I live in the country 2022

You’re invited!
Date and time: Thursday October 6^th at 1pm
Location: Osgoode Township Museum, 7814 Lawrence St, Vernon, ON K0A 3J0

Je vis en campagne / I live in the country 2022 is a MASC initiative offered in partnership with the City of Ottawa Rural Initiatives fund, the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) and the Osgoode Township Museum. This arts education project connected youth from the Collège catholique Franco-Ouest Médi’Arts program, who live, study or work in a rural setting. Paired with professional artists, the participants explored the history of intriguing places in rural Ottawa South.

Professional photographer Shaun Elie guided students during an outing at Baxter Conservation Area, Osgoode Township Museum and Waupoos Family Farm located in the region. All photos were taken at these locations. Singer-songwriter Janie Renée led another group of students through writing workshops during which they wrote poems inspired by the photos.

“This was a wonderful opportunity for students to discover and re-discover south rural Ottawa through the lens of photography and poetry. MASC artists Shaun Elie and Janie Renée encouraged youth to explore what it means to live in a rural area, and define what characterizes it using images and words.”

Chantal Racine, MASC’s French Program Director, who launched the project in 2021 in Cumberland, Ontario.

In August 2021, MASC artists Nicole Bélanger and Jimmy Baptiste each led the creation of a mural inspired by conversations with folks living in rural settings. Both murals were painted outdoors with community participants at the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum. Nicole’s mural was installed outside the offices of the Rendez-vous des aînés francophones, and Jimmy’s mural was installed indoors at the Orléans-Cumberland Community Resource Centre.

MASC hopes to bring this program to a new rural community in Ottawa every year.

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MASC extends a heartfelt thank you to our partners:

City of Ottawa – CECCE

Osgoode Museum – Baxter Conservation Area – Waupoos Farm