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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 dance halls in Texas where this music originated. The Texas Horns currently back up blues legend Jimmie Vaughan and have backed such notables as Eric Clapton, Albert Collins, Colin James, Christopher Cross and Texas legend Doug Sahm, among many others. Later this year they will be releasing their third full length recording.
TheHumm caught up with band leader Kaz Kazanoff to find out more about this dynamic musical group and what they might have in store for Ottawa Valley audiences.
theHumm: I understand that the Ottawa Bluesfest is quite an important part of the Texas Horns’ history. Can you share how the band came together?
Kaz Kazanoff: Yes! I performed at the Ottawa Bluesfest in 1998 with Colin James. I hit it off with Mark Monahan, Connor Grimes, and several other Bluesfest Board members. The next winter, Connor and Mark got in touch and wanted to know how they could get me back up to Ottawa. Coincidently, just at that time I was thinking about putting together a horn section, The Texas Horns. So the next summer I returned to Ottawa with my Texas Horns in tow, and we began our 22-year association with Bluesfest as the “House Horn Section” for the festival.
In 2018 I compiled a list of shows we had done and performers we had worked with. We had played more than 400 Bluesfest sets, with dozens of different artists! I can’t begin to estimate how important our association with Bluesfest has been, not only in giving us the opportunity to meet and play with so many wonderful musicians, but also over the years, to begin to do our own shows as The Texas Horns on Bluesfest stages. This was a really big part of our development — not only as a Horn Section, but as a band. Plus I get to go fishing and hang out in a rented cabin in Quebec!
How would you describe the band’s sound and musical style?
We are definitely rooted in blues and soul. Roots music. Our influences have been the great horn sections of the past, including of course The Memphis Horns, BB King and Maxwell Davis. John Mills, Al Gomez and I each bring our own musical history and experience to the table. But one thing that was special about us from the very beginning was our ability to create great horn parts “on the spot”. Many of our early gigs were impromptu in the sense that we didn’t always have material prepared or parts written. Somehow we developed a sixth sense about playing and creating together. Now we can use those skills to create horn parts, songs, arrangements, and studio production. We want to take the blues and soul music that is part of our history, and our inspiration, and then move on to a level where we are making our own personal statement and our own creativity.
People from this area may be used to seeing you on large outdoor stages. What do you enjoy about playing smaller, more intimate venues like Town Halls?
I like playing just about anywhere! We have been touring with Jimmie Vaughan a lot, and that has meant playing everything from 300-seat older theatres to 20,000-seat modern arenas. Except for the huge roar of a big crowd in a big arena, it’s easier to feel the crowd in a smaller venue, to see them and watch them dance or move. This American soul music that we are a part of is all about getting people to groove and party and have fun. Sometimes that’s easier to do in a smaller venue.
For the Town Hall shows, you’ll be joined by some special Canadian guests. Can you give our readers a taste of what to expect?
Over the years we have had the good fortune to meet and often play with some wonderful Canadian musicians. We met Matthew Chaffey and his brother Curtis in Ottawa years ago when they were still teenagers! We have done several projects with Matt over the years, including recording five fantastic songs with him in Austin three years ago. Great stuff! Matt will be our singer (in addition to me!) and our guitarist. Matt has put together a wonderful band, with Laura Greenberg on bass and Jeff Asselin on drums. We have worked with both those great musicians many times already at Ottawa Bluesfest and other local gigs. I just heard from our good friend JW Jones, who will be around town during our shows. We hope he will show up!
Tickets to both the Almonte and Winchester shows are available from Tickets Please (ticketsplease.ca, 485–6434).
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 be putting on a performance of this award-winning farce using a cast made up of exceptionally talented high school students. The cast has worked through senior years, pandemics and power outages, but they are still standing. Jack Lockhart, a freshman, says: “Rehearsals have been exciting, but going from the rehearsal space to the set is going to be difficult to adapt to. The set is massive in comparison. The main struggle will be handling the size of the stairs, but the strong cast will pull through”. Phoenix Torck, a senior, explains that: “I look forward to rehearsals, they’re very fun and help me get comfortable with our small cast”.
With a cast size of only nine members, it is important to have the right chemistry between each other. Thankfully, four cast members were in the original cast when the drama club tried to put on this play two years ago, prior to the pandemic. On March 13, 2020, during a rehearsal that would soon be the last one for a while, the original cast was informed that the school would be closing for two weeks due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Naturally, this put a halt to the drama club’s intensive rehearsals, only three weeks before their opening night. During the two years without extra-curriculars, five of the original cast members either graduated or had other commitments for the year. Now the drama club is back, and with five new cast members the rehearsals are in full swing and major progress is being made each day.
“Just seeing the set finally being built made me so happy. After trying to do this play two years ago and getting so close, it feels so good to be finally putting this play on,” adds Olivia Scott, a senior in high school who was involved in the play two years ago.
The ADHS drama club will be performing Noises Off at ADHS from June 8-11 at 7:30pm, and on June 12 at 2pm. Tickets are for sale right now for $20 at <onstagedirect.com> and at the main office of ADHS.
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-pandemic pastimes involved dressing up in a velvet gown to attend an opera at New York City’s Met for an evening of over-the-top Puccini arias. Unlike Lorrie, I have never owned a Harley, nor have I have wondered about the identity of my birth father. I don’t live with a chronic illness. I couldn’t imagine forging a career as a welder — my few nearly blinding brushes with a welding torch only reinforced my respect for Lorrie’s skills.
But carpentry I get. Next to the velvet dresses in my closet are my work clothes. In the opening of the book, Lorrie writes:
It was the summer of 2019 when I drove in the last screw holding the bottom stair rail to its post. The rata-tat-tat of the drill echoed sharply through the acreage of trees and across the mirror-like surface of the lake. It only took a few seconds for the drill to stall, satisfied with the set of the Robertson screw… I sighed heavily when I stood, the moan coming from finishing the porch stairs as much as it did from the pain of my back and knees trying to right themselves.
I can picture the scene. I expect readers who have worked with wood will feel the same. Indeed, Lorrie and I have built many things together at Wintergreen Studios, a retreat centre a mere 20 minutes from where she lives. We talk tools. We share tools. And we solve problems that invariably arise when building or renovating — problems as gnarly as the most complex geometric theorems. As a small woman in her 60s, I can picture just about everything Lorrie writes about her building process, although in her case, the physical limitations come from the complexities of MS. Throughout, her anecdotes capture the strategic thinking that comes with this kind of creative work.
I get teaching, too. I taught for decades at the Faculty of Education at Queen’s University where Lorrie earned her teaching credentials to become a secondary school shop teacher. And make no mistake, Lorrie is a gifted teacher; those of us who have spent time in the classroom will recognize her as the kind of teacher we would wish for our own children. But her subject and appearance raised eyebrows in the system. Asked by a student if she was a real teacher, she writes:
When I said that I was, she looked confused and said in a voice only teenage girls who know they’re always right can muster, “Teachers don’t wear jeans and black leather biker jackets, you know.” It wouldn’t be the last time someone asked me this question.
There is, in this book, much darkness. The little girl who used a stick to draw horses in the sand on the roadside was lost for many years to violence, addiction and psychological cruelty. She and her brothers were taught to “keep secrets, lie, cheat, steal, yell, scream, and beat each other up… to meet every conflict… with a raging anger built on a bedrock of resentments.”
Even before Lorrie discovered her Indigenous ancestry, she had great reverence for the natural world. When she began the decades-long process of building her home, she mused that “when you build in the bush, the temperamental forces of Mother Earth… immediately start taking over. Some would say they were claiming rightful ownership.” There is an Indigenous expression, “all my relations,” that captures this notion. Lorrie writes:
When I [say] all my relations, I [am] talking about our relations with self, family, friends, and people. But I [am] also talking about being in kinship with the world we live in: the four-leggeds, the swimmers, the fliers, the crawlers, Mother Earth, the water, Father Sky, the tall standing ones, the plant world, the stars, the energies of Grandmother Moon and Grandfather Sun, the wind, the thunderers, the rain, the snow, and all the great mysteries lived and yet to be lived. Nothing is lesser than the other and each are vital to the whole. That is all our relations.
You will read how Lorrie’s immersion into Indigenous sharing circles and ceremonies led her back to that young child who drew horses in the sand, and started to heal her “feminine spirit.” By recognizing her femininity, she was able to “heal the little girl that had been abused and cast aside.” She also recognized the shame and harm she’d done to herself in trying to hide her true nature, which included her masculine spirit as well.
