This Week in Photos - October 15, 2026

Donation – Palmerston’s Blessings to You Centre donated $500 to the Norwell Family Studies Food Support program. This program is to enhance the breakfast program at Norwell District Secondary School (NDSS) to include lunch as there are more and more students needing food. Pictured are Diane Speers, Debbie Voll, Wilma Cherrey, Jen Fenton (from NDSS), Joelle Sweeney and Sharon Drost. Submitted photo

Lift for spuds – A local group of 12 girls in Grades 6 through 10 have been working out together at Leona Ottens’ farm once a week after school, and donating to the Drayton Food Bank. Instead of paying for Ottens to coach their workout sessions, they collect items from family and friends for the food bank. Their first round was for school snacks, and the second round was for potatoes for Thanksgiving. They collected and dropped off 50 bags in time for Thanksgiving hampers. The group will focus its next round of food bank donations on Christmas items. Submitted photo

Falafel Friday – A fundraiser for Gazan farmers was held at the KIPP Oven on Oct. 2 and raised $2,700 for Arduna, a grassroots food soverignty organization. Though the event officially began at 5:30pm, a winding lineup had already formed at Bissell Park by 5:15, and organizers had sold out of falafel by a few minutes after 6pm. PHOTO 1: Yasser Quahawish organized the fundraiser and was one of the volunteers to prepare the falafel. (Submitted). PHOTO 2: Nawal Halawa, Quahawish’s mom, and Wesam Fares. (By Robin George).

Marathon of Hope – Erin Public School students participated in Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope on Sept. 25 and raised $507 for cancer research. PHOTO 1: Marley Joinvil. PHOTO 2: Mia Tugman, left, and Cole Perrault. Photos by Robin George

Helping hands – Officials with Geranium Homes, that hopes to build 446 homes outside Belwood on lands opposite the Fergus Golf Course, met with Belwood Lions Club members on Oct. 5 to discuss ways it could contribute to local causes. The Lions are joining forces with other local Lions Clubs to raise funds for the Aboyne Rural Hospice, which interested Geranium. They are also considering adding veteran’s crosswalks at the cenotaph in Belwood and will discuss that with the Fergus Legion and Centre Wellington Township. Their application is before the township and a public meeting will be held soon, likely in November. Photo by Joanne Shuttleworth

New board – The Probus Club of Centre Wellington elected its management committee at the annual general meeting, held on Sept. 29. From left: Vivianne Macdonald, Barb Weeks, Ken Weeks, Norman Seibert, Anne Duncan (Events); Marnie Mainland (Newsletter); Linda Hesketh (Vice President); Betty Giles (Treasurer); and Kevin Arnott (President); Missing: Jane Keating (Speakers), Joan Zettel (Good Will), Heather Gergovich (Membership), and Nancy Olson-Van Veen (Secretary). Submitted photo

Minto Arts Council – The Minto Arts Council held its grand opening of its Retired, Rewired and Inspired exhibition on Oct. 8 in Harriston. The exhibition will run until Oct. 29 on the third floor of the Wellington County Library, Harriston Branch, located at 88 Mill St. PHOTO 1: From left are artists Janice Benson, Jane Langeraap, Laurie Aitken and Lene MacLean. PHOTO 2: Completed by MacLean at the top is her rug hooking piece titled Funky Fish. The four other art pieces were created by Aitken, and are a mix of encaustic on cradle board and encaustic mixed media on cradle board. Photos by Nicole Beswitherick

Festival – The newly-formed Wellington County Black Heritage Society held its first public event – the Calabash Festival – on Oct. 10 at Rockmosa Community Centre in Rockwood. PHOTO 1: Velma Francis, left, stands by the steel drums with storyteller Aunty Didi, who regaled the audience with stories about community, finding your own strength and belonging. PHOTO 2: There were also a few vendors at the Calabash Festival. Alicia McNeil, left, and Delisa McNeil sell their wares for Diamond Delisa Bling. PHOTO 3: Pawley’s Reptiles had some reptiles on display at the Calabash Festival on Oct. 10. Here Mikhail Maksymuk shows a chameleon to Aaliyah Friday. PHOTO 4: McKellyn Friday was also interested in the chameleon. Photos by Joanne Shuttleworth

Festive – Pumpkin Day was held on Oct. 10 at the Wellington County Museum and Archives and included pumpkin carving, drum circles and a few peculiar scaly friends. PHOTO 1: Carver Kevin Bender came from Dundas to demonstrate his carving skills. PHOTO 2: Mercia Libed was focused as she carved a pumpkin. PHOTO 3: ‘Poppy’ and his granddaughter Aron Bismayer spent some time decorating this pumpkin. Photos by Joanne Shuttleworth. PHOTO 4: Pawley’s Reptiles were a big hit at the event and one of the snakes was held by Lilly Bear from Elora, who likes snakes and didn’t mind holding a large one. PHOTO 5: Face painting was also a very popular part of the event.. Here Emma Decoppel from Fergus as a witch for the day. Photos by Bill Longshaw