Imagine Festival attended by 300 this summer

Despite the sweltering heat this past summer, friends and family joined together to support Imagine Festival, a biennial arts event that celebrates creativity and inclusivity. On August 4, nine artists graced the Dunany Country Club in Wentworth with their craft. 

The festival attracted around 300 people, according to 4Korners, a charitable organization based in Deux-Montagnes focusing on access to health and social services for the English-speaking population in the Laurentians, which organized the event. Festivalgoers were treated to musical performances and beatboxing sessions. The day began with a free follow-along paint workshop led by Carol Lyng. Nearly 50 participants engaged in the workshop, leaving with their own unique creations. 

In the afternoon, Autisme Karaté took centre stage with a lesson in martial arts. 

The festival held a 50/50 draw, with the proceeds going directly back into supporting future programming. The silent auction was another highlight, featuring paintings donated by local Dunany artists. 

“It was beautiful to see the community come together for this inspiring event,” said Jaime Bisaillon, Neurodiversity Program manager at 4Korners and the lead organizer of Imagine Festival, an event that was created by Julie Chou and her son Ben. “The artists really outdid themselves creating amazing work to exhibit and their efforts paid off. It was heartwarming to see people come together and celebrate different abilities. It was an eye-opening event that brought a lot to the lives of the participants and festivalgoers.” 

In addition to the activities offered, the 4Korners and Uni-Diversity kiosks brought valuable resources and insights to the festival. A member at the 4Korners booth shared inspiring solo travel tips, encouraging others to explore the world with confidence. 

The personal impact of the day was shared by Danielle Desrosiers, the mother of the master of ceremonies, Carly Hay: “For one day, we were invited into a beautiful dimension, where we are guaranteed to be loved, accepted and appreciated for who we are. As a special needs mom, a day like this brings us hope that the world we live in can be a bit more kind to our special children.”

For more information on Imagine Festival and 4Korners, visit https://4korners.org/

Festival sparks creativity with contest  

 Neurodiverse students from across the Laurentians were invited to submit a piece of artwork to be displayed at Imagine Festival and to also be entered in a contest to win a gift card. One thousand dollars in prizes was distributed in different categories: by age group, school and then at random. Various types of art were submitted, such as paintings, drawings, sculptures and digital art. Shown here is a drawing by Jaxson Morin, a Grade 3 student at Morin Heights Elementary School. Photo courtesy of 4Korners. Kristin McNeill/p>

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