Meeting Date: July 24, 2023 at Station 11 restaurant and then at the Elka’s Magical Artland in Kent Bridge
President Ron opened the meeting at 5:30 pm. After the toast, grace, dinner and thanking Station 11 for the dinner, Ron started the meeting.
Program:
1. Short discussion of birthdays and anniversaries, plus correspondence and then carpooling to Elka’s Magical Artland in Kent Bridge, just north of Highway 2, on the left before the railway tracks
We got to look around the art gallery: it is amazing
Elizabeth Kawala gave us a short talk about her history once she came to Canada
She came to Toronto 30 years ago with her husband and their two children from Communist Poland
She lived in Mississauga for 20 years and was part of the Polish Canadian Women’s Artist group
Over those 20 years, she did over 4000 paintings, often getting up at 5:00 am and going to bed at 2:30 am the next day
They moved to London, where she was the President of the Polish Women’s Federation in London
She and her second husband (her first husband passed away) purchased the church in Kent Bridge 5 years ago, where she now has the art gallery.
It took a lot of work to repair the roof, and fix much of what was the church hall
They have also redone the whole lower level of the church into their kitchen and the bathroom with wonderful counter tops, shower and bathroom and other areas
One level down is where they have their bedrooms.
The whole building is now full of unbelievable artwork and decorations on the walls floors and ceilings
All of the artwork and furniture etc are covered in acrylic, which gives it a great covering for indoor or out
President Ron asked if there was “Anything for the good of Rotary?”
Ron closed the meeting at 8:00 pm
The next meeting is on Aug 14, 2023 at Rondeau Joe’s (just outside the Rondeau Park gates) followed by a tour of Sheep Dog Animation at New Scotland located on Kent Road 15 as we return from Rondeau Joe’s.
Front Sign at the Magic Art Land in Kent Bridge
A view of part of the gallery
Artist Elizabeth Kawala and Rotary President Ron Bolohan