The following Articles and Images have been added to the database
This summer, there have been more and more cyclists in the Valley enjoying an ice cream, coffee or sticky bun, gathered to have a bite or snapping photos of our wonderful small towns and villages. Cyclists are having fun — and spending money — in the Ottawa Valley.
Strong, resilient communities are ones where diverse groups come together, then work together for the common good. They approach tasks from an “abundance” perspective — one that assumes we already have what we need if we recognize our existing assets and work together to leverage the gifts of our citizens.
A group from Renfrew and Lanark Counties has come together over the summer to discuss the potential of building economic development through cycle tourism. The group consists of members of Ottawa Valley Cycling and Active Transportation Alliance (OVCATA) and Mississippi Mills Bicycle Movement. The Ottawa Valley Recreation Trail/Algonquin Trail is a jointly owned community asset — a 300k backbone trail that connects communities from Smiths Falls through Lanark County north through Renfrew County all the way to Mattawa and Papineau-Cameron Township. This community trail lends itself as a spine for a series of regional loop trails, offering the potential to build healthy, active and economically sound communities.
On Wednesday, September 13, the group will host a meeting at the Nick Smith Centre in Arnprior from 9:30am to 2pm to discuss the potential of the “Trail Town” concept for cycle tourism. Louisa Mursell of Ontario by Bike, Jennifer McCourt of Discovery Routes/Voyageur Trail, Brenda Wood of the Trent Severn Waterway and Bob Peltzer of OVCATA will all present.
You may own an ice cream stand, perhaps a restaurant, bakery, chip truck, inn or bed and breakfast. Perhaps you run a bike shop; you may curate a local museum, coordinate a farmers’ market, or be a member of a chamber of commerce. You might work in tourism, for a municipality or a county, or sit as a council member. Maybe you’re someone who just loves to explore the riches of Lanark and Renfrew from the seat of your bike! All are welcome and encouraged to join in the conversation about how we can work together, using cycle tourism to build stronger communities in our part of the province.
Let us know you are coming by registering at Tickets Please ($25 covers the cost of your lunch and refreshments).
Visit <TicketsPlease.ca> or call 485–6434.
Do you ride, drive, show or love to watch horses? If so, the Pakenham Horse Show is for you! This exciting equestrian event is now entering its 158th year and is supported by many local sponsors and volunteers.
Put Saturday, August 12 on your “do not miss” list of summer events. There are classes for all ages: English and Western riding, driving, log skidding, driving slalom, and the ever-popular costume class.
It all takes place in the Pakenham Community Park, outside the Stewart Community Centre. The show begins at 9:30am and is free for all spectators, so bring the whole family! Entry fee for riders is $20 for the day or $5 per class and must be entered no later than 9pm on Thursday, August 10. Late entries will be required to pay an additional $10. Please email Cindy Schlievert-Warland at <PakenhamHA@gmail.com> for registration or enquiries, or find more details on the Pakenham Horse Show Facebook page.
When Andy Tamas, member of the Arnprior-McNab-Braeside Men’s Shed, learned about the devastating wildfires in Nova Scotia, he checked in on a former member, Denis St. Pierre, who had recently moved from the Arnprior area to Nova Scotia to be closer to family.
“Denis shared with me that his daughter’s home had burned to the ground in the fires and that he was looking for design plans to build a rocking horse to replace the one his granddaughter lost in the fire,” explains Andy. “I told him I would let the guys at the Shed know and asked if his grandchildren might like to receive a few wooden toys, which I had been making for a while.”
Denis liked the idea, so Andy shipped the toys to Denis’s granddaughters. When the toys arrived, Denis thanked him and shared that his granddaughters, Josie and Eloise, loved them.
“Denis mentioned that many other families in Nova Scotia had lost their homes in the fires and would benefit from the wooden toys. The one problem was the shipping costs,” says Andy, who has been a member of the Men’s Shed for two years.
Andy wondered if the toy project was an opportunity for Men’s Sheds across Canada to collaborate to support the numerous families who lost their homes to wildfires across several provinces.
Andy shares: “When we reached out to Men’s Sheds Canada, they agreed this was an initiative worth pursuing for several reasons: to be of service to communities in need, the potential benefit to families whose homes had gone up in smoke, and to generate better awareness of how the Men’s Shed movement is part of the solution to the country’s inadequate policy framework and programs addressing social and health-related needs of older men.”
Robert Goluch, President of Men’s Shed Canada, explains: “Every child deserves a sense of joy and normalcy, especially in the face of adversity. Men’s Sheds believe in making a positive impact in the lives of children where homes have been devastated by fire. We hope these toys provide a glimmer of hope and happiness during challenging times.”
Back home, the Arnprior Lion’s Club began working with the local Men’s Shed to support the transportation and distribution of the toys via the St. Margarets Toy Library in Nova Scotia. By the end of June, the Arnprior-McNab-Braeside Men’s Shed had produced dozens of toys ready to ship out to Nova Scotia, and the Squamish Men’s Shed committed to providing 50 toy locomotive kits as well as marble runs for distribution in both eastern and western Canada.
“The Arnprior Lions Club is very proud to work with the Arnprior-McNab-Braeside Men’s Shed on this amazing project,” adds Don Gougeon, Secretary of the Arnprior Lions Club. “The members of the Men’s Shed have used their talents to create these wonderful toys for wildfire survivors in Nova Scotia. We were honoured to be asked to help by shipping the toys to the St. Margarets Bay Toy Library. We hope these toys bring pleasure to children who have lost so much.”
Jill Crowe, Secretary of the St. Margarets Bay Toy Library, echoed the Men’s Shed efforts’ impact: “Toys made with such love and care are so special to our children. Many children lost their favourite toys, and these new handmade ones will bring them comfort and help them begin the healing process by making happy memories. Thanks for all the hard work that was put into this. Our children are lucky so many wonderful people across the country have stepped up to help. We are forever grateful.”
Andy explained that the Men’s Sheds’ efforts have just begun: “Our toy story continues to develop and build momentum, and we hope to bring more Men’s Sheds on board to reach more families who have lost their homes to the wildfires.”
The Arnprior-McNab-Braeside Men’s Shed opened its doors in 2018 as an Arnprior Regional Health community program. It is a place where senior men connect to their community through social interaction and woodworking projects.
What is distinctive about the Indigenous relationship to the land? What are the plants that Indigenous people find culturally significant, and why?
On Saturday, August 5, Mississippi Mills All My Relations (MMAMR) is offering a free two-part workshop for you to learn the answers to these questions. This is part of MMAMR’s Bicentennial Seven Gifts project, an educational public art installation in Riverfront Park that celebrates the Seven Grandfather teachings of the Anishinaabe Peoples.
This workshop will be led by two Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, Chris and Sarah Craig. Chris is Senior Forestry Technician at South Nation Conservation Authority and founder of the Eastern Ontario First Nations Working Group. His daughter Sarah is a landscaper knowledgeable about plants native to our area and their uses. Together they were instrumental in developing a Plenty Canada project on the South Nation Conservation Area called “The Healing Place” — a project larger than the Seven Gifts but with somewhat similar objectives <plentycanada.com/healing-place>.
The first part will take place in the Almonte United Church Hall in the morning, from 10am to noon, where Chris and Sarah will respond to the above questions and yours.
The second part will happen in the afternoon from 1 to 3pm. This is an opportunity for six people who register for the second half to talk with Sarah and Chris over lunch and then go with them to Riverfront Park to help install a small garden of low-maintenance perennials within the Seven Gifts circle. Sarah has chosen native plants such as sweet grass to represent the colours of the Indigenous medicine wheel. Of course, anyone interested is welcome to drop by.
This landscaping is one of the last steps in creating the Seven Gifts installation. Seven large marble stones have been in place in the park since the fall. Currently seven totems, bronze replicas of wood carvings by Nish Nabie, Algonquin from the Kebaowek Territory, are being attached to rocks carved by local stone carver Deborah Arnold. Eventually there will be an interpretive sign in place with a QR code to access more information.
The Seven Gifts Project came about as a result of an invitation from Carebridge’s Age Friendly North Lanark Committee to contribute an Indigenous element to their planned Wellness Trail. Our hope is that this sacred space will draw people to reflect on the living rich cultural and spiritual heritage of the Algonquin people despite the many injustices they have experienced, and to seek healing and reconciliation in their relationships with one another and with the land.
Many are supporting this project, but we wish in particular to thank the Almonte United Church for obtaining a grant from the United Church Justice and Reconciliation Fund to help pay for this workshop and the landscaping.
Why do we waste fossil fuels shipping garlic halfway around the globe to our local supermarket when we can grow superior garlic right here?
Garlic is quite easy to grow, but I find it doesn’t routinely fit into the garden plans of local gardeners. I suspect that many gardeners don’t regularly grow garlic as it just doesn’t fit into the “plant the garden by May 24 routine”, or it is not something that their parents or grandparents grew (full disclosure — growing up on a dairy farm in Southwestern Ontario, I didn’t actually eat garlic until I was over twenty). A bit of research shows that three-quarters of garlic production is accounted for by China and India. It has been used in the cuisine of Eastern countries for over 4,000 years. Not quite so long in Ontario.
Garlic needs to be planted in the fall if possible, as it requires a long cool growing season. I always find this such a symbolic activity, planting in anticipation of a harvest next July/August. While most of my vegetable garden is winding up the annual cycle of growth and harvest, the little garlic cloves will be growing up to 10cm of roots this fall and will be ready to produce strong green shoots when the snow has barely gone next spring. While garlic is pretty flexible as to when it is planted, I usually aim for mid-October and have had excellent results.
