Seeing Double at Sivarulrasa Gallery - theHumm June 2022

Jennifer Raby — Mastering the Technique of Fine Art Batik - theHumm June 2022

By Sally Hansen

Art… and Soul

An innate artist since she was a small child, Jennifer Raby found her true passion at the age of twenty when her artist mother introduced her to batik. This ancient art of decorating cloth using wax and dye uniquely suits Jenn because of its demanding requirement for innovative thinking and action. It satisfies her persistent appetite for challenging herself.

And rise to the challenge she does. Her large, framed batiks are stunning. Many reflect her other passion — Af......

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Art in the Garden
Lanark County Local Colour at Kiwi Gardens - theHumm June 2022

By Ellen Fraser

Do some landscapes call out to you? Do you believe in listening to the spirits? Paul Loiselle does. Back in the early eighties he looked into an abandoned landscape on Harper Road with its old log cabin and he saw his future beckoning — a place where he could build his home, raise a family in a good community, and gradually create a nursery for growing and selling perennial flowers. Luckily, this was 40 years ago when a young man could listen to the spirits and not be stopped in his tracks by the pri......

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Together, You & I
Lanark County Wide Pride is a Welcoming Presence - theHumm June 2022

By Arria Deepwater is a white and cis presenting, disabled, queer writer living in Lombardy

Emerging after a long period of isolation can be daunting as well as exciting, and connecting with a community, especially for the first time, can sometimes feel overwhelming. So I attended my first organizational meeting for Lanark County Wide Pride with a mixture of curiosity, reservation and anticipation.

Community organizing is a strange and often unwieldy beast. It thrives on a steady flow of small miracles and a combination of the warm practical attention of those who can......

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Buskers for Survivors - theHumm June 2022

By Kris Riendeau

Last year, Almonte resident and Métis leader/activist/elder Tony Belcourt talked at length to theHumm about his background and his response to the Kamloops Indian Residential School story. At that time, he was in the process of organizing “Buskers for Survivors” — a musical fundraiser for the Indian Residential School Survivors Society that took place in Ottawa. This year, with assistance from Mississippi Mills All My Relations, he is bringing Buskers for Survivors Revisited to......

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The Broken Bridges
Local CFMA Nominees to Play Almonte Celtfest - theHumm June 2022

By Interview Kris Riendeau

Back in 2017 I had the pleasure of working with Fern and Willow Marwood when these dynamic and talented sisters provided live fiddle music during performances of A Peak at Pakenham. That musical and theatrical fundraiser was written by Fern Martin and raised over $10,000 for the Pakenham Library. In addition to providing superb music, Willow and Fern were delightful to work with, bringing a cheerful and upbeat energy to the production.

Fortunately for fiddle (and banjo!) lovers, it appea......

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O Camper,Where Art Thou?
Amazing Old School Music Camps in Elphin - theHumm June 2022

By Kris Riendeau

Years ago, theHumm posited that the tiny community of Elphin (near McDonalds Corners, don’t you know) had the highest number of JUNO Award winners and nominees per capita of any place in our catchment area. Well that number is going to skyrocket this summer, when musicians Jenny Whiteley and Joey Wright are joined by the likes of Paul Langlois (of The Tragically Hip), Amy Millan (of Stars and Broken Social Scene), Pierre Schryer and many others.

What is all that talent doing up in Elphin? L......

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ADHS Presents Noises Off - theHumm June 2022

By Olivia Scott and Perry Santry

Noises Off by Michael Frayn is about a play within a play. In this incredibly witty approach to a farce, an exhausted director tries to cope with the drama-ridden cast as opening night approaches in less than 24 hours. Cast members are pitted against each other as the night before opening night shows how unprepared they may be. We see the show fall apart over the course of four months throughout this action-packed, comedy-filled three-act play.

Almonte and District High School’s drama club will......

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Miss Emily —Live at The Cove - theHumm June 2022

By Interview Rob Riendeau

Emily Fennell has been wowing audiences across Canada, the US and the United Kingdom with her unique combination of passion and talent. Known professionally as Miss Emily, she recently released a live album, Live at the Isabel, recorded at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts in Kingston and featuring guest appearances by Gord Sinclair and Rob Baker of The Tragically Hip, Kelly Prescott, and Chad Murphy. The album was nominated for a JUNO and won three Maple Blues Awards. theHumm caught ......

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Rideau Lakes Studio Tour 2022 - theHumm June 2022

By Wendy Lowe

Sixteen artists engaged in expressing their inspiration through different art forms comprise the Rideau Lakes Studio Tour. Each year we work in our studios to prepare for a wonderful tour we hold every summer. Of course, our tours were cancelled in both 2020 and 2021. But the good news is that we are already hard at work for a great tour you can experience on July 2 and 3 of this year!