Because Lorrie’s writing about teaching and about building the house that she and Paula now call home rings so true, it makes me trust the stories about worlds that are not mine. The details in the particulars illuminate a path which, if we follow, might just teach us to live with all our relations. I am convinced that if we are ever going to mitigate the climate crisis and heal the deep and growing divides in our country, we will only do so when we come together as a truly inclusive community. How to do that? By listening, by forming friendships, by reaching out to those who, on the surface, may not seem to have much in common with us. That is the gift of Horses in the Sand. Read it. Learn about Lorrie and her struggles and triumphs, and in the process, learn more about who you are, and what we must all do to thrive in the tender years to come. With all our relations.
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 participating shops for late shopping, in-store specials and one-night-only sidewalk sales. Find more details by following them at <facebook.com/destinationalmonte>.
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 price of real estate.
Some businesses don’t start with a plan, they simply grow from a passion. Paul quit his day job teaching horticulture at Algonquin College in Ottawa, and with the help of friends and coworkers he got to work planting, propagating perennials and landscaping. With decades of hard work, perseverance and a lot of faith in his vision of creating an enchanted place for people to visit, Kiwi Gardens became much more than a traditional nursery. Where Paul once saw a scruffy piece of neglected land and dreamed of creating a nursery, there is now an oasis of tranquility: ten acres of mature, fully landscaped gardens set against the rugged backdrop of Lanark County.
In the early days, Paul bought a school bus and regularly loaded it with plants destined for Ottawa. Landscape architects and retail customers appreciated his enthusiasm for endless varieties of perennials at a time when the market was opening up for them and life was busy. The business thrived, but Paul was restless and kept thinking about how he wanted more creativity in his life, and how he’d like to meet artists…
Of course, that happened! 25 years ago, with the first Art in the Garden, the landscape at Kiwi Gardens began to change. Paul’s willingness to help install sculptures and his eagerness to meet creative thinkers attracted many artists for collaborations. Happy to facilitate, Paul created spaces in the woods and gardens for art, dug ponds, built plinths and walls, climbed trees to hang sculptures, and assured the artists that both they and their work were indeed welcome. The public was invited and the response was fantastic. People appreciated the garden party atmosphere and meeting the artists. To see a marvellous selection of ways to enhance their own outdoor spaces was inspirational. Art in the Garden became an annual event!
Once a year on Father’s Day weekend, artists set up their sculptures and garden features in a way that invites meandering, musing, and a lot of laughter and conversation amongst friends, families, artists and gardeners.
Sadly, the event was cancelled two years ago due to Covid. Last year, to keep it from being the usual frenzy of folks eager to gather, it was changed to a ticketed event with time slots for entry. The format, chosen for health reasons, turned out to be a welcome change for both the artists and the public. Artists had time to truly connect with people and visitors enjoyed purchasing art in a more relaxed way. Change can be good!
When you visit the nursery now, you will likely find Max growing the perennials and advising customers on their selections. Paul might be in a greenhouse getting to know a wacky new variety of succulent. About five years ago, looking for a new challenge, Paul found it in a passion for succulents and started growing a huge selection!
The evolution of Harper Road and Kiwi Gardens continues….
The retail nursery is open all summer at Kiwi Gardens, 687 Harper Road, Perth, Friday through Monday from 9am to 5pm. Tickets for Art in the Garden, taking place on June 17, 18 & 19, are selling through Tickets Please (ticketsplease.ca, 485–6434) or at the nursery. Garden art, sculpture, furniture, birdhouses, trellises, fountains, birdbaths, perennials, succulents and a whole lot of fun!
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 implement some of their expansion plans. These plans included building a timber frame pavilion and tasting bar which houses a beautiful wood fired grill and stone pizza oven. “We wanted to create an inviting space where customers and community could come together to enjoy delicious food in a safe and relaxing outdoor setting,” explains Jenna. The couple also expanded their cider orchard, pastures and gardens, and just finished leveling a one-acre event parking area to further improve the overall customer experience.
This year’s 5th annual event will feature a fantastic selection of local food and drink producers including Seed to Sausage, Stalwart Brewery, Dairy Distillery, Perth Pie Company and many more. Sample Back Forty’s unique raw sheep and water buffalo milk cheeses. Pair your favorite cheese with a local wine or hand-crafted fine chocolate. Treat yourself to Back Forty’s beer-battered deep-fried curds. The giant-sized sheep curds, battered in Stalwart’s proprietary beer batter, have become a festival favourite. Visitors can also take out a paddleboard or kayak on the Mississippi, stroll the farm to check out the animals, or just unwind by the river and enjoy an afternoon of great food, drink, and authentic reggae and calypso beats performed live on the steel drum. “Curds and Cooks” is free to attend, great for all ages, and the perfect destination for any cheese, drink, or food lover.
The Back Forty farm, cheese shop and tasting bar will open for the summer season starting June 17, and will be open every Friday from 3–7pm and Saturday from 11am-6pm.
About Back Forty Artisan Cheese
Back Forty Artisan Cheese is a family-operated cheese factory and authentic farm-to-table tasting bar located in Frontenac County. They specialize in traditional and unique, high quality raw sheep and water buffalo milk cheeses along with a wood fired tasting menu. To learn more about the cheese factory, shop and tasting bar, visit <artisancheese.ca>.
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 get a unique opportunity to hear from and learn alongside leading Indigenous change makers, artists, Elders and knowledge holders. This program represents a hands-on opportunity to learn about different Indigenous traditions, innovation, leadership and culture. You will also get an opportunity to develop a community engagement project with mentorship and support from Plenty Canada staff as well as fellow program participants. Multi-Access workshops will be held monthly through the summer, fall and winter. Over the course of the program, participants will engage in community projects that further the goals of Truth and Reconciliation.
This program is based out of the Plenty Canada’s learning centre, near Lanark, in Eastern Ontario. Social distancing and other Covid safety measures will be in place at all in-person events, and they will be offering online options for all participants. Plenty Canada may be providing local transportation to and from events at their centre, and/or provide reimbursements for local participants’ travel costs. Inquire for more details.
Previous workshops have included such Indigenous change makers, artists and knowledge holders as Chuck Commanda, master birchbark canoe builder; Jeff Beaver, Manoomin steward and knowledge holder; Tim Johnson, producer of the critically acclaimed documentary Rumble; and Stephanie Pangowish, comedian.
Some of the themes that will be explored include Indigenous Food Sovereignty, Land and Water, History, Cultural Resurgence, Governance and Justice, and Media, Expressions and Arts.
Participants don’t necessarily need to be local to the Lanark/Ottawa area. While Plenty Canada will be prioritizing spaces for youth local to that area, they are welcoming applications from farther afield as they will be ensuring there are options available for online participation. They will be holding in-person workshops following the most current safety guidelines advised by public health authorities. These activities will be accessible for youth in the area in-person and to non-local youth online. Participants who are not local to this area but want to come to one or more in-person workshops are welcome to join! However, they will be asked to make their own arrangements for transportation and accommodations.
Thanks to funding from the federal government’s Canada Service Corps, Plenty Canada is happy to offer this unique and valuable experience to participants free of charge. Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth between the ages of 15-30 are invited to apply at <plentycanada.com/trtprogram>. For more information, please email <trt@plentycanada.com> with any questions you may have!
In light of the pandemic, organizers are crafting the coming year’s program in a way that will enable then to adapt to changing circumstances. As such, some of the activities may be subject to change, in communication with all participants.
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 Connor (18) and daughter Caroline (16) are an integral part of the operation and can be found in the patch visiting and directing customers. In addition, approximately twenty local youth are hired to assist during strawberry season.
Each year additional strawberry plants are planted to ensure new production is available as older plants are tilled under. The transplants arrive in early spring from nurseries in Nova Scotia. The Dawsons typically choose 4–6 different varieties to plant each year to ensure a selection of maturities to meet all customers’ needs. For the first year the plants are cared for and allowed to grow and develop so that that they can produce berries for the following year.
In the fall, once the ground is completely frozen, the strawberries are covered with straw. This offers some protection from continuous thawing and freezing conditions. The straw provides clean and comfortable picking conditions, enhances the soil and helps it retain moisture. In the spring, once the threat of frost is nearly over, the straw is removed and growing begins. Once blossoms appear it is imperative that any frost be managed to ensure the plants are not damaged. If a frosty night is encountered, irrigating before sunrise helps to raise the temperature in the field.
Mississippi Berries is looking forward to opening their field to customers who enjoy strawberries as much as they do. The patch is open 7 days a week during strawberry season, which runs from mid-June to mid-July. Feel free to visit the website at <mississippiberries.ca>, which is updated with picking conditions several times a day, or listen to a pre-recorded daily message at 259–9911.
