Arrow of Light Association

09/13/2026

Who would have thought that a recommendation made on a Facebook group would eventually lead to our little farm becoming part of a music video? 🐴🎬

Last night, we had Atlas Photography, director Joey Chapman, their crew Andrew, Robbie & India come out to Arrow of Light for Lucky Iron to shoot a medieval-inspired scene featuring our miniature horses — primarily our little guy, Wind, who apparently has a future in the entertainment industry. 😂

There was also a moment for Nora and Nimbus to step into the scene, making this one very interesting night for our little herd. But they did SO well - little superstars 🥹

What started as a simple recommendation on Facebook turned into an experience we honestly never expected to have. Watching our animals become part of someone else's creative vision was such a unique and exciting experience, and we are incredibly honoured that they chose our farm and our horses to be part of it.

We have no idea exactly what the finished production will look like yet, but we cannot wait to see it all come together.

And of course, we'll keep you all updated when we're able to share more. 👀

For a therapeutic farm that started with a pretty simple idea — creating a place where animals and people could heal together — we're always amazed at the unexpected places this journey takes us.

Last night was definitely one for the books. ❤️🐴🎥

Stay tuned… our horses may just have their first music video credit. 😏

** Special thanks to Mason Riou & Alyssa D Veinot for helping with prep, and making sure the night goes smoothly for everyone.

09/11/2026

Today was our very first Loop pickup here at Arrow of Light Association. 🍇🫐🍎🥑🍅

We’ve been on the Loop wait list for several years, and we were really excited to be welcomed into the program and start participating.

For those who aren't familiar with Loop - Rescue Food, Rescue the Planet, the program helps redirect food from grocery stores that can no longer be sold but can still be put to good use. Instead of perfectly usable food becoming waste, it gets another purpose — in our case, helping feed the many animals who call Arrow of Light home.
.. And that matters more than people might realize.

Feeding a farm full of animals is one of those everyday expenses that never really stops. So while today's pickup brought a load of food to the farm, it also took a load off our shoulders.

It means being able to put some of our resources toward other things our animals and our therapeutic programs need. It means less food going to waste. And it means taking something that might have been discarded and turning it into something useful here.

That’s what we love about programs like this — nothing is wasted, and everyone benefits. This aligns beautifully with our core values as an Indigenous owned and run organization.

We’re incredibly grateful to the Loop program for the opportunity to participate and to No Frills for being our first pickup location.

Today was a pretty great reminder that sometimes support doesn't have to arrive in the form of money or a traditional donation.

Sometimes it arrives as a truckload of food — and leaves a little more breathing room behind. 🌱🐴🐑🐐🐖🐓🦆

One load in. One load off. And a whole lot of happy animals. 💓

09/11/2026

☀️ Friday morning greeting from Poppy

Things have been incredibly busy around here lately.

Our inbox has been filling up with booking inquiries, and we’re doing our best to work through them and accommodate as many people as we can, while also trying to get through the long list of projects that need to be finished before winter.

Fencing. Paddocks. Barn maintenance. Repairs. Winter preparation. Animal care.

And now we’ve also had a spike in people reaching out about volunteering, so we’re opening up more opportunities for people who want to come out, get their hands dirty and be part of the work that happens here.

We’re looking for help with winter prep, general barn and paddock maintenance, socializing the animals and assisting with their everyday care.

And if you’re looking to gain experience with livestock, there really is a little bit of everything here.

🐴 Horses
🐑 Sheep
🐐 Goats
🐖 Pigs
🪶 Emus
🐓 Chickens
🦆 Ducks

You get to learn different species, different personalities and different responsibilities — all while being part of something that has a much bigger purpose for us.

Because September hits a little differently here.

I don't often talk publicly about this part of my story, but I think it's important to explain why su***de prevention and mental health support are so deeply connected to the reason Arrow of Light exists.

I am the daughter of a parent who took his own life.

Su***de has been something I've had to carry in one form or another throughout my entire life. I've also lost friends to su***de over the years.

And I've learned that su***de leaves behind a kind of grief that can be incredibly difficult to make sense of.

There are questions you can't always answer.

Things you wish you could have said.

Things you wish you had known.

And a different kind of closure that can be very difficult to find.

Those experiences shaped me.

They shaped the way I look at people who are struggling, and they played a very real part in shaping Arrow of Light.

I wanted to create the kind of resource I wish more people had access to — for children, adults and families who are navigating their own journeys, whatever those journeys may look like.

A place where you don't have to have the right words.

A place where you aren't put on a timeline.

A place where you aren't pressured to talk before you're ready.

A place where healing can happen through animals, nature, connection, routine, culture, community, or simply having somewhere safe to exist for a while.