Currently, our venues include cottages, houses, studios and churches. Check them out in our brochure at

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Be a Leader of Changein Your Community! - theHumm June 2022

Are you passionate and/or curious about learning more about Indigenous cultures? Do you want to be a Leader of Change? Plenty Canada invites youth from all backgrounds, aged 15–30, to join a cross-cultural, cross-generational dialogue over the course of their Truth and Reconciliation Training Program. 

Engage in a rich learning experience, delving into the history and culture of Indigenous peoples in this region of Turtle Island. You, along with a small group of like-minded youth, will......

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Celtfest Returns!
In-Person Festival Features Stellar Lineup - theHumm June 2022

After two years of virtual festivals, Almonte Celtfest is back in Gemmill Park for a fun weekend full of music on July 2 & 3. This summer’s lineup features a healthy mix of touring bands, local acts, and up-and-coming performers showcasing the breadth of Celtic music today. It should surprise anyone who thinks Celtic music is just one kind of sound.

On one hand you have headlining crowd pleasers: the “death-defying, acrobatic fiddle precision” of Canadian and US fiddle champion Shane Coo......

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Gorgeous Harmonies and Soaring Vocals
The Pairs & Tragedy Ann on June 4 - theHumm June 2022

By Sandy Irvin

We were so optimistic when we planned our 20th season last fall. We jumped through hoops to make sure our shows were safe for audiences and artists alike, and that’s why we’re presenting this show in June — it’s a rescheduled show from January. We really wanted to put both Tragedy Ann and The Pairs on our stage because they absolutely love to sing, and they bring a delightful energy to the stage. Honestly, both bands have such gorgeous vocal harmonies, it’s electrifying.

Tragedy Ann are based i......

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A Taste of Texas in the Valley - theHumm June 2022

By Rob Riendeau

Mark your calendars, folks! The formidable Texas Horns from Austin are coming to town in advance of their appearance at this year’s RBC Bluesfest in Ottawa. In their twenty-five year association with Bluesfest the Texas Horns haven’t played much outside of the city, but on July 4 they will be live at the Almonte Old Town Hall and on July 5 they will play at the Winchester Old Town Hall. The Horns’ brand of blues, roots and soul is perfectly suited to these venues, which are reminiscent of the danc......

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Lots More Artistson This Year’s Art Works! Perth Tour - theHumm June 2022

By Ben Bennett

Based on its success last year, this summer’s Art Works! Perth studio tour features 50% more artists, and is back to its pre-pandemic June schedule.

It runs from Friday, June 24 to Sunday, June 26 at ten locations, nine of them right in Perth, and many of them in the downtown. The exception is a gathering of four artists who are showing at the Studio By The Tay, on the Leonard Side Road a few minutes west of Glen Tay. Posters and postcards with a full list of the locations and artists participatin......

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Mariposa Design — Susan’s Storie - theHumm June 2022

When asked “why did you name your business Mariposa Design?”, owner Susan Storie passionately replies: “Mariposa is Spanish for butterfly.” Having traveled to Spanish-speaking countries (which by the way, Susan loves), she fell in love with Mariposa. Coupled with her love of butterflies, this seemed to be a beautiful choice for a business name. Susan explains that: “butterflies represent change, transformation and new beginnings.” She also relates this to her chosen career of Interior Design where tr......

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All My Relations
Reflections on Horses in the Sand - theHumm June 2022

By Rena Upitis, FRSC, is the Founding Director at Wintergreen Studios and Professor Emerita at Queen’s University

One might wonder why Lorrie Potvin invited me to review her evocative memoir, Horses in the Sand. On the surface we have little in common. I’m a tried-and-true scholarly sort, not a single tattoo on my body, a cisgendered heterosexual white woman. I am keenly aware that I live a life of extraordinary privilege.

Lorrie avoids wearing skirts because wearing them once made her fearful and identified her as female, which singled her out as “prey.” One of my favourite pre-pande......

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Yard of the Week is Back - theHumm June 2022

Get your gardens ready! In 2022, the Year of the Garden as declared by Communities in Bloom and Landscape Ontario, the Almonte & District Horticultural Society in partnership with the Municipality of Mississippi Mills is sponsoring the Yard of the Week Competition. Each week, starting the week of June 20 and running for ten weeks, a garden will be chosen in Mississippi Mills by judges from the Horticultural Society. Winners will receive a gift bag with gardening items as well a......

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Culture & Diversity Word Walk - theHumm June 2022

The Perth & District Library, in partnership with the Local Immigration Partnership, Town of Perth, and Tay Valley Township, has launched a Culture & Diversity Word Walk as part of Culture Connect.

