December 11, 2025
“I can be changed by what happens to me.
But I refuse to be reduced by it.”
― Maya Angelou
Many of you will have seen the giant map that hangs in our lobby with pins from people who have visited Ross Creek and Two Planks. I marvel at it, because we are in the middle of a field, down a dirt road, in rural Nova Scotia, and yet we have welcomed tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world including international artists, volunteers, and staff who enrich our professional and personal lives more than I can express, sharing their cultures and traditions and making our work so much richer.
It can be gratifying as a Canadian to feel the warmth of these newcomers to our nation, and in the case of refugees, their deep gratitude for Canada taking them in when they needed it most.
Ross Creek began working with the Immigrant Settlement Association (ISANS) in 2015, welcoming refugees to find their voice in Canada through art both in workshops in Halifax and with special out-trips to Ross Creek (including 50 people on snowshoes!), sharing art and food together.It has been a profound experience that has shaped my understanding of our country and what role the arts and our nation can play in the world.
Two things have happened in the past week that have made us think about all of this.Last week one of our staff members had their home and car attacked with rocks and they have had to install security cameras to help them keep their family safe. They have also had people drive by and threaten them while walking with their children, because they are immigrants.
And Syria’s dictatorship fell.
Over and over when talking to Syrians here, they have spoken about a combination of elation and sadness. Elation that a brutal regime is over, and sadness that so many people were lost or hurt. And gratitude that Canada was a safe place for them, regardless of whether they choose to stay or to eventually go back to their home country.
They are resilient and changed, but not reduced.
So even in the middle of a field, in rural NS, we are affected by the war a world away, and conscious that people working at Ross Creek who have fled so much have now been attacked in our own backyard (they weren’t physically hurt, but shaken).
So we think globally about the world we want to make, and with your help, we act locally.
By hiring and caring for staff and artists who are from diverse countries, by welcoming their families to camp, giving them new tools to tells their stories through arts and culture. By ensuring Ross Creek is reflective of our whole community and a place of joy and refuge for campers, for artists, for staff. By raising the artistic mirror to the best and sometimes worst of what we are as a community, as a nation and as humanity, but always with gentleness and empathy so that we are shaping the world as we go. By helping artists and the public to embrace the complexity of the world through arts and culture and so see each other for who we are and what we bring to the world.
By holding steady.
This weekend we are holding a Celebration for Syria at the Annex to welcome Syrian families to gather with community members who supported them to let them know that they have a place here whatever they decide about where they need to be. And to celebrate the potential of peace after so long.
But this work, the work, depends on donations to keep our staff, to hire artists, to feed our visitors, to make magical children’s programs and to make beautiful moments of coming together.This fall, the struggle to get donations in to support all of our work, whether camp, the theatre, or the community arts programs we do, has been unprecedented with the Canada Post strike.
To those of you who have given, we are so incredible grateful.If you haven’t considered donating, or if you haven’t gotten to it yet this year, it would be so appreciated to have a contribution this December.E-transfer is the best way, since your whole donation comes to us, though we can also take Credit Card or PayPal, can pick up a cheque locally, or can accept securities (see below). Whatever is easiest for you means all the difference.
Thank you for your help to keep our work going. It means the world.
So much love,
Chris and Ken
