Culture Exchange
Culture Exchange is an innovative, women-led, skills development program that is kicking off its third season in June 2023. The program was successfully piloted in 2020 and launched in July 2021 for its second season. In 2023, the program supports nine rural and underserved communities, offering 36 cultural skills workshops across the island.
Co-led by Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design and the Island Food Network, the Culture Exchange has set out to create grassroots opportunities for women and gender diverse individuals in Unama’ki – Cape Breton to connect and learn together, while laying the groundwork for employment opportunities in the culture sector, or potential culture-based enterprises.
For the third year, the Culture Exchange supports Culture Exchange Hubs in Margaree, Albert Bridge, Potlotek, Millville, We’koqma’q, St. Ann’s Bay and Whitney Pier. New locations include Chéticamp and Middle River.
Upcoming Workshops:
POSTPONED – Date TBD – Sheep to Sweater (wool) & Seed to Shirt (linen) demo at the Library Grounds in Margaree Forks (7972 Cabot Trail). Contact Kim Tilsley at margareefolk@gmail.com or head to facebook.com/kimberly.tilsley to RSVP.
September 30 1-3pm – Permaculture at the North River Hall (37 Oregon Rd, Baddeck). Contact Patsy LeBlanc patsyleblanc29@gmail.com or 902-577-1054 to register.
October 1, 1-5pm – Permaculture Workshop at 784 King Grove Road, Millville. Contact Estelle Levangie at thymeforewefarm@gmail.com to register.
October 5, 6:30-8:30pm – Fall Gardening workshop at the Middle River Community Hall (2656 Cabot Trail). Contact Kristi Farrier at kristi@flyingfinchstudio.ca or 782-235-7996 to register.
October 15, 2-5pm – Seed Saving in Albert Bridge (256 Hills Road). Contact Demmarest Haney farm@feywoodgrove.com or 902-562-6990 to register.
October 15, 1-3pm – Hugelkulture from wood chips to potato chips at the St. Ann’s Bay Community Garden. Contact Patsy LeBlanc patsyleblanc29@gmail.com or 902-577-1054 to register.
October 28 & 29 – 10am-4pm – Basket Weaving Workshop in Albert Bridge (256 Hills Road). Contact Demmarest Haney farm@feywoodgrove.com or 902-562-6990 to apply.
November 2, 1-3pm and November 3, 1-4pm – Faux Stained Glass Workshop at Indian Brook Firehall, North Shore. Contact Patsy LeBlanc patsyleblanc29@gmail.com or 902-577-1054 to register.
November 18, time TBD. Meat Processing Workshop in Millville. Contact Estelle Levangie at thymeforewefarm@gmail.com to register.
November 25, 1:30-3pm – Holiday Charcuterie Board at Le Centre de la Mi-Carême (Chéticamp). Contact Betty Ann Cormier at bacormierconsultants@gmail.com or 506-855-4480 to register.
November 26, 1:30-3pm – Canning and Preserving Fruits at Le Centre de la Mi-Carême (Chéticamp). Contact Betty Ann Cormier at bacormierconsultants@gmail.com or 506-855-4480
November 28, 1-3pm – Chocolate Truffle Making at 45943 Cabot Trail. Contact Patsy LeBlanc patsyleblanc29@gmail.com or 902-577-1054 to register.
For the more details on upcoming workshops, visit the Hub Leaders’ social media pages listed below
Past Workshops:
July 10th, 7-9pm – Acadian Square Set & Local Jam Preserves, Conseil Des Arts Chéticamp. Coordinated by Betty Ann Cormier.
July 16th, 2pm – Intro to Hand Dyeing in Albert Bridge (256 Hills Road). Coordinated by Demmarest Haney.
July 26th, 9am-noon – Wool dyeing Workshop at Ecole NDA, Chéticamp. Coordinated by Betty Ann Cormier.
July 26th 6:30pm-8:00pm – Paper Flower Making at Ecole NDA, Chéticamp. Coordinated by Betty Ann Cormier.
July 30th 2-4pm – Intro to Hand Dyeing at 2982 West Side Middle River Rd (Flying Finch Studio), Middle River. Coordinated by Kristi Farrier.
August 2, 6:00pm – Fireweed Workshop at the Community Hall, Potlotek. Coordinated by Noelle Doucette.
August 12, 1pm – Foraging Workshop at Skye River Trail, We’koqma’q. Coordinated by Eva Nicholas.
August 13, 1pm – Making Jams and Bannock at Skye River Trail, We’koqma’q. Coordinated by Eva Nicholas.
