Having struggled with the ravages of ALS for the past year, Linda chose to bookend her life by "Crossing the Bar" on her 80th birthday.

Linda lived every day to its fullest, filled with Art and Music, friends, family, good food, and stimulating conversation. She explored new ideas, learned new techniques, made a contribution to her community and traveled to see the world. Yet she called Elliot Lake home.

She constantly searched to create meaning in her life. In the end she found it. The last day she wrote in her journal: "Came into this world to love and going out with love." Contentedly, she left this world surrounded by family, sharing remembrances, then all joining her son to sing one of her favourite songs.  The doctor helped her gently fall asleep as her sister-in-law played Lightfoot and Beatle songs on the Celtic harp. The final act in a wonderful play.

Linda Finn: A retrospective runs from February 1 to March 31, 2025. The collection was curated by Murray, Mark and Mike Finn from Linda's personal collection. Admission is free to view the retrospective, which is located at 14 Elizabeth Walk in Elliot Lake.

She wrote a poignant quote from R. W. Trommer that says it all, "Nothing prepares us for this. Everything prepares us for this." She brought great joy into our lives every day.

Linda was predeceased by her parents, Jean and Gordon Smith of Orillia, and her older brother  Paul (Cheryl) Smith of Vancouver. She is survived by her husband Murray, sons Mark (Alison) of Vernon, BC and Michael (Denise) of Fort Myers, FL, along with grandchildren Brandon and Cassie, as well as her younger brother John (Susan) Smith of Orillia and numerous nieces and nephews.

For the past 60 years, Linda has been a practicing Artist. She was a member of and held leadership positions in the Elliot Lake Arts Club, the Northern Ontario Art Association, the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour and the Ontario Society of Artists. She participated in group shows with all these organizations as well as numerous group shows across Canada, the United States, in Europe and Japan, as well as many solo shows. Her work was sold in a number of galleries across Ontario. Her culminating achievement which spanned the last 20 years was a solo show titled The War Letters Project. It was shown in 11 different public galleries across Ontario and was finally documented in a movie she created shortly before her death titled The Old Tin Box, which can be viewed by visiting her website www.lindafinn.com. 

Her passion was Music. She loved to sing. It began with her singing in church choirs. The she found barbershop; she joined the Northern Stars Chorus, later the Jewels of Harmony, and finally Jewels and Gents. Along the way, there were numerous quartet combinations that she enjoyed. She loved to harmonize and the performances helped her build confidence.

She loved living in Elliot Lake. She freely enjoyed giving back to the community by volunteering numerous hours to help various Arts groups organize and promote their activities. Her skills as a designer were used to create posters, guidebooks and promotional materials for many events. She spearheaded many projects to enhance the City by creating Public Art displays that can be seen on the sides of buildings, free standing sculptures at different locations throughout the City. Recently she was honoured by Mayor and Council as volunteeer of the year.

​The family wishes to thank Doctors Athena and Emery Nelson for their attentive care and a special thankyou to Doctor Noemie Robert Lajeunesse for her compassionate manner at the end. Thank you also to Rev. Martha Tatarnic (Linda's niece) for her kind words and spiritual guidance. Along the journey we are grateful for the care and help we received from the wonderful people at Ontario Health at Home. Life would have been very difficult without her assistance. "Thank you" also to the numerous neighbours and friends who supported us on this difficult journey.

There will be no funeral, but the family is planning a Celebration of Life in the spring. In lieu of flowers, tributes can be made by donating to Linda's favourite cause - Elliot Lake's Public Art Program. Donations can be  made online by visiting the secure site created by the City of Elliot Lake:

1. Visit www.elliotlake.ca/donate
2. Select Public Art Projects
3. Select an amount
4. Make the donation in Memory of Linda Finn
5. Enter your contact information
6. Proceed to payment.

The City will provide a tax receipt.  You will need to add my email - finn21160 at gmail.com.

We just met with Joanne Shilton to discuss the details of her contribution to the Cabin Fever Creative Expo, April 25 to 27, 2025.  It is ARIEL's contribution to the City's 70th anniversary celebrations.

Joanne will be conducting three traditional rug hooking workshops for five people each over the weekend. (Detail to be announced). Fifteen people will learn the basics, and leave with the beginnings of a project, and all the tools you need to complete it. Traditional rug hooking does not use a latch hook - just to be clear.