Because sometimes support doesn't look like sitting in a room and talking about everything that hurts.

Sometimes it looks like brushing a horse.

Cleaning a barn.

Walking beside an animal.

Planting something.

Learning something new.

Having somewhere to go on a day when getting out of bed felt like the hardest thing in the world.

And sometimes, it's simply knowing that there is somewhere you can go.

That's what we're trying to build here.

Not a place that promises to fix anyone.

Not a place that tells people how they should heal.

Just a place that says:

You are allowed to take your journey at your own pace.

So while we're busy getting this little farm ready for another winter, we're also continuing to build the resource we dreamed about creating when Arrow of Light first began.

And if you'd like to be part of that — whether by booking a visit, volunteering your time, helping us with the work around the farm, or simply sharing what we do — you're helping us create something that goes far beyond a farm.

You're helping us create somewhere to belong.

And for some people, that can mean more than we will ever know. ❤️

Arrow of Light Association
Hope • Healing • Recovery

09/11/2026

September 10 — World Su***de Prevention Day

Sometimes su***de prevention doesn't look like having the perfect words.

Sometimes it looks like sitting beside someone without asking them to explain everything.

It looks like giving someone a place where they don't have to pretend they're okay.

It looks like quiet mornings, fresh air, animals who don't judge, muddy boots, an old barn, a horse standing beside you, or simply having somewhere to go when being alone with your thoughts feels too heavy.

That is part of why places like this farm matter.

At Arrow of Light, we believe healing doesn't always begin with talking. Sometimes it begins with connection. With nature. With animals. With community. With being allowed to show up exactly as you are, without pressure, timelines, or expectations.

If today is a hard day for you, please don't convince yourself that you have to carry it alone.

You don't have to have everything figured out.

You don't have to know what tomorrow looks like.

You just have to make it through today.

And if someone comes to mind while you're reading this, reach out. Send the message. Make the call. Knock on their door. Sit beside them.

You don't need the perfect words.

Just let them know they matter.

There is still life beyond the moment that feels impossible.

💛 You are not a burden. You are not too much. Your story is not finished ;

***dePreventionDay ***dePrevention .

09/09/2026

For those who have been following Cedar’s journey, you know that her splay leg has been one of the hardest things we’ve faced with her despite all intervention. We’ve tried different approaches, we’ve had difficult conversations, and there have been moments where we genuinely weren’t sure what the future was going to look like for our girl.

So when Addison, an incredibly talented metal fabricator, offered to take on the challenge of creating a custom brace for an emu, we were honestly blown away.

This isn’t something you can just pick up at a store. Addison took on the challenge of figuring out how to replicate an emu brace and, more importantly, how to make something that could potentially help Cedar’s leg get back into a better position while giving her the support she needs as she continues to grow.

The hope is that by supporting and repositioning the leg, we can give her the best possible opportunity for things to heal and correct themselves as much as they can.

Will it work?
We don't know yet.

But after everything Cedar has fought through, we're willing to try.

And that’s what this community has given her — a reason to keep trying.

Addison, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for putting your skills, time and creativity toward helping our girl. You didn't have to take on an emu-sized engineering challenge, but you did. 😂💙 And we are incredibly grateful.

And Rhonda, thank you for helping make this possible with your donation covering her brace. Your generosity directly helped get Cedar to this point.

It’s honestly overwhelming to see how far Cedar’s story has travelled and how many people genuinely care about what happens to her. She may be one little emu here on our farm, but she has become a little fighter that belongs to a whole community of people cheering her on.

If we’ve been quieter lately, this is why. We’re taking things day by day, navigating the uncertainty, and trying to manage the anxiety that comes with not knowing what the outcome will be.

For now, we’re just going to put one foot in front of the other — literally. 👣

And hopefully, this is the beginning of a new chapter for Cedar.

And yes, Arrow of Light is technically open for September. We still have plenty of work happening around the farm, so limited availability — but our doors are open and we’re slowly finding our way back into our regular rhythm.

09/02/2026

Only 200 more followers needed to do this draw 🥳

🌿✨ 2K GROW & GLOW GIVEAWAY ✨🌿

Help us reach 2,000 followers & celebrate with TWO winners!

As we grow our community, we want to give back in a way that reflects what our farm is all about — growth, grounding, and wellness. 💚

We’re giving away:

🌱 Prize #1: The Garden Growth Set
A beautiful gardening starter bundle to help you plant, nurture, and grow something of your own this season.

🧺 Prize #2: The Farm Wellness Basket
A cozy, calming self-care package designed to bring a little therapeutic farm energy into your home.

✨ And here’s the fun part…
You get 2 chances to win!

