Walk through Barrie’s Letitia Heights neighbourhood and you’ll stumble upon Lampman Lane Park—a beloved community hub that offers tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds, a climbing rock and a skatepark. Despite these robust amenities, the area has traditionally been underserved by the kind of cultural programming that might encourage families to linger after their outdoor playdates.

“People who don’t live in the neighbourhood would not necessarily think to go there for culture,” says Chrissy Baxter, Executive Director of Simcoe Contemporary Dancers, a non-profit, professional dance ensemble in Barrie. “Although there are many family-owned restaurants, shops and convenience stores in the area, they don't receive much foot traffic from visitors.”

When Simcoe Contemporary Dancers was selecting a Barrie site for Dusk Dances—an acclaimed site-specific dance festival—Lampman Lane Park was the perfect choice. “By offering a festival here, we are helping to establish this area of Barrie as a destination for culture lovers, while helping local residents discover hidden gems,” explains Baxter.

Simcoe Contemporary Dancers received a My Main Street contribution of $25,000 to support Dusk Dances Barrie. My Main Street is supported with a $23.25-million Government of Canada investment through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). The Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) is leading My Main Street’s Community Activator program, which supports projects that draw new visitors to urban spaces.

Dusk Dances was first performed in Toronto in 1993, and the festival is now organized in public parks across Ontario. As dusk descends, audiences of all ages take part in dynamic performances and interactive workshops, incorporating dance styles that range from Bhangra to belly dancing, Irish dance to jazz. Each dance piece responds to the park’s unique natural environment, serving as a love letter to the spaces and communities that surround them.

After receiving a My Main Street contribution of $25,000, Dusk Dances Barrie not only returned to Lampman Lane Park for the 2022 summer season, but it was also able to expand community outreach strategies to reach new audiences across the city of Barrie and beyond.

“FedDev Ontario funding allowed us to spread the message that Letitia Heights is the place for unique cultural events in Barrie,” explains Baxter.

For the 2022 season, these outdoor, physically distanced dance performances adhered to up-to-date safety protocols regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, organizers focused on making the public performances accessible in a myriad of ways—physically, financially and artistically.

“We’re always interested in reaching new communities and exposing them to different art forms,” explains Baxter. “Not just contemporary dance under the Western model, but also styles from around the world.” For example, performer Michael Mortley led a free, all-ages Caribbean African dance workshop.

Thanks to Dusk Dances Barrie, hundreds of people discovered the community spirit of the Letitia Heights neighbourhood and the natural beauty of Lampman Lane Park.

Photo credit: Dahlia Katz (http://www.dahliakatz.com/)

Photo Caption: “Performers Jaqui Brown, Eligh Zimmerman and Casey-Lee Cooper perform a piece titled “Gem Trolls”, choreographed by Alyssa Martin.”