Prepicked baskets can be purchased at the patch at 2430 Ferguson Falls Road or at the sales trailer in Balderson.
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 the Almonte United Church on June 18. This will feature performances by Indigenous and non-Indigenous buskers, singer/songwriters and recording artists, as well as an Indigenous Food and Craft Fair. We reached out to Tony once again to find out more about this amazing event.
theHumm: What kind of response did you get from last year’s Buskers for Survivors event — both from the public and from the performers you invited to participate?
Tony Belcourt: The response was immediate and enthusiastic. It was a spur of the moment event. I wanted to do something to show support to survivors after the atrocities were so publicly revealed that spring. I called performers on a Friday night, and we held the event the following weekend at Minto Park. Numerous restaurants on Elgin Street made contributions. We opened up our guitar cases and we raised in excess of $3500 on the day.
Who are some of this year’s performers?
This year sees a return of several favourites from 2021. Kevin Scofield’s collection of original songs and lyrics are poignant, stinging tales of witnessing major cultural and lifestyle shifts in his community, and speak of the inner psychological turbulence of being born with Cree and Scottish descent. Fiddling sensation FIDDLEGROUND is made up of multi-instrumentalist David Finkle from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and fiddler Anthony Brascoupe from Kitigan-Zibi, who will entertain you with traditional tunes from the time of the voyageurs. Christophe Elie channels Steve Earle’s indignant political voice with Neil Young’s raw musical tone through his socially conscious songs and stories. Ken Kanwisher is an Ottawa musician who has worked with artists such as Charlie Major, Ian Tamblyn and Sneezy Waters, as well as being in local bands including Jaxstraw, The Telegrams and the Psychedelic Sundaes.
We’ve also added Shane Belcourt and Aurora Jade to the mix. Shane is a Métis singer-songwriter based in Toronto whose blues and roots-rock music draws inspiration from Doyle Bramhall, John Mayer, and Radiohead. He was nominated for songwriter of year at the Indigenous Music Awards and co-produced a JUNO-nominated record. Since winning the grand prize at the 2008 National Aboriginal Day “We Got Talent” competition in Ottawa, Aurora Jade has performed for the Senate at Parliament Hill, at the Museum of Civilization, pow-wows, numerous music festivals, galas and conferences, as well as having appeared on numerous T.V. and radio shows.
This event will also feature a special guest appearance by Amanda Rheaume. Amanda has released five full-length albums over a period of 15 years, and managed a career that has included countless tours and milestones. Her 2013 release Keep a Fire was nominated for a JUNO Award and won a Canadian Folk Music Award for Indigenous Songwriter of the Year.
Can you tell our readers a bit more about the Indigenous Food and Craft Fair, and some of the creators who will be participating?
Aside from being an outstanding singer-songwriter, Kevin Scofield is one heck of a chef. He was head chef at numerous high-end restaurants in Ottawa. He’s going to offer a moose-meat/wild rice casserole dish. We’re also planning on having someone from Tyendinaga who’s known to make the best bannock you could imagine. Our Indigenous arts and crafts tables include Laura Leonard Originals (fashion designer), Miigwans Creations (beadwork), Charleen Lockyear (glass creations) and more. Mariah Miigwans will also perform a traditional hoop dance demonstration during the Food and Craft Fair.
When we spoke last year, you emphasized the importance of partnering with non-Indigenous neighbours to address issues such as Indigenous rights, racism, and the impact of residential schools. Have you seen a shift in attitudes and awareness around these issues over the last year?
I have definitely seen a shift in the interest around these issues. I think the biggest shift has come because of the revelations of the atrocities as a result of the Indian Residential School policy. I’ve encountered many who are coming forward to express their concerns and interests in knowing more about our Indigenous peoples — our culture, traditions, customs and history. The Mississippi Mills All My Relations organization had done a tremendous job in hosting events to bring citizens closer to our people through zoom panels and special occasions.
Tickets to Buskers for Survivors Revisited concert are available now from Tickets Please (ticketsplease.ca, 485–6434), where you can also find more information about the performers.
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 Cook and the Woodchippers, and high energy touring bands like Steel City Rovers, East Coast Experience and Grosse Isle’s blend of Québecois and Irish traditions. On the other hand, Celtfest invites you to discover Mi’kmaq fiddler Morgan Toney (2022 CFMA and ECMA nominee); Cape Breton style fiddler Anna Ludlow; Fiddleground’s Métis fiddling and jigging; Crooked Creek’s bluegrass; MacIsaac and Mackenzie’s Irish, Scottish and Cape Breton instrumentals; and the virtuosic guitar playing and haunting vocals of Without Willow, coming all the way from County Donegal Ireland.
This year’s program also carries on the festival’s tradition of showcasing local Celtic musicians by featuring plenty of talented regional musicians including Ottawa’s Anna Ludlow, MacIsaac and Mackenzie, Graham Lindsey, Fiddleground, East Coast Experience, The Broken Bridges and the Celtic Cross Dancers, as well as Almonte’s Monday Night Fiddlers and Pat Donnelly Band.
Thanks to the generous support of Celtfest sponsors, entrance to the festival will be by donation. Rounding out the event, there will be Celtic artisans and vendors, a variety of great food and drink, a seniors’ tent and activities for children, making this a widely accessible, family-friendly festival.
Celtfest is a fun weekend of Ottawa Valley and Celtic entertainment taking place in Gemmill Park’s natural amphitheater in the heart of Almonte. Celtfest’s mission is to celebrate and promote the Ottawa Valley’s Celtic heritage through music and dance and to make this celebration accessible to all.
For details, visit <AlmonteCeltfest.com> or follow them on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @AlmonteCeltfest.
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 customs of the area’s inhabitants.
It has been quite some time since Union Hall has been able to host a general meeting, and we look forward to bringing community members up to date on what we have accomplished from pre-pandemic times (2019) through to the present. Despite lockdowns and restrictions, donations from individuals, along with grants from the Municipality of Mississippi Mills and The Hub, have allowed us to keep our volunteers busy making improvements to the facility. Sadly, our Pancake Breakfast, planned for late April, did not take place due to public health concerns, but we are hopeful that things will soon return to normal. This year has seen an upswing in hall and sign rentals with the easing of some restrictions.
Union Hall is located at 1984 Wolf Grove Road at Tatlock Road. The AGM takes place on Thursday, June 23 from 7–9pm, and Claudia’s presentation will be followed by the business meeting. For more information, please contact Linda at 256–2277 or <camponi@storm.ca>.
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 and honouring the cultures and traditions that make up our community.
To participate in the Word Walk, visit Last Duel Park in the Town of Perth or the Fallbrook Playground in Tay Valley Township between June 1 and 23. Hunt for words hidden around either park and then use these words to create a sentence, poem or short story. Creations can be for your own enjoyment, or you can submit your creation to the Perth & District Library by June 23 for a chance to win a prize!
“We are very excited to be partnering on this new Lanark and Renfrew-wide event series,” says Emily Smith, the library’s Adult & Senior Services Specialist. “June is Pride Month and June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day. We hope the Word Walk will be a fun opportunity for all ages to celebrate multiculturalism and diversity this month.”
Submissions can be dropped off in-person at the Library at 30 Herriott St, Perth, or submitted via email to <esmith@perthunionlibrary.ca>. Please include your name, age and contact info with your submission. The Library welcomes submissions from all age groups.
To learn more about Culture Connect events and activities throughout Renfrew and Lanark Counties in June, please visit <liplanarkrenfrew.ca/culture-connect>.
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 dress for our own shape. Finally, common sense!
How is it that guys never have had to conform to fashion trends? They’re still wearing khaki pants with decent pockets, and polo shirts — not unlike what they wore years ago. Sure, the oldsters may now be into braces on the pants, but they haven’t had to endure the vagaries of fashion we ladies have been through. The shirts and ties and suits were chucked the day they retired, and ever since then they throw on clothes for whatever the day might bring. Sure, sometimes the “Mrs.” will insist on a different shirt, but that’s easy enough. Pick the other one in the closet and away they go.
We ladies, on the other hand, have to be mindful that our mode of dress reflects our mental state, or we might be seen to be entering our dotage. We’re doing all we can to retain our youth, and have adopted jeans in a very big way. These aren’t work jeans, but dress jeans. Comfort counts, so we can up the image with accessories. If jeans don’t cut it, those marvellously stretchy leggings are going to do the trick. Not only do they hide the chocolate cake that went straight from the lips to the hips, but they’re also colourful and comfy (an issue though: no pockets!). Those hips can be disguised with a tunic top.