August 20, 1:30-4:30pm – Sewing Basics at Centre de la Mi-carême, Chéticamp. Coordinated by Betty Ann Cormier
September 10, 1-4pm – Beekeeping Basics at Middle River Community Hall (2656 Cabot Trail), Middle River. Coordinated by Kristi Farrier.
September 10, 1-4pm – Foraging Workshop at 784 King Grove Road, Millville. Coordinated by Estelle Levangie.
September 23, 2pm – Fermenting Saurkraut Workshop in Albert Bridge (256 Hills Road). Coordinated by Demmarest Haney.
September 24, 1-4pm – Knitting Workshop at Middle River Community Hall (2656 Cabot Trail), Middle River. Coordinated by Kristi Farrier.
Hubs:
Whitney Pier – Culture !n Craft
Whitney Green of Powerful.Creative is a self taught graphic designer and screen printer. Whitney is passionate about her community of Whitney Pier, one of the three historically Black communities in Cape Breton and one of the most ethnically diverse communities on the island. Whitney strives to empower individuals, community, and social change through bold and fun fashion activism.
Contact: Whitney Green at powerfullycreative@gmail.com or 902-322-9559. Website: powerfulcreative.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/powerfulcreatives
Albert Bridge – Feywood Grove Folkschool
Demmarest Haney, Hub Leader of the Feywood Grove Folk School in Albert Bridge, where workshops range from pottery to hugelkultur! Demmarest started the folk school to ensure that there is a place to share knowledge and skills that build local community and resiliency.
Contact: farm@feywoodgrove.com or 902-562-6990
Website: feywoodgrove.com
Facebook: facebook.com/feywoodgrovefarm
St. Ann’s Bay – Learning Hands Around the Bay
A long time community organizer, Patsy Leblanc is excited to gather and build connections around the wealth of knowledge and creativity found in her community of St. Ann’s Bay.
Contact: Patsy LeBlanc at patsyleblanc29@gmail.com or 902-577-1054
Facebook: facebook.com/stannsbaycommunity
Margaree – Margaree Folk School
Kim Tilsley is a farmer, baker and community oven volunteer based in Southwest Margaree, has been involved in various Upskilling ventures over the years and now is the Hub leader of the Margaree Folk School. You’ll find many land-based cultural workshops with many materials and ingredients sourced locally.
Contact: Kimberly Tilsley at margareefolk@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/kimberly.tilsley
Instagram: @margareefolkschool
Potlotek – Potlotek Cultrapreneurs
A community leader Noelle Doucette organizes workshops that highlight the wealth of skill and knowledge in her community. Topics at the Potlotek Cultrapreneurs have included designing, making and playing of traditional drums and sweetgrass harvesting.
Contact: Noelle Doucette at noelle_doucette@hotmail.ca
We’komq’ma’k Muine’swak
An accomplished artist, Eva Nicholas brings lots of creativity to her workshops as the hub leader of We’komq’ma’k Muine’swak.
Contact: Eva Nicholas at eva.nicholas@gmail.com
Millville – Grassroots Learning
Farmer and community organizer, Estelle Levangie is passionate about helping others master hands-on skills and is the Hub leader of Grassroots Learning in Millville.
Contact: Estelle Levangie at thymeforewefarm@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/thymeforewefarm
Instagram:@thymeforewefarm
Middle River – Meet You in the Middle
Kristi Farrier is a hand papermaker and textile artist. She uses repurposed textiles, flax and other natural fibres while employing traditional techniques to create beautiful and unique handmade papers. In her textile practice, Kristi transforms fabric, thread, paint and dye into dynamic abstract art works celebrating colour and line. Kristi works out of Flying Finch Studio located in Middle River.
Contact: Kristi Farrier at kristi@flyingfinchstudio.ca or 782-235-7996. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Flying-Finch-Studio-100063809119366/
Chéticamp – Apprenons tout en s’amusant
A 4th generation rug hooker with 57 years experience in rug hooking. Betty Ann Cormier is the Hub leader of Apprenons tout en s’amusant in Chéticamp. She designs, hooks and dyes her own wool and has been teaching this art/craft for 15 years. She finds it is a grounding time for her and is a great opportunity to look after her mental health.
Contact: Betty Ann Cormier at bacormierconsultants@gmail.com or 506-855-4480
Website: www.bettyanncormier.com
Communities for Gender Equality is supported by a collaboration between Community Foundations of Canada and the Equality Fund, with support from the Government of Canada.