The workshops will take place at the Elliot Lake Arts and Heritage Centre, in ARIEL's headquarters.  The other activities will occur in different venues around the City.  Subscribe to our newsletter to keep abreast of Cabin Fever  

​Our volunteers welcome visitors to the Elliot Lake Arts and Heritage Centre.  Welcome shifts last between 2 and 6 hours per day.  The number of days depends on the volunteer.

During an Open House - every second Saturday of the month - our volunteers take visitors on guided tours of the ELAHC.  Our guides are trained in customer service, facts about the facility and our co-occupants - the Elliot Lake Arts Club and the EL Model Railroad Club.
 
Sometimes our volunteers assist workshop leaders.  Our events need volunteers too.  ARIEL is in charge of the ELAHC Grand Opening festivities on May 10, 2025.  We need volunteers to help plan the event.

It is our goal to have the ARIEL Arts Space - the gallery inside the ELAHC - fully running by February 1, 2025.  We will need docents during gallery hours to assist at the cash register and answer questions about the various pieces of art for sale.  Checking inventory and registering display items is another task that needs a volunteer.

​Posters need to be distribute to various businesses and locations around town each month.  Our volunteers do that too.

The volunteer tasks above are based on our past needs.  We don't know what the future will hold.  We do know that our volunteers are our most important asset as an organization.   If you want to enquire about volunteering for ARIEL, just click the button below.

During the February Open House Elliot Lake Arts and Heritage Centre, there will be a needle felt voodoo doll making workshop.  The workshop participation fee ($20 per person) includes all the materials and the instructions you need to create one voodoo doll. The workshop runs from 10:15 AM to 12:15 PM on February 8, 2025.   Tickets can be purchased at the Elliot Lake Arts and Heritage Centre, first come, first served.

The February Open House theme will be fiber arts.  Weavers will demonstrate how the warp and weft come together to create a work of art. 

In addition visitors will see the advancements made by the Model Railroad Club as they build their train layout. The Club started from scratch in the Fall of 2024.  Your behind-the-scenes look includes an operating model train on a track.  Experts will be on hand to answer your questions.

The newest exhibit in the ARIEL Arts Space will also be mounted for your perusal.  Come see the work of Algoma District artists from painters to woodcarvers.

One of these things is not like the other!  The one below is like the voodoo doll you can make during our February 8, 2025 Open House workshop. We are celebrating hearts and needles by making felt voodoo dolls - our twist on over-the-top Valentine's shenanigans.

f you have not attended one of the Elliot Lake Arts and Heritage Centre's Open Houses, here are some details. They happen every second Saturday in the month.  They run from 10 AM to 4 PM at 14 Elizabeth Walk, and they are free.  The exception is our workshops as there are supplies that are consumed during the activity.  We will have ticket purchase instructions available for the February workshop January 20, 2025.  Until then, save the date, or send us an email to pre-order your tickets by clicking the button above.

Future Open Houses
The March workshop is calligraphy. If you are planning to make party or wedding invitations by hand, this workshop, March 8, 2025, is for you.

The April workshop will about making Easter baskets. The date for that is April 12, 2025.

The May Open House is May 10, 2025. We are throwing a party as it is the Grand Opening Elliot Lake Arts & Heritage Centre.

Pinsent Tailoring is a YouTube channel from the UK hosted by a young man who eschews modern clothing. Since he was 14 years old, Zacks has trod an independent sartorial path.  Now, he is a renowned tailor of period garments.  His clientele is world wide.  Through his videos the curious experience the Art inherent in clothing.  You will never look at a piece of clothing as a utilitarian necessity again. 

Art is everywhere.  Or not...take Tesla's "truck" for example.  Was it designed to be ugly? Regardless, it was designed...and someone determined that the design was good.  Art is in your kitchen in the shape of your kettle or the form of your water bottle. 

Art can be over the top, subtle or minimal.  SMEG is an OTT brand, as is Versace. Form following function is a cliche about design that does not preclude the Art inherent in any object. Take a look at any line of garage storage.  What makes it pleasing to your eye ?  The Art of design.
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Pour yourself a coffee - in a mug that just might have a reproduction of a Robert Bateman painting on it. Click on the video. Enjoy the journey and the Art.