That’s all fine and good for the casual trips to the store, dog classes or whatever, but then comes the invitation to a formal reception, and suddenly the closet can’t cough up a decent outfit fit for the occasion. I hope it doesn’t call for a dress, as that’ll mean a trip to the fitting room — not my favourite way to spend an afternoon. Could I get away with the black pants and proper dress shoes that pinch my toes and are only made for sitting? The invitation says “afternoon wear”. Well yesterday afternoon I was wearing gardening shorts and a T-shirt. That won’t do!
So here’s what I’ve developed for a dress code. Casual can cover anything from a trip to the store, the garden centre, a small hall concert, or an evening stroll. You might meet someone you know, so either you need to have a ready explanation for dirty-kneed jeans, or you’d better check that mirror before you leave home. If it’s over-the-top hot, you’ll want whatever doesn’t cling to the nether points, if you get my drift. Loose whatever will do the trick. If you are at a meeting, church or a concert, up the ante and go for something that will show you’ve put some thought into an outfit. Pick the new jeans with the clean knees and one of those tops you’ve saved for “good”. Don’t you own a necklace that’ll look fancy? What about that jacket with the flowers? Go colourful. Go bold. Go like you mean to make a statement.
However, the time will come when you find yourself faced with the uppity affair, and you need to work a little harder. “Dress” code may apply. Be prepared to face that fat dressing room mirror before you find the perfect thing. It’s got to be loose-fitting but trim, not too long, not too short, not dowdy, not teeny. It can’t have a plunging neckline — oh well, okay if you’ve got the figure for that. For me, I don’t want a black dress, I don’t want one with a crazy hemline, or flappy sleeves. Flappy arms are bad enough, so no sleeveless things either.
It’s worse than choosing shoes, but finally the right dress will appear and you can leave the store confident that you’re going to cut quite a figure in your new attire. The trick now is to make that dress pay for itself and wear it for more than one occasion.
I see ladies in dresses all the time, and yet mine slouches in the closet. Once I find the exact right one, I’m going to wear it. You’ll know it’s me because you’re going to see that one dress over and over. If it works its magic, I might even buy a second one, just to keep you on your toes.
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 and Artistic Director of the Folkus Concert Series. Christine Moses will be no stranger to anyone involved in the local theatre scene, having served volunteer roles backstage, front of house, and even under the spotlights. Christine is very comfortable helping to make the magic happen. Ken Kicksee shares a passion for backstage including lighting and set building. Another Folkus board member, Ken is often willing to volunteer when there is a set to build or backstage work that needs doing. He’s become invaluable to the high school drama club in recent years.
In their new role you will see Christine, Ken and Sandy around the facility opening for bookings, cleaning, and lending a hand where needed. Bonnie Ostrom and Dawn McDonald remain your contact for facility booking. To make a date inquiry or discuss your upcoming Almonte Old Town Hall event, please contact the Mississippi Mills Recreation and Culture Department at 256–1077.
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.”
The Hunger Stop moved to 84 Mill Street, down the road from Carleton Place Town Hall, just as Covid was taking hold in March of 2020. Since then it has pivoted and continued to offer non-stop service to clients, sometimes by packaging up food and delivering it, and when it was safe, by opening the doors so clients could come and shop for themselves.
Saturday, June 18 will be the first time they’ve been able to open to the public. To celebrate, Beckwith Butcher’s Rob Carpenter will be stepping up to the grill. For $5 guests get a burger or hot dog with all the fixings, and a cold drink. It’s the best deal in town!
Tours will be offered by the food bank’s many volunteers, and there’ll be face painting and balloon twisting for kids and adults alike. The LCFB’s very own master gardener David Hinks will also be on hand to offer all the dirt on the food bank’s gardens.
The Lanark County Food Bank serves the communities of Almonte, Pakenham, Carleton Place and Beckwith from White Lake to Franktown and Innisville to Ashton Station.
Come out and see what your support has created! For more information, please email <lcfb.thehungerstop@gmail.com>.
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 in Guelph. With intimacy and care, Liv Cazzola and Braden Phelan favour a flashlight over a spotlight in songs for community, nature, and hardworking hospital staff. Braiding organic vocal harmonies with accordion, singing saw, guitars and ukulele, Tragedy Ann’s arrangements are as delicate as they are driving. They have just released a new album, and our audience will be some of the first to hear the new compositions live. They will be bringing tour mates Basset and bassist Peter Klassen to round out their live sound. (They also promised to bring some of their delightful album fundraiser merch, including vinyl records, a cookbook, homemade soap and tea!).
Paul Corby writes in Corby’s Orbit, Roots Music Canada, that: “A collective fresh breath was taken as Tragedy Ann took the stage and emanated romance, harmony and joy with such charm and dynamic interplay that the hush became palpable. The applause rose in wave upon wave throughout their set.”
The Pairs are a joyous and energetic female-fronted folk-pop group hailing from London, Ontario. Led by the powerhouse (and classically trained) vocals of sisters Renee and Noelle Coughlin as well as Hillary Watson, they are backed by recovering punk drummer Steve Plimmer. The Pairs create acoustic harmony pop tunes grounded in unique rhythms that will hug your eardrums and fill you with joy. They have also been recording recently, and their new single Monster is out in the world now, climbing the indie charts.
Miranda Mulholland, Artistic Director of Muskoka Music Festival and Dockside Festival, says: “The Pairs became a festival favourite after their very first song. Their infectious energy, joy, and talent had the entire audience enraptured immediately and they have become the band most requested to return ever since.”
Folkus shows are still held at the Almonte Old Town Hall, third floor (there’s an accessible elevator if you use the side entrance). Doors open at 7:30, showtime is 8pm. Please bring a little cash if you’d like to pick up some music, cookbook or a t-shirt at the merch table, or a cold beverage or cookie from our bar.
Tickets for both online and in-person shows are available at our ticketing partner, Tickets Please <ticketsplease.ca/folkus>. There will be no limit on streaming numbers, but the show will be available for a limited time. Masks are still welcome at our shows, but are not required.
Please check <folkusalmonte.com> for any last-minute updates, artist videos, and news about upcoming events. We look forward to seeing you!
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 — Africa. She has dreamed of Africa and its fascinating people and animals her whole life, and “…each body of work I create always starts with at least two inspired by my continuing love of Africa. I have never lost my drive to depict my sense of wonder in this subject matter.”
Three years ago, Jenn’s husband delivered the perfect gift for their 50th wedding anniversary. Just before Covid struck, Raby lived her dream and went to Africa on her own, armed with her camera and a sketch pad. Her husband now enjoys a home replete with her batik celebrations of the amazing things she saw in Tanzania and Kenya. Stunning portraits of African masks, zebras and elephants share the walls of the couple’s Perth home amid beautiful batik and watercolour paintings of Ontario’s natural delights.
Originally batik cloth was reserved to honour the rich and famous, but today it is growing in popularity as a fine art medium. The batik process is complicated. It involves creating a design on a natural fabric (e.g., cotton, silk, linen, etc.), and then blocking out areas of the design with hot wax where you want to protect the fabric from the dye. You then apply a dye to the entire fabric, and remove the wax. The parts covered in wax resist the dye and remain the original colour. This process of layering and alternating between hot wax and dye can be repeated many times to create elaborate and colourful designs. The ”ah-ha!” moment comes when the artist removes the surface wax to reveal the finished batik artwork.
Raby’s batiks are both elaborate and colourful — and vibrant in a way that is hard to describe. They are passionate. You can truly sense the artist’s emotional intensity for both her subject and her medium. She is a very accomplished watercolour artist as well, and has extended her batik repertoire by developing her own technique to combine the two media. Her results are fascinating. Her answer to my standard “WHY?” (have you chosen this medium) is very much in character: “Because It makes me use every talent I have.”
That’s saying a lot. Jennifer Raby is a multi-talented and dynamic person. Born the middle child of three in Montreal, she came to Ottawa when she was six years old. She credits her supportive artist mother with engendering her lifelong passion for art, enrolling her in a private school that combined a fine arts program with academic studies that started in grade 3 and ran through grade 13. She takes ironic pleasure in the fact that she received a failing grade for her art in third grade — the teacher did not agree with her choice of colours! In grade 9 her parents treated her with a week at Kingsmere painting en pleine air with her mother in a class taught by Canada’s renowned artist Henri Masson. She studied art at St. Patrick’s College, and travelled with a friend to Brazil and Argentina where she learned how fortunate she was to be Canadian.
