Nature Wellness Wheel
This art installation was commissioned and sponsored by the South Georgian Bay Innovation Fund and the Rydlo Family Fund, reflecting their shared commitment to celebrating local culture, wellness, and connection to the land.
The Art
The Nature Wellness Wheel was inspired by the Nature-Based Wellness Wheel Vision created by the South Georgian Bay Innovation Fund, which represents six interconnected branches of community wellness: Economy, Environment, Physical & Mental Health, Arts & Culture, Feel-Good Feeling, and Youth Development.
"To bring this vision to life, I drew inspiration from the leftover farming equipment used by Scottish settlers in the late 1800s and 1900s—wagon wheels, plows, and gears that still echo through the Highlands landscape. These artifacts of resilience are placed in conversation with the present, where mountain bikers now ride nearby trails, their turning wheels symbolizing recreation, vitality, and flow," said Jake.
The sculpture’s six spokes represent the six branches of the Wellness Wheel. Each spoke cradles a stone gathered from across South Georgian Bay—from the escarpment cliffs of Duntroon and Beaver Valley, to the shores of Georgian Bay and the flowing waters of the Batteaux Stream watershed. Together, these stones ground the piece in the land itself, reminding us that wellness is both rooted in and sustained by the landscapes around us.
"To bring this vision to life, I drew inspiration from the leftover farming equipment used by Scottish settlers in the late 1800s and 1900s—wagon wheels, plows, and gears that still echo through the Highlands landscape. These artifacts of resilience are placed in conversation with the present, where mountain bikers now ride nearby trails, their turning wheels symbolizing recreation, vitality, and flow," said Jake.
The sculpture’s six spokes represent the six branches of the Wellness Wheel. Each spoke cradles a stone gathered from across South Georgian Bay—from the escarpment cliffs of Duntroon and Beaver Valley, to the shores of Georgian Bay and the flowing waters of the Batteaux Stream watershed. Together, these stones ground the piece in the land itself, reminding us that wellness is both rooted in and sustained by the landscapes around us.
The Artist
Jake Mealey
I’m Jake Mealey, a metal artist and fabricator based in South Georgian Bay. I run Black Spruce Design, where I create everything from functional architectural pieces to sculptural works like *North Wind*. My goal is simple but ambitious: to never stop progressing as a creator.
In a world of fast, disposable, machine-made goods, I want to make things that are lasting, personal, and full of soul. At Black Spruce, every piece is an invitation to slow down and appreciate what time, energy, and intention can produce. I love taking the mundane and transforming it into something extraordinary—something that makes people stop and feel proud to encounter. That’s what drives me: pushing myself past what’s easy and into what’s meaningful. The **Nature Wellness Wheel** is part of that journey, and I’m honoured to share it with you on this trail.
For more about Jake and his work: www.blacksprucedesigns.ca