I prepare the growing bed by adding compost and some well-aged horse manure and then working it up with a spading fork. I then break apart the garlic bulbs into the individual cloves, planting the large ones and saving the small ones for culinary purposes. The variety I plant is called Music — I have found it the most versatile garlic for my purposes as it is reliable and easy to grow, it is very winter hardy, it produces large cloves, stores relatively well and has a very pleasant pungent garlic flavour.
I plant with the pointed end up 15cm apart in rows 20 to 25cm apart (I plant three rows on my raised beds that are about a metre wide). I push the cloves into the soil with my fingers until they are covered with about four cm of soil, and then use the back side of a steel garden rake to level the bed and fill in the space over the cloves. A light tamping with the rake and the garlic is planted! Once we’ve had a couple of hard frosts, I will cover the beds with about ten centimetres of straw as a mulch to protect the garlic from winter thaws.
Garlic has few pests and is used by some as a pest deterrent. In recent years the leek moth has become more of a problem. The larvae feed by mining into the leaves or bulbs. Many growers report good results using floating row covers.
I harvest garlic when the bottom three leaves are dead — usually towards the end of July. The bulbs should not be left in the ground much longer as they can split their skins and then will not store well. Once all the garlic has been pulled, I generally seed the area with a green crop such as buckwheat. It will eventually be tilled into the soil to increase its organic content.
Garlic is fantastic freshly pulled from the soil, but if you want to store it longer it has to be properly cured. While it is great for short term it will not store well. Curing is simply a term used for the process used to preserve a product. In the case of garlic as well as onions, it simply means to allow them to air dry in a sheltered well-ventilated place for two or three weeks. This allows the skin to dry and harden, thus protecting the inner flesh from outer contaminants. Once cured, trim off the roots and snip off tops to about 2cm unless you want to braid it. Do not store it in the refrigerator as this is too humid and may lead to rot.
If you want your fill of local garlic, I highly recommend two local long-running garlic festivals. The Perth Garlic Festival takes place August 12 (9 to 5) and August 13 (9 to 4) at the Perth Fairgrounds, while the Carp Garlic Festival takes place every Saturday in August (8am to 1pm) at the Carp Fairgrounds. I have been to both, and they are consistently a huge success with large crowds and even traffic congestion. They are great places to buy local garlic, but there are also a lot of other related things going on — demonstrations of braiding, garlic bread tasting, garlic flavoured ice cream, cooking demonstrations and contests, and all nature of preserves and healthy concoctions made with garlic.
Another reason to buy garlic locally is the enormous diversity available — I have encountered about 60 varieties ranging from very mild to very hot. Very little of this diversity finds its way into the commercial food system. Many of the regular vendors at other Farmers’ Markets such as Almonte, Perth and Carleton Place will have lots of local garlic available as well.
If you buy garlic with the intention of planting it in the fall, it needs to be kept in a shaded cool place with good air circulation until it is time to plant it. Buy from a local producer if you are buying garlic to plant — you know that what you are buying was produced locally and is suited for local conditions. Garlic that is sold in supermarkets may have been shipped in from China and may not be hardy in the Canadian climate — many of the imported soft-neck varieties are easy to braid whereas the hardy locally-grown stiff-necked varieties are not.
What could be more inviting than charming Westport in the summer? This waterfront destination that promises great shopping and delicious food is also a mecca for artists and creators of all stripes. August is a month to relish the sweetest summer weather, put down the gardening tools and head out to seek some beauty and culture. If that sounds like a good idea, have we got a show for you!
After last year’s wonderfully successful event at Westport’s WTC Communications Centre, Rideau Lakes Artists’ Association’s Paint the Summer is back in the same venue — and it’s bigger and better.
All are welcome to attend and marvel at the creative output of more than 40 talented fine artists from all over eastern Ontario, working across a variety of media. If you’re looking for a large statement painting, a tiny masterpiece or anything in between, you’ll definitely find it at Paint the Summer. All exhibitors will be on hand to greet guests, answer questions and share their experiences.
This year’s featured artists include Leane Bailey, Brian Bailey, Sharon Benson, Ben Bennett, Kristi Bird (profiled on page 3 of this issue), Ina Black, Margaret Brackley, Carolyne Buchanan, Dave Carlson, Jackie Coldrey, Chris Dickson, Caroline Evans, Fred Fowler, Riley Garner, Susan Gibson, David Gilmore, Jessica Lynne Godin, Sally Headford, Barbara Jordan, Margaret Kelk, Robin Laffier, Donna Laroque, Susan Leslie, Rob Maloney, Bonnie McLean, Donna McPhail, Aileen Merriam, Maureen O’Brien, Barbara Osborne-Monaghan, Pat Purdy, Barb Reilly, Sherry Lynn Rogers, Linda Rush, Barb Sohn, Linda Svarckopf, Denise Tipton, Ron Veh, Judith Versavel, Kay Wallace, Susan Walters, Laurel Wilson and Sarah Young Fowler.
Paint the Summer takes place on Saturday, August 26 and Sunday, August 27 and runs from 10am to 4pm each day at the WTC Communications Centre, 37 Spring Street (at Concession) in Westport, Ontario. Admission and parking are free.
For details, visit <rideaulakesartists.com>, find us on Facebook or Instagram, or see our ad in this issue.
The Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust (MMLT) is pleased to announce it has protected a new property in Lanark County — a hidden gem of great ecological significance and home to a diverse range of plant, butterfly, bird, amphibian, reptile and mammal species, including 16 species at risk. Spanning 106 acres, the nature sanctuary adjoins three other MMLT properties that have been under the protection of the land trust since 2014. This addition creates a 900-acre contiguous stretch of natural lands near Scotch Corners that will be protected for the benefit of the environment and future generations.
Known as Blue Heron Wetlands, this wonderful property derives its name from multiple features. These include the siting of its namesake on the property, the Blue Heron Road that leads to the protected lands, and the extensive wetlands that drain into the Innisville Wetland Complex and the Mississippi Lake National Wildlife Area.
“I cannot overstate the importance of this property to MMLT and our conservation efforts,” notes Stephen Kotze, MMLT president. “Its ecological value and importance for biodiversity were recognized over ten years ago, and MMLT has been working on acquiring this land ever since. We are thrilled to announce that the lands will now be protected by MMLT forever.”
The acquisition of Blue Heron Wetlands aligns with MMLT’s key priority of acquiring and protecting natural wilderness areas for long-term preservation and community enjoyment. The property is also closely connected to the late Cathy Keddy, a former director who played a key role in MMLT’s accomplishments until her sudden passing in October 2022. It was Cathy who showed a personal interest in this particular piece of land, mainly due to its potential in establishing an ecological corridor with the neighbouring protected properties. In honour of MMLT’s dear friend and colleague, the extensive wetlands on this property will be named “Cathy’s Pond”. Having Blue Heron in the protected property portfolio is a tremendous legacy to Cathy and her husband Paul, a prominent ecologist, conservationist, and published author on the ecological and natural history of Lanark and other regions. “Protecting habitat through land acquisitions is one of the most important tools MMLT has to help conserve biodiversity and help reduce climate change and environmental challenges,” emphasizes Kotze. “We are making a difference one property at a time.”
MMLT now has eleven properties entrusted to its care, spanning 3,300 acres in the region of the Mississippi River basin, extending north to the Madawaska River. Many of these properties are open to the public to enjoy nature hikes and MMLT events, such as High Lonesome Nature Reserve and Blueberry Mountain at cliffLAND. While Blue Heron Wetlands is not accessible to the public at present, MMLT will soon be working on developing a trail, installing signs and fencing, and constructing a parking lot. Once this work is completed, MMLT will gladly welcome individuals interested in visiting the property to reach out to them and arrange a guided tour.
The acquisition of Blue Heron Wetlands was made possible through generous donations, grants, and support from various sources, including The Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund Initiative, with federal funds from Environment and Climate Change Canada, and in partnership with Conservation Ontario and the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority; The Greenlands Conservation Partnership Program, with provincial funds from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, and in partnership with the Ontario Land Trust Alliance; and from private funders including MapleCross, Richard and Louise Schnarr, and many other kind community donations, such as the funds raised by the Backyard Beauties Auction. MMLT extends their heartfelt gratitude to generous supporters who share their vision and help them achieve their conservation goals. For more information, please visit <mmlt.ca>.
The stage is set for a Bicentennial bash in the birthplace of basketball!
On Saturday, August 12, everyone is invited to welcome Canada’s Walk of Fame to Mississippi Mills for a special Hometown Stars event. This special occasion will celebrate the area’s very own 2019 Canada’s Walk of Fame inductee, Dr. James Naismith, and all the contributions he made to the sporting world as the inventor of basketball. Presented by Scotiabank, in partnership with Cineplex, the Hometown Stars celebration is free to the public and will feature special guests, members of Dr. Naismith’s family, musical performances and a commemorative plaque unveiling.
Dr. Naismith’s ties to the area stretch back to 1853, when his father John Naismith, 18 years old at the time, migrated from Scotland to the Lanark District of Upper Canada. Soon after he moved to live with his uncle Peter in Ramsay Township.
James Naismith was born near Almonte on November 6, 1861, the eldest son of John and Margaret. He attended grade school in the one-room schoolhouse in Bennie’s Corners, and high school in Almonte. Before and after school he would help with chores on the farm and play with friends. One of his favourite games was “Duck on a Rock,” which combined tag with throwing, where a player would guard a large stone. Much later, this game would serve as inspiration in his development of basketball.
