HARMONY Profiles: Harmony Drummers

The Beat of Community: Drumming at Harmony Centre

By Lorraine Campbell

There is so much music happening at Harmony Centre, and of such variety! On Wednesday nights the djembe drummers gather in Greaves Auditorium and enjoy the balanced acoustics of the hall.

Drumming has been happening at Harmony for many years, first under the facilitation of Tara McKenzie and more recently Lorraine Campbell (hmm, now that might be a familiar name!)

Why drum? Quite simply, it makes us feel good – studies have shown that drumming for as little as 15 minutes reduces stress. Drummers can be found in summer festivals, community centres, music stores, local parks, churches, and camps.

Rhythm is universal, a natural force within us. We arrive in this world in tune with the rhythm of our mother’s heartbeat, we walk every day with the rhythm of our footsteps, we hear rhythm in the wind and in the steady murmur of traffic. We are born with the understanding of this universal language, and community drumming is a way of connecting with others through this universal language.

Drumming creates both physical and psychological changes in a body: the physical activity increases blood flow, enhances breathing, and promotes eye contact with fellow drummers; and psychologically, group awareness and connection occur. Polyrhythms (the rhythmic layers that we learn and play drumming) put us in touch and in synch with our fellow drummers, reduce our heartrates, gives us a creative outlet, and release endorphins.

I started drumming in 2013 and have attended workshops yearly since then at Ontario Womyn’s Drum Camp – virtually, during 2020 and 2021 – with several different facilitators: Ubaka Hill, Pele, Lori Fithian, Catherine Veilleux, Afia Walking Tree, Shara Claire, Terri Segal, Tara McKenzie, to name a few. I lived in Tobermory and was actively involved in the drum circle there as well, and in 2020 I began facilitating that circle. When I moved to Owen Sound in 2023 I drummed with Tara, rekindling our connection from Drum Camp. She was ready to take a step back from her drum ensemble here so my arrival was timely, and I stepped in at Harmony Centre…

The fall session of Harmony Drummers runs from September to the end of November, then starts up again on Wednesday nights from 6:30 – 8pm in January. Experience is not necessary as we learn new rhythms each session. There are some drums available, and they can also be rented locally from Long & McQuade. In addition to learning traditional rhythms, we always have space to cut loose and express ourselves, improvising in jam time.

Our drum circle at Harmony is a gathering of equals, a safe place to relax, connect, experiment, and make a joyful sound. If you are seeking more information about Harmony Drummers or just want to reach out, I can be contacted at hlcampbell58@gmail.com.

___

Harmony Profiles is an awesome series of articles by Harmony Centre board member Lorraine Campbell. Each month Lorraine writes about the people and the community groups that make this remarkable facility what it is today.

Harmony Centre’s studios and offices available for full time rental are most often fully booked but we have one studio now vacant. If you are a not-for-profit, charity, artist, or doing work of benefit to the wider community, consider joining the like-minded groups who make Harmony Centre their home.

Studio 10 is a large (269 sq ft), bright, space at the top of the stairs. Studios in the historic Harmony Centre have been updated with modern necessities – new fully-functioning screened windows, hardwired internet and wifi, and adjustable temperature control from within the space, as both heating and air-conditioning are supplied by an eco-friendly air-source heat pump. This studio opens onto a lobby/waiting room, with a table and seating area. The floor is the original easy-care linoleum. All residents have access to our kitchenette/lunchroom, and use of meeting and event spaces in the building at reasonable rates.

The rental rate for Studio 10 is below market at $967 (roughly $3.59/sq ft) monthly including utilities and internet, with a possible rent subsidy of up to 40% make rent down to as low as $580.

Note: Harmony Centre spaces are available at below-market cost to charities, not-for-profits, social change groups and those in the arts. We will consider applications from for-profit enterprises that are of demonstrable benefit to the wider community.

Check out who makes up the Harmony Centre community here.

There’s no question that the arts scene in Owen Sound is booming. With galleries and performance venues, dance studios and makers spaces, every medium has a place in this town. And while new venues continue to emerge and grow, one spot in particular has rooted itself at the heart of creative convergence: Harmony Centre. 

This unique organization was established to meet the community’s need for an accessible, affordable cultural space. Now into its second decade of operations, Harmony Centre is a thriving artistic and social hub.