The first annual Culture Connect, happening throughout June, is an opportunity for the communal celebration of beauty in diversity and the importance of culture. Culture Connect consists of events crafted to bring people together for collective learning, celebration an......

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Almonte Summer Night Market - theHumm June 2022

Destination Almonte is hosting a Summer Night Market on Thursday, June 23 from 5–9pm. Come out and celebrate summer events again, and support local businesses!

The merchants on Mill Street in Almonte are excited to kick off the busy season of events with this special Summer Night Market. The street will be closed to vehicle traffic, allowing visitors to stroll Mill Street and sample the best local food and drink while enjoying outdoor musical entertainment. Be sure to visit participat......

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Familiar Faces in New Role at Almonte Old Town Hall - theHumm June 2022

By Tiffany MacLaren

The Municipality of Mississippi Mills recently added three new Event Assistants to the Almonte Old Town Hall team. Ken Kicksee, Sandy Irvin and Christine Moses were hired in late 2021. These three fill the large shoes left behind by Gavin Donnelly who held the position for more than 10 years.

Together this dynamic trio brings a wealth of experience. Sandy, a long-time stage lighting volunteer for the facility, served on the former Almonte Old Town Hall Advisory and is current Board President a......

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Join the Union Hall Team - theHumm June 2022

By Linda Camponi

The Union Hall Community Centre, a registered charitable organization owned by the community, relies on a small Board of Directors and a number of dedicated volunteers who share the administration and upkeep of the hall. With increasing use and interest in this community hub, it’s time to expand this group to include more of the many people in the area who enjoy hosting or attending events there.

Do you have even a little bit of time to share your talents and expertise to help keep the hall goi......

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Pony Up forTherapeutic Riding! - theHumm June 2022

Looking for a fun way to support a great cause? Why not “Pony Up” at an online auction for the Therapeutic Riding Program! This fun and easy online auction site is a safe and exciting way to help support a wonderful local charity – right from the comfort of your own home. Simply head to the auction’s secure website, 32auctions.com/PonyUp , and check it out. You can easily enter your contact information and the name you want to app......

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Public Art Project in Perth - theHumm June 2022

The Downtown Environment committee of the Perth BIA is currently looking for four artists to paint four picnic tables during the Stewart Park Festival. Creating the art during the festival will allow the public to watch the painting take place and make them part of the process. These tables will be placed in the park or at the Crystal Palace for the public to enjoy this summer. The Town of Perth has graciously donated the tables.

“Public art plays a crucial role in attracting visitors to visit and explore,” explains BIA Coordinator Kari Clarke. “It helps to foster community pride and......

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Sunflower Garden Tour - theHumm June 2022

Everyone has been especially enjoying their gardens these last two years, and now it’s time to get out and see the fruits of their labours. The Sunflower Garden Tour is a great way to learn about di?erent garden design, plants and shrubs.

Zion-Memorial United Church in Carleton Place has organized this fundraising tour on Saturday, June 25, from 10am to 4pm. There will be 10 very di?erent gardens to visit. Most of them are in Carleton Place, but some are outside the town.

There is a country......

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Let’s Dance
An Exuberant Exhibition of Weaving at MERA - theHumm June 2022

By Ellen Goode

As an antidote to the grimness of Covid, the ten members of Weavers Unlimited have created work(s) on the theme of dance. Because each member has a unique area of expertise and esthetic vision, the individual pieces in the exhibition are diverse both technically and visually. The result is a lively exuberant, colourful celebration of movement expressed in a woven format.

The “Let’s Dance” exhibition runs from June 1–30 at the MERA Schoolhouse in McDonalds Corners. Everyone is invited to meet the artists and view their works on Sunday, June 5 from 2–5pm. Light refreshments will be serv......

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Peonies in Bloom! - theHumm June 2022

June is peony time at Whitehouse Perennials Nursery and Display Gardens. Located at 594 Rae Road near Almonte, they sell a wide variety of top quality plants, and their display gardens are a great source of inspiration when you are looking for plant combinations or wondering what a certain plant looks like when it is mature.

Enjoy the peony show from Wednesday to Sunday throughout the month of June, and plan to return in July for their Bloomfest Garden Art Show and Sale! Find more d......

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Seeing Double at Sivarulrasa Gallery - theHumm June 2022

From June 1 to July 8, Sivarulrasa Gallery is pleased to present Jane Irwin: Seeing Double, an installation of ten works on paper and found objects by this Toronto-based artist. The works in this installation are inspired by the female form of the dressmaker’s mannequin.

