Art starts where Nature Ends

The Minden Hills Cultural Centre, in partnership with the Haliburton County Public Library, invites you to a free screening of Finding Dawn (2006) on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 1:00 PM at the Cultural Centre. Directed by Christine Welsh, this powerful National Film Board documentary sheds light on the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and children in Canada. Through personal stories and historical context, it highlights the resilience of families and communities seeking justice. This screening takes place just days before Red Dress Day on May 5, a national day of awareness honoring missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people. The red dress has become a symbol of remembrance and a call for action.

Admission is free and open to all ages. No pre-registration required. Presented with the support of the National Film Board of Canada.

In partnership with the Haliburton County Public Library, the Minden Hills Cultural Centre invites you to a free screening of Cold Journey (1975) on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 1:00 PM. Directed by Martin Defalco, the film follows 15-year-old Buckley Petawabano, a Cree youth navigating the tension between cultural identity and the pressures of the residential school system. Loosely inspired by the story of Chanie Wenjack, Cold Journey is one of the first Canadian films to feature Indigenous actors in leading roles, with performances by Buckley Petawabano, Johnny Yesno, and Chief Dan George, and music by Willie Dunn.

Admission is free and open to all ages. No pre-registration required. Presented with the support of the National Film Board of Canada.

This screening is presented in connection with We Were Taught Differently: The Indian Residential School Experience, a traveling exhibit from the Lake of the Woods Museum. On display in the Welch Room from April 1 to June 28, the exhibit shares the stories of residential school survivors and highlights the resilience of Indigenous communities. Through powerful images, artifacts, and testimonies, it encourages reflection and dialogue on truth and reconciliation.

Cold Journey holds historical significance as it is one of the first Canadian films to cast Indigenous actors in leading roles, featuring performances by Buckley Petawabano, Johnny Yesno, and Chief Dan George. The film’s soundtrack includes soulful music by Willie Dunn, enhancing its emotional depth. This screening takes place during the exhibit opening of We Were Taught Differently: The Indian Residential School Experience, a traveling exhibit by Lake of the Woods Museum.

The exhibit will be on display at Welch Room during the Cultural Centre’s regular opening hours from April 1 to June 30. The documentary screening and the exhibit aim to foster reflection and discussion on the lasting impacts of residential schools and the resilience of Indigenous communities.

Join us for the season opening of the Minden Hills Museum & Heritage Village and Nature’s Place Interpretive Centre, and an exhibit opening reception on Saturday, May 17! Enjoy a full day of family-friendly, drop-in activities—all admission by donation:

– Browning Reptiles (11:00 AM–1:00 PM): Meet fascinating creatures and learn about their habitats
– Printing Press Demo with artist Natalia Brown at Sterling Bank (Noon–2:00 PM): Try your hand at printing and take home a custom card.
– Victorian Tea at Bowron House (Noon–2:00 PM): Have a cup of tea and enjoy some Victorian-era refreshments
– Exhibit Opening Reception at Agnes Jamieson Gallery (1:00–3:00 PM): Discover Mountain Lake at a Glance – The Hidden Nature of Paint by Gord Peteran, an exhibit that features 40 years of plein-air oil sketches of

Mountain Lake, forming an intimate visual diary. The exhibit runs from May 15 to July 12 during the gallery’s regular hours, Tues–Sat, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM.

The summer season opens with the satirical but a little off-the wall musical, URINETOWN, The Musical. It all starts with the sixteenth letter of the alphabet, P. The letter which speaks for itself or, when spelled out, pee, is the central theme to this fast-paced musical Urinetown. As a metaphor for the over-arching intrusion of big corporations into all aspects of our lives, the plucky cast of citizens fights back as the UGC Company (Urine Good Company) attempts to raise the rates on access to public toilets. With music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann, and book and lyrics by Greg Kotis the cast makes its case against the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and municipal politics with music, humour, and boycotts as several love stories emerge from the mayhem.

