Bruce Power and its supplier partners have donated over $393,000 towards the restoration of the Saugeen Amphitheatre.
According to a press release from Bruce Power, this latest donation comes from the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) Community Development Fund, which will "help Saugeen First Nation with Phase 2 of its Amphitheatre project following a $500,000 donation in 2025 from Kinectrics through the Fund, which supported the continued restoration of one of the largest dry-stone projects in North America."
Phase 2 of the project will include completing work on green spaces, the parking lot, gardens, signage and planting and the stone oven space.
There is also funding included for the amphitheatre trail system, with approximately 750 metres of trail extending from the last garden on the amphitheatre site and leading up to an exit point off Highway 21. The trail will feature a combination of stone and wood work, with bridges and staircases along the trail.
Saugeen First Nation is also planning a wedding pavilion and electrical lighting throughout the site and continues to raise funds to support these projects. You can learn more about the project and how to support it by visiting the website here: https://saugeenfirstnation.com/amphitheatre-restoration/.
The vision for the renewed amphitheater and gardens is to create an outdoor space dedicated to the seven grandfather teachings — the Anishinaabe’s guiding principles that give people the tools to live a good life, passed down generation to generation for thousands of years. The teachings include: Love, truth, wisdom, humility, respect, courage and honesty.
"We are excited to see Phase 2 of our Amphitheatre project, including the new trail system, move forward," said Saugeen First Nation Chief Conrad Ritchie. "This project reflects our community's vision of creating a place where our people can gather, connect with our land, celebrate our culture, and create memories for generations to come. We are grateful for the continued support from Bruce Power and its supplier partners through the SON Community Development Fund as we continue bringing this vision to life."