While attending YMCA Training school in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891, he was asked to come up with a new indoor game. Looking at the rules of some of his favourite sports, such as rugby and lacrosse, he developed a game that was fair for all and eliminated rough play, and named it basketball.
Dr. Naismith died on November 28, 1939, and one of the highlights of his career was seeing the world play his game, which was introduced as an Olympic sport at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. Since that time basketball has been adopted globally, becoming one of the most widely played and viewed sports.
Dr. Naismith’s innovation, and his birthplace on Mississippi Mills soil, is truly something to celebrate. The Town can’t wait to honour his gift to the sporting world.
Schedule of Events
Festivities begin on August 12 with a day of 3-on-3 basketball at the 28th annual Naismith 3x3 Basketball Tournament on Bridge Street in front of the John Levi Community Centre.
The tournament will break at 3pm for the Canada’s Walk of Fame Hometown Stars event at the Gemmill Park Main Stage (182 Bridge Street, behind the Community Centre). The public is invited to join members of the Naismith family, members of council and representatives from Canada’s Walk of Fame for a special ceremony and plaque presentation honouring Dr. Naismith’s 2019 induction into Canada’s Walk of Fame.
This event is a special collaboration between Canada’s Walk of Fame, the Municipality of Mississippi Mills and the Naismith 3x3 Basketball Tournament. Find more details at <mississippimills.ca/events>.
And don’t forget to check out the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum’s latest exhibit, Post Up, by athlete and artist Mallory Tolcher. It opens August 12 and runs until October 7, and is being presented as part of Mississippi Mills’ Bicentennial Celebrations. Through a series of textiles installed on metal rims and wooden backboards, Tolcher challenges societal norms and reimagines the conventional basketball net. For more information on the artist and exhibit, please visit <mvtm.ca>.
Four dynamic local artists — Colleen Gray, Ginny Fobert, Gillian Marston and Pamela Stewart — are thrilled to be officially opening their new space on August 24. Their vision for the Carleton Place Gallery is “to cultivate a true local artists’ hub, support and grow local art, and help living local and regional artists in selling their work, while keeping the costs as low as possible to exhibit.” Their hope is that the gallery will evolve to become an essential element of a vibrant, artful downtown Carleton Place core where the entire community identifies the gallery as theirs.
On Thursday, August 24, Chamber of Commerce and Town Council members, including the Mayor of Carleton Place, will be on hand for a ribbon-cutting to officially welcome the community into the new space. The opening ceremony will take place at 10am and the Gallery will stay open until 7pm. To receive an invitation to the opening and more information about the gallery, please sign up for the gallery’s VIP email at <cpgallery.ca> and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
The gallery had just under 100 artists apply to exhibit, and their work will be showing on a rotating basis. Media will include watercolour, photography, abstracts, wood and stone sculpture, fine jewellery and more.
A section of the gallery space will also be dedicated to support Art for Aid <artforaid.ca>, and visitors will be able to select from beautifully packaged products such as art card bundles, land acknowledgement plaques, art prints and more in support of this initiative. Founded and run by Colleen Gray, Art for Aid ships quality art learning tools to Indigenous youth in some of the most remote reserves in Canada. All proceeds from the sale of Art for Aid items will go to fund these special and much needed shipments.
This fall, the gallerists will also be preparing a studio/workshop space connected to the gallery, which will be used for meeting space, studio space, educational space and workshops. Watch theHumm for information about a Grand Opening bash!
A Building’s Transformation
Since they got the keys to the space in early June, the four artists, alongside their family members and some wonderful local tradespeople, have removed and replaced the ceiling, removed walls and created moveable walls and displays, hung professional gallery lighting and picture hanging systems, and refreshed the interior and exterior with paint — even the exterior lighting received an overhaul. Special thanks go out to the local artists’ association Arts Carleton Place for some very appreciated financial support, and to Valley Paint and Coverings and Benjamin Moore for their donation of interior paint for the renovation.
This building is one of the oldest in the historic downtown core, and will look wonderful once updates are complete. Visitors should allot time to enjoy the park and river adjacent to the gallery, grab a beer at Stalwart Brewing Co. or a bite to eat at several amazing restaurants. Everything is within walking distance.
“When I look around the gallery space now, it’s crazy how transformed the space is in under three months,” enthuses gallerist Pamela Stewart. “We can’t wait to see amazing local art up on the walls and three-dimensional art featured around the gallery. We knew there was exceptional talent in this region, and now we get to not only showcase it in a beautiful and professional space, but do so knowing we are supporting artists and participating in this vibrant renovated downtown area. We are thrilled that we are seeing this dream come to fruition and excited to welcome everyone on August 24!”
The Carleton Place Gallery is located at 210 Bridge Street, right along the river downtown. While the hours of operation are not final yet, the gallery intends to be open six days a week from Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Mondays. More details can be found at <cpgallery.ca>.
I recently had a ton of fun volunteering at the Climate Network Lanark (CNL) booth at Stewart Park Festival, along with my husband and daughter. We had a terrific view of the stage, rocked out to some fabulous music, and helped festivalgoers divert their waste and leftover food from landfill. We also got to promote the good work of CNL, whose actions on behalf of the environment go far beyond a three-day stint at one event. While chatting with Sue Brandum, one of CNL’s founders and a member of the Executive Team, I learned about a few pressing issues that the group is currently championing and have asked her to give an “elevator pitch” to Humm readers.
the Humm: Lanark County has written the first draft of its Climate Action Plan but has chosen to go against ALL reduction target recommendations made by Climate Network Lanark. What do you think this means for the environment, and how can Humm readers help persuade the County to be more ambitious in their goals?
Sue Brandum: They haven’t just gone against what Climate Network Lanark has been advocating for more than a year — to cut our emissions from Lanark County in half by 2030 — they went against the global scientific consensus, against the target set by the IPCC and all countries in the Paris Agreement, against the national targets, and against the recommendations from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and its Partners for Climate Protection directly to the County, because the County is contracted with FCM. Fundamentally what they have gone against is what our best thinkers say we need to do to keep from falling into a collapse of key systems that support human and other life on Earth.
Many people don’t know that fully 50% of our greenhouse gases are overseen or governed by our local governments. So we have a huge opportunity to make a difference.
Setting an emissions reduction target of only 10% for the community by 2030 doesn’t challenge us to take the big steps we need to take, to make system changes. We need our governments to make changes in systems so that people don’t have to spend silly time trying to figure out what the right choice is.
The County has issued its draft Climate Action Plan and is asking for public comment. CNL is asking the citizens of Lanark County to respond to the County’s questionnaire by saying they want serious action taken, a serious reduction target set. This is the first of four points CNL is asking citizens to endorse in their personal submissions to the public consultation. The points can be found at <climatenetworklanark.ca> and include the reduction target, eliminating all fossil fuels, implementing a Climate Lens immediately by the County and all lower-tier municipalities, and acting on public transit immediately.
The County’s draft Climate Action Plan and the questionnaire can be found at <lanarkcounty.ca/en/environmental-initiatives/climate.aspx>. They are calling for feedback until August 28.
CNL recently initiated a pilot project called the Climate Concierge Cluster, with the goal of connecting neighbours who are interested in getting their homes off fossil fuels. What’s your message to anyone who either knows about, or wants to find out more about heat pumps?
As part of eliminating fossil fuels, we must basically electrify everything. I have never doubted that we humans have the smarts, the capacity to solve this. And we have made major developments in technology so that we can do this. One of those developments is heat pumps. It’s a rather old technology — refrigerators are heat pumps, because they take the heat from inside the fridge and transfer it to a liquid, which moves the heat to outside the fridge. Household heat pumps do the same thing in the summer — taking heat from inside your home and using a liquid to transfer it outside the building. They do the reverse in the winter — taking heat from outdoors and transferring it into the building. Now we have heat pumps that work down to -30°C.
But as heating systems, heat pumps are still new to many. Our Climate Concierge Neighbourhood Clusters help people through the learning curve. The project connects community members to provide motivation, leading-edge knowledge, peer support and connections to specific trades and technology suppliers in our community. It enables the participants in the clusters to share experiences in working with local suppliers and expertise so that everyone can make the best decisions with confidence.
Based on results from our first test group, we’re running a pilot this year with neighbourhood clusters In Almonte, Carleton Place, Lanark Village, Perth and Smiths Falls. It’s free to participate — simply contact Sadie Brule at <sadie@climatenetworklanark.ca>. We’re going to start a small business cluster too!
What gives you hope as you (and other members of CNL) continue to work on behalf of the environment?
Despite everything, I have hope. CNL has more than 1,000 supporters and we just added another 200 at Stewart Park Festival. We know from two surveys in Lanark County that more than 80% of citizens here want serious action taken on the climate crisis; people aren’t content with frivolous, lightweight assurances from politicians anymore, everyone has smelled the smoke, felt the heat, has had or knows someone who has had a tick bite… Fundamentally I follow what women before me have said. Joan Baez said, “Action is the antidote to despair.” Greta Thunberg says “Act. Do Something. Because that is the best medicine against sadness and depression.”
This is my life, this is my planet, my home. I’m in love with Earth. It’s extraordinary, it’s spectacular and we have only begun to understand it. It is us; we are it. I want to celebrate its abundance of life, its beauty, its rarity, its stunning synchronicity; I don’t want to participate in its demise.
How else can people engage with CNL, if they are looking for more information or want to volunteer? What are the organization’s most pressing needs?
