Art for Autism returns to Mount
Fundraising event includes a silent auction of fine art, live music and more
The second annual Art for Autism Festival will take place from Friday to Sunday at The Mount Community Centre, 1545 Monaghan Rd. More than than $5,000 was raised at last year’s event, according to festival director Ellen Cowie.
The Gala Preview opens the festival on Friday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., with tickets at a cost of $60 available at the door, refreshments, and live music by Murray JamesBosch, Sibernie, Aaron Mlynsky-Meek, Four Front, Silver Lining, Melissa Payne, and Kate Suhr. There will be a silent auction of works by James Lasenby, Eddie Le Page, W. David Ward, Mike Smalley, John Lennard, Olaf Schneider, and guest artists living with autism.
It will be Lasenby’s second year participating in the festival. He says that he paints and sketches constantly in acrylics and graphite. He has won awards at the Buckhorn Fine Art Festival including the Purchase Ward and the Best of Show.
Eddie Le Page says that his paintings aim to “portray the bond between people and the natural world.” Largely self-taught, Le Page uses his brush and pencil to capture animals and landscapes in a unique style.
W. David Ward was born in England and emigrated to Canada in 1977. After a career in commercial art, he turned to fine art, painting scenes from the remote areas of North America such as Haida Gwaii, eastern Canadian seascapes, the Arctic and more.
The festival continues on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with admission $5 at the door and music by the Donegal Fiddlers Orchestra, Aaron Mlynsky-Meek, and more. For more information, please call 705-930-8871, ellencowie@yahoo.ca, or visit the Facebook page, Annual Art for Autism Festival.
Relay for Life
The Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life is a non-competitive relay that honours and celebrates cancer survivors and has become its signature fundraising event. This year, the event will take place on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Kenner Collegiate, 633 Monaghan Rd.
All ages and fitness levels are welcome, and participants decide how far they want to go.
Vicki King will be participating in honour of her father.
“My dad was my mentor, my cheerleader, and it was unusual if we went more than a day without talking on the phone or seeing each other,” she says. “From 2007 to 2016 he battled cancer six times. For his final round, I helplessly watched as he suffered in immense pain for many months. He slipped away on December 31, 2016.”
Those who want to sign up for Relay for Life can do so at www.relayforlife.ca, visit 730 The Kingsway Unit , call 705-742-3823, 1-800-463-0432 or email agodby@ontario.cancer.ca.
Volunteers are needed at the society’s Mudmoiselle event on July 7 at Devil’s Elbow Ski Hill. This is a fun and challenging mud obstacle course for women with a children's “Mini Mudster” course.
“Both male and female volunteers are needed to help set up, and ensure that the obstacles, parking and race start and finish run smoothly,” says Dawn Ashford, organizer.
Volunteers can sign up online at www.myccsschedule.ca, email dawn.ashford@ontario.cancer.ca or call 705-742-3823 ext. 3249 or 1-800-463-0432.