Paddles of the Grand Program Evaluation

Abstract

The "Paddles of the Grand" community project, now known as "Bearfoot Waters – Paddles of the Grand," is a social enterprise located in Haldimand, dedicated to promoting unity and individual well-being through artistic creativity and a strong connection to water. This initiative involves the production and painting of two-foot paddles by various community partners, including local high schools, a long-term care home, a blacksmith, and local artisans. The paddles are then made available to local artists and for community painting workshops, with proceeds reinvested into both the organization and the community. The McMaster Research Shop partnered with Paddles of the Grand to investigate the extent to which participants are satisfied with the paddle production process and community painting workshops. To do this, we conducted semi-structured interviews and surveys to gather data from stakeholders involved in the initiative.