Right now, we need people to respond to the County’s Draft Climate Action Plan. Tell the County you want serious action, read the report (or at least the quick guide) and tell them the actions you want to see taken here, in our county, to cut our greenhouse gasses. Respond now to the questionnaire and tell CNL what you said at <hello@climatenetworklanark.ca>.
Beyond that, simply go to <climatenetworklanark.ca> and sign up for our newsletter, so you know what’s happening on climate change around the County and about volunteer opportunities. Then, develop a climate action plan for your family, your household, your business, your organization. And bring your ideas and your energy to us, tell us what you think you’d like to do, and we’ll see if we can find a way to help you do that. The climate crisis is the defining crisis of this and future generations, we need everyone to fix it.
Thank you so much Kris for this opportunity. We were absolutely thrilled to have you and your family helping at our booth at the festival. You sure brought some great dance moves to the recycling depot!
A Conversation Between Dancers, a Cellist and Flowers will take place on August 19 at Gossamer Gardens Flower Farm, located between Perth and Smiths Falls. Enjoy a performance by internationally renowned Canadian cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne and Ottawa Dance Directive.
The solitude and beautiful, bucolic spirit at Gossamer Gardens Flower Farm, with its 19th century Lanark County farmhouse, is a perfect setting for contemporary dancers and a cellist to bring a sense of joy to everyone. Watch a conversation between dancers and a cellist in nature — a feast for all the senses. Be captivated by the inspired choreography of Yvonne Coutts, created especially for the location, performed outdoors in beautiful Lanark County. Choose from a locally sourced picnic menu with picnics pre-ordered from Gather in Perth, or bring your own, along with a blanket or chair.
Watch contemporary dance, which is attention-grabbing and perfect for music, with Raphael Weinroth-Browne transforming the performances into powerful and engaging art works. This event combines art, dance and music into a rapture in nature.
Tickets are $50 from Tickets Please (TicketsPlease.ca or 485–6434). Gates open at 5pm, and everyone is invite to walk the gardens from 5–7pm.
Gossamer Gardens Flower Farm specializes in unique, seasonal, locally grown flowers and foliage, cultivated with love, and nurtured using sustainable, organic practices.
About the Performers
Ottawa Dance Directive is thrilled to collaborate with these remarkable Ottawa Gatineau-based dance artists: Myrielle Bernier-Acuna, Mary Catherine Jack, Lana Morton, Katherine Ng, Jocelyn Todd and Elizabeth Emond-Stevenson.
Internationally renowned Canadian cellist and composer Raphael Weinroth-Browne is celebrated for his emotive and virtuosic playing. In 2016, Raphael joined Norwegian progressive rock icons Leprous. His cello has since featured prominently on their latest three albums; he has played over 200 shows with them in Europe, North America and the Middle East. Appearing on over 150 studio albums, including the JUNO Award-winning Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light (Woods of Ypres), Raphael has also produced cello renditions of prog/metal songs that have been praised and reposted by Opeth, Steven Wilson, and Chris Adler (Lamb of God). Raphael released Worlds Within Live in 2021, a live rendition of the 2020 studio album, which led to performances of the material in Lisbon, Portugal, as well as a highly successful collaboration with the Ottawa Dance Directive.
Yvonne Coutts is the Artistic Director of Ottawa Dance Directive and resident choreographer of Compagnie ODD. Her new works for the company have been featured at numerous national festivals and for many local events and performances. She received the Bonnie Bird Choreographic Award and the commissioned work toured Europe, Asia and the USA. She has received commissions from artists across Canada and was the 2015 recipient of the Ottawa Arts Council Mid-Career Artist Award.
Focus. Click. Wind. opens with a tense, tumultuous, claustrophobic scene: a student protest of the Vietnam War at Columbia University. It’s 1968, and we see the action through the eyes — and camera lens — of seventeen-year-old Billie Taylor, an aspiring photojournalist who is there with her college boyfriend because she needs to be a part of it.
As the police, armed with pounding boots, heavy clubs and “snarling eyes,” close in on the roomful of peaceful protestors, Billie knows her “camera is her weapon, not her fists.” Armed with her Rolleiflex camera, she’s intent on capturing images of “the enemy” — in this case, the “blue fury” of uniforms and badges marching up the staircase.
The doors burst open, violence erupts, and Billie is able to capture a few images of the chaos before she’s pulled under a table to safety — but just like that, bruised and breathless and shaken, she finds herself drawn into the perilous war at home. From that moment on, she becomes obsessed with making a difference through activism. Through documenting truth.
The opening scene in Amanda West Lewis’s latest YA novel Focus. Click. Wind. is intense and exhilarating, but is the book a thriller? Well, in part, yes. It’s deftly crafted, and the prose is propulsive and quick-paced. After Billie meets some potentially dangerous activists in Toronto, it’s clear that their activities come at great risk. Every secret meeting she attends pulses with tension. Every task she agrees to take on comes with uncertainty and risk. She keeps hearing about or uncovering alarming new atrocities by the day. And it’s all hush-hush and fear-inducing, because someone is always watching.
But Billie is passionate and simmering with youthful rage. She’s feisty and stubborn, but is she willing to risk her life to stop an unjust war? At seventeen, she’s understandably confused and conflicted about a great many things: the war in Vietnam and the killing of Vietnamese people, but also the war on people back home — the poor, the Blacks, and every draft-age person in the US. Billie is clever and compassionate, but still young and at times naïve. She’s figuring things out in a time of great turmoil, which genuinely makes West Lewis’s novel part coming-of-age story as well.
Focus. Click. Wind. is captivating, shrewd and sophisticated — a difficult story masterfully told.
Stylistically, the novel is so well-written it makes for a brisk, easy read. However, the book wasn’t easy for West Lewis to write, she says, because she had to do a fair amount of soul searching.
“I had to go back into my own teenage passion and fall in love with my confused and conflicted self,” she explains.
“While the book is not autobiographical in any sense of the word,” she says, “there are many elements from my own history that I have incorporated into the story.”
For instance, like Billie, West Lewis grew up in New York City. And later “I became a teenager in a house on Lowther Avenue in Toronto, where my mother took in drafters,” as Billie’s mother does in the book. But “I certainly wasn’t involved with any violent revolutionary groups,” West Lewis hastens to add. In the novel, Billie develops relationships with some dangerous activists.
There are other similarities, too. More philosophical, perhaps.
“I think that the political, social and economic times that you grow up in shape your outlook,” West Lewis reflects. “I grew up during the vibrant turmoil of the late sixties and early seventies, so of course it had a profound effect on who I have become.”
“Over the last few years,” she adds, “I have seen a similar period of foment and questioning. Young people are struggling to make sense of horrific wars, climate catastrophe and social and sexual upheaval. The parallels to me are quite stunning. Because of this, I feel a solidarity with today’s young adults.”
In her opinion, those young adults are very smart. “I believe wholeheartedly in the moral compass of young people,” she says.
The novel is, therefore, never condescending — especially in its clear-eyed depiction of many of the appalling realities of the time: the killing of countless innocent Vietnamese people, the inhumane use of Agent Orange, police brutality, non-stop government lies, American soldiers returning home in body bags, without limbs, or severely traumatized — and so on.
“Do I think YA readers are up to this reality? Yes, definitely and more,” West Lewis says. “I think the worst thing we can do is to try and sugarcoat the truth. We owe it to them to be open and as honest as possible.”
When Billie starts spending more time with underground political protesters at Rochdale College, one of those people, Martin, says to her: “Photographs change people’s minds. They show the truth. They make a difference.” And this rings true to Billie. She’s confronted by a line from Hamlet: “When our actions do not, our fears do make us traitors.” Then she feels compelled to make a difference. And eventually, she does.
“I think the ‘need to make a difference’ is what can carry us through hard times,” says West Lewis. “It can give us purpose. It can help us to survive the chaos around us. I would love young readers to know that making a difference, whatever that means to them, isn’t just about picking a cause. It’s about what is in your heart, as a human in society. It’s about examining your heart and finding what is unique to you. It’s about the artist within. I would love anyone who reads the book to discover that person or rekindle that passion.”
I asked Amanda West Lewis what she would like readers to take away from Billie’s feelings of growing anger and impatience about the carnage of war.
“I’d like a young person who reads this book to feel that their feelings are validated,” she said. “I’d like readers, young and old, to think about their responses to the world around them. If we can change our thoughts, we can change the world. And, as we all know, it desperately needs changing right now.”
West Lewis is “pretty passionate” about Focus. Click. Wind., and thrilled to be doing a book tour where she will be going to bookstores and doing readings. On Thursday, August 10 at 7pm, her tour stops at The Book Nook in Perth.
“I’d love to have people, young and old, come and join in the discussion,” she says. “I’m hoping we’ll have Question and Answer sessions with people who lived through the sixties, and people who are trying to live through the twenty-twenties. I can’t think of anything more exciting.”
Focus. Click. Wind. is available at an independent bookstore near you, and wherever fine books are sold.
If you’ve ever wandered into one of the ubiquitous “pot shops” that have popped up all over the Valley, you may have found yourself at a loss, trying to decide between products, strains and delivery methods. CBD or THC? Sativa or Indica? Gummies or salve? Fortunately, there is someone local who can help! Nancy Sendell is a cannabis sommelier whose mission is to educate people about today’s cannabis marketplace. Through her WestPot Cannabis Sommelier Services (located in Westport), she offers a variety of services intended to do so in a safe and friendly manner. theHumm contacted her to find out more about her intriguing business.
theHumm: How did you first become interested in cannabis in more than a recreational way?