Opens July 1st for seven performances, including three matinees.  Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

The summer season opens with the satirical but a little off-the wall musical, URINETOWN, The Musical. It all starts with the sixteenth letter of the alphabet, P. The letter which speaks for itself or, when spelled out, pee, is the central theme to this fast-paced musical Urinetown. As a metaphor for the over-arching intrusion of big corporations into all aspects of our lives, the plucky cast of citizens fights back as the UGC Company (Urine Good Company) attempts to raise the rates on access to public toilets. With music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann, and book and lyrics by Greg Kotis the cast makes its case against the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and municipal politics with music, humour, and boycotts as several love stories emerge from the mayhem.

Opens July 1st for seven performances, including three matinees.  Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

The summer season opens with the satirical but a little off-the wall musical, URINETOWN, The Musical. It all starts with the sixteenth letter of the alphabet, P. The letter which speaks for itself or, when spelled out, pee, is the central theme to this fast-paced musical Urinetown. As a metaphor for the over-arching intrusion of big corporations into all aspects of our lives, the plucky cast of citizens fights back as the UGC Company (Urine Good Company) attempts to raise the rates on access to public toilets. With music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann, and book and lyrics by Greg Kotis the cast makes its case against the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and municipal politics with music, humour, and boycotts as several love stories emerge from the mayhem.

Opens July 1st for seven performances, including three matinees.  Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

The summer season opens with the satirical but a little off-the wall musical, URINETOWN, The Musical. It all starts with the sixteenth letter of the alphabet, P. The letter which speaks for itself or, when spelled out, pee, is the central theme to this fast-paced musical Urinetown. As a metaphor for the over-arching intrusion of big corporations into all aspects of our lives, the plucky cast of citizens fights back as the UGC Company (Urine Good Company) attempts to raise the rates on access to public toilets. With music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann, and book and lyrics by Greg Kotis the cast makes its case against the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and municipal politics with music, humour, and boycotts as several love stories emerge from the mayhem.

Opens July 1st for seven performances, including three matinees.  Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

The summer season opens with the satirical but a little off-the wall musical, URINETOWN, The Musical. It all starts with the sixteenth letter of the alphabet, P. The letter which speaks for itself or, when spelled out, pee, is the central theme to this fast-paced musical Urinetown. As a metaphor for the over-arching intrusion of big corporations into all aspects of our lives, the plucky cast of citizens fights back as the UGC Company (Urine Good Company) attempts to raise the rates on access to public toilets. With music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann, and book and lyrics by Greg Kotis the cast makes its case against the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and municipal politics with music, humour, and boycotts as several love stories emerge from the mayhem.

Opens July 1st for seven performances, including three matinees.  Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

The summer season opens with the satirical but a little off-the wall musical, URINETOWN, The Musical. It all starts with the sixteenth letter of the alphabet, P. The letter which speaks for itself or, when spelled out, pee, is the central theme to this fast-paced musical Urinetown. As a metaphor for the over-arching intrusion of big corporations into all aspects of our lives, the plucky cast of citizens fights back as the UGC Company (Urine Good Company) attempts to raise the rates on access to public toilets. With music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann, and book and lyrics by Greg Kotis the cast makes its case against the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and municipal politics with music, humour, and boycotts as several love stories emerge from the mayhem.

Opens July 1st for seven performances, including three matinees.  Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

The summer season opens with the satirical but a little off-the wall musical, URINETOWN, The Musical. It all starts with the sixteenth letter of the alphabet, P. The letter which speaks for itself or, when spelled out, pee, is the central theme to this fast-paced musical Urinetown. As a metaphor for the over-arching intrusion of big corporations into all aspects of our lives, the plucky cast of citizens fights back as the UGC Company (Urine Good Company) attempts to raise the rates on access to public toilets. With music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann, and book and lyrics by Greg Kotis the cast makes its case against the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and municipal politics with music, humour, and boycotts as several love stories emerge from the mayhem.