Jenn had considered studying to become an architect, but instead she put her studies on the back burner to start her family. As her two sons were heading off to more independence, she responded to a public invitation by the federal government to pursue a career in computer science. She remembers doing course work on Christmas Day as she completed a three-year Algonquin course in ten months. Her top grades earned her a starting position with Revenue Canada, and she spent the next twenty years acquiring accolades for her talents as a data and information architect. Her art training stood her in good stead; she became renowned for her visual presentations of complicated computing system designs, and she retired as an accomplished enterprise architect with many honours for her years of outstanding service.
Art from the Heart
That is the slogan Jenn Raby uses to communicate how essential art is to her existence. Art has always played and continues to play a major role in her life. Since her retirement she has become a major contributor to the area’s art scene. She is a member of the International Batik Guild, the Ottawa Watercolour Society and the Manotick Artist Association, among others.
After her mother intrigued her with batik, Jenn started teaching classes for the City of Ottawa’s art programs, and subsequently taught both beginner and advanced batik courses in Carleton Place, Cornwall and Perth. The medium is complex and requires a lot of space, so attendance is usually constrained to four or five students. Jenn continues to offer courses and occasionally teaches watercolour, drawing and composition, but fine art batik remains her passion. This summer she is sharing her enthusiasm for her uncommon medium by including a unique “Primary Batik Retreat” at the couple’s island cottage on Big Rideau Lake. Pontoon boat transit to Jenn’s island studio is provided in this 4½ day adventure beginning July 25. Please refer to the back of her Artist Trading Card for coordinates if you are interested in contacting her to learn more.
Art Works! Perth, June 24-26
One of the original founders of the organization, Jenn Raby is a co-director of, graphic designer for, and participant in the upcoming fourth annual Art Works! Perth studio and galleries tour. Her home in Perth is Stop 3 <artworksperth.ca>. From 11am to 5pm on June 24–26, you can (re)acquaint yourself with the fascinating medium of fine art batik. Her studio home will also feature the art of printmaker Alison Sawatzky and watercolour and ink artist Katy MacFarlane. My weakness for bad puns requires me to add that Jenn Raby is dyeing to meet you.
Artist Trading Card
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 going? Here are some of the interesting things you might be able to help us with: maintenance, repairs, lawn mowing, supervising cleaning; hall bookings; posting messages on the sign; helping with community events, including food preparation; helping with hall-sponsored concerts or other happenings; publicity/communications; managing our Facebook page; coordinating the creation of a website; rounding up old Union Hall records and arranging for permanent disposition at local archives or museum; fundraising (grants, building relationships with local businesses, craft sales, etc.); finances/bookkeeping (learn from a pro!), Board of Directors (attend 10-12 meetings per year; provide input on hall business; pitch in according to your abilities and time available); volunteer coordinator!
For more information on these and other volunteer opportunities, please contact Linda Camponi at 256–2277 or <camponi@storm.ca>.
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 served, and woven articles will be available for sale. The exhibit can also be viewed on Thursdays from 10am to 2pm when the MERA weavers will be working in the weaving studio, and on Saturdays from 10 to 2 when the farmers’ market is also open.
Weavers Unlimited has met regularly since 2003. Members are fascinated by the weaving process and committed to learning, researching and experimenting in the design and production of woven items. Over the years Weavers Unlimited have exhibited at a number of venues, including The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, The John M. Parrot art gallery in Belleville, Stittsville Public Library, Colborne Art Gallery, Upper Canada Village and at the Thousand Islands Arts Gallery in Clayton, N.Y.
The MERA Schoolhouse is located at 974 Concession Road 9A Dalhousie in McDonalds Corners. Opening hours and directions can be found at <meraschoolhouse.org>.
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 instance. Workshops that teach a new skill or craft, or offers of a few hours of help with gardening or lawn maintenance would round out the selection of services. Fabulously, Noreen Young is offering to make a custom look-alike puppet! If you are willing to donate some time to help someone else, please email <friends@missmillslibrary.com> before June 11.
Bidding starts on the auction website at <32auctions.com/FMMPL2022> on June 12, but after June 1 you have time to look at all the services and read their descriptions. Call it “window shopping”! Bidding opens on June 12 at 10am and closes on June 24 at 5pm. To participate, you first need to register on the auction site. Once you get there, just follow the instructions to become a participant. Although your credit card number is required, only successful bidders will have the transaction completed, and the site is very secure. For those who wish to contribute but may not have access to the internet, the Almonte Library is offering a designated computer for your use.
At the end of the auction, successful bidders will be notified and will be able to collect their service vouchers at the Almonte Public Library on Sunday, June 26 from 12–2pm, or on Monday, June 27 from 3–5pm. The voucher will contain the service and the donor’s contact information. It is the successful bidder’s responsibility to contact the donor and negotiate a date and time to use the voucher. The voucher will expire on June 30, 2023.
All proceeds from the auction will help the library recoup monies from their No More Fines policy.
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 participating will be available at local stores, as well as at <artworksperth.ca>. There will also be signs posted all over town to indicate where the studios are located.
In all, 19 artists will be exhibiting in the juried show, which runs from 11am to 5pm each day of the weekend. They will be showing works in watercolour, acrylic, oil, pen and ink, mixed media, batik, embroidery, sculpture and photography.
Confirmed as participants for 2022 are Alison Sawatzky, Bel Angeles, Ben Bennett, Caroline Evans, Donna McPhail, Ginny Fobert, Janet MacKay, Jenn Raby, Jessica Godin, Joanne Foster-Kamendat, Judi Miller, Karen Wynne Mackay, Katherine Muir Miller, Katy Macfarlane, Heather Lovat-Fraser, Mitchell Webster, Roy Brash, Ursula Faller and Wendy Quirt. Information about each of the artists, as well as examples of their work, can be found at <artworksperth.ca>.
The tour has been designed to allow maximum walking opportunities by suggesting guests start at the Leonard Side Road site, then drive to the Wine Room in the Factory building on Sunset Boulevard, before heading to Site Three on Antonio Way in Perthmore. Sites 4 to 10 are all within a short walk, so any downtown parking location can serve as a base. There are lots of places to eat and drink too, so come for the day and feast yourselves on art.
The Art Works! Perth organization was founded several years ago as a way for local artists to connect with and support each other, and to provide ways to display their art to the world.
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 transformations are always taking place.
Susan registered the name Mariposa Design ten years ago, with no real plan in place. She also loves the word “serendipity” and enjoys life as it unfolds... yes, she even embraces the challenges and times of adversity.
In the summer of 2012, a wee shoppe at 73 Foster Street in Perth opened featuring vintage finds, upcycled creations and local artisan collections, and eventually Susan began offering décor and gifts for the home. This wee shoppe soon became a well-loved place to visit and shop!
In May 2016, Susan purchased another home décor business and relocated to that location at 32 Gore Street East. It was this decision that launched Susan’s business into becoming a destination boutique in the heart of her hometown of Perth. Friends of Mariposa are local and from afar. They visit daily, weekly or annually, and are always delighted with the ever-changing displays and additions of new product lines.
2022 is an exciting year for Mariposa Design! Not only is Susan celebrating the milestone of ten years in business — she has now incorporated her business and is opening a second location!
Transformation & New Beginnings
“I, like many others, am becoming very excited about opening our second location in the Shaw’s Collective of Perth,” enthuses Susan. “flutterby home has been registered as a business and is owned by Mariposa Design Inc. I love my hometown and have always been in awe with the history and amazing historic buildings. I am elated to be a part of this amazing new venture and I look forward to the next 10 years! I hope you will come along…”
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 up with a very busy Miss Emily in advance of her two-night stand at The Cove Inn in Westport.
What can audiences expect at your upcoming shows at The Cove?
Miss Emily: Audiences can expect a high-energy show that features some of my new original music, previously released original music, and some of my favourite cover soul tunes. I’ll be featuring my incredibly talented band and we’ll showcase everything from ballads to high energy dance tunes.
Opportunities to perform have been scarce for the last couple of years but venues like The Cove have been soldiering on. What have been some performance highlights for you, both virtual and in real life, during the pandemic?
The Cove is truly a home away from home for me. I’ve been performing there in a number of different capacities for over 15 years, and as my career has grown The Cove (and the Cowan family) have found ways to keep me on the calendar. My performances at The Cove during the pandemic were definitely some of my favourites as they are always feel-good combos of music and community. I also produced a Drive-In live performance in my original home — Prince Edward County at the Mustang Drive-In with my friend and tour manager Margie Bailey Phieffer. It was a labour of love for sure!