Nancy Sendell: I’ve used cannabis recreationally since high school — mostly just on weekends. But I also have a bad knee that I was finally able to get replaced a few years ago. After a lifetime of taking pain meds that eventually stopped working for me, I found that the only thing that helped was cannabis, and have been growing my own for the past several years. I’ve always been fascinated by this plant that I can grow myself, which deals with many of my issues and makes me happy with a side effect of giggles. I’ve followed the development of the cannabis culture and scientific research that has come out over the years, so I guess it’s a bit of a passion of mine.
Can you tell our readers a bit about your accreditation, as well as your history in the cannabis industry?
I lucked into a job at Canopy Growth as a Sensory Panelist — apparently I have an acute sense of smell and taste. The product testing sessions were very scientific, and we delved into how we perceive and sense the various terpene profiles and tastes of both flower and edibles. Our team of fifteen was a broad cross-section of people, from craft growers to moms and medical users. I learned a lot from my colleagues, and we had numerous chats about how cannabis culture is still somewhat behind the curtain — that there is a large gap between what the industry is allowed to tell you about the products and the questions that people have about cannabis.
I am all for harm reduction regulations, but as it stands now the average consumer cannot find reliable sources of information to answer their questions. This is a complex product that can have negative impacts if used improperly.
After being laid off from Canopy, I found a training program to become a certified Cannabis Sommelier so that I could learn more about the plant and how to talk to people about cannabis, and find resources for the latest research. I am learning more and more about this magical plant and this vibrant new market every day, from genetics and growing to product development and extraction methods.
What types of questions do you usually delve into in your one-hour private consultation service? Besides the psychoactive effects, do you also advise on taste and the consumption experience?
I ask clients to send me their interests, concerns or questions, as well as their experience with cannabis. From there I can talk about various cultivars (strains), the genetics, terpene profiles and tastes. I cannot predict how anyone will feel, but I can guide you towards a few cultivars or products that may get you to where you want to go. I talk about dosage, various extraction and consumption methods. Sometimes people start having a different experience — even with a product that they have used before but it stops working for them. I can help find some alternatives to assist in dealing with their issues.
For the cannabis connoisseur, I recommend getting a few friends together for a Premium Cannabis Tasting. I conduct tasting sessions with several different craft-grown cultivars of premium genetics designed to highlight incredible flavours and aromas. I am all about the safe and responsible consumption of cannabis, so I will bring the party to your home or cottage for an afternoon of fun.
What are some of the highlights of your multi-day “Play & Stay Cannabis Adventure”?
Again, it’s all about a safe and responsible way to enjoy cannabis. Running my bed and breakfast and being a Cannabis Sommelier, it just seemed natural to bring them both together. Westport has so much, all within walking distance: hiking trails, shopping, a winery, brewery, cannabis shop, and The Cove for great live music. Guests are treated to a tasting session and provided with enough edibles and flowers for them to thoroughly enjoy themselves without having to drive. I am working on adding a cannabis theme to some classic board games. I cater to my guests’ interests — birding, cycling, hiking or paddling.
What are some preconceived notions that people might have about your job and the services you offer?
There is still a lot of stigma surrounding this plant and what it does, with the stereotype of the classic stoner. I do not sell pot, nor do I try to convince people to try pot. Cannabis is very much part of our culture, but it has been underground. My experience has been that people from all walks of life use this plant in many different ways. Many people believe that it is dangerous, and while it has its risks, used appropriately it can also have many benefits, especially with the effects of aging. People who have never tried cannabis before should not be afraid of trying CBD products even if they contain some THC.
I recommend a “go slow and low” approach because you really only need to get so high. Once you get to where you want to be, why risk getting too high? I smoke one joint a day, as I need it throughout the day. I will never say that I know everything about this plant, but I am very keen to see where this industry is going. The marketplace and science are changing rapidly, so there really is a need for someone to help guide people through the many misconceptions and myths in order to find some reliable information and advice.
Have you ever had clients get “too high”, and if so do you have any tips for us laypeople?
Being too high isn’t pleasant, and I have found it can come about in two different ways. Over-consumption of either flower — but more likely edibles or a combination of both — is a common cause. Edibles always taste like more edibles when you are high, so watch out for that, especially if alcohol is in the mix. Make sure you have uninfused treats on hand for your munchies and put away your dosed goodies. Another way of getting too high is being THC-sensitive, like me. It happens when the product is over 20% THC, and if I use it too often I will lose the beneficial effects and get tinnitus and a headache and insomnia. It isn’t pleasant either, so I prefer lower THC or balanced THC/CBD products. Moderation is the key to having a great cannabis experience — sometimes less is more.
Find more information about Nancy and her services at <westpot.ca>.
The Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority is pleased to announce that the Mill of Kintail Conservation Area will be celebrating its 50th anniversary on Sunday, August 20. Located in the heart of Mississippi Mills (2854 Ramsay Concession 8, Almonte), the Mill of Kintail is a historic recreational 154-hectare property situated on the Indian River. It boasts over 6km of trails and houses the R. Tait McKenzie and Dr. James Naismith Museum.
Festivities will officially get underway at 10am and include a variety of activities and entertainment for the whole family. On the entertainment stage, The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Pipe Band will kick off the celebrations, followed by the musical stylings of local artist Vicki Brittle. Little Ray’s Nature Centre will have an all-ages demonstration featuring some of their exotic animals. Other attractions will include the classic and cool cars of the Carleton Place Cruise Night club, guided hikes led by the Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists, inflatables and interactive games and crafts for kids of all ages, and a food tent hosted by the Almonte Civitan BBQ.
“Event organizers and have been working hard to offer guests and their families a great day of fun-filled activities to help celebrate the anniversary of this wonderful property,” explains MVCA General Manager Sally McIntyre. “Whether you are a regular visitor or a newcomer to the conservation area, we encourage everyone to come out and join us on August 20!”
The Mississippi Valley Conservation Foundation will be organizing a 50-50 raffle in support of the MVCF and the Mill of Kintail. Be sure to visit the booth to get your tickets.
Admission and parking will be free, and the celebration will run from 10am to 4pm. For more information, visit <mvc.on.ca>. Come out and celebrate 50 years of the Mill of Kintail Conservation Area!
The organizers of the North Lanark Highland Games invite everyone to join them in celebrating the Scottish culture and heritage of the Ottawa Valley at the 38th annual Highland Games, taking place on August 26 right in the heart of Almonte.
There is much to see and do! You can cheer on champion heavyweight athletes while they try their best in the Caber Toss, Sheaf Toss and Stone Throw, listen to some talented pipers and drummers, and watch the twirling feet of some graceful Highland dancers. If you’ve got kids, dinna fash yersel’ — there is an entire area dedicated to them which boasts Highland Athletics, face painting, colouring and a dress-up area, all of which is free for the wee bairns.
Tickets can be found (along with some yummy treats) at Baker Bob’s in Almonte and The General Store in Pakenham. If you prefer to shop from home, tickets can also be purchased at Eventbrite. The North Lanark Highland Games runs rain or shine, and they hope to see everyone come out and enjoy the fun at the Almonte Fairgrounds on August 26. For more information, visit <almontehighlandgames.com>.
Ottawa Valley singer-songwriter and guitarist John Dorsch recently released his 15-song collection with MTS Records. Faith In Me is the lead single and YouTube video from the album.
ELEVATiON showcases Dorsch’s unique folk rock/Canadiana style and is full of vibrant melodies that bring the listener on a journey of music. He draws on influences from Rush, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, John Mayer, Tommy Emmanuel, Jerry Reed and Merle Travis to create his own blend of traditional and modern music.
The album features 15 original songs all composed and recorded by Dorsch himself. The album was recorded and produced at JDM Studios, his home-built studio in Rideau Ferry. ELEVATiON was mixed and mastered by Dave Draves at Little Bullhorn Studios in Ottawa. The entire process has taken two years to complete.
Accompanying John on this musical journey is his wife Dani Baribeau, who contributes in production, African djembe drum, percussion and harmony vocals. The track Save Just One More Life features special guests Paul Johnson on mandolin and bouzouki, and Bonny Skiffington on harmony vocals.
John has been playing electric and acoustic guitar in venues locally for 45 years and has been drawn to fingerstyle guitar in recent years. He is passionate about creating new music blending jazz, pop, rock and folk fingerstyle influences.
John and Dani currently perform as John Dorsch Music in acoustic coffeehouse style. The duo has been performing at area indoor and outdoor venues, restaurants, patios and pubs. Audiences enjoy their reimagined acoustic pop/rock songs and originals. The duo performs, in vibrant acoustic format, all 15 of the new ELEVATiON album songs, which include three fingerstyle instrumentals. Their mission when performing live is to “Put smiles on faces”.
ELEVATiON is being well received. The song Dragonfly was selected and included in the 2021 City of Ottawa — On Hold Music Program. Save Just One More Life was selected for the 2023 City of Ottawa — City Sounds Music Program.
On July 5, the lead single, Faith In Me reached #1 on the UK iTunes Top 100 Folk/Rock singles chart. The couple produced a YouTube Music video for the release.
Timothy Ball of Showbiz Now Magazine advises people to “Seek this release out today because, I believe, it’s one of the year’s most interesting releases and holds up under repeated listens.”