Jane Irwin writes: “In 2018, I found a vintage dressmaker’s form. At the studio, I put it on like a vest and pressed the wire to take on my body’s shape. I felt that I was wearing a kind of armour. I......

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Berry Time is Coming! - theHumm June 2022

Mississippi Berries is a subsidiary of RiverRun Farms, owned by Andrew and Julie Dawson and family. This family-run farming operation focuses on sustainable production practices to produce high quality agricultural products and food for the local marketplace. The Dawsons began strawberry farming in 2012 and moved the patch to its current location at 2430 Ferguson Falls Road. The Mississippi River flows behind the patch and allows for adequate water for irrigation and frost protection. Their son Conno......

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Food Bank’s Open House & BBQ - theHumm June 2022

After two long years, the Lanark County Food Bank — The Hunger Stop is holding an Open House and BBQ on June 18 from 11am to 2pm to showcase what it has been able to offer clients because of the support it receives from the community.

“We’ve been waiting forever to show off our new digs and the hard work of our volunteers,” says Karen Lomas, LCFB Board Chair. “Thanks to the generosity of our community and sponsors we have an awesome food bank, and we would like to share it with everyone — finally.......

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Back Forty’s “Curdsand Cooks” Celebration - theHumm June 2022

Back Forty is back at it! After a near two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Back Forty Artisan Cheese is excited to announce the return of their annual “Curds and Cooks” festival. The festivities will take place at their farm & dairy in Mississippi Station on Saturday, July 2 from 11am to 6pm.

With ever-changing mandates and constant closures, owners Jeff and Jenna Fenwick decided to keep the shop closed in 2021 and use the time to make some improvements and impleme......

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Library Online Auction - theHumm June 2022

The Friends of Mississippi Mills Public Library have gathered between 60 and 65 services donated by members of the community, local businesses and organizations, which they will be auctioning off from June 12–24. Here’s how it is going to work:

Those who wish to donate a service to the auction can still do so until June 11. Items for kids are especially welcome — a membership for a summer camp, sports team, a ticket to Puppets Up! or some other summer festival, for insta......

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Rideau Woodland Ramble Turns 22 - theHumm June 2022

Rideau Woodland Ramble is a garden centre and display gardens situated on seven acres of woodland near Merrickville, Ontario. Its mission is “to capture the imagination of gardeners and collectors” in a woodland setting, showcasing and selling rare and unusual hostas, grasses, conifers, magnolias, and a range of shrubs, trees and perennials.

The operation is located at 7210 Burritt’s Rapids Road near Merrickville, just 30 minutes south of Ottawa near the World Heritage site of the Rideau C......

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Splendor in the Garden - theHumm June 2022

By Lise Balthazar

June is here and colourful songbirds are gracing yards and feeders all over Eastern Ontario, but there is one whose song is as dazzling as his livery: the rose-breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus). He belongs to the cardinal family and his French name is Cardinal à poitrine rose. His melody has been compared to that of an American robin who took voice lessons. If you hear a long string of robin-like whistles with fewer pauses, and clear, liquid phrases, chances are it is a rose-breasted gro......

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New Creative Drama Camp at MERA! - theHumm June 2022

New this summer to MERA (McDonalds Corners and Elphin Recreation and Arts) is a week-long drama camp. Imaginative children will explore what it would have been like to be a student in a one-room schoolhouse at the time when MERA was built in 1860, and will explore local history through stories, songs and dances.

This camp will be led by Alexis Scott and assisted by art camp expert Jan Griffiths. Alexis is passionate about sharing her love of creation and performance. With her guidance, ......

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Dress Code for Ladies of a Certain Age - theHumm June 2022

By Glenda Jones

Remember when we were young and Twiggy was all the rage? Remember how we needed to have our dresses — yes, dresses — above our knobbly knees if we wanted to look fashionable? Remember if you were one of the unfortunates with actual hips or, god forbid, a bust — you couldn’t buy a single thing that fit?

Here’s Twiggy now, a paragon of fashion once again. It took her a long time, but finally she’s developed a figure that demands comfort clothing, and she’s encouraging us to embrace her desire to dre......

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Claudia Smith at Union Hall AGM - theHumm June 2022

By Linda Camponi

The long-awaited Union Hall Annual General Meeting is now scheduled for Thursday, June 23. The event will begin at 7pm with a talk by local historian Claudia Smith, who will be presenting highlights from her 2021 book, Horses of the Country: An Homage. Claudia has spent a lifetime gathering stories from Lanark County residents, many of which are highlighted in close to 200 Lanark Era columns as well as several books. Claudia was the recipient of the 2008 Lanark County Award of Excellence in the category of Heritage/Ecology, in recognition of her dedication to recording the history and cus......

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