It is such a joy to be in the kitchen and listen to the happy chatter and laughter of dozens of young people having a meal and enjoying time together! Ascension Lutheran Church in Nelson is a four-minute walk from Selkirk College, Silver King Campus. A small group of Ascension members decided it was time to offer regular outreach to the students on this campus. After a bit of planning, in 2023, we decided to offer meals to students. We are now completing our third year of welcoming students and young adults into our building for a regularly scheduled meal....

Situated near the eastern shore of Lake of the Woods, the tiny community of Bergland, ON, has never been famous, but it has always been beautiful. It’s situated about an hour drive south of the Trans-Canada Highway, nestled against vast forests and meandering rivers. Tourists show up in the summer, eager to unwind in the embrace of its nature, and the people who live there love the place, and each other. In that way, longtime resident Carolyn Kreger says, Bergland is a “hidden jewel in the middle of the bush.” “We just decided we were either going to close the...