A celebration concert for the launch of ELEVATiON is taking place at The Studio Theatre in Perth on Sunday, August 20 at 2pm. The audience will experience the entire album performed acoustically, along with the inspirational stories behind the songs. For information, visit <johndorschmusic.com> and <Eventbrite.ca>. ELEVATiON is available on Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer. CDs are available from <johndorschmusic.com>.
You will find John Dorsch Music performing at the Perth Stewart Park Bandshell on Saturday, August 12 from 1–4pm, the Perth Farmer’s Market on Saturday, August 19 from 9am to 1pm, and the Carleton Place Farmer’s Market on Saturday, August 26 from 8am. For more details, follow John Dorsch Music on Facebook and YouTube.
It’s an Ontario mid-August weekend and what should you do? Gaze up at the Perseids Meteor shower and marvel at the dust of an ancient comet burning up in our atmosphere? Or sit on a natural outdoor amphitheatre as sweet acoustic guitar dances on the summer breeze, lulling you into connection and community? You could always join a bongo-infused high energy joyful, multicultural dance session as you twirl with the original and neo-hippies of the Ottawa Valley. Or maybe go a bit urbane in the country and throw shapes until the small hours as DJs from the Left Coast, Toronto and Wilno hit the glowing decks under the stars? What about astrology, yoga, forest walks, tarot, shiatsu, drumming, acro-yoga and Tai Chi?
Seems like an impossible choice. Fortunately, and I think you know where we’re going with this, you can do all of the above and still take in arts and crafts as you hit up the food vendors at the 47th Annual Killaloe Craft Fair. The grassroots festival takes place from August 11–13 on 100 acres on Mountainview Road in the Ottawa Valley. It’s a mere $60 in advance for the weekend, with camping for only $10 to tent-it and $20 if you roll up in an RV. Or you can buy individual tickets for Friday or Saturday. There are also discounts for students and seniors. Children under 13 get in free and there will be plenty to entertain them, like a bubblegum blowing competition, dress-up parade, wand-making workshop and a round of old fashioned kids’ games.
Friday kicks off with a blessing by Algonquin Elder, artist and storykeeper Roberta Della Picca, followed by an eclectic mix of talent taking turns, including hometown hero Russell Leon. From a biker named Val teaching him to play chords at the age of six to playing Heart of Gold on an acoustic guitar in the ’80s, Leon has gone on to feature in Toronto Indie Awards along with decades on the Hogtown music scene, and in August he’s bringing it all back home. You’ll also catch El Negro Del Zabra, Spencer Mundt and Leeny Jones before the bewitching Blue Hazel take the stage after 7pm. Then the five-piece fun bunch from Montreal, K-Man and the 45s, will bring more ska punk fusion to life than a Specials Cramps ’80s reunion tour. The live music rounds out with The Arms and The Legs before the mighty missKriss takes you deep in the house on the hill as she spins her tracks before EROC serves up deep, funky and rolling bass vibes.
All day Saturday the entertainment rolls on with The Rockingham Choir, Ash Anderson, Red Sky Prophets, Liam Milne, the McLean Sisters and Gloria Guerriero, before Sigrid Geddes sets up the Saturday night stage. Saturday evening headliners the Great Lake Swimmers bring the yearning atmospherica of indie folk to the grassy hill, followed by the high energy blues rock of Lyndsay Barr. If you like a little social conscience with your blistering rhythms, Kon-Fusion blends up cumbia, ska, funk and rock with South American ancestral and traditional grooves.
After all this you might be sweaty, serene and sated… but the tent will have to wait. Up on the hill under the DJ dome Trevor Knox will be laying down the saucy high-energy house. Second up Seekquest introduces a little Pacific Northwest bass music to the scene, followed by Bobby Jackets, who grew up through drum and bass to deep house, hip hop and lo fi. Basically this dude is on a mission to wring out the last dance you got.
Now you can go to bed, but you’ll wake up to coffee, yoga and a session on spirituality, which frankly you might need at this point before you go soak your head at Foy Beach and make your way back to reality. The Killaloe Craft Fair has woven itself into the fabric of the community over the last five decades, despite a few gaps for Covid and the like. It is a unique event and you will not experience anything like it anywhere else. For more information or to buy tickets in advance, go to < killaloefair.ca>.
Art… and Soul
For Kristi Bird, her art is both a refuge and her salvation. Her alluring acrylic paintings of wildlife and nature are a feast for the eyes and balm for the soul. In a world that is struggling to cope with more and more overwhelming challenges, the solace of the natural world grows ever more compelling. Bird’s loving celebrations of nature and the wild creatures with whom we share this fragile planet are profoundly therapeutic, both for the artist and the viewer. I would challenge anyone to gaze upon her painting of three playful fox kits without an involuntary smile tugging at the corners of their mouth.
Kristi’s dramatic portrait of a swan spreading its huge white wings against a dark background is a stunning testament to the lifetime this self-taught artist has devoted to healing herself with her art. Back in 2015 she posted a commentary about what her art means to her. Titled “Something Beautiful,” it reads as follows: “In this strange world I have been witness to horrifying things. I know they exist. The heart can only take so much pain and angst before it gives up. I choose my subject matter (for painting) carefully, dancing around the horrible and the ugly that I know is available anywhere I look. I choose beautiful over ugly. I choose peaceful over chaos. I choose love over hate. I hope that my paintings remind you of something beautiful in your strange world. When all hope is lost, find the beauty within. We are all something beautiful.”
The Strange World of Birdland
It started with an abusive father. As part of his anger management program, he led his family into going public with a nationally televised documentary that exposed their “secret” to the world. Kristi was ten years old. Her mother, whom she describes as “a rock, the strongest, most generous woman I have ever known,” left the marriage when he relapsed and became abusive again. At sixteen Kristi dropped out of high school and got married to give birth to her daughter. She was divorced three years later. Then began a progression of relationships characterized by pain and tragedy, but also blessing her with a son. Her common-law husband of five years suffered from depression and committed suicide when her kids were thirteen and nine. Another partner proved to be a bad mistake.
And when she chose well, tragedy struck. Between 2016 and 2020, Kristi spent most of her time administering care to two family members, both confined to wheelchairs and hospital beds. Her daughter Sky succumbed to brain cancer in 2019 at the age of twenty-nine. Her former partner went into nursing care in 2020 as the result of the long-term catastrophic effects of a personality-changing stroke. As a result of their tragic situation, they all moved from Oshawa to a wheelchair-accessible but very cramped space in the Rideau Lakes home of Kristi’s generous mother, Cheryl, and stepfather, Peter Bird. “Their help and unflagging support was what made it possible for me to take care of my family when they needed me,” she tells me. She is so grateful, adding: “Everyone has a biological father; Peter showed me what it means to have a Dad.”
The Art of Survival
Creating art is Kristi Bird’s salvation — her method of healing trauma. Her father was an artist, and she started learning about paints as a child. She was always creative, building things, sewing and exploring various crafts. She was also dyslexic, not able to read until she was thirteen years old. She smiles mischievously as she confides that the reason she talks so quickly is that she still can read only as fast as she can speak.
Like so many artists, she remembers the thrill and consequent motivation of the first public recognition of her talent when in Grade Eight one of her works was chosen to be in an art show. After she finally returned to complete her high school education at the age of thirty, she went on to earn her three-year diploma in graphic arts from Durham College in Oshawa. She started painting from her own photos, and entered her first show at “Art in the Park” in Oshawa two decades ago.
For Bird, the therapeutic value of painting transports her to a safe and productive space. Much has been written about being “in flow.” I read recently in Fast Company that “Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi is believed to have first introduced the concept of flow. He defines flow as a state of intense focus and absorption in an intrinsically rewarding activity. In a flow state, we feel energized, motivated, and fully engaged in the task before us.” In Bird’s practiced hands, the results of her safe and productive space transport others into a similar space of peace and healing contemplation of the natural world.
For someone with early learning challenges, part of Kristi’s enjoyment of and pride in her artistic accomplishments stems from the fact that she is self-taught. She experiments endlessly; when others sit down to watch TV, she sits down and paints. She wants other budding artists to know that it is normal to reach a point in almost every painting you are working on where you think it isn’t good enough. Her solution, and advice, is to persevere and search for that creative breakthrough. As an example, her use of an orange ground to create movement is spectacularly effective in her portrait of a white swan. It was something she learned from fellow artist Margaret Martin at a Rideau Lakes Artists’ Association paint-in. You can see for yourself at <kristibird.com/works>, or full screen at minute 1:23 at <youtube.com/watch?v=D0KCQyxRbas>.
Paint the Summer Art Show and Sale
Better yet, watch the full two minutes of her YouTube video to enjoy a preview of the artworks Kristi Bird will be showing in the Rideau Lakes Artists’ Association’s annual Paint the Summer Art Show and Sale on August 26 and 27. Parking and admission are free at the Westport Arena at 37 Spring Street. Go with the flow — and check the back of her Artist Trading Card for additional coordinates and more healing opportunities to commune with nature as celebrated by the area’s many fine artists.
Artist Trading Card
Perth’s Orion Theatre Company is planning a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar as a cancer fundraiser in February of 2024. Auditions will be held at St. Paul’s United Church on Friday, September 8 (evening) and Saturday, September 9 (daytime). To book a time slot, please contact the producers at <oriontheatrecompany@gmail.com>.
The artistic team consists of Peter Dixon (director), Heidi Stepanek (vocal director and choreographer), and Gordon Craig (music director). Shows will take place from February 23 to March 3, 2024 at St. Paul’s United Church in Perth.
