Ever since the Smith family started growing canola on their Merrittville Highway farm, curious passers-by would stop to take selfies with the springtime yellow blooms, posting the results to their social media accounts.
“We thought we’d take advantage of that and see if people wouldn’t mind making a donation to the [Niagara Children’s Centre]," said Don Smith, whose family operates Beaverloch Farms at 2150 Merrittville.
So, this weekend and next, visitors are being encouraged to stop by the fields, grab a selfie and donate to the centre. Family members will be on site to help visitors with photos and collecting donations, which can be made by cash or via a QR code on site both weekends.
The Smiths have been planting canola for the past few years.
“This is our third crop,” Smith said, adding the canola is shipped to Hamilton where it is processed for use in biofuels and animal feed.
The Niagara Children’s Centre is a development and rehabilitation centre that helps children and youth with physical, developmental and/or communicative delays or disabilities. Other services provided through the centre include social work, medical and specialty clinics, aquatics, behavioural consultations and more.
The centre helped 5,213 children in 2023-24 and received 2,440 new referrals. Funding comes from a variety of sources, including the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, The Ministry of Health and Niagara Region among others as well as donations from the community.
"We love seeing the local community rally support behind us,” said Marla Smith, Director of Development at Niagara Children’s Centre. “The creativity we’re seeing with third-party events, such as Beaverloch Farms, is truly inspiring and will go a long way towards funding vital programs at the centre.”
The photo event at Beaverloch Farm is taking place this weekend, May 3 to May 5, and next weekend, May 10 to May 12. On Friday, the event runs from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Beaverloch Farms will match donations up to $10,000.
More information on the NCC can be found at niagarachildrenscentre.com.