How to Enter:

1️⃣ Follow our page
2️⃣ Like this post
3️⃣ Comment “GROW” 🌱 or “GLOW” ✨
4️⃣ Share to your stories & tag us for a bonus entry

When we hit 2,000 followers, we’ll draw TWO winners — one for each prize!

📍 Must be able to pick up locally or willing to pay for shipping arrangements

Thank you for supporting our therapeutic farm, where agriculture meets wellness and community matters. Every follow, share, and kind word helps us continue this work. 💚

09/01/2026

Look at Nimbus. 🥹

A baby boy, stretched out in the hay beside a growing stallion, completely unaware that there is anything in this world worth worrying about.

And maybe that’s what caught me about this photo.

Nimbus has Wind.

Not because Wind is his father. He isn’t. But because somewhere along the way, these two simply found each other.

Nimbus has someone to follow through the pasture. Someone to watch when he’s figuring out how to be a horse. Someone who quietly shows him where he belongs, how the herd works, when to be curious, when to be cautious, and when it’s perfectly okay to just lay down and sleep.

And Wind has accepted him.

No expectations. No conditions. No complicated explanation for why they belong together.

Just companionship.

I think people need that too.

A safe person.
A safe place.
Someone a little further along who makes the world feel less intimidating.

Someone who doesn't have to fix you or tell you what to do.

Someone who simply makes you feel like you can finally exhale.

That is a huge part of what we want this farm to be.

Not a place where people come because they're broken.

A place where people can come before they have to be.

A place to reconnect. To be around animals. To watch relationships form naturally. To learn that trust doesn't always happen through words. Sometimes it happens quietly, sitting in a field beside something that doesn't judge you.

Nimbus doesn't know any of this.

He's just a little c**t enjoying a nap beside his big buddy.

But maybe that's the lesson.

Peace doesn't always have to be found. Sometimes it has to be given the space to find you. ☮️💓

And today, two boys in a field are showing us exactly what that looks like.

08/30/2026

We’re asking our community for a little extra help today because we truly believe Cedar deserves one more chance. 🙏🏼

Since Cedar hatched, we have been fighting her splayed/twisted leg every step of the way. We’ve tried hobbles, different methods of support, veterinary care, pain management, and countless adjustments — but managing a leg deformity in an older emu chick is incredibly difficult. At this age, they are STRONG, and their bones and joints are growing and changing so quickly.

We have collectively made the very difficult decision that surgery is not in Cedar’s best interest. Emu orthopedic surgery can be extremely expensive, and unfortunately, long-term success is not guaranteed. We don't want to put Cedar through an invasive procedure, recovery, and the associated stress and cost if the likelihood of a lasting outcome is poor.

We also previously explored having an orthopedic brace made through a facility that works primarily with canines. Unfortunately, they no longer offer the style of brace that was attempted for Blue because they did not have success with it on her.

But we weren't ready to give up. 💓

After spending countless hours researching, speaking with others, and following different emu communities and pages, I came across a custom bracing method specifically used for splayed/twisted legs in emus. What really caught our attention is that another emu (Bestie) — actually about a month older than Cedar — was successfully treated using this method.

So we are going to try.

Because Cedar is still able to stand, bear weight, pain is managed, and she is otherwise fighting, we feel this is worth one final attempt to correct the leg and give her the best quality of life possible.

We have found someone who is willing to help us create a custom metal brace for Cedar based on the research and guidelines we've found. The brace will need to be carefully sized, fitted, adjusted, and followed over the next several months as Cedar grows.

The goal is for Cedar to remain braced for approximately 2–4 months, depending on how her leg responds and how she grows.

But there is a cost involved.

Metal and craftsmanship isn't cheap, and there will also be transportation costs involved because the person helping us lives out toward the Valley and will need to make multiple trips back and forth to the farm for Cedar's sizing, fitting, adjustments, and follow-up. Hoping for a final quote tomorrow!

If you are able to make a donation toward Cedar's custom brace, absolutely anything helps. Even $5, $10, or $20 gets us one step closer to getting this time-sensitive need.

📧 Donations can be sent to:
[email protected]

If you're not in a position to donate, PLEASE SHARE Cedar's story. A share can reach someone who may be able to help, and that means just as much to us.

We know this is a long shot. We know we've tried so many things already. But as long as Cedar is still standing, still fighting, and isn’t suffering we aren't ready to give up on her.

Thank you to every single person who has followed Cedar's journey, checked in on her, offered advice, shared her story, or simply kept her in your thoughts. We are incredibly grateful. 🥹

Please keep Cedar in your thoughts as we take this next step. We will continue to update everyone as we know more.

