Arts Incubator Winnipeg Visits Melgund Township for Family Day Festival Celebrating Arts and Music in Northwestern Ontario
And we’re off! This weekend we’re heading out to Melgund Township in Northwestern Ontario to catch up with our amazing sister program, Art Borups Corners, and their new non-profit organization, Melgund Recreation, Arts and Culture. There’s nothing better than getting on the road in winter to connect with creative communities doing bold, grassroots work in rural Canada, and the folks in Melgund Township continues to prove that arts and culture thrive in every corner of Northwestern Ontario.
Over the past few months, the team at Art Borups Corners has been building serious momentum, thanks in part to support from the Ontario Arts Council through its Multi and Inter-Arts Projects program. That support is helping them shape an exciting new art gallery and heritage space serving both Borups Corners and Dyment—expanding access to exhibitions, music programming, and community-led cultural initiatives.
For those of us working in arts incubation and creative sector development, it’s inspiring to see rural arts infrastructure growing in such a thoughtful, community-driven way. We’ve been thrilled and honoured to work with them as they explore, transform and grow.
A weekend of arts and music
This Sunday, February 15, 2026, from 2:00–7:00 PM, the community gathers at the Dyment Recreation Hall and Recreation Complex for its annual, highly popular Family Day Festival—a free, family-friendly celebration of arts, music, food, and local culture in the heart of Northwestern Ontario. As an arts incubator based in Winnipeg, we’re especially looking forward to getting out of the city and watching the Birdfolk Buskers host their live performance and open-mic session.
Supporting emerging musicians, fostering creative expression, and encouraging community participation in the arts are core to what we believe in.
The festival also marks the beginning of National Kindness Week, making it an even more meaningful moment to gather, celebrate creativity, and strengthen rural arts networks across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. From roasting hotdogs over an open fire to learning about new arts and music initiatives launching in Melgund Township, the afternoon promises connection, inspiration, and plenty of winter spirit—culminating in a fireworks display lighting up the northern sky.
For those travelling through Northwestern Ontario this week—artists, musicians, cultural workers, or families looking for authentic Family Day events—make a stop in Melgund Township. Rural arts and music communities are doing powerful, innovative work, and this is a chance to see it firsthand. We’re proud to stand alongside our sister program and can’t wait to join in the celebration of arts, culture, and community.
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