Arts Incubator and Land Lab News

Cream-colored Vetchling A closer look at the Cream-colored Vetchling: more than just a pretty face! This plant's hidden talents include enriching the soil and supporting pollinators.

Cream-colored Vetchling

The Arts Incubator June 6, 2025

Learn about the Cream-colored Vetchling (Lathyrus ochroleucus), a vital native wildflower of Ontario. Discover its appearance, traditional...

Plants, People, and the Arts The Nodding Trillium was one of the many plants that truly fascinated us this year. We had walked past it countless times, never realizing it was quietly growing all around us—hiding its delicate white bloom beneath its leaves. Once we finally noticed it, we began to understand why so many traditional plants are described as humble teachers.

The Nodding Trillium was one of the many plants that truly fascinated us this year. We had walked past it countless times, never realizing it was quietly growing all around us—hiding its delicate white bloom beneath its leaves. Once we finally noticed it, we began to understand why so many traditional plants are described as humble teachers.

Plants, People, and the Arts

Jamie Bell June 5, 2025

This year, as part of our ongoing photography, traditional storytelling, and arts-based learning activities, we’re documenting the...

The Wild Rose Untamed beauty: a Prickly Rose (Rosa acicularis) bloom, a testament to the resilience of the northern wilderness.

The Wild Rose

The Arts Incubator June 5, 2025

The Prickly Rose (Rosa acicularis), an iconic Ontario native, offers beauty, key ecological benefits, and traditional uses....

Yellow Wings and Happy Ecosystems The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail is more than just a beautiful butterfly; it's a vital part of the healthy ecosystems we champion.

The Canadian Tiger Swallowtail is more than just a beautiful butterfly; it's a vital part of the healthy ecosystems we champion.

Yellow Wings and Happy Ecosystems

Jamie Bell June 5, 2025

The striking presence of the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail underscores our commitment to ecological health.

Melgund Lake Conservation Reserve Surrounded by boreal forest, boaters on Melgund Lake experience the quiet beauty of protected waters and rich fishing traditions.

Surrounded by boreal forest, boaters on Melgund Lake experience the quiet beauty of protected waters and rich fishing traditions.

Melgund Lake Conservation Reserve

The Arts Incubator June 5, 2025

The Melgund Lake Conservation Reserve is a pristine protected area in Northwestern Ontario, dedicated to preserving significant...

Northern Recreation Capacity and AI The dedication of recreation professionals makes moments like these possible. New technologies, including AI, offer promising ways to support these practitioners, freeing up time for direct community engagement and enhancing their ability to deliver impactful programs.

The dedication of recreation professionals makes moments like these possible. New technologies, including AI, offer promising ways to support these practitioners, freeing up time for direct community engagement and enhancing their ability to deliver impactful programs.

Northern Recreation Capacity and AI

The Arts Incubator June 5, 2025

How can AI can enhance recreation capacity, address workforce shortages, and drive innovation in community programs, aligning...

June is Recreation and Parks Month The tent's pitched, welcoming us back to the land as spring rolls towards summer. It's the perfect time to gather, share our old stories, and let the kids just be – soaking up the freedom and the quiet beauty of the tundra before the mosquitoes claim their season.

The tent's pitched, welcoming us back to the land as spring rolls towards summer. It's the perfect time to gather, share our old stories, and let the kids just be – soaking up the freedom and the quiet beauty of the tundra before the mosquitoes claim their season.

June is Recreation and Parks Month

The Arts Incubator June 4, 2025

Recreation and Parks Month in June isn’t about slogans — it’s about the everyday work of gathering,...

Your Community, More Active Gathering around a crackling campfire, residents connect with nature and each other. These moments of shared experience on the land are vital for fostering well-being and exemplify how outdoor physical activity creates strong community bonds.

Gathering around a crackling campfire, residents connect with nature and each other. These moments of shared experience on the land are vital for fostering well-being and exemplify how outdoor physical activity creates strong community bonds.

Your Community, More Active

The Arts Incubator June 4, 2025

Get Moving, Live Better: Recreation’s Power At the heart of what we do in recreation is something...

What is Placemaking? This spacious, yet currently somewhat bare, room presents a perfect opportunity for arts-based placemaking. Imagine this space transformed into a vibrant community hub through murals co-created by local youth, collaborative art installations, or even a flexible area for community theatre or dance workshops.

This spacious, yet currently somewhat bare, room presents a perfect opportunity for arts-based placemaking. Imagine this space transformed into a vibrant community hub through murals co-created by local youth, collaborative art installations, or even a flexible area for community theatre or dance workshops.

What is Placemaking?

The Arts Incubator June 3, 2025

Placemaking is about more than just putting up a new playground or building a recreation center. It's...

May 2025 Update: Northern Blooms and Bountiful Prospects May is winding down, and we're thrilled with the progress in our living lab! We set aside our usual creative tools earlier this month to focus on preparing our food security program. The sight of hundreds of strawberry flowers opening up is a truly exciting reward for all the hard work.