By KATHRYN FRASER

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Over Here Community Arts Centre will host its 3rd Arts by the Pond event at Hillsburgh Library on September 19 from 12 noon to 5 p.m.

The event is free for all and will celebrate with a mix of art, music dance and food all surrounded by a nature backdrop. 

The show is hosted in collaboration with the Erin Tree Trust and is a vibrant celebration of art and the environment while also honouring the Town of Erin's first “Tree of the Year”. 

This “Tree of the Year “is the first inaugural winning tree with over 60 per cent of votes cast is a 160-year-old American Elm named Henry. 

An official honouring of the 2026 Tree of the Year will take place at 1:45 p.m.

In celebration of Henry, artists were given the opportunity to submit original works that interpret Henry's beauty, resilience and presence in the community. 

Donna Bigonzi, a painter from Orangeville, is among many of the artists that sent in her piece of Henry. 

“Henry captures a vibrant sunlit moment along a country road in the Town of Erin, celebrating the enduring presence and quiet majesty of one of the community's cherished mature trees”, says Bigonzi. 

This exhibit will feature the 32 submitted pieces from 28 artists all with a variety of mediums from both the Town of Erin and across Ontario. 

“My piece was influenced by William Wordsworth's poem ‘The World is too Much with Us'. He lived through the First Industrial Revolution and feared how inventions were changing our respect for nature,” says Mixed Media Artist Juanita Landon from Guelph, ON. “How far we have come since then! So, what is next? May we never replace trees like Henry”. 

Many of the pieces will be available to purchase for those interested at the show. 

Both Over Here Arts Adventure and Erin Tree Trust are not-for-profit organizations and are thankful to all their sponsors and supporters who have passionately and generously helped to make the event special. 

Those interested in finding out more information about the event can visit treetrust.ca/erin/ and those looking for more information about the Arts by the Pond event can check out www.overhere.ca/artsbythepond.

Come support local artists and learn more about Henry the Town of Erin's 2026 Tree of the Year by attending Arts by the Pond on September 19.