What does it mean to your career to receive a JUNO award nomination alongside such notables as Colin James, Colin Linden, and Sue Foley?
Being recognized by the JUNOs was a career goal for me, and finding myself in among some incredibly stiff competition reminded me I have come so far even in the last few years. Blues music in Canada is hopefully growing and diversifying. I hope we see new names as the years progress. I’m new to this category at age 40. I think that says something about the genre as a whole. I look forward to seeing the new up-and-coming talent intertwine with those household blues names on a bigger platform like the JUNO Awards.
Which artist(s), living or dead, would you love to share the stage with?
Carole King! I’m such a fan. She was a huge influence on me as a kid. I found my mom’s Tapestry album when I was 9 and it blew my mind. The album came out ten years before I was born. It’s still one of the greatest recordings, in my opinion, and Carole is as relevant a songwriter now as she was then.
Any future plans that you want to let our readers know about?
I have a new studio album coming out this fall called Defined By Love. It’s produced by fellow JUNO nominee Steve Marriner (Monkeyjunk, Colin James) and it’s my first studio album in five years. I’m over-the-moon excited to for folks to hear this album and I look forward to showcasing some of this new material in shows this summer!
Miss Emily plays two special shows at The Cove Inn in Westport on June 22 and 23. Jeff Callery from Brockville opens the show on the 22nd with a soulful, solo acoustic set. On the 23rd, blues legend Morgan Davis opens the show. Visit <coveinn.com> for details and reservations.
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, children will create an original play to be performed at the end of the camp.
Drama camp will be held July 25 to 29 for ages 10 to 14. This camp will accommodate 15 children, and Covid protocols will be observed as needed. The camp runs each day from 9am to 3pm.
“Creating theatre can be an incredibly rewarding and fun process,” notes Alexis. “The art of play encourages children to follow their curiosities and to share them with a group in collaborative processes. Self expression craves a nurturing atmosphere with lots of space to run free and play. I’m convinced MERA is the right environment for that.”
Alexis Scott is a theatre professional with intensive training in physical theatre and creation. After living in multiple cities she returned to her hometown in Lanark County, longing to live in nature and convinced she can make a difference here. She has a deep love for community and storytelling. She strongly feels these two loves come together at MERA.
Camp fees are $200 per child for MERA members or $220 per child for non-members. Please note: grandchildren of MERA members are entitled to members’ rate. To register, please email <meraschoolhouse@gmail.com>.
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? Looking forward to teaching YOU more about songwriting, old school bluegrass, fiddle and banjo (among other things), at three separate music camps taking place in June and July!
First up is a three-day Old School Songwriting Camp for adults from June 17–19. Teachers include Joey, Jenny, Paul Langlois, Amy Millan and Kristine Schmitt. The registration fee of $625 includes everything: camping on Jenny & Joey’s property with all the amenities (heated showers, clean washrooms, splash pad), all meals (made fresh by chef Joey), all workshops, master classes and programing, plus exclusive performances by your instructors! You can also bring a Camp Companion (someone who will enjoy the camping, meals and performances, but won’t be studying songwriting) for only $325. According to Jenny, “folks should bring some complete songs (if they have them), some works in progress and some notes or ideas. Since this is a workshop-based camp, we are able to accommodate every level from inspired to beginner to professional!”
Jenny and Joey return with another fabulous slate of instructors from July 3–7 with their seventh annual Old School Bluegrass Camp, offering classes for adults in guitar, fiddle, banjo (clawhammer and bluegrass styles), mandolin and upright bass. Limited enrollment and small, high-intensity daily classes provide an exceptional level of teaching, mentoring and one-on-one instruction from world-class bluegrass musicians. Learning how to perform with others in a band setting is a fundamental goal of this camp. Each student will be part of a group that rehearses through the week and performs on stage on the final night.
Hot on the heels of Bluegrass Camp comes Old School Fiddle and Banjo Camp, from July 7–10. Fiddle instructors include Pierre Schryer (Canadian Open Fiddle Champion), Saskia Tomkins (master musician of violin/fiddle, viola, cello and nyckelharpa) and Ben Plotnick (Nashville-based and one of North America’s elite fiddle players). On banjo you’ll find international touring artist Chris Coole, Frank Evans (called “one of the top banjo players of his generation” by Banjo Newsletter), and JUNO-nominated producer Sam Allison.
Jenny adds that: “One of the main goals of these camps is to connect people. We have found that spending time around other artists is one of the most important elements in developing as an artist yourself. Once a budding musician sees that all the other artists at camp — be they other campers or the instructors — are all striving to improve, learn more, gather knowledge and skill, it’s inspiring to keep going, keep learning and growing. Along with the more formal and scheduled parts of camp, there are plenty of chances to learn from each other at jams, sessions, heck — even mealtime can yield a gem sometimes!”
Not sure if you’re an experienced enough player? Jenny assures that: “Rather than focus on ability levels, we prefer to ask participating campers to bring high levels of enthusiasm. We keep out numbers small so instructors can handle a variety of experience in each group. The more intimate numbers also allow for one-on-one lessons and sessions, which is a great bonus! That said, we describe the minimum level of experience for instruments as “strong beginner”, able to move easily from chord to chord so as not to hold others up. So if you are comfortable with six chords, you are probably good to go!”
To register, or for more information and details about “glamping” options and discounts for multiple camp sessions, please visit <oldschoolbluegrasscamp.wordpress.com>, or send the link to a musical friend. As Joey and Jenny note: “We would LOVE to have a strong local contingent at these camps, we so hope you can come!”
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 details at <whitehouseperennials.com>.
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 appear — and the fun begins. There are dozens of fabulous eclectic finds, household items, gift certificates, wine baskets, art and outdoorsy items. Best of all, every dollar goes to support your local Therapeutic Riding Program right here in Lanark County.
Items can be picked up at ConnectWell (30 Bennett Street in Carleton Place) after June 30. The Therapeutic Riding Program is a 38-year-old grass-roots charity that does not have ongoing government funding. For 38 years they have been supporting local people with developmental and physical disabilities, relying on grants and community support to operate. For further information or to donate to this great cause, please contact Amy at <abooth@connectwell.ca>.
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 enhances the quality of life in a community. Perth is very fortunate to have six beautiful galleries in our downtown — Studio 87, Katherine Muir Miller Gallery, Riverguild Fine Crafts, Concave Gallery, Richard James Hutton Fine Art Paintings, and Strévé Design — as well as the Times Gone By Studio just outside of the BIA.” Each gallery is unique in its own special way, and they draw visitors from as far away as Toronto and Montreal to visit Perth.”
The Picnic Table initiative is open to everyone. Artists are invited to visit <downtownperthbia.ca> in June, fill in an application form and submit examples of their work. The Downtown Environment committee will review the applications submitted. Young artists (high school age) are welcome to submit a design. Successful applicants will be paid $500 and given $200 to purchase supplies.
The Downtown Heritage Perth BIA has also applied for a Tourism Relief Fund grant to bring more art pieces to downtown Perth. If successful, they will bring various types of art to downtown Perth for residents and visitors to enjoy. Each piece of art would be installed in a public space.
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 <rideaulakes-studioandgardentour.com>. Sometimes you will find two or even three artists sharing a venue. We also feature guest artists who are joining us for the first time.
Let’s look at a few of the artists and venues on the tour this year.
Maggie and Ted Stewart work out of their Newboro studio. Maggie Stewart’s work includes a wide variety of traditional Indigenous and modern beaded jewelry including earrings, necklaces and bracelets. She also creates deer hide moccasins and handbags, often beaded. You can watch beading demonstrations all weekend!
Ted Stewart’s award-winning wildfowl sculptures feature the birds of Ontario, and his paintings depict local environments. You will marvel at the special viewpoint he manages to find for each creation. He will also be demonstrating in his studio.
In Chaffeys Locks, don’t miss visiting the Maplecroft weaving studio where you’ll meet Roberta McKinney and see the luscious weaving done by her and her students. Roberta has years of weaving and teaching experience to bring to this fascinating craft.
At the Maplecroft studio you’ll also see the work of Bob Hunter. From a Christmas gift of doll-making lessons, he has developed a world of interesting and beautifully sculpted characters.
On Davis Lock Road, Wendy Lowe will be showing her whimsical pottery in her shady garden (or inside the house if it rains!). Her mugs, jars and serving dishes depict the outdoor world in a variety of styles, all dishwasher safe. At Wendy’s this year you can also see Sally Hortop’s amazing eggs, painted in the Ukrainian style but featuring modern designs and a huge range of jewellike colours. Sally started painting eggs more than 15 years ago and has taught all her friends how to make them!