Come on, Cedar girl. One more fight. 🦤💚

— Arrow of Light Therapeutic Farm

08/25/2026

I’ve been going back and forth about whether to share this, but I think sometimes it’s important to be honest about what happens behind the scenes of running a small non-profit therapeutic farm.

The reality is, the money runs out.

There are times when we have very little left in savings to fall back on, and yet the needs around us don’t stop. The animals still need food. They still need veterinary care. Fences still need fixing. The farm still has to operate.

And then there are the animals that somehow end up at our doorstep.

People reach out asking if we can take a surrender, or sometimes animals are simply abandoned or dropped off. A lot of those cases involve cats and chickens. And while we absolutely cannot take responsibility for every animal that needs somewhere to go, it is incredibly difficult to turn away an animal when you know there are already so many shelters and rescues struggling with being completely overwhelmed.

Every single one of our barn cats came to us because they needed somewhere to go.

We also recognize the very real problem of the feral cat population. We don't want to contribute to that cycle, which is why we make every effort to have the cats who come into our care spayed or neutered as soon as we can. It costs money, but it is something we believe is important.

Recently, I reached out to an organization that helps with spaying and neutering cats because we have three remaining cats that still need to be fixed. I was also hoping that perhaps this could lead to some sort of partnership moving forward.

Instead, the response I received really caught me off guard.

I was questioned about how I "end up with all these cats" and told that they hoped this would be the last time I was asking for help.

And honestly, that hurt.

Not because I expect anyone to help us. I don't.

I understand that organizations providing these services are overwhelmed. I understand there are limited resources and countless animals needing assistance.

But I also wish there had been a little more understanding before making assumptions about why these animals are in our care.

I don't go looking for cats.

I don't intentionally collect animals.

I don't take these animals in because I have unlimited resources to care for them.

They come because someone needs somewhere to turn.

Sometimes they're surrendered.

Sometimes they're abandoned.

Sometimes they're simply left behind.

And when we can help, we do.

I try to contribute financially whenever I ask for assistance because I understand that other organizations have bills and expenses too. I'm not looking for someone else to take on everything for us.

I'm simply trying to find a way to make sure the animals that have already landed in our care are responsibly cared for and, in the case of cats, that we aren't contributing to an already massive overpopulation problem.

I think what bothered me most was the feeling of being judged for trying to help.

Please don't assume you know someone's story just because you see the outcome.

You may see "another cat."

I see an animal that somebody else couldn't, or wouldn't, take responsibility for.

You may see someone asking for help.

I see someone trying to stretch limited resources as far as they possibly can.

We are a small non-profit. We don't have endless funding. We don't have a large emergency account to pull from every time something unexpected happens. And I simply cannot afford hundreds of dollars every time an animal that wasn't originally my responsibility becomes mine.

I am doing the best I can.

And sometimes, doing the best I can means asking for help.

I truly hoped to build a relationship with this organization because I believe partnerships are how we make a bigger difference together. I'm still hoping we can get our final three cats spayed/neutered and perhaps find a way to work together in the future.

But if we reach a point where there are no resources and no support available, I may eventually have no choice but to start saying no.

And that is something I really don't want to do.

I don't want to have to turn away an animal that needs help simply because I can't afford to take on another unexpected expense.

So this isn't a post asking anyone to feel sorry for us.

It's simply a reminder that non-profits are made up of people too.

People who care.

People who get tired.

People who make mistakes.

People who stretch every dollar.

People who sometimes need help themselves.

And people who can be deeply hurt when their intentions are questioned instead of their circumstances being understood.

We're going to keep doing what we can with what we have.

Because at the end of the day, that's what we've always done.

It takes a village — and sometimes the people trying to help the animals need that village, too.
🐾❤️

08/22/2026

Healing isn’t always about adding more. Sometimes, it’s about letting go. 🌿

Letting go of what weighs heavy.
Letting go of what no longer feels meant for us.
Letting go so we can make room for something new.

There is so much strength 🐻in choosing yourself, honouring where you come from, and trusting the path you’re on—even when you’re still figuring it out.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to heal while staying rooted in who we are. Healing doesn’t erase where we’ve been. Our stories, our roots, our teachings, and everything we’ve carried are part of us. But we’re also allowed to grow beyond the things that no longer serve our spirit.🪶

So today, a few reminders for whoever needs them:

✨ I release what no longer serves my spirit.
✨ I make space for healing, growth, and good things to flow in.
✨ I honour my journey, my roots, and my resilience.
✨ I am becoming who I was always meant to be.

Rooted in culture. Guided by spirit. Healing is sacred.

I am enough.🌸
I am healing.🌹
I am growing. 🌱