About Orion Theatre Company
Heidi Stepanek and Peter Dixon launched Orion Theatre Company in 2003 with a production of Rocky Horror Show that is still talked about by those familiar with this groundbreaking event. Orion is a semi-professional community theatre company that specializes in intimate productions of well-known Broadway musicals. It is known for presenting high-caliber productions highlighting the many talented local actors, singers, and musicians.
Past productions also include The Fantasticks (2003), Cabaret (2004), Guys & Dolls (2006), Evita (2007), Godspell (2008), Cats (2008), Grease (2009), The Producers (2009), Into the Woods (2010), Rent (2010), The Full Monty (2011), La Cage aux Folles (2012), and Les Misérables (2014).
On hiatus since 2014, Heidi and Peter are excited to be resurrecting Orion with a new production of Jesus Christ Superstar in 2024.
A small informal group of volunteers is working to increase and protect the tree and shrub population in Perth and the surrounding townships. Our Perth Trees (OPT) evolved out of a concern for the destruction of trees and shrubs caused by the spongy moth (aka the gypsy moth) and the effects of climate change.
“The forecast is for extreme heat in the coming years. And we’re already experiencing frequent above-normal temperatures,” says Kate Donnelly, OPT founder and volunteer. “The establishment of a green canopy in our communities is essential to help mitigate the negative effects of climate change. That means trees need to stay healthy and thrive.”
With this in mind, OPT is making a call to action. “We need volunteers,” says Donnelly.
Volunteering with OPT is flexible. For starters, the work is weather-dependent. Any time offered is appreciated, whether it’s a couple of hours, once a week or once a month, no matter what your age and motivation.
Currently OPT needs volunteers to plant seedlings, including mulching and fencing, at the Perth Wildlife Reserve and in the parks; to undertake weekly watering for two to three years after planting; and to cut and remove invasive vines from trees and shrubs in parks, along streets and on private property.
Volunteers are also needed to help plan next year’s Seedling Sale, to share ideas for fundraisers, and to help educate residents about caring for their trees and shrubs. OPT is also looking for a landscaper or arborist who can offer ad hoc advice or expertise on the care and maintenance of trees and shrubs.
To get involved, please email OPT at <ourperthtrees@gmail.com> or visit their Facebook page at <bit.ly/43laRtt>.
Ted and Marion Outerbridge — TikTok sensations and headliners at Hollywood’s Magic Castle — are set to stage their new show, Mysteries of the Keyhole House, at several new venues. The show moves to Studio Theatre Perth from July 28 to August 12, to Carleton Place from August 18–26, and to Gananoque from September 8–16, with performances on Fridays at 7:30pm, and Saturdays at 2pm and 7:30pm.
The Keyhole House is an enchanting sanctuary inhabited by masters of Grand Illusion, Ted and Marion Outerbridge. Beckoned by the spirits of yesteryear, these connoisseurs of all things magical were chosen by the abandoned, dilapidated home to be guardians of this historic gem. As they meticulously restored the creaking floors that carried the weight of countless footsteps, a treasure trove of cherished relics materialized before their eyes.
From delicate skeleton keys to faded photographs, from a forgotten spool of thread to yellowed newspapers, a Victorian dollhouse, and even a 1918 golf ball, each artifact whispered tales of bygone eras.
But it was Ted’s compelling videologues, marrying history with the digital age, that transported the Keyhole House into the viral universe. With over 30 million views on social media and appearances on CTV National News, a TVO documentary, and NBC’s The Golf Channel (Brooke Henderson’s grandparents had a 54-year connection to the house), the Keyhole House became international news!
These videos and the true stories they tell birthed Mysteries of the Keyhole House, a simultaneously reverent, mystical and joyous show where magic becomes the master storyteller. Audiences will be transported through time as Ted and Marion take them through an evening of enthralling illusions, theatre and dance, creating a spine-tingling spectacle of living history.
Tickets are $33 plus HST and fees at <outerbridge.eventbrite.com>.
Perth Tourism is delighted to bring back the popular Perth Night Market, taking place on Saturday, September 16.
Beginning at 5pm, this free event features over 80 artisans, crafters, makers and more from Lanark County, the Ottawa Valley and beyond, showcasing the incredible talent found close to home. A variety of entertainment will also be featured, from musicians to magicians and more.
Most shops throughout Perth will be open late for the event, giving attendees the opportunity to explore the unique offerings housed in the beautiful heritage buildings. Sip and savour delicious food and drink under the stars at one of the many restaurants and pubs, or enjoy some takeout in Stewart Park along the Tay River.
Street closures will allow guests to move about freely, and a shuttle service will be running from 2:30–10:30pm from several parking lots on the outskirts of Perth to the event area.
Experience the magic of Perth’s streets at night. Visit <perth.ca/nightmarket> for more information and to stay up to date on details.
Mallory Tolcher’s Post Up will be displayed at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum (MVTM) from August 12 to October 7. Tolcher is a Canada-based interdisciplinary artist and athlete who challenges societal norms, redefining femininity within the typically male-dominated realm of sport. Post Up is a series of textiles installed on metal rims and wooden backboards, reimagining the conventional basketball net through the intricate, domestic and traditionally feminine medium of crocheted lace.
Firmly planted in the gendered realm of femininity and domesticity, lacework and crochet have been integral to women’s creative expression, serving as profound forms of artistic craftsmanship that often went unrecognized within patriarchal systems. Like basketball, lace allows creativity, improvisation and skill within a structured arena. Tolcher draws on these similarities to juxtapose the perceived hyper-feminine with the hyper-masculine, subverting restrictive gender norms within the realms of sport and domesticity.
Sponsored by the Municipality of Mississippi Mills as part of their Bicentennial Celebrations, the MVTM is proud to host this exhibit for the community. The area has been immersed in textile manufacturing and fibre arts for its 200-year-long municipal history, making Post Up a fitting exhibit to bring to Almonte as both the birthplace of James Naismith, inventor of basketball, and the “Little Manchester” of North America, as it was known during its textile mill heyday.
“There are many interesting conversations that Post Up can inspire, and the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum is looking forward to being a forum for these discussions,” explains Michael Rikley-Lancaster, MVTM Executive Director/Curator. “The systemic gender binary has shaped both the sports world and the world around us, and it’s important to question, challenge and think critically about these enforced norms.”
Find more information about this and other exhibits and events at <mvtm.ca>.
Last spring, the Perth Youth Players announced an inaugural series of workshops to help youth learn skills related to theatre. Young people from Perth and surrounding communities immediately filled the workshops to capacity. Upon completion of the series, the group presented a rollicking showcase of what they had learned, to the delight of a live Studio Theatre audience. The program was such a resounding success that an encore fall series has been announced.
Perth Youth Players is a project of Studio Theatre Perth. Workshops are targeted at ages 10 to 17 and are a key initiative for fueling a new generation of participants in community theatre. “It is our hope that some of these young people may even go on to professions in performing arts,” says Marilyn Nicholas-Dahan, the theatre’s Youth Coordinator.
For the spring series, Nicholas-Dahan assembled a team of seven experienced and passionate volunteers to conduct eleven half-day workshops on Saturday mornings. Topics included playwriting, acting, tech, costuming and make-up effects. At the end of the series, the 22 participants indicated that they loved the diversity of the workshops. They especially enjoyed those that were hands-on. Make-up was a favourite, as was Improvisation. The young people were also excited about having fun and making new friends.
Registration for the fall series opens on August 30. It will offer eight new workshops led by professionals and semi-professionals from the local community. The fee for all eight workshops is only $75 and includes membership in Studio Theatre Perth. Kat Watring-Ellis of the Board says: “In keeping with our mission, we are committed to making theatre accessible to all members of the community regardless of age, experience or financial means. With the help of our dedicated volunteers, we are able to keep the fees for participation low.”
Nicolas-Dahan adds: “We welcome all, no matter their experience in theatre. They just need curiosity and enthusiasm.” Find more details at <studiotheatreperth.com> or contact <youthplayers@studiotheatreperth.com>.
If you’ve ever been in the audience at the Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival and thought to yourself, “that looks like fun,” now’s your chance to get involved!
The first ever PuppetCon is coming to Almonte from August 11–13, thanks to presenting sponsor Levi Home Hardware Building Centre, other local sponsors, volunteers and organizers who have made it a point to ensure there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
“You hear a lot of people talk about ‘all ages and all stages’ when they develop programs,” explains PuppetCon’s Jenny Sheffield. “Well, we mean it! And not just all ages or stages of proficiency as a performer but all literal stages too — from budding professionals ready for the theatre stage to those who just want to put on a show in the car on the ride home.”
Family-Friendly Fun
Puppetry is a serious art form with deep cultural roots around the world, but it’s also among the most accessible. PuppetCon workshops that are perfect for kids and families include:
A Tour of Puppetry with Graham Soul, where participants will be able to try out different types of puppets including hand, rod, string (marionettes), table-top / Bunraku-style, shadow puppetry, object theatre, TV puppetry, plus a mascot-style body puppet and humanette puppets.
The How To Make series with Jeff Banks of JB Arts, where kids can choose between workshops on building foam head puppets, latex rubber puppets, or a very fun umbrella dragon puppet.
Making Sock Puppets with Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers. These festival favourites will make sure you never look at socks the same way again!
And of course you can’t bring puppets to town without putting on a show! Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers are bringing their ever-popular Everybody Loves Pirates show back to town on August 12 at the Old Town Hall as part of the Con!
Cons Are for Fandoms
Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten the young-at-heart either. Cons are known to bring fandoms together to celebrate the shows and franchises they love, and PuppetCon is no different!
