On Tuesday morning, 16 Jun 2026, Paul Macko introduced Leanne Arnal, Manager of the ‘Chill Spot’ as our special guest speaker at our hybrid weekly session.
Leanne's presentation provided a unique focus on a developing organization committed to the support of the local migrant worker community. Citing her many previous initiatives as background, Leanne dwelt on her most recent project to set-up and manage the 'Chill Spot'; ‘a welcoming home away from home’.
The ‘Chill Spot’ is a main-street Simcoe facility dedicated to all manner of support arrangements (ie social, educational, economic, recreational, sports, literacy, referral etc etc) for those important members of our community that help in the delivery of food. As her remarks were coming to a close, she thanked our Club for its ongoing financial and moral support; in particular for the summer community soccer tournaments she continues to organize. She updated us on the details of the 05 July '26 soccer match, scheduled at the Wind-Del Community Park. She then showed off the great soccer team shirts she had made up reflecting our support.
The ‘Chill Spot’ is a main-street Simcoe facility dedicated to all manner of support arrangements (ie social, educational, economic, recreational, sports, literacy, referral etc etc) for those important members of our community that help in the delivery of food. As her remarks were coming to a close, she thanked our Club for its ongoing financial and moral support; in particular for the summer community soccer tournaments she continues to organize. She updated us on the details of the 05 July '26 soccer match, scheduled at the Wind-Del Community Park. She then showed off the great soccer team shirts she had made up reflecting our support.
After many questions, Co-President Ross Gowan offered Leanne our sincere thanks and congratulations for her passionate leadership and everything she is doing to support this crucially-important segment of our Norfolk County community. In recognition of her community-minded passion, and noting our support of the Operation EyeSight project, we have restored the sight of a 60-yr old male in Ghana.
A short bio for Leanne, as well as a feature poster for the upcoming soccer tournament, may be found at the 'Read more ...' tab.
Leanne Arnal is a community builder, publisher, and advocate with more than 18 years of experience supporting international agricultural workers and the farms who employ them.
Based in Norfolk County, she is the founder of Norfolk Rural Connect and creator of The Chill Spot, a welcoming community lounge and creative space that serves as a "home away from home" for international farm staff while also offering programs and support for women, seniors, and the broader community.
Leanne is also the publisher of On The Farm Magazine, a unique publication dedicated to sharing the stories, contributions, and experiences of international agricultural workers and the farming community. Throughout her career, she has developed hundreds of workshops, events, and community initiatives focused on education, wellness, cultural connection, and social inclusion.
Passionate about bringing people together, Leanne's work is rooted in the belief that strong communities grow through connection, belonging, and opportunity.