Founded by a group of dedicated volunteers led by Leigh and Frank Greaves, Harmony Centre made its home in the former Knox United Church and opened its doors in 2012. It’s been a concerted effort between the Greaves, a board of directors, volunteers, and multiple funders to procure, refurbish, and sustain the heritage building. The fact that the community has invested so fully in this endeavour speaks to the integral role that it fills.

“A large part of Harmony Centre’s success is because the place is authentically continuing the work that the building was originally crafted for – to be a place that brings all kinds of people together in an engaging and uplifting way,” says Leigh Greaves. “Designed and built over 100 years ago to welcome and support people, it continues to do just that by providing all kinds of useful spaces for sharing, creating, educating, and performing.”

The iconic building near the downtown core sets the tone for the inspiration found within. A century and a half’s worth of stories infuse the walls, layered between beautiful historic details. It offers an array of rental spaces as diverse as the community’s needs, from individual studios to the expansive Greaves Auditorium, and has been updated with modern amenities. “The building is really special, and it draws an amazing community to it,” notes Operations Manager, Amy Stewart.

Hitting the sweet spot between form and function, it seems natural that more creative minds are gravitating toward Harmony Centre as the go-to place for innovation and collaboration. After all, that’s exactly what it’s meant for. 

“We understand that supporting artists helps to create a healthy and vibrant community, and it is exciting and rewarding to see both emerging and established artists achieve their vision at Harmony Centre,” Greaves shares.

Not only does the building come with great vibes, the self-sustaining organization works to ensure that the space is affordable for all. Rental rates are competitive for this area, and subsidies are available for groups and individuals within the charity’s mandate of share, create, educate and perform. “That’s really our reason for being,” explains Jeff Elie, board chair of Harmony Centre. “We’re a charitable organization, so we give [the profit] back to the community.”

The Centre hosts studios for artist Kristine Moran, vocal coach Kelda Mikalson, who runs Music Together with Kelda, and art psychotherapist Shawna Banville to name a few. It is the home of Summerfolk and Coco Love Alcorn’s Wonderland Singers. It is also home to some important community conferences such as the Small Communities Solutions Conference and Changemakers Café.

In a largely profit-driven economy, Harmony Centre stands out with its socially-focused philosophy, making it a beacon for like-minded folks. It provides a home-base for initiatives such as Solidarity Sundays and Food Not Bombs, as well as more than a dozen resident artists, small businesses, and local organizations. On top of that is a jam-packed events calendar. With more bookings than ever, and new ones being added all the time, there’s something offered for everyone.

“You walk into the place and there’s music coming from one direction, people dancing in another direction,” says Elie. “You’re immersed in this energy and creativity.”

Have you ever been in the Greaves Auditorium for a concert? The Harmony Centre regularly hosts concerts and musical events. For example, upcoming this summer there is a Wildflower Dance Arts performance exploring younger generations’ relationship with climate change on June 18, singer-songwriter Kelly McMichael brings her east coast charm on July 26 and Harmony Centre will also be the rain location for all the City of Owen Sound’s popular Harbour Nights and Midweek Music series. The acoustics are amazing; the ambience is unique. Check out their website for upcoming events and concerts.

It’s undeniable that Harmony Centre has dynamic spirit that makes it an inspiring workspace, an unrivalled concert venue, and a socially conscious community-centre. 

Built for and sustained by the community, Harmony Centre is a brilliant example of the exponential good that comes from investing in local arts and culture. So, we encourage you to invest a bit of your time at the Centre real soon.

In late January and I had the pleasure of meeting with Jeff Elie, the new chair of the board of Harmony Centre. Jeff has been actively involved with the Centre since 2023, and we met in the splendid Greaves Auditorium for a chat.  I was curious about his background, and wondered what his position at Harmony Centre entailed.

Lorraine:Tell me a little about your previous work experience, Jeff.
Jeff: I spent my career in corporate communications, mostly in the US with large Fortune 500 manufacturing companies. I carried out marketing strategy, corporate communications, crisis communications, and any external communications that were needed.

Lorraine:What about community service?
Owen Sound has been my home for more than 35 years, and I’ve always felt that it’s important to give back to the community. I’ve been involved in many environmental, arts, culture, and charitable organizations through the years — sometimes in leadership roles, and sometimes just rolling up my sleeves and pitching in.

Lorraine:Why did you become involved with Harmony Centre?
Jeff: I was invited to sit on the board right out of the blue. I had just stepped down from a previous commitment, and Harmony Centre felt like the right thing at the right time. I haven’t looked back since.