Opens July 1st for seven performances, including three matinees.  Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

For our third show, we turn to the production which opened the Festival 25 years ago, the award-winning Salt-Water Moon. The Highlands Summer Festival theatre partnership, prepared to kick off its first season, we chose this quintessential Canadian play by David French. Set in Newfoundland eight years after the end of the First World War, this is a touching love story with the conflicted young lovers over-lain by the memory of the horrors of the war, changing roles for women in society and technological advances. The story of Salt-Water Moon resonates as strongly today as it did when we first presented it on our stage in the summer of 2000.
​
​​Opens July 15th for seven performances, including two matinees.  Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

For our third show, we turn to the production which opened the Festival 25 years ago, the award-winning Salt-Water Moon. The Highlands Summer Festival theatre partnership, prepared to kick off its first season, we chose this quintessential Canadian play by David French. Set in Newfoundland eight years after the end of the First World War, this is a touching love story with the conflicted young lovers over-lain by the memory of the horrors of the war, changing roles for women in society and technological advances. The story of Salt-Water Moon resonates as strongly today as it did when we first presented it on our stage in the summer of 2000.
​
​​Opens July 15th for seven performances, including two matinees.  Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

For our third show, we turn to the production which opened the Festival 25 years ago, the award-winning Salt-Water Moon. The Highlands Summer Festival theatre partnership, prepared to kick off its first season, we chose this quintessential Canadian play by David French. Set in Newfoundland eight years after the end of the First World War, this is a touching love story with the conflicted young lovers over-lain by the memory of the horrors of the war, changing roles for women in society and technological advances. The story of Salt-Water Moon resonates as strongly today as it did when we first presented it on our stage in the summer of 2000.
​
​​Opens July 15th for seven performances, including two matinees.  Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

For our third show, we turn to the production which opened the Festival 25 years ago, the award-winning Salt-Water Moon. The Highlands Summer Festival theatre partnership, prepared to kick off its first season, we chose this quintessential Canadian play by David French. Set in Newfoundland eight years after the end of the First World War, this is a touching love story with the conflicted young lovers over-lain by the memory of the horrors of the war, changing roles for women in society and technological advances. The story of Salt-Water Moon resonates as strongly today as it did when we first presented it on our stage in the summer of 2000.
​
​​Opens July 15th for seven performances, including two matinees.  Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

For our third show, we turn to the production which opened the Festival 25 years ago, the award-winning Salt-Water Moon. The Highlands Summer Festival theatre partnership, prepared to kick off its first season, we chose this quintessential Canadian play by David French. Set in Newfoundland eight years after the end of the First World War, this is a touching love story with the conflicted young lovers over-lain by the memory of the horrors of the war, changing roles for women in society and technological advances. The story of Salt-Water Moon resonates as strongly today as it did when we first presented it on our stage in the summer of 2000.
​
​​Opens July 15th for seven performances, including two matinees.  Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

For our third show, we turn to the production which opened the Festival 25 years ago, the award-winning Salt-Water Moon. The Highlands Summer Festival theatre partnership, prepared to kick off its first season, we chose this quintessential Canadian play by David French. Set in Newfoundland eight years after the end of the First World War, this is a touching love story with the conflicted young lovers over-lain by the memory of the horrors of the war, changing roles for women in society and technological advances. The story of Salt-Water Moon resonates as strongly today as it did when we first presented it on our stage in the summer of 2000.
​
​​Opens July 15th for seven performances, including two matinees.  Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

For our third show, we turn to the production which opened the Festival 25 years ago, the award-winning Salt-Water Moon. The Highlands Summer Festival theatre partnership, prepared to kick off its first season, we chose this quintessential Canadian play by David French. Set in Newfoundland eight years after the end of the First World War, this is a touching love story with the conflicted young lovers over-lain by the memory of the horrors of the war, changing roles for women in society and technological advances. The story of Salt-Water Moon resonates as strongly today as it did when we first presented it on our stage in the summer of 2000.
​
​​Opens July 15th for seven performances, including two matinees.  Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

