Community Building

The restoration of the Saugeen First Nation Amphitheatre is a source of pride and opportunity

- Richard Nancarrow and Jennifer A. Kewageshig

My colleague Jennifer Kewageshig and I (Richard Nancarrow) consider ourselves fortunate to be part of an ongoing community initiative that’s dedicated to the restoration of the Saugeen First Nation Amphitheatre in Western Ontario.

The amphitheater was built in the early 1970s by Saugeen First Nation members, led by Chief James Mason in collaboration with the minister of the Wesley United Church, Reverend Earl Stotesbury. Both the reverend and the chief wanted to demonstrate the strong relationship between the local church and the Saugeen Nation and foster greater understanding and friendship between Natives and non-Natives in the region. The amphitheater project more than achieved that objective over the ensuing years.

Complementing the amphitheater’s beautiful stoneworks are extensive gardens and nature trails leading down to the Saugeen River. Visitors from all over North America and as far away as Japan, Switzerland, and Germany, have come here to enjoy the locale’s beauty, tranquillity, and history. In addition to bolstering tourism in the immediate area, the amphitheater was and still is, used to host outdoor weddings, an annual fireworks display and a variety of community events.