Lansdowne’s Therapeutic Recreation Artists’ Gala celebrates creativity, Alan R. Cook Foundation

BRANTFORD-BRANT, ON – It was a celebration of the arts – drama, dance and visual at the Branlyn Community Centre as members of Lansdowne Children’s Centre’s Artfelt Minds Club (Autumn, Alexis, TJ, Kara, Kendra, Dennis, Brooklyn, Cohen, Isabelle, Billie, and Hope), Lansdowne Lights Drama Club (Aeva, Zoe, Isabelle, Max, Jacob, and Alex) and the LCC Dance Crew (Isabelle, Aeva, Zoe, Matthew, Lilly, Sophia, Abbie and alumni/ dance teacher assistant Tatum) showcased their talents before a full house audience at the Therapeutic Recreation Artists’Gala.

The annual event was hosted by Lansdowne’s Therapeutic Recreation program, and was the result of three months of preparation, rehearsals, creating sets and props, artistic expression, etc As Elizabeth Burke, Recreation Therapy Assistant at Lansdowne noted, “In Therapeutic Recreation programs, Lansdowne clients can participate in their preferred leisure activities without the barriers that might exist in settings with less available support staff.”

She added, “In programs, we focus on building the skills needed to participate in activities and work together with the clients to find the best modifications and adaptations to support their independence as they participate. This looks different for every individual and creates a mutually respectful environment where clients socialize, have fun with and learn alongside peers as they work on individual and program goals ”

Above: In addition to the art gallery and dance performance, the LCC Drama Club added a production titled Why Crocodile is So Snappy (by Evan Baughfman), as part of the 2024 Therapeutic Recreation Artist's Gala. The showcase illustrated the diversity of the programs and the many opportunities that youth have to explore different interests and skills with help from Lansdowne Children's Centre. To the right: 15-year-old Brooklyn Robillard shows off her artwork, a piece that she created with great patience one dot at a time. A past participant in other recreation activities, this was Brooklyn's first year in the Artfelt Minds program.

The night wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of the Alan R. Cook Foundation.

Tiffany Morgan, Recreation Therapy Supervisor, noted,

“For the past several years $25,000 has been granted annually to support the Therapeutic Recreation services for arts-based programming. It has made such a difference, and we are very appreciative to our generous donors ”

Cook, who passed away in May 2018, had been a dedicated participant in and advocate for the arts throughout his life