Calling all Food and Community Enthusiasts: the Incredible Edibles Festival is Near

Campbellford’s biggest downtown event, the Incredible Edibles Festival, will be here again before we know it! This year’s annual festival takes place on July 8th, 2023 – as always, the second Saturday in July.

2023 will be another great year, with all of the staple festival fun that you remember and some exciting new twists: over 50 food and artisan vendors, music and entertainment on the main stage, excitement at the children’s area, interactive activities in the “Flourishing Communities Zone”, and a stocked beer tent.

But Saturday’s Festival is not the only excitement! The new “IncrEdible Trent Hills Weekend” offers four days of foodie fun. Thursday features a Foodie Film at the Aron Theatre Co-op. “Food and Health Friday” features two food-filled fundraisers: “Incredible Doctor’s Cook-Off” and “IncrEdible Warkworth”. Saturday is the main event: the 8th Annual Incredible Edibles Festival. And Sunday will bring back the “Rural Ramble” – a self-guided tour of farm stands and food producers in the region.

By Amanda Solmes

organization, “IncrEdible Trent Hills”, strives to bring people together around food all year-round. On the 3rd Saturday in August, we offer the “IncrEdible Farm Tour”

– a bus tour featuring four in-depth farm tours and a catered lunch. From October to June, we offer the “IncrEdible School Nutrition Program”: six months of cooking classes and three months of gardening classes for grade eights at Kent and Hillcrest Public Schools.

We also organize the Campbellford Community Gardens

– two community garden locations at Simpson Street and Doxsee Avenue, offering private and public garden boxes to the community and monthly community events. And participate in ongoing community outreach to build a strong food community that is supported. Our organization, IncrEdible Trent Hills, envisions a happy and healthy Trent Hills that is drawn together through a thriving food-based community, where:

1) there is awareness and support for our diverse farmers and food

3) our beautiful region is celebrated as an agri-food destination.

We can only do this with your support. Our community is already passionate about agriculture, a local food movement, and the power of community and sustainable food systems. IncrEdible Trent Hills aims to offer a space for individuals to come together to volunteer and transform our community into a thriving agri-food destination, supporting food producers and fostering a vibrant food culture.

How you can help:

Sponsorship. As a local business that believes in our mission and mandate and in supporting the strength of Trent Hills, we are calling for new sponsors to join us in ensuring the Festival and our programs continue to support this community. Not only are you supporting meaningful community programming, our large audience and massive social media reach will add great exposure to your business.

Volunteers. We are still looking for volunteers for day of, day before setup, and day after one to get involved, contribute to your community, and meet some new friends. For those that are looking for deeper involvement, we are also looking for year-round committee volunteers and board members.

Supplies. To help us decorate the IncrEdible Edibles Festival site and the Community Gardens, we are looking for the following supplies: water-based paints, paint brushes, pillowcases, and colourful fabrics.

A big thank you to the many farmers and food producers that continue to dedicate your lives to being the backbone of our local food community, to the businesses and individuals that continue to support our mission and our community, and to you, for coming out and proving that food is important to the culture of Trent Hills. For anyone looking to become more involved, we are actively seeking individuals, organizations, and businesses to join our efforts. Your assistance is invaluable in our ongoing mission to foster growth and create a thriving food community. Amanda Solmes is the Managing Director of Incredible Trent Hills. If you have any questions or are interested in being involved in any way, please reach her at incredibleediblesfestival@ gmail.com.

HKPR District Health Unit Appoints New Director of Corporate Services

Matthew Vrooman brings several years of healthcare experience.

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPR District Health Unit) is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Vrooman to the role of Director of Corporate Services, and the newest member of its Senior Leadership Team. Vrooman began on May 15.

Vrooman has several years of senior leadership experience in healthcare bringing a wealth of healthcare expertise and a commitment to promoting a thriving environment for all. Throughout his career, he has been a champion of interprofessional team function and has presented on various people-related topics at local, national, and international forums. Vrooman’s dedication to fostering collaboration and finding innovative solutions has made him a respected leader in the healthcare community.

"Matthew Vrooman's appointment as the Director of Corporate Service with the HKPR District Health Unit marks an exciting new chapter for our organization," said Dr. Natalie Bocking, Medical Officer of Health, and Chief Executive Officer at the HKPR District Health Unit. "His proven leadership, combined with his