Using community arts to rebuild trust and resilience in small northern towns during 2026.
Internet arguments are a total waste of your sanity. Real connection happens when you’re building something together in the real world.
Think about the last time you saw a local Facebook group erupt. In our small northern towns, a single post about a pothole or a town council decision turns into a digital civil war by noon. It’s exhausting, and frankly, it’s making us lonelier than the February deep freeze. When misinformation spreads like wildfire through a community where everyone knows everyone’s business, the social fabric doesn’t just fray—it snaps. We stop seeing our neighbors as people and start seeing them as avatars for things we hate.
This is where the arts actually save us. I’m not talking about some high-brow gallery opening where everyone drinks expensive wine and talks about “the discourse.” I’m talking about the scrappy mural project on the side of a grain elevator, the community theatre troupe in Sioux Lookout, or a basement show in Thunder Bay. When you’re trying to harmonize a three-part vocal arrangement or figure out how to stretch a canvas with a neighbor who votes differently than you, the “us versus them” binary starts to crumble. You can’t easily dehumanize someone when you’re both covered in the same blue paint or trying to fix a broken mic cable.
From a psychological perspective, this is called “superordinate goals.” It’s a core concept in conflict resolution. When groups that don’t get along have to work together to achieve something neither can do alone, prejudice drops. The arts provide that shared goal. It’s an ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) move: acknowledging the discomfort of disagreement but choosing to take value-based action toward community connection anyway. You don’t have to agree on everything to build a stage together. You just have to agree that the show should happen.
We need to stop waiting for a hero to fix the vibes in the North. If you’re feeling isolated by the digital noise, go find a local arts collective or start a zine. It’s not just “hobbies.” It’s community defense. Resilience isn’t just about how much bullshit you can take; it’s about how much beauty you can create when the world feels like it’s falling apart. Use your hands to make something physical. It grounds you in the here and now, reminding you that your town is more than just a comment section.
Be the person who organizes the open mic, even if only five people show up. Be the person who teaches a kid how to use a camera. In a world full of bots and rage-bait, being a kind, creative human is the most rebellious thing you can do. Let’s stop yelling into the void and start building something that actually stands a chance of lasting through the next winter.
Northwestern Ontario Arts, Culture and Recreation
Rooted in Melgund Township, Northwestern Ontario we’re exploring arts, culture, and recreation programming that brings our communitiess together. From creative workshops and local exhibitions to youth activities and cultural events, we support rural artists, strengthen community connection, and celebrate the creative spirit of Northwestern Ontario.
Through community-based arts initiatives, recreation programming, and cultural gatherings, Melgund Recreation, Arts and Culture fosters creative expression, collaboration, and long-term sustainability in the northern arts sector. Our work connects residents, empowers youth, and builds pride in local talent across rural Northwestern Ontario.
Learn more about our programs, events, and opportunities with Melgund Recreation, Arts and Culture.
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