PDCF is a longtime supporter of MERA (McDonald’s Corners/Elphin Recreation & Arts). This small but mighty organization, located in the old schoolhouse in McDonald’s Corners, encourages, develops and organizes artistic, cultural and recreational activities for people of all ages. They connect people to arts, crafts, and music and the joy of creating things together.  Both residents and visitors across Lanark Highlands, and its neighbouring communities, benefit from all that MERA does.

Incorporated as a non-profit in 1999, MERA began when a dedicated group of volunteers gathered to discuss how to put the vacant one-room schoolhouse in McDonalds Corners to good use. For over 25 years, MERA has served as a cultural oasis in Lanark Highlands.

MERA offers weekly session for pottery, quilting, weaving, crafting, book club, recorder group, speakers’ series, painting, stained glass and an array of workshops from special techniques in pottery, painting to nature and literature. An average of 80 people participate in weekly programs and hundreds more attending community events, art exhibits and concerts.

MERA hosts several community events including its Open House, monthly art exhibits, dinners, seasonal events such as New Year’s Wassailing, Gardening, Christmas Fair, and its renowned concert series. Over the summer and during spring break MERA offers a series of affordable children’s art camps.

One of MERA’s goals is to foster an environment that welcomes families and the means to accomplish this is to offer arts and crafts activities that would engage and entertain children. MERA will continue to have a weekly fall and winter session on Saturday’s during the MERA Café. This is aligned with MERA’s core mission to bring arts activities to the community.

Nearly 300 people from across Lanark County have signed up with LBIN as basic income supporters and, to date, 20 organizations have endorsed LBIN’s Statement of Principles. They include:

• Canadian Federation of University Women Perth and District;
• Family and Children’s Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville;
• Lanark County Community Justice;
• The Hunger Stop Food Bank;
• Rideau Community Health Services;
• and The Table Community Food Centre.

LBIN has also secured resolutions in support of basic income from municipal councils of Perth, Smiths Falls, and Tay Valley Township.

In partnership with Lanark County Interval House, LBIN hosted an event in Carleton Place last year which highlighted the connection between basic income and the financial security it could provide for women and children needing to escape domestic violence in their homes. LBIN has made presentations across Lanark County and staffed the LBIN booth at Perth’s Festival of the Maples in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

PDCF Community Grants have helped LBIN produce display materials, create and maintain the LBIN website, launch Facebook and Instagram accounts, and create LBIN merchandise (lawn signs, totes, pens.)

Lily Roy lived her values of community involvement every day. The PDCF Lily Roy Memorial Bursary, created in her memory by her loving (and equally community-minded) husband, Frank Roy, is awarded each year to a graduating student from each of St John Catholic High School and Perth and District Collegiate Institute who, through their community involvement, reflect Lily’s belief that pitching in and participating in community is the key to a good life.

Lily was born in Hanna, Alberta, on June 23, 1932. She met Frank in the summer of 1956 when they were both working in British Columbia. They married in 1957 and moved to Ontario, and while raising three young boys, Lily got involved in the Nursing Division of St. John Ambulance in 1964, and, in 1990, was invested as a Commander in the Order of St John. For 40 years, even after she was diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment, Lily helped make others’ lives better through her volunteer work.

Lily taught CPR and First Aid to Girl Guides and Scouts, as well as healthcare workers and other adults in Stittsville, Burlington, and Carleton Place. After moving to Perth in 1990, Lily volunteered with Heart and Stroke, the Canadian Cancer Society, Rideau Lakes Home and Community Support Centre, EcoPerth, The Perth Public Library, and taught fitness classes at Perth Community Care, and Lanark Lodge. She instructed at Algonquin College and provided financial support for student awards. She grew connections and friendships with her active participation in skiing, canoeing, Scottish country dancing, and cycling with others. And, to take one sport to the extreme, Lily was a regular participant in Perth’s Annual Polar Bear Plunge, raising money for local organizations.

Lily’s commitment to community and her can-do spirit were infectious, and she was declared “Volunteer of the Year” in 2001 by the Safe Communities of Perth and District. When she received the award, Kara Symbolic, of North Lanark Community Health Centre (ConnectWell), honoured Lily beautifully, saying: “I consider Lily Roy to be a volunteer ambassador in our community. She leads us by example, by cajoling, by her sense of humour, and by her presence. In her volunteer life, she demonstrates care for both individual and community health, safety, fitness, environment, literacy…”

Lily died peacefully, at home, surrounded by family on April 14, 2005. As one family friend wrote to Frank, after Lily passed, “Her light will live on in all who knew her.”