Stories and Change-Makers
Get to know the people who call Haldimand home. Read more about their unique stories.
Who's on this page?
Graeme Bachiu
Filmmaker, Windecker Road Farms
“Haldimand County is a great place to live and work.…There’s a lot of hustle and bustle and that’s something that you don’t really have to deal with in Haldimand County. You might get stuck behind a combine or bunch of turkeys or something like that. And you know it’s still way better than getting stuck in actual car traffic.”
Graeme came to Cayuga in 2014 and moved into a converted 125-year old Methodist church which also acts as his studio. Home life is pretty hectic with young twins Malcolm and Olive and wife Jen.
He has over 25 years of film and video experience with over a decade-plus career in broadcast news and documentaries, working with some of Canada’s finest journalists and storytellers.
Graeme’s work has been shown at numerous film festivals and he won Best International Director for his local film “Why We Push” at the Georgia Documentary Film Festival. Recently he completed a series called “Making Things Count: Pandemic Postcards” which has been featured on Bell Fibre in Canada and PBS in the US. “The Black Settlers of Canfield” a documentary exploring stories told through the descendants of the black settlers in our area, is another project which will be launched shortly.
His creativity has benefited many local organizations and he was an original founder of the Cayuga Creative Exchange which is now part of Haldimand Art Works, helping to inspire and network with other creatives. Recently he has been offering video storytelling workshops, helping people bring their own stories to life (include link).
In his spare time, you can find Graeme enjoying life on his favourite tractor roaming around the countryside, or out shooting video at special events in Haldimand.
Kerry Walford
Wildwood Art Gallery & Studio
Wildwood’s beginnings can be traced back to 2015, to the day Kerry Walford and her husband Adam Peet, bought a 180-year-old house in Cayuga. They envisioned the 19th century home as an art gallery to display works by Kerry and other local creatives. After having their young daughter Clementine, Walford decided to pursue her passion for art full-time and formally opened up Wildwood Art Gallery and Studio. The home and gallery is a very inspiring space with large sun-filled windows, high ceilings, and old pine floors with lots of character. The couple describes the house as having very positive energy and are happy to be able to share it with visitors and the community.
Kerry is a Canadian Landscape Painter living in Haldimand County. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from York University and her works depict the rural Canadian landscape in a playful yet peaceful manner. She is inspired by nature and her paintings often reference the golden hour, trees, rolling fields, colourful skies, and country roads – all of which she can find close to home in Cayuga.
“My adventures in nature help bring me into the present moment and fill me with a sense of wonder joy and calm” says Walford. “Through the painting process I strive to share these experiences with my viewers. My works are often recognized through my use of colour, rhythmic brushstrokes, sense of light, and atmospheric perspective.”
People drive hours to attend exhibitions at the gallery, and the gallery’s children’s art classes and adult workshops are booked solid, and off-site paint nights fill up quickly. Wildwood has partnered up with local businesses the Twisted Lemon and Concession Road Brewing Co. to host paint night style classes regularly throughout the year. As a response to the challenges of COVID-19 the gallery has put these in-person experiences on hold, however now offers many of these virtually hosting online painting tutorials and selling curated art kits online.
Soon after opening, other local creatives began approaching the gallery with creative ideas for using the beautiful space. Yoga classes started when an instructor proposed the idea, and a local musician’s interest led to musical performances taking place. Although currently on hold – these experiences and more are expected to return to the gallery once it is safe to do so.
Kerry is truly passionate about her work, community, and feels blessed to be able to share her works and what she loves with you. She welcomes you to stop by the gallery on your next visit to Haldimand County.
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