This is only a taste of what you’ll see on the tour — there isn’t room to feature all of our terrific artists. Check our website and <facebook.com/rideaulakesstudiotour> for more information and a map as the summer draws near.
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 Canal System. The Ramble can be reached at 258–3797, <rideauwoodlandramble.com>, or on Facebook.
The Ramble was initiated in 1999 with initial site clearing. The majority of infrastructure was created in 2000, with the centre opening in the fall of that year. Dave Dunn and Rob Caron were extremely honoured and proud to have received the Canadian Garden Council 2015 Destination Garden Centre of the Year Award at the North American Garden Tourism Conference held in Toronto, and to be awarded the designation of Canada 150 Garden Experience in 2017. The Ramble is also a proud member of the Thousand Islands and Rideau Canal Garden Trail.
The Ramble comprises seven acres of dramatic and mature display gardens, trails open to the public, and a garden centre selling the materials one sees in the display gardens.
This operation is capitalizing on forty years of collecting and developing gardens containing collections of rare plant material for the Ottawa area. This experience and the setting are major attractions for passionate gardeners, collectors and landscape contractors.
The Beginnings
The big idea of the Ramble was sparked by two things — a long-term dream to share gardening experiences with other gardeners and collectors, and the spectacular impact and clean up after the ice storm in 1998.
Dave Dunn has said: “it was like the hand of God coming down and clearing a swath of land that had originally been a mature stand of Red Pine”. The clean-up in 1999 sparked the idea of making use of this sudden creation of open land in the centre of the woodland, and The Ramble rose like a “phoenix from the ashes of the storm”.
The gardens at Rideau Woodland Ramble are the result of years of evolution, experimentation and discovery. They fall into several main zones, almost all in some context of shade and woodland.
The first gardens enjoy the dappled light provided by a stand of red pine. They can be found on either side of the house. This acidic area is the home of Japanese maples, rhododendrons, azaleas and a range of trees, shrubs and perennials. Many are surprised by what thrives in this environment.
The second area is home to a babbling pond, a collection of dwarf conifers, specimen hostas, and grasses, as well as a further range of trees, shrubs and perennials. The third major area is known as Lake Ramble, a pond home to much wildlife. A large garden of conifers anchors this area, along with a large grass demonstration bed.
The next major zone included is called Totem Trail, as it rambles into the pure woodland and some of the surprises contained therein. 2005 saw the opening up of the new northern zone at the Ramble, with dramatic plantings down Chanticleer Lane.
Hosta specimens can be seen throughout the Ramble, but new gardens created in 2007 showcase them south of the hosta house and at the front of the property along Burritt’s Rapids Road.
All of these gardens are interconnected with trails and walkways. The gardens are carefully planted to exhibit both structure and the “bones” that hold them together — succession planning to assure interest from first melt to first snow, and even interest thereafter.
The gardens are home to many collections, but the biggest is the hosta collection of hundreds of mature specimens. They have to be seen to be believed… but range from the world’s biggest to the world’s smallest hostas!
2012 saw the creation of a labyrinth and addition of a Pavilion Gallery, which acts as a gateway to one of the gardens and features the garden and wildlife art of Dave Dunn. In 2022 the Mac & Beryl Dunn Garden was opened and the cathedral was dedicated to Honoré Caron.
The Garden Centre
The garden centre is nestled into the heart of the Ramble, and is intended to be an experience — like visiting the garden — as opposed to simply a commercial area. It is anchored by one of Canada’s largest glass-enclosed gazebos — Ramble House, home to an information and seating area as well as the sales area. All plant material is displayed in a manner to highlight colour and texture, contrasts and impact, as opposed to alphabetical location… hence the Centre acts as experience and learning tool. All of the gardens and trails connect to the Centre.
Incorporated in 2009, Rideau Woodland Ramble is proud that it has been noted as one of Canada’s Top Destination Nurseries, in a 2005 issue of Gardening Life Magazine. In a story titled Nurseries worth the Drive, Gardening Life lists Rideau Woodland Ramble as one of only two operations from eastern Ontario that made the cut. The 2015 designation of Canadian Destination Garden Centre of the Year is the crowning achievement! Rideau Woodland Ramble is very pleased with this recognition. “It is a solid endorsement of the vision and mission to capture the imagination of collectors and gardeners in a woodland setting,” says Rob Caron. Rob’s partner Dave Dunn says: “our focus on the creation of an experience for visitors continues with the creation of the new gardens each year”. 2017 saw the designation of Canada 150 Garden experience added to the Ramble. Capping all of this off, in 2022 the Ramble will be featured in the coffee table book Gardens Canada published by the Canadian Garden Council as an element of 2022 — The Year of the Garden!
Many thousands of individuals and groups have visited the Ramble since its opening, and it has developed a solid following. They look forward to continuing to evolve the gardens, and to bringing an unparalleled experience to visitors and shoppers in the future.
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 then completed a drawing of it, discovering mid-process that the name of the dressmaker’s form is ‘My Double’.”
Starting with a drawing entitled My Double in 2018, the artist created nine new works on paper in 2021 and 2022 for this installation, themed on warrior, angel, and guardian figures.
Jane Irwin received her BFA in drawing and painting from Mount Allison University, New Brunswick, in 1977. Drawing and painting have always been integral parts of her artistic explorations. In these pieces, natural elements and found objects are often the starting point from which the works evolve.
On Wednesday, June 15 from 7–8pm, Jane Irwin will join live via Zoom from her studio in Toronto to talk about her installation. You can join from the comfort of your home — email <info@sivarulrasa.com> to register for this Zoom event.
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 grosbeak.
The male is a splendid specimen: his back, wings and tail display a striking pattern of black and white, while his head is entirely black. His breast is adorned with a dark rose triangle trickling down to the white belly — a breathtaking contrast!
Although not as colourful, females and immature males are still endearing with their brown streaks, bold face pattern and chunky bill. Both of them hide a touch of colour under the wings: deep yellow for the females and the most delicate coral pink for young males.
These handsome birds spend the winter in the forests of Central and South America and arrive in Eastern Ontario in early May, the males about a week before the females. The pair builds the nest together: a loose cup of sticks, grasses, stems or leaves, lined with fine twigs and roots. It can be quite flimsy and sometimes the eggs are visible through the bottom. Fortunately, the birds use forked twigs which help hold the nest together.
The female lays up to five eggs and can have two broods in a season. Rose-breasted grosbeaks are monogamous and both male and female share incubation, brooding and feeding duties. The male sits on the eggs for several hours during the day, while the female takes a turn the rest of the day and at night — they sing quietly to each other as they exchange places. Sometimes the male bursts into song while sitting on the nest — not a prudent move, considering that his role is to protect the eggs and the nest location. Incubation takes eleven to fourteen days, and the babies leave the nest at one to two weeks of age. The fledglings are adorable and will delight you with their antics!
Rose-breasted grosbeaks feed on insects, seeds and berries. They will gladly frequent your bird feeders if you keep them well-stocked with black oil sunflower seeds. They also love peanuts and the nectar from orange slices.
Although they are common forest birds, their numbers have been declining by about 35% since the sixties. Sadly, because of their beauty and their cheery song, they are trapped for sale as cage birds in their wintering range, and this has an impact on their population.
It is my hope that these splendid birds remain free so they may continue to bring dazzling colour and song to my life and to yards all over North America for generations to come.
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 garden which artfully hides an above-ground pool, a town garden that celebrates a pool, and a public garden that is a venue for events. There are two gardens side-by-side. There is a garden with an Irish pub. There is a garden with a deck covered with the most gorgeous ?owers. There is a garden that draws your eye from the curb right into the back yard. There is a special and unique large garden.
One of the gardens belongs to the president of the Carleton Place Horticultural Society. He has taught horticultural and had many “ordinary” gardens. Now he has a unique garden with just the plants he wants. He lives on the lake and so he has a bog garden. His favourites are all varieties of sedum. He has a wall of orchids and air plants, and knows the botanical name for every species in his garden.
The owners of a garden on the Mississippi River bought the house only three years ago. The garden was overgrown and needed attention. This gave them the ability to start over and design a garden to ?t their new home. The house was built in the early 1800’s in the style of a Scottish Manor. The owners decided on an English/French cottage garden design. Overgrowth was cut back and removed. They wanted the garden to look as if the original builders had laid it out. Stone piled in the basement was used to form the planting beds, and many of the plants have been moved or divided from what existed. The garden is in its beginning stages and just starting to take shape. They hope the garden re?ects the history and tradition of a heritage building while being practical for a modern family. They see themselves as the caretakers for the present and for the future.
