The May 25-26 weekend was a busy one for rare Charitable Research Reserve with a barn dance on Friday night and breakfast for volunteers and donors Saturday morning.
The Boots and Western Black Tie Barn Dance on Friday raised about $50,000 that will go toward programming and equipment needs for rare’s new Every Child Outdoors (ECO) centre.
Guests got a special preview of what will become the new ECO (Every Child Outdoors) Centre. The historic barn and farmhouse will be the hub of the education and research work done at the reserve.
The cost of the current phase to renovate the slit barn and farmhouse is approximately $1.1 million, which is being paid for through money raised in an earlier campaign by rare and a matching grant by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
The charity had previously raised and spent over $600,000 to get the site rezoned, complete the architectural design and a preliminary phase of construction. When all of the construction is done, the charity will need to equip the buildings with computers and technology so that it can fully function as an education and research centre.
The gala event served as a preview of the ECO centre and an official opening is being planned for the fall, when final completion is expected.
The slit barn will be a seasonal facility and the farmhouse will be used all year.
Right now, about 2,500 young people take part in education programs at rare each year and programs are designed to complement what the students are learning at school.
The addition of these facilities mean more can participate. The student’s experience at rare varies depending on age and what they happen to be studying at the time. For some, that might include a visit to Springbank Farm where they get hands on experience working in an organic garden and seeing first-hand how food is grown in a sustainable fashion. For others it could include replicating research projects of senior ecologists, hiking the riverside trails or taking part in monitoring significant flora and fauna.
What makes all of these programs unique is that they are part of a chain of learning that begins with research results and principles inspired by the senior scientists who have projects at the rare reserve.
Work is nearing completion on the 1840s farmhouse and once completed it will include a demonstration kitchen, meeting rooms, offices and a place for visiting researchers to stay.
The barn has a fascinating history dating back to the 1840s, and the trained observer can spot fossils representing a geological history dating back 420 million years in local limestone used to build the walls.
It is one of a very few like it left in Ontario.
Sitting near the confluence of the Speed and Grand Rivers, the slit-barn is at home where the German-speaking Mennonites from Pennsylvania settled on the banks in the Grand beginning in 1800.
Morden Yolles, one of Canada’s foremost structural designers and a pioneer of innovative architecture was among those celebrating Friday. Yolles often drove from Toronto or took calls to offer advice and financial support during the barn renovation.
“Most barns in Ontario are made of wood now,” Morden explained, as he ran his hand over the exterior stone surface.
“If you look hard enough you can see the fossils. I am very thankful for the opportunity to be involved at rare. It’s a special place and I want to visit more often.” Morden served as an advisor during the reconstruction of the barn putting his knowledge and expertise to good use.
Also joining at the Barn Dance was Toyota representative Greg Mordue. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada recently gave a $50,000 grant to rare.
The fundraiser owes success to a long list of individuals and companies that donated a variety of goods and services, along with the volunteer committee (pictured) who organized the event.
Food for the dinner and dance Friday was donated by Langdon Hall, the Blackshop, Mellville Café, The Bauer Kitchen, Bauer Butcher, Cambridge Mill and Bauer Bakery.
Steam Whistle, Peninsula Ridge, Cave Spring and Brick Brewing donated wine and beer.
Generous sponsors who helped offset the cost of the event included, Gold Sponsors – Toyota Motor Manufacturing Company Inc. Canada, The Grand Condominium at Waterscape, Waterloo Region Record. As well, The Athletic Club, Cowan Insurance Group, Greentec, Knar Jewellery, KPMG and GrinhamArchitects.
Auction and door prize sponsors include Knar Jewellery, Chateau des Charmes, Laurie Wonfor Nolan, E.V.O. Kitchen, Cambridge Mill, Drayton Entertainment, Monarch Corporation, Wright Limousine, Rogers Communication Inc., Gord and Celia Chapman, AMH Limousine and the Athletic Club.
And finally thanks goes to Michael Barnstijn and Louise MacCallum for providing Hinterland wine, Bev Nykamp for table arrangements and Barber-Collins Security for ensuring safety and Dream Time Limousine for the shuttle service.