spotlight on local mental health.
“Few people in Centre Wellington have been untouched by the tragedy of two dozen suicides in an 11-month period starting in October 2017,” officials say in a press release.
“The entire community grieves the loss of loved ones and friends, and will continue to grieve for many years to come.”
This year’s Fork in the Road Music Festival on June 8 will raise funds for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Centre Wellington and The Cody Shepperd Project, both of which are working to support mental health initiatives for youth.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is already working with several organizations to build The Hub for young people, which will exist in the unused portions of the old Target building in Fergus.
The Cody Shepperd Project will support initiatives such as LivingWorks Education safeTALK training, which prepares anyone 15 or older to become a suicide-alert helper, as well as organizations such as Portage Elora Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Centre.
“With the passing of our son and the losses in this community, we knew we needed to do something,” Darcie Shepperd said.
“We couldn’t sit back and watch our community struggle with the pain of mental illness.
“We need to do everything in our power to help prevent even just one family from going through what our family has. We need to do more research, get the community more aware, provide more resources, start more conversations … and stop the silence.”
The Fork in the Road Music Festival is at 6460 Wellington Road 7, Elora.
Gates open at 1pm.
First band starts at 2pm.
The band lineup includes:
– Glowan at 2pm;
– Avalon and Dom at 3pm;
– Ben and Carter at 4pm;
– Nick Gush and Pam Davies at 5pm;
– The Whoa!Bucks at 6pm;
– The Shawn Connerys at 7pm;
– The Boo Radleys at 8.30pm;
– Mixx Tape at 10pm; and
– DJ and dance party from midnight till late;
The event will be licensed and food will be available for sale.
It will also included fireworks, games, vendors’ alley, kids zone, wine fundraiser and overnight camping.
The venue is a privately owned 22-acre farm at the edge of Elora (behind the Grand River Raceway).
For more information visit https://www.forkintheroadfestival.com/