Tickets to the tour are $25 per person. They can be purchased from the Zion-Memorial United Church o?ce, 37 Franklin Street in Carleton Place, Tuesday to Friday from 9am-noon. Tickets can also be purchased from The Floral Boutique at 77 Bridge Street (cash only). E-tickets and information are available from Tickets Please (ticketsplease.ca or 485-6434) or at <zion-memorial.ca> under the Events banner. A location map and garden descriptions will be emailed to each purchaser prior to the event.
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 appears that Willow and Fern (now 15 and 19 years old) have been honing their skills in the intervening years, forming a trio called The Broken Bridges and releasing an album during the pandemic. Not only that — their album, The Porch Sessions, garnered a nomination for a 2022 Canadian Folk Music Award! Here’s what the sisters have to say about their trajectory…
theHumm: I am so happy to hear that you two are still making music together! How did it feel to have your first album get nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award?
Fern & Willow: To have our album nominated was truly flattering, and it’s a really cool feeling to know that your music is being appreciated and recognized. We were definitely shocked and very touched.
What made you decide to add guitar player Graham Lindsey to your mix, and what is it like working with a third musician?
At the beginning of 2020 we asked Graham to produce and play guitar on our album. We all really enjoyed playing together and during lockdowns we bubbled with Graham, so he was the only other musician we played with for almost a year. We started playing gigs together and after a while decided to rename the group, and started playing with Graham as The Broken Bridges.
Opportunities to perform have been scarce these past years, but I understand you have played a couple of great gigs — both virtually and live. What were some of the highlights?
You’re absolutely right, the last few years have been extremely hard on musicians all over the world. We are fortunate enough to both still live with our parents, so we weren’t depending on gigs to pay the bills. We have really missed performing on a regular basis, but we still got to play some fun shows! Some of our favourites were Hogman-eh and Rollo Bay (both virtually), and Octoberfest and St. Paddy’s Day both at the Cardinal Brewery in Hudson. We also enjoyed playing at the Festival of Maples in Perth just a few weeks ago!
Did your music, and particularly this project, help you navigate the past two challenging years?
The last two years have definitely been a challenge for everyone, but music really allowed us to stay connected with people. Several musicians set up online jam sessions and concerts. During the summer, we would sit outside and play on our porch. People would always wander over to listen, and it was a really nice way to interact with people from a safe distance. Once we were vaccinated we started having a few friends over to jam on the porch. In fact, these sessions meant so much to us that we named our album after them (The Porch Sessions). The album was a great project to have at the beginning of the pandemic, as it gave us something to work on. We spent several weekends recording at Graham’s house, and always had a great time!
I’ve heard that you are booked to play Almonte Celtfest, taking place on the weekend of July 2 and 3, along with a special guest dancer. What can audiences expect from that performance?
Fern: The special guest is actually my 5-year-old rescue dog, Chase (pictured above). Chase and I have been performing choreographed dance routines to Celtic music for two years, and last year he started coming along to shows with The Broken Bridges. He is an important member of our team, and I think we can all agree that he’s the cutest!
Our set will consist of tunes from the east coast, traditional Irish and Celtic music, along with some originals. We are very excited to share some new tunes and arrangements that we’ve been working on with the folks at Celtfest!
You can find — and purchase — their CFMA-nominated album The Porch Sessions at <thebrokenbridges.ca>. 100% of the proceeds of album sales go directly to Fern & Willow to support their career.
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 commit for the long haul and the peak enthusiasm of those helping out in the final stretch. This close to the festivities, the meeting was a gentle flow of calmly organized chaos. Event by event, details were confirmed, fleshed out, flagged for follow up, and celebrated. And what struck me was how effortlessly newcomers were welcomed into the fray.
There is an openness of spirit that resonates from the heart of Lanark County Wide Pride. That energy naturally lends itself to an impressive variety of events, to be held in multiple locations around the county and beyond. There is the parade, of course, featuring a Drive Out that starts in Almonte, moves to Carleton Place and Smiths Falls, and culminates with the parade startup in Perth. But there are also flag raisings, cultural and arts events, performances, dances, children’s story circles, and a sunrise ceremony honouring Two Spirit people.
To me, each location across the county (and reaching out to include Brockville) began to feel like a nexus point of activity in a lively evolving network. The feeling of relationship was genuine and the excitement for June’s festivities palpable. Through it all there resonated an undercurrent of togetherness that remains open to others, inviting new contributions and insights. This isn’t as common in community organizing as one might hope. It can be easy for someone new to feel on the outside of established dynamics. And as a sick and disabled queer person, coming into a new space is always a bit tricky. So far, questions about accessibility and accommodations — as well as feedback on the subject — are valued. And while a Pride event that specifically centres on the experience of sick and disabled individuals is not as yet offered, I feel reassured that efforts to organize from this perspective next year will be met with enthusiasm.
So, if you’re like me and want to stretch your social muscles, to get out and enjoy some community for the first time in a while, Pride Month promises to be fabulous. Hopefully I’ll see you there. I can assure you, we’re all very welcome.
More information about individual events can be found in theHumm events calendar, and at <facebook.com/LanarkCountyWidePride>, <queerconnectionlanark.ca> and <brockvillepride.com/events>. If you are feeling inspired to volunteer, please email <qclanark@gmail.com>.
The Mississippi Mills Rainbow Revue:A Variety Show of Queer Shenanigans
All are welcome to this 18-plus event taking place at the Almonte Old Town Hall. The evening will start with Annie Socoria (she/they), who will perform ambient/experimental music.
The feature for the evening is Queen Vera. Vera is an amazing queen from Ottawa who will be the MC and also perform an over-the-top opening number and a show-stopping final song (as well as scaling it back to perform a slower classic in the middle).
This event would not be complete without the brilliant local clowning talent of B.WilDer. Well-known entertainer Rhapsody Blue will perform two classic burlesque and one fire-eating number. Local act Wake Lloire (they/them) will contribute a combination of spoken word poetry and personal storytelling on themes that celebrate and bring focus to the GLBTQ2IA+ community. Then, last but not least, Wett Willy — boy burlesque — will perform three numbers.
Tickets are $25, available from Tickets Please (ticketsplease.ca, 485–6434) or the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum. All proceeds from this show will go to Pride in Mississippi Mills.
Come Out & Dance!
Come Out & Dance on Saturday, June 25 from 8pm to midnight at the Perth Civitan Hall. This is an opportunity for the 2SLGBTQ+ community to kick up our heels and celebrate another successful Lanark County Wide Pride month. DJ FRESH EVENTS will be spinning the tunes and will do their best to appeal to a broad range of musical tastes. From rap to Lady Gaga, from old time rock ‘n roll to country tunes, they will get you rocking whether you are just coming out or have been dancing the Queer way for decades! Everyone is welcome — supporters and allies, friends and family members. It is a dance appropriate for all ages. An opportunity to meet people, talk with friends, new and old. Everyone is encouraged to follow the Ontario Covid recommendations.
Tickets are $15 from Tickets Please (ticketsplease.ca, 485–6434) or $20 at the door.
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 as a $25 gift certificate from local nurseries. There will be one grand prize winner, chosen randomly from the season’s ten winners, who will receive a $100 certificate as well as a glass art garden decoration designed by Murkay Creations.
Everyone in Almonte, Pakenham, Blakeney, Appleton, Clayton and Ramsay township is eligible. In years past the Horticultural Society designated certain areas to judge, for example one week would be Appleton, another week Almonte, another week Ramsay township. However, this year they will go by nominations from the public. If you have a neighbour or friend or your own garden that you think is worthy of the designation of Yard of the Week, judges will look at them for consideration. Please give the precise address of the garden being nominated. Note that a photo will be taken and published in the paper with permission from the homeowner. Only front gardens will be looked at — the judges will not be going into back gardens.
This is what judges look for: creativity and originality of design and use of space; selection of plant material — its diversity, suitability and sustainability; use of plant material that encourages beneficial insects, butterflies, birds etc.; overall cleanliness, tidiness and good state of repair of property; use of good environmental practices such as mulches, compost, rain barrels; good plant health and vigour. Note that clover and some unobtrusive weeds in the lawn are acceptable. And of course there will be the “wow” factor — the impact and special overall appeal.
Nominations can be emailed to <adhsmailbox@gmail.com>. Organizers realize that gardens change over the season — they’ll keep checking. They are looking forward to seeing all the wonderful gardens of Mississippi Mills!