Artful Giving: Building Health and Community Through the Arts
This article originally appeared in the Wellington Advertiser (Nov. 6, 2025)
Who: Dr. Peter and Susan McPhedran
The gift: A $10,000 donation toward the new addition at the Elora Centre for the Arts, as well as participating in the Arts Centre’s Buy a Tree and Buy a Brick fundraising initiatives.
For Dr. Peter and Susan McPhedran, the new expansion at the Elora Centre for the Arts isn’t just a building — it’s a catalyst for a healthier, more connected community.
Bright, fully accessible and designed to welcome everyone, the new 3,500-square-foot space will host workshops, performances, exhibitions and community gatherings that bring residents together — fostering creativity and connection along the way.
Working to build healthier communities is something the McPhedrans — both longtime Elora residents — are passionate about.
Peter, a retired family physician, serves on the board of the Centre Wellington Community Foundation, where he chairs the Social Determinants of Health Committee, focusing on the non-medical factors that affect health and well-being.
He also serves on the board of Stonehenge Therapeutic Community and is a governor for the Guelph Wellington Ontario Health Team.
Susan, in retirement from a career as a high school teacher, has chosen to volunteer with two community groups supporting food security. One is the Centre Wellington Mobile Market, a volunteer-run food rescue program that has delivered 8,000 meals to residents in need in just under three years.
She is also active with Food Forest Centre Wellington, a volunteer-run project that promotes eco-friendly gardening practices and provides fresh food for the community.
The McPhedrans’ dedication to community health also extends to the arts, as research shows that arts participation can positively influence the social determinants of health — from enhancing mental well-being and supporting learning to strengthening social connections and fostering resilience.
“I’ve always been interested in the social determinants of health,” says Peter. “In my [medical] practice, I saw it firsthand — if you’re living with food insecurity, poverty or unstable housing, your health outcomes may be worse than for people more fortunate than you,” he says.
“But there are also protective factors — strong social connections, access to community programs and supportive environments,” says Peter. “When people have opportunities to connect, create and feel supported, it strengthens the entire community. This new space at the Arts Centre will provide those opportunities — fostering creativity, belonging and well-being for everyone.”
Recently, the McPhedrans made a generous gift to the Arts Centre expansion and contributed to both its Buy a Tree and Buy a Brick initiatives.
“The Arts Centre has become such a vital part of this community,” says Susan. “It’s wonderful to see it thriving and to support its next chapter. It’s not just an art gallery — it’s a true community space.”
“You can tell in the design that they’ve thought about all the groups who will use this new space, and that’s so important,” she says. “As residents of Centre Wellington, we should all be very proud.”
Want to leave YOUR mark on the Arts Centre’s new expansion?
There’s still time to be part of this exciting community project — with options at every level of giving!
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