TESTING THE TRAIL: Orangeville Mayor Rob Adams, flanked by Lions Bob Dickie, left, and Frank Gray Sr., pose on their BMX cycles at the top of a rise on the trail created by the Lions behind the Alder Street Arena parking lot which officially opens this Saturday with demonstrations by 14 professionals from the Ontario BMX Federation and a timed challenge between the mayor and Orangeville councillors. Mr. Gray said 135 tandem trucks of clay went into the creation. The mayor said the town is blessed to have the Lions Club. Photo/WES KELLER Headwater Arts will make a showing on Broadway this weekend during Orangeville’s Jazz and Blues Festival at the Broadway Courtyard Pavilion.

Board members will be on hand, on Saturday afternoon between 1 and 5 p.m., to talk about their passionate mission: to encourage artistically talented young people - “to find the genius within,” as Wayne Baguley, a member of the Headwater Arts Board, puts it.

A well known real estate agent, Mr. Baguley was once in the music business himself and has a deep interest in facilitating talented young people who are determined to stick to their art and to carry on in their studies.

To this end, the Headwater Arts group is looking for funds to sponsor scholarships to promising young artists of every ilk: music - playing, vocals, dancing - visual arts, theatre, film, literary, with no holds barred as to style.

Says Mr. Baguley: “I don’t think there is anything more important than encouraging young people to be involved in the arts. They must be given the opportunity to have a break - but on their terms. They need to take responsibility for the direction they’ll go - open the doors and let them decide.”

The idea really began with the Burdette Award first given to a visual artist in 2008. The award is named after Paul Burdette, late owner of Burdette Gallery, west of Orangeville.

What has recently given the sponsorship program a huge boost is the decision on the part of the Caledon Town Council to come on side with the Headwater Arts initiative with a grant. This money for the scholarships will come from Caledon’s big annual fund raising Golf Tournament held at the Osprey Golf Club (TOM!) in September.

It was Doug Buffer of the Caledon Town Council who contacted the Headwater Arts Board members with the offer.

“It’s fabulous that the Caledon Council looks on us in this light and wants to support us,” Mr. Baguley said with enthusiasm.

Usually, the Council looks to support “bricks and mortar” but that is not applicable in this case. This is a program wanting to provide some support to the foundation for lives in the arts.

With the funding, the advanced program of scholarships will be launched. The criteria are that the young person be under 20 years old, show genuine talent and a serious interest in continuing to work in his/her line of artistic endeavour.

“Not necessarily by going to college,” Mr. Baguley clarified, “but with continuing lessons and being mentored one way or another.”

Headwater Arts partners with other organizations and businesses wherever possible. They are working with Mark’s Work Warehouse on a whimsical idea of selling t-shirts that say “High on Art” in stylized design. Mark’s arranged the printing of the shirts and sells them with a portion of the money to the scholarship fund.

Mr. Baguley told me there are also boxer shorts (not sold through Mark’s) with “High on Art” across the top of backs of them, which might be exposed by the low slung way some young men wear their jeans.

“This all makes a lot of sense, given the statistics on the value the arts world has on the national finances,” Mr. Baguley commented. “A great many people make their living in the arts or are employed part time at least.”

As an industry, the arts (a sweeping heading, including galleries, theatres, festivals, tours, working artists and so on) accounts for about 3% of Ontario’s GDP.

Headwaters to host free cosmetic seminar

Headwaters Health Care Centre will host a free seminar on cosmetic surgery next week.

Presented by the Cosmetic Surgery Hospital, Woodbridge, the seminar will have as guest speakers plastic surgeons John Taylor and Sandra Voice, who will be on hand to talk about facial rejuvenation, facial procedures, body sculpture, liposuction; breast reduction, augmentation and lifts; breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, etc.

Those attending can learn about what cosmetic surgeries and non-surgical procedures are available, including questions you should ask and how to prepare for your surgery.

The seminar will take place on Thursday, June 10 from 7 to 9:15 p.m. at Headwaters Classroom 1.

Register by calling 905- 851-7701.For more information visit www.cosmetic surgeryhospital.com

As he points out, even for those who are not necessarily looking to make a career in the arts business, any artistic endeavour makes a good and exciting hobby, an important part of a well balanced life.

Headwater Arts has also partnered with the GDACC (Chamber of Commerce) to promote the “Hot Art, Cool Jazz” art displays at the “Dam Gallery” in the Alton Mill until July 11.

TD Canada Trust is hosting a Hot Art, Cool Jazz display from May 31 to June 12. This is a bringing together of the community - something this community thrives on.

Of course, the great event for the musicians and dancers among our youth is the Shining Stars competition, held in October. This is open to all comers from ages 12 to 20 to sing, dance and play. This, too, is being held in partnership with GDACC, with the actual event taking place on October 2, 3, and 4.

This whole region is blessed with a vibrant arts community. It only stands to reason that here, of all places, the youth of our population would be extended every opportunity possible to pursue their dreams of working as artists. It speaks well for the community and the individuals that such a group as Headwater Arts has come into being and with such fine - and reasonable - ambitions.

The Caledon Council Community Golf Tournament will be held at the Osprey Valley Golf Club (TOM!) on September 15, 2010.