Harmony in ‘on the bay’

Fantastic article in the winter issue of On the Bay Magazine highlighting the significant contribution Harmony Centre makes to the Owen Sound Arts Community. Two Harmony’s Residents, Summerfolk and visual artist Kristine Moran are featured.

Read the full story here.

Welcome to Down North Garlic Co. now using the Harmony Centre kitchen to prepare items for sale at farmers markets across the county.

Andrew Russel, the owner and grower of Down North says “our goal is to grow and provide a healthy and high-quality local garlic for our customers and community with a no waste mindset. Although not every bulb of garlic is picture perfect and acceptable for store shelves, we have created the expectation that “no healthy clove is left behind!” Broken cloves, or bulbs with little skin can still be used for creating by-products in our lineup such as powders, black garlic cloves, peeled garlic, oils, flakes and much, much more! ” This is where Harmony Centre comes in. Down North is able to process these items for sale to the public in our approved commercial kitchen.

Harmony Centre is pleased to host another Pay-What-You-Can family concert.

Once again in December we are bringing back a performance of the much-loved music from A Charlie Brown Christmas with Tyler Wagler, Adam Bowman and Thomas Hammerton.  Deanne Hallman’s Children’s Choir will add to the holiday fun.

A Charlie Brown Christmas is an Emmy Award-winning holiday tradition enjoyed by children everywhere. Equally magical is the soundtrack created by Vince Guaraldi. Tyler and friends evoke all the memories and attachments people have surrounding the music and the annual animated special. Who doesn’t know the popular Christmas Time is Here?

Join us for milk and cookies following the performance.  (All will be nut-free. Gluten-free options available, as well as non-dairy milk.)

Get tickets in advance here or pay what you can at the door.

Singer-songwriter Kevin Moyse sets to song compelling historical highlights of the golden age of Georgian Bay steamships for a special Harmony Centre fundraising event on November 9 at 7:00 pm.

“Songs of Georgian Bay” combines descriptive lyrics with evocative music, rare photographs, and newspaper clippings collected from museums and archives throughout the region.

“Songs of Georgian Bay,” tells true and sometimes mysterious stories of life, triumph, loss, and tragedy. It paints a vivid picture of the severe and unpredictable waters of Georgian Bay, which brought both riches and regret to those who sailed it. Set to song, these stories come to life with a poignant and unforgettable sensitivity that sends shivers up the spine.

Admission is pay-what-you-can at the door, or pay in advance here. Proceeds go to the Greaves Auditorium Improvement Plan.

This event is made possible by Harmony Centre’s community event sponsor: VanDolder’s Home Team.

As Kevin said, the mosh pit was wild at Saturday’s Splash ‘n Boots show. Kids were on their feet and having a blast as the talented combo Nick Adams (Splash) and Taes Leavitt (Boots). This beloved Canadian children’s music duo had their audience singing and dancing and playing along, children and parents alike. What fun!

photo by Edward Mathews Photography

Solidarity Sundays — a weekly intergenerational social — is returning to the Harmony Centre for its second season, beginning Sunday October 20th.

The weekly gathering began as a social experiment in January 2024, with the goal of creating space for neighbours and community members to meet and mingle. The volunteer organizers open the lower hall of the Harmony Centre from 10:30am to noon every Sunday morning, entry is by donation to cover the costs, coffee and tea are provided, and people bring potluck snacks to share.

“Solidarity Sundays started with a simple conversation at the Farmer’s Market,” said Kat Scott, co-founder and rotating weekly host. “A few of us were talking about how important it is to have spaces where neighbors of all ages can meet, connect, and just spend time together. We realized how rare those spaces are nowadays, and someone mentioned the old tradition of coffee hours after church. That sparked the idea to recreate that kind of social gathering, but in a more secular, inclusive way—and it’s been a great success.”

What began as a one month experiment, was so successful that the organizers kept it going into the spring. Solidarity Sundays was also nominated for an Owen Sound Cultural Award in the ‘most promising new event’ category.

According to Joel Pennington, another one of the organizers, it is the flexibility and openness of Solidarity Sundays that makes it so successful.