Lorraine:What do you do at Harmony Centre?
Jeff: Well I chair the meetings, and I do a little bit of everything really, where needed. A couple of weeks ago I came in to the office when the operations manager was away to fill in and handle emails — next thing I know I’m lending a hand removing radiators and cutting out old steam pipes… I do whatever is needed!  I’m involved in Harmony Centre administration, and I do much of the marketing, public relations, and communications, because that’s my thing.

Lorraine:What do you think are your own strengths as board chair?
Jeff: I have a good organizational mind, and good communication skills which are beneficial to an organization like this.

Lorraine:What do you try to bring to the board and to Harmony Centre?
Jeff: I try to bring what I brought to my career, which is a level of professionalism, strategic thinking, and interpersonal skills — because 90% of success is relationships.

Lorraine: How do you bring on new board members? How do you source them?
Jeff: We rely on word of mouth and advertising. Sometimes people step forward, or people bring people forward.

Lorraine: What do you look for in a new board member?
Jeff: We look for someone who is familiar with the Harmony Centre culture, who understands what Harmony Centre is, and who has a good understanding of Owen Sound. We look for people who have an interest or passion in helping provide quality cultural and community programming; people who place value in investing in the community.

Lorraine:How do you measure your performance as a board?
Jeff: There are two questions we ask ourselves: are we enriching the community, and are we financially sustainable. If we are meeting these goals, then we can fulfill our mandate, which is to share welcoming, accessible, and affordable spaces for use by the community. We measure success by taking stock of our achievements: Harmony is still alive and strong after 13 years; our rental spaces are filled; we take pride in the fact that we took more than 1,400 bookings in 2024; and, we pay it forward by handing out thousands of dollars in rent subsidies every year.

Lorraine: Is there anything you’d like to share?
Jeff: Just that Harmony Centre is a model of social enterprise, and it’s a resounding success — the goals that were set out at the beginning have been achieved. But nonetheless, it requires a lot of work and resources to keep this place running, organized, sustainable, and enriching.

If you are interested in volunteering with Harmony Centre or joining our board, please get in touch with us. Terms are three years long, and can be renewed for a second term. That’s long enough to really get involved, and to make a difference for the community.

On November 7, over 130 elementary students and more than 30 educators from 27 schools across Grey and Bruce counties gathered at the Harmony Centre in Owen Sound for the third annual Youth Climate Action Conference (YCAC). The event provided a platform for students, educators, and community organizations to come together, learn, and collaborate on climate action initiatives.

The conference featured a keynote presentation by two Grade 8 students from Arran-Tara Elementary School, Jana Lott and Nina Pieterman.

“Leaving YCAC last year, we were inspired by the speakers and the other students,” said Lott and Pieterman. “This motivated us to start the Trees for Tara project. We teamed up with other classes at our school and planted 100 trees and shrubs.”

Over the course of the day, students attending the conference participated in hands-on workshops that explored various climate topics such as how to make shorelines more resilient, composting, and how to use state-of-the-art climate modeling to experiment with different factors that impact climate change.

At lunch, youth visited interactive booths from community organizations, such as the Grey Bruce Public Health, Owen Sound Field Naturalists, Georgian Bluffs Climate Action Team and Stewardship Grey Bruce. In the afternoon, students began planning their school and community action projects. In a very energized session at the end of the day, students shared their project ideas, such as planting trees, starting or revitalizing school gardens, or starting a composting program at their school. Each school that attended will receive $500 from Learning for a Sustainable Future towards implementing this project and students will have an opportunity to share their work at Owen Sound’s Earth Day event in April 2025.

While students were in their sessions, teachers participated in a full day of professional development on how to connect climate to their curriculum, led by Learning for a Sustainable Future. One of the event organizers, Samantha Gawron from Learning for a Sustainable Future shared, “We are excited to have the opportunity to work with so many local educators, who will shape and inspire students for years to come, amplifying our impact.”

The conference was made possible through financial support from the Government of Canada as well as over $10,000 raised by The Sustainability Project in sponsorships from local community organizations, climate action teams, municipalities, and individuals.

To learn more about Grey County’s Climate Action Plan, Going Green in Grey, visit grey.ca/climate-action. For more information on the conference, visit the Sustainability Project’s website at ycac.info

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.”