Folk On The Outside

Inspired by a popular volunteer program from Ontario Correctional Institute, "Folk on the Outside" is a quarterly get together for our members and the community at large.  The goal is to create a sort of coffeehouse/karaoke bar atmosphere but in a sober, safe, welcoming environment.  Our members, whether they are new in their recovery journeys or happened to be seasoned veterans in the program all need something to do, a place to be.  For many of us going to a place that serves alcohol isn't a smart decision.  For others, it's hard to find a new place to just BE, to go and hang out.  Sometimes finances are prohibitive, sometimes recovery has created a routine so structured and rigid that you didn't realize it.

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So, for all those reasons and more, we created "Folk on the Outside".  Every three months (for now, we're hoping to grow) we set aside a night where we serve coffee and homemade baked goods, live music is performed by some of our more musically inclined members and we break out the microphones for some karaoke by some of our "musically inclined" audience.  (Just some mild teasing.  Everyone is not only welcome to get up and sing but we promise a genuinely enthusiastic audience to cheer you on)

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Think about it, would you rather go to a bar where you may have to pay a cover charge to get in, pay for your drinks, overpay for pub grub that was cooked from frozen, be annoyed that the band playing gave you attitude for requesting a song, be passed over on the rotation for singing a karaoke song, be triggered and reminded of bad decisions and wake up the next morning wondering how you got home with $100 less than you expected?

Instead come out to "Folk on the Outside" where admission is free, the drinks (coffee/tea/soda/water/etc.) are free, the food is home made, the only bad decision is choosing to sing "We Didn't Start The Fire" by Billy Joel because you forgot some of the words but even that doesn't matter because everyone is cheering you on.  You never leave with less money than when you came in and we can guarantee you will remember how you made it home that night.  Your opinions on our house band are still valid though...we're not professionals just professionally unprofessional.

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Our first "Folk on the Outside" will be held in June 2025 at St Joseph's Anglican Church.  More details will be coming soon!!!