McDonald’s Corner/Elphin Recreation and Arts (affectionately known as MERA) is a volunteer-run arts and recreation not-for-profit organization supported by membership fees, fees paid for workshops and activities, concert ticket sales and generous private donations.

Our Mission

MERA’s purpose is to encourage, develop and organize artistic, cultural and recreational activities for people of all ages in order to promote greater access to, and awareness and understanding of arts, crafts, and music.  and the joy of creating things together.
MERA serves the areas of Lanark Highlands and North Frontenac, providing a venue for visual arts, crafts, music and recreational activities.  We are committed to:
• Sharing the joy of creating things with others
• Promoting programming for children and families in this friendly, rural community
• Providing space to learn and practice heritage skills such as weaving, quilting and other textile arts and visual arts as well as physical fitness and well-being
• facilitating entertainment programs that gather the community together

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For past videos from online events such as our speakers series and some more  history on MERA check out our YouTube Channel.

A Little History

MERA has been an asset to Lanark Highlands since it’s formation over 25 years ago. Township amalgamations in 1995 left the one-room schoolhouse in McDonald’s Corners vacant, providing  an enthusiastic group of local volunteers with an opportunity to transform the renovated 1860s landmark into a space for community arts and recreation. MERA incorporated as a charitable organization in 1999.

A Cultural Oasis in Rural Ontario

That dedicated group planted seeds that have blossomed into a vibrant cultural centre at the heart of a thriving community. MERA now hosts as many as 300 events throughout the year. Over 5,000 ‘happenings’ have brought people together since MERA began. People come from as far as Ottawa and Kingston to hear world-class musicians, or enjoy the work of award-winning artists, in the charming intimacy of MERA’s Dean Hall.

Music at MERA hosts concerts on Sunday afternoons every 4 or 6 weeks. These concerts often sell out since the main room at the Schoolhouse seats only 60 people. The venue may be small, but the acoustics are wonderful and the talent is huge.

Focus on the Arts and Community

MERA’s initial focus was on heritage arts and crafts. Ontario Arts Council grants built the newly renovated weaving studio, where MERA’s Heritage Weavers produce beautiful work inspired by the textile tradition of local Scottish settlers. MERA’s Pottery Collective has a fully equipped pottery studio in the building’s basement also supported by an Arts Council grant, and the invaluable work of volunteers. Today, the studio is bursting at the seams as working in clay enjoys a post-covid surge in popularity.

Every week groups meet to make music, paint, craft, and quilt. With our seasonal community events, such our open house, gardening day, fall and winter MERA Cafe and other gatherings, MERA serves in connecting the local community.

As the community evolves, MERA will continue to contribute to the health and development of this community and to draw in concert goers and people in search of creative opportunities from Almonte and Ottawa to Perth, Sharbot Lake and Kingston.