Harmony Centre Home to Awareness Programme Saving Lives Province-wide

I had the pleasure of meeting with Matt Evans, one of the first ‘residents’ at Harmony Centre. Harmony Centre uses the term ‘resident’ to describe the folks who base themselves out of the many studios available for rent. I was interested in meeting with him and learning about his organization: OSAID – Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving.

Lorraine:Can you tell me a little about yourself?
Matt: As a teenager I was involved in Katimavik, a programme that engages youth through volunteer community service work. The programme sparked my interest in working with youth and with community projects.

Lorraine:Can you tell me what OSAID is about?
Matt: The mission of OSAID is to impower youth to eliminate impaired driving. It is a student-led, peer-to-peer charity that helps to develop valuable leadership skill in teenage volunteers. OSAID tackles a critical issue – impaired driving, the number one criminal cause of death and injury among youth. Although impaired driving is an old known issue for adults, it is a NEW concept for teens since they are entering that area for the first time.

Lorraine:How did OSAID begin?
Matt: In the mid 1980s teachers, police officers, and students were realizing that the reason so many students were being injured or dying was because they were in a car – and they’d been out partying, and drinking, and then driving. The evidence was found in the memorial pages in high school yearbooks and road statistics collected by the government. Conversations started in Gananoque and soon spread.

In the 1990s I was hired as provincial co-ordinator. Over the next decade, OSAID grew from 50 chapters to 500 chapters due to the efforts of one staff (me) and over 5000 volunteers. Students, teachers, volunteers, police, public health, and many civic-minded people were all involved. There were regional workshops and national conferences with motivational speakers and leadership training for the youth. The result? There was a 51% decline in youth impaired driving, a faster decline than in any other age group in the province.

This programme ran successfully with provincial chapter numbers in the hundreds, until the pandemic caused a drop in the number of groups due to the change in schooling routines. Now there are only 40 provincial chapters, and consequently student injuries and deaths due to impaired driving have risen over the past few years.

Lorraine:How are you addressing this lack of a local chapter?
Matt: Grey/Bruce County at one time had an OSAID chapter at practically every school. Now, there are only a few schools that are active. We have tried everything – but it really takes a teacher or student to step up and say, “I am going to promote awareness around this issue at our school”. We still need to get the message out.

Lorraine:How will you go about finding the support you need?
Matt:May 15, 2025 has been designated as SAID DAY.  This project won the provincial initiative of the year by the Ministry of Transportation. SAID Day encourages schools, businesses, and community organizations to participate. The first 40 schools to sign up get free T-shirts and awareness-raising swag. It would be wonderful if we can find a principal, a teacher, or a student willing to start a chapter in Owen Sound.

Lorraine:How can we find out more or get involved?
Matt: For more information about OSAID, to get involved, to find activities and resources, or for information on what schools, business, or community organizations can do, go to  www.osaid.ca.

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.

The Georgian Bay Folk Society has taken up residence at Harmony Centre with an office upstairs and a box office in the 4th St lobby. This prized cultural asset will now call Harmony Centre home, thanks to its vibrant atmosphere, outstanding facilities, and central location.

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

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.”