Spring is finally stretching awake, and you are invited to dig in with us at the Art Gallery of Burlington (AGB) for a hands-on celebration marking the opening of the Community and Medicine Garden. Come connect, plant, learn, and celebrate the arrival of spring after a long winter.
Refreshments and materials provided.
Developed in partnership with BurlingtonGreen and Grow Native Halton, and in collaboration with Michele Dent, the Community and Medicine Garden is a community-driven initiative focused on increasing biodiversity along the waterfront. Located at the Lakeshore Road entrance, the garden transforms the AGB’s outdoor grounds into a living classroom for creative and ecological learning.
Participants will take part in a series of guided, hands-on activities throughout the garden. The day will begin with seed songs shared by Kaniehtenhawi Deer, grounding the planting in intention and connection to the land.
Michele Dent will lead a session on tobacco planting and teachings, sharing knowledge about the cultural significance of tobacco and guiding participants in how to plant and care for seedlings throughout the growing season.
AGB’s Community Generator Artists-in-Residence Carly Franklin and Kamaldeep Kaur will plant the raised beds with indigo, cosmos, coreopsis, marigold and more. These plants are to be harvested in the fall and used in their research into textiles, inks, and natural pigments, supporting more sustainable material practices within their work and in AGB’s studios.
Looking to start a garden at home or in your neighbourhood? Guests can take home seed packages generously provided by OSC Seeds, and BurlingtonGreen will lead a hands-on seed ball-making activity. These small balls of clay, soil, and wildflower seeds can be taken home and planted to support pollinators and native plant growth.
Want to roll up your sleeves to plant and make with us?
❀ Wear weather-appropriate clothing and closed-tow shoes
❀ Bring gardening gloves if you have them (optional)
❀ Dress for getting your hands in the soil
The learning journey will continue throughout the season and into the harvest. Michele Dent returns on September 2 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm for a Tobacco Harvesting Workshop. This session will focus on harvesting and drying tobacco, as well as teachings connected to its use. Participants will also create clay seed pods for planting future generations of seeds. Register here for the September program.
Keep an eye out for Carly and Kamaldeep’s eco-printing and natural pigments workshops. Carly Franklin’s hands on workshop will teach participants to use two different eco-printing techniques, using flowers from the AGB Community Garden, to create two beautiful silk scarves on August 15 from 1pm – 3:30pm. Kamaldeep Kaur’s From Garden to Painting: Natural Pigments in Indian Miniature Art workshop will invite participants to explore the ancient tradition of making paint from natural ingredients found in the garden on September 20th from 12pm – 4pm.
The Art Gallery of Burlington is located on the ancestral territory of many Indigenous Nations including the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, and Métis peoples. The territory is mutually covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Iroquois Confederacy, the Ojibway, and other allied Nations to peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. We acknowledge that the land upon which we gather, to create and learn, is part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit.
The Art Gallery of Burlington is supported by the City of Burlington, Ontario Arts Council, and Ontario Trillium Foundation. The AGB’s Community and Medicine Garden and sustainable arts program has been generously sponsored by TD Friends of the Environment, in partnership with BurlingtonGreen and Grow Native Halton. In-Kind sponsorship provided by OSC Seeds – Ontario Seed Co. Limited and Backed by Bees.
The AGB is fully wheelchair accessible, with wheelchairs available for loan. Both the Lakeshore and Brock lobby entrances feature automatic doors, and ramps provide access throughout the building. An elevator is available to reach the second-floor studios. Service animals are welcome, and gender-neutral washrooms are available on-site.
About the Supporters & Community Generator
Michele Dent is from Oneida First Nation. She lives a traditional life with food, plants, and medicines. She spends time teaching and helping others in her community.
Kaniehtenhawi Deer: Skennen’ko:wa, Nya:węh Sgę:nǫ’
Kaniehtenhawi niwahksenno:ten, kanien’keháka niwakohwentsio:ten, tanon ohkwa:ri niwakitaro:ten.
Ohswe:́ken nitewaké:non. Ahsen niwáhsen wisk niwakohseriiá:kon tanon kaié:ri niwakwí:raien.
Kaniehtenhawi is part of the Mohawk Nation, Bear Clan from Six Nations. She is 35 years old, and a mother of 4 children. She has been a language learner off and on for most of her life and considers herself a lifelong student. She’s been a part of various adult immersion programs in Kanien’keha (Mohawk), Onǫda’géga’(Onondaga), and Gayogo̱ho:nǫ’(Cayuga) languages over the course of her time learning and have worked for various schools and organizations in the community. Throughout this time, she successfully earned the BAOL Bachelor’s Degree for Ogwehoweh Language in the Cayuga Steam at Six Nations Polytech. In her free time, she loves to be in nature, doing eco tours or exploring new areas. She loves being in her garden, speaking to her plants, and all the living things. Kaniehtenhawi and her partner run a small business selling their art (beadwork, dentalium, shell carving, and other mediums) at various art events and Pow wows.
Language, culture, storytelling, art and music are central to her life, and she often expresses herself through song, drawing inspiration from the land and the elements in the natural world. She believes in the power of cultural connection, self-identity and advocacy. She hopes to help create a world where Indigenous knowledge is truly valued and carried forward for generations to come.
Grow Native Halton is a community-led organization dedicated to restoring native plant ecosystems in the Halton region. Through education, events, and partnerships, the group helps residents create native gardens and a sustainable ecosystem that support pollinators, birds, and all aspects of biodiversity.
BurlingtonGreen’s mission is through awareness, advocacy, and action, they empower the Burlington community to protect and care for the environment, now and for the future. Their vision is a Burlington where everyone recognizes that they are all connected to, and dependent on the environment, and acts on this understanding to ensure a sustainable future for all life.
Backed by Bees is a Burlington based Honey Farm and Meadery. They believe nature gives, transforms and connects all of us. As guides their purpose is to create space for you to experience what nature has to offer.
OSC Seeds – Ontario Seed Co. Limited is more than just a seed company – they’re dedicated to helping Canadian gardeners thrive. As the largest Canadian-owned and operated seed packet company, we offer a wide range of premium seeds, including over 30 herbs, 250 vegetables, 240 annual flowers, and 100 perennial and biennial flowers, as well as specialized blends for wildflowers, native plants, and restoration projects. They believe in empowering our customers with the information they need to succeed, offering comprehensive growing guides tailored to different Canadian climate zones. Choose OSC Seeds for quality seeds, expert advice, and competitive prices.
AGB’s Community Generator is a series of community-arts projects and activations geared to serve more artists and audiences. The programs are dedicated to creating equitable and open processes for artists and community organizations across the Burlington, Hamilton, and Halton Region to apply for free access to exhibition spaces, arts education, and studios.
The Community Generator Artist-in-Residence Program offers a year-long, self-directed opportunity for artists to explore, experiment, and create within AGB’s studios. Residents have access to 40+ hours per week of studio access (ceramics, fibre, photography, painting, sculpture), the use of tools, glazes, firing services, and personal storage, and a supportive, communal atmosphere for shared learning. Artists are encouraged to connect through talks, workshops, screenings, and collaborations with AGB’s curatorial and learning teams.