Hi, my name is Suzanne Ouimet I am a Christian Fine Artist. I have been a resident of Guelph Ontairo for 40 years. For a few years, I lived in a beautiful town just outside of Guelph called Eden Mills. It is a town known for its many artists, writers' festivals and studio tours.

While I was living there, I discovered a secluded quiet retreat centre nested in a forest.

I was enchanted the moment my eyes beheld its beauty. I felt as though I was walking

into a storybook. The gentle Eramosa river was calling my heart, drawing me into a place that would in time, mean more and more to me. Last summer, I invited my local church Kingdom Life to come and have church fellowship under the trees. It was so freeing to bring our worship outside.

Three years ago I spent my honeymoon night with my new husband Tomas Fernandez an amazing artist God brought into my life. It was a real manifestation and answer to prayer. While on our honeymoon, one of my fondest memories was sipping coffee down by the water's edge with my husband. While we were surrounded by a host of majestic trees in the early morning light our eyes spied a beautiful blue heron in a river bed, standing perfectly still.

As you can see this lovely place has captured my heart time and time again. This beautiful retreat centre near Rockwood is called Eramosa Eden. It was founded by Valerie Bannert In 1981 as a registered charity with the objective of offering Spiritual/ theological learning and development to people of all faiths.

Eramosa Eden is now in urgent need of our help. Their homes and the continuation of charity are threatened. The full story is in a Guelph Today article of January 12, 2023. Here is the link. https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/popular-eden-mills-spiritual-retreat-on-brink-of-being-shut-down-6367951

Some people live at Eramosa Eden year-round and play a crucial part in the care of the grounds, the buildings, and the running of the charity. Unfortunately, they may be forced out very soon.

We here in Southern Ontario are experiencing a crisis of affordable housing. I don’t understand, in this case, how a Township can enforce a bylaw that supports even more homelessness and lack of affordable housing. It makes one question the wisdom of our law enforcers if they only take the letter of the law into account and not the spirit of care and safety for which it was created.

This is a deep cry from my heart to yours. We need to act to show we care. Together, we can help save this place that has made a significant difference over the years. This charity is only funded by donations, programs, government grants, and minimal rental income from the very houses that could be torn down. Funds are needed now to help pay legal fees, and maintenance repairs to bring buildings up to code. If we all pull together, we can ensure that the Eramosa Eden Centre stays on the map. I care deeply about this place and the people who live there. Will you join me in helping them? You can read/see more about this centre at www.eramosaeden.org