Accusations, mistaken identities, and romances run wild in this traditional, laugh-out-loud farce, Drinking Habits by Tom Smith. Two nuns at the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing have been secretly making wine to keep the convent’s doors open, but Paul and Sally, reporters and former fiancées, are hot on their trail.  They go undercover as a nun and priest, but their presence, combined with the addition of a new nun, spurs paranoia throughout the convent that spies have been sent from Rome to shut them down. Wine and secrets are inevitably spilled as everyone tries to preserve the convent and reconnect with lost loves.

​Opens July 27th for six performances, including two matinees.  This production contains mature themes. Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

Accusations, mistaken identities, and romances run wild in this traditional, laugh-out-loud farce, Drinking Habits by Tom Smith. Two nuns at the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing have been secretly making wine to keep the convent’s doors open, but Paul and Sally, reporters and former fiancées, are hot on their trail.  They go undercover as a nun and priest, but their presence, combined with the addition of a new nun, spurs paranoia throughout the convent that spies have been sent from Rome to shut them down. Wine and secrets are inevitably spilled as everyone tries to preserve the convent and reconnect with lost loves.

​Opens July 27th for six performances, including two matinees.  This production contains mature themes. Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

Accusations, mistaken identities, and romances run wild in this traditional, laugh-out-loud farce, Drinking Habits by Tom Smith. Two nuns at the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing have been secretly making wine to keep the convent’s doors open, but Paul and Sally, reporters and former fiancées, are hot on their trail.  They go undercover as a nun and priest, but their presence, combined with the addition of a new nun, spurs paranoia throughout the convent that spies have been sent from Rome to shut them down. Wine and secrets are inevitably spilled as everyone tries to preserve the convent and reconnect with lost loves.

​Opens July 27th for six performances, including two matinees.  This production contains mature themes. Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

Accusations, mistaken identities, and romances run wild in this traditional, laugh-out-loud farce, Drinking Habits by Tom Smith. Two nuns at the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing have been secretly making wine to keep the convent’s doors open, but Paul and Sally, reporters and former fiancées, are hot on their trail.  They go undercover as a nun and priest, but their presence, combined with the addition of a new nun, spurs paranoia throughout the convent that spies have been sent from Rome to shut them down. Wine and secrets are inevitably spilled as everyone tries to preserve the convent and reconnect with lost loves.

​Opens July 27th for six performances, including two matinees.  This production contains mature themes. Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

Accusations, mistaken identities, and romances run wild in this traditional, laugh-out-loud farce, Drinking Habits by Tom Smith. Two nuns at the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing have been secretly making wine to keep the convent’s doors open, but Paul and Sally, reporters and former fiancées, are hot on their trail.  They go undercover as a nun and priest, but their presence, combined with the addition of a new nun, spurs paranoia throughout the convent that spies have been sent from Rome to shut them down. Wine and secrets are inevitably spilled as everyone tries to preserve the convent and reconnect with lost loves.

​Opens July 27th for six performances, including two matinees.  This production contains mature themes. Recommended for ages 13 and up.*

Accusations, mistaken identities, and romances run wild in this traditional, laugh-out-loud farce, Drinking Habits by Tom Smith. Two nuns at the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing have been secretly making wine to keep the convent’s doors open, but Paul and Sally, reporters and former fiancées, are hot on their trail.  They go undercover as a nun and priest, but their presence, combined with the addition of a new nun, spurs paranoia throughout the convent that spies have been sent from Rome to shut them down. Wine and secrets are inevitably spilled as everyone tries to preserve the convent and reconnect with lost loves.

​Opens July 27th for six performances, including two matinees.  This production contains mature themes. Recommended for ages 13 and up.*