The text used in the report after the flood is heavy with angst in its description of the grueling clean up, positive e-coli tests, water-logged artworks, equipment and files including 30 years of archival documents. “Everything goes.” The organization had no choice but to leave and find a new home.

I wasn’t very involved with Artspace at that time while working as a gardener and also in the office at Otonabee Conservation, reconnecting with my environmental values and rural roots. I was learning more about the flora, fauna, land and watershed of the region. I read that long-term global climate change causes extreme weather patterns which increase floods. July 15, 2004 was extreme proof that climate change was crossing paths with our community.

I remember watching the news coverage that showed people wading through the streets, bailing their basements, running generators, piling up garbage, shaking their heads in disbelief.  I was also struck by the image of a distraught beaver walking across wet pavement, dislodged from its natural habitat. Artspace was also dislodged from its home, but DAMMIT, with perseverance and community support it found temporary shelter at Sadleir House until moving to 378 Aylmer Street where the artist-run centre is located to this day (at ground level where hopefully it will be safe). 

When I walk west from here, up along King Street, within half a block I look over the bridge at Jackson Creek where it’s always moving, perhaps waiting for the next “hundred-year flood”. 

Addendum: When I sat down to write the final draft of this story yesterday, honestly, I was not aware that it also happened to be the 20th anniversary of the July 15th flood!