“People come to chat and make new friends, families bring games, grandparents join with their grandchildren, and some even bring puzzles and crafts. We also have musicians who jam and lead sing-alongs. It’s all donation-based, so there’s no pressure—everyone can participate as they’re able. We want to make it as welcoming and accessible as possible. As long as you’re friendly and kind, we’d love to have you join us.”

For more information about Solidarity Sundays, visit the Harmony Centre website at www.harmonycentre.ca or email Joel at pennington_joel@outlook.com

Harmony Centre welcomes First Health Counselling as the newest member of our Resident Organization program. Their mandate is to serve the mental health needs of First Responders, Public Safety Personnel and Health Care Professionals of Grey and Bruce counties through specialized mental health support. Various certificates and approved provider statuses are held, to meet the unique mental health needs of First Responders, Public Safety Personnel, Health Care Professionals and their family members. These individuals are encouraged to contact the office at their earliest convenience, to discuss the proactive and supportive routes that are available for their mental health. First Health opens their doors at Harmony Centre on May 3. Please give First Health a warm Harmony Centre welcome!

Phone: 519-379-1222

E-mail: first.health.counselling@mail.com

Changemaker Pub Night brings together representatives from nine local social change groups to deliver a series of three-minute pitches about the organizations they represent, what they do, and what they need. These pitches are sprinkled throughout an evening filled with music from Paul and Olivia Williamson, Joanna Mackie and Charlie Taylor-Gillespie.

Pub food will be available to add flavour and fun to the event. Changemakers presenting their three-minute pitches are: Rebound Owen Sound; Glassworks; Art Banner Project; OSHARE/Grey Bruce Food Share; REACH; Roselawn Bowling Club; Poverty Task Force; Beyond Reach Productions; and, the Sydenham Bruce Trail Club.

This event sold out last year, so get your tickets in advance.
Get tickets here or pay what you can at the door.

Harmony Centre has been home to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grey Bruce & Western Simcoe (BBBSGBWS) since 2016, and in that time, the organization has tripled in size and reach.

According to Executive Director Beth Aubrey, much of this success can be attributed to a strong volunteer network and a deep commitment to the transformative power of mentoring. But it also has to do with an expansion of services that is meeting the changing needs or our community.

“This year, BBBSGBWS has seen a sharp rise in youth seeking services while simultaneously experiencing a drop in volunteer and donor acquisition,” she says. “This has had a tremendous impact on how the agency operates, and how we work to reach those youth and families most in need.”

As a result of these challenges, the agency is sending out a call to action, requesting donations and volunteer support.

Aubrey believes in providing preventative services to youth and families that have a generational impact. These services include a growing youth council, outdoor wellness program, group skill building programs, as well as traditional one-to-one and in-school mentoring programs.

“Each of our services are aimed at creating a lasting impact on the lives of some of the most vulnerable and at-risk youth across our community,” she says.

Harmony Centre has played a role in this process. “I can’t say enough good things about this place,” says Aubrey, pointing out that Harmony Centre values, as social enterprise, are a perfect fit for their organization.

“The low overhead we’ve been able to maintain, thanks to subsidized accommodation, has helped us deliver more with less,” she says. “Our accessible presence at the heart of the community is also an important aspect of our residency here.”

Local painting contractor Rob Hassard was delighted when he was invited to teach an Owen Sound District Secondary School class how to paint a room. But he wanted to do it out in the field, not in a classroom. So, he put out the call, and Harmony Centre responded.

“Harmony Centre is a perfect place to teach a group to paint because it’s a charity, and this is a great way of giving back to the community in a very practical way,” he says.

Harmony Centre also has an abundance of rooms, and the Board Room was selected for the project because of its manageable size.

Hassard is excited about the project because he believes that painting is an ability that people carry with them wherever they go. “At some point in your life you’re going to have to paint a room,” he says. “If you have some basic knowledge about how it’s done, then you’re ahead of the game.”

Instruction will be provided on how to select paint, make minor repairs, prepare surfaces for painting, masking, and various techniques for applying paint.

“I hope this will inspire some young people and give them the confidence to take on projects of their own,” Hassard says.

But Rob also believes that painting is a transferable life skill that also teaches about setting goals, problem solving, and patience.

“Everything in life is a process,” he says. “Learn the process – learn to trust it – and you’re all set.”