Fans of Mr. Meaty and Nanalan won’t want to miss the chance to hear stories from creator Jamie Shannon during The Good, The Bad and the Fuzzy World of Making Puppet TV.
Under the Umbrella Tree lovers rejoice! The gang is back together, on stage for the first time in 30 years, for a very special panel called Back to the Umbrella Tree, taking place on August 13 at noon.
And true crime lovers… well… can we interest you in a not-so-true crime? Involving murder? And puppets? And puns? Because The Family Crow: A Murder Mystery takes the Old Town Hall stage on August 11.
Now Let’s Create!
As the organizers have said all along, PuppetCon is all about getting your hands dirty. Or at least felty. So makers and budding performers alike won’t want to miss these workshops:
Making a Puppet Costume with Ingrid Hamster, where participants will learn how to give puppets the finishing touches that will accentuate their character.
Puppets in the Classroom with Sarah Argue — a very special offering for teachers, librarians and early childhood educators, where participants will create two simple puppets for kids to fall in love with and learn how to bring them into their lessons and programming.
How to Market and Promote Your Puppet Show, where Adam Francis Proulx will help puppeteers and theatre creators discover how to communicate their brand and find the people who want to be their audience and watch them perform.
Adapting Stories for Puppet Performances with Emily Pearlman, where participants will be led through a creative process that allows them to translate their script ideas into a theatrical, image-rich performance text that features or includes puppet characters.
Puppeteer Presence with Nick DiGaetano, where puppeteers will learn how to add depth, richness and dynamism to their puppet’s inner life and how to stay focused, alert and engaged with whatever the live environment of a puppet performance throws their way.
Adult-Only
This just in from a naughty puppet friend of ours:
To those who may be wondering what exactly Below Board might be, I would say the same thing that I say to my puppeteer: “It’s not a phase, those strings aren’t mine, and for the last time I said I wanted him to WRANGLE me”.
Below Board is a raucous, racy, rambunctious romp through the ribald ramp-up to the rockin’ rager that is PuppetCon; and only the Ruler of Rods, NoReen Young, could rightfully ratify the rumours of rehearsal with no recourse.
What do you mean I’m not getting I’m not getting paid per word starting with R?
(What do you mean I’m not getting paid...?)
Right… then let’s make this brief! The first annual PuppetCon is coming up fast, and this year we’re trying something new. On Saturday Night, the Almonte Old Town Hall will transform into the Caron Studio, home of the late-night television talk show, Below Board. For one night only, we throw away the family-friendly in favour of a show that’s funny, unique and kinky (get your mind out of the gutter, we’re talking about strings).
But what would late-night be without our extremely special guests! We’ve got Adam Francis Proulx, creator of The Family Crow, who continues to sell out shows across the country with his incredible wit. Nick DiGaetano is our astronaut from an advanced parallel Earth and the only known human to travel at the speed of light (Also he’s an idiot. Check his website. It says so right there). And rounding out our panel of puppeteers is Jamie Shannon, multi-Gemini award-winning creator of Nanalan and Mr. Meaty. He also wanted me to let you all know he bought a boat... so that’s cool I guess.
We’ll be dishing the dirt on what happens behind the scenes when the puppeteers have been let loose and are playing all the games they can get past the censors. Special guests, surprises, prizes and more are in store for this uncensored, unscripted and unhinged night of entertainment.
This fundraiser supports Puppets Up! for years to come, funding artists and organizers journeying to Almonte from all over the globe. It’s also a great excuse to grab a drink with that incredibly sexy puppeteer you’ve been eyeing up since last festival who you need to impress with your knowledge of grades of felt…
In short, there are only two things to say:
Love puppets? This show’s for you.
Hate puppets? This show’s for you.
More information and tickets for all of these events can be found at <puppetsup.com>.
Come out to the friendly town of Almonte on September 9 and 10 for the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum’s 28th annual Fibrefest! Taking place at two locations — the Almonte Community Centre and the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum — admission to Fibrefest is $8 per day and grants access to both sites. Local guilds will demonstrate spinning, knitting, weaving, rug-hooking, lacemaking, smocking and quilting, while vendors including quilt shops and alpaca farms will be selling finished fibre goods and textile supplies from across the province.
This year, several hands-on workshops and exhibitions will be taking place alongside Fibrefest! This is your chance to roll up your sleeves and get felting, weaving or rug-hooking with talented artists. Workshops will take place from Wednesday through Sunday (September 6–10) at both the Community Centre and Museum. Registration fees for workshops include free admission to the festival. Advance registration is required, and some workshops may require that you bring your own supplies, so make sure to check <almontefibrefest.ca> and sign up early to avoid disappointment!
Fibrefest’s featured artist is acclaimed producer, puppeteer and Order of Canada recipient Noreen Young, who has been gracing television screens with her creations since the 1960s, including classics such as Hi Diddle Day and Under the Umbrella Tree. Her puppet characters have appeared in Sesame Park, Readalong and Téléfrançais!, and she received three Gemini Award nominations for her achievements in Canadian television.
In 2005, Noreen founded Puppets Up!, a festival that took place in Mississippi Mills for 12 years and then reemerged in 2022. Fibre-fest organizers are excited to bring her talent and imagination to this festival of fibre arts!
Festival-goers can also explore the permanent history exhibit Material World on the Mississippi, and featured exhibits Among the Garbage and the Flowers and Post Up.
Saturday, August 19 is going to be a big day at High Lonesome Nature Reserve near Pakenham. It’s the annual Festival of the Wild Child, hosted by the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust (MMLT). This year’s theme is “Sharing the Wild Life” and we want to share some amazing nature experiences with you and your family.
Join MMLT for a fun day of learning and sharing in this beautiful nature reserve. There are 8 kilometres of trails winding through the property, providing opportunities to see the varied habitats and interesting wildlife.
We’ll have experts on hand to show you butterflies in the meadow, frogs in the stream, porcupines in the trees and beavers in the pond. And if you’re very quiet, you just might meet some magical fairies in the woods!
We even have a new self-guided trail along Beaver Pond, thanks to the Grade 4 and 5 students at Pakenham Public School. You will see interpretive signage and QR codes that lead you to fascinating information.
The Festival of the Wild Child is a great opportunity to learn how plants and animals who share the same space can work together to protect each other. Then we can think about how we can help protect them too.
Registration opens on August 1 at <mmlt.ca/events> (note: you can register in-person on event day as well). This family activity is only $10 per adult, and children and youth under 16 are free. This year we’re sharing the date with the nearby Pakenham Fair, the “Come Home to Pakenham Weekend” Bicentennial Event, and with the Mill of Kintail’s 20th anniversary. Make a day of it, and celebrate the 200th birthday of the Town of Mississippi Mills!
High Lonesome is located at 867 Carbine Road near Pakenham. The event runs from 10am to 4pm and the rain date is Sunday, August 20. There’s parking on-site and we will have pizza from the Centennial Restaurant and cold drinks for sale. Please leave your pets at home — the wildlife will thank you! For all event details including an activity list, map, and information on Wild Child t-shirts, you can check our events page at <mmlt.ca/events>.
But don’t just take it from us — here’s what past participants have to say! “The beaver pond was so cool — I almost got soaked!” (Jaydon, age 8); “We made a house for the fairies with sticks and pretty little stones — I hope they come!” (Finley, age 6); “A butterfly flew right onto my hand!” (Kai, age 10); “It was fun to watch my grandkids explore and ask so many questions!” (Joanna, age 63).
What’s all the fuss about butter tarts? At its most simple form, the butter tart is just butter, sugar and eggs. The magic happens when these three ingredients are combined and baked in a pastry shell until golden. The filling may be a bit runny, or cooked longer to become more solid. The first known printed recipe was found in the early 1900’s Royal Victoria Cookbook that was produced and printed for sale as a fundraiser by the Women’s Auxiliary for the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, Ontario. Since then it has become a significant characteristic of Canadian cooking.
But it grows bigger. The tarts can have additions such as raisins, pecans, and even bacon! The pastry shells can be made with butter too, but more conventionally shortening, or lard, or a combination of these. Some have even been made with shortbread crusts that add a crunch to the taste of this decadent treat.
And of course you need a baking pan for these tarts. Most bakers use a muffin pan, cutting out circles of the rolled-out pastry dough and fitting them into the pan. Of course there are disposable foil tart pans for sale and if we go to Amazon, one can buy 200 3” tart pans for $22.34 or 500 for $38.13. How many will you make?
For the baker who needs a tool for everything, Amazon sells a two-piece “tart mold pastry masher” made of wood for $13.99. The end of the masher is the shape of the tart pan and is used to push the pastry circle into the pan. I guess one needs two of these mashers when there are two bakers wishing to make a lot of tarts for some reason. Like maybe a festival?
This brings me to the heart of this story — The Butter Tart Festival.
The best known is the one that centres around Midland, Ontario. In 2011, this idea became a reality with just a few stops. Now one can tour over 50 locations through Northumberland County, Peterborough County and the Kawartha Lakes. You can plan your trip with an online planner. According to newspaper reports there have been 60,000 tourists and over 200,000 tarts sold, many of course consumed on the spot.
Think of the economic boon to that area, besides the happy shoppers who bought these tarts. Can we maybe have a Butter Tart Tour closer to home? There are rumblings within theHumm’s coverage area where individual locations are having festivals of their own. Let’s see what we can do. In the meantime, plan on attending Tarts and Arts — the Arnprior Butter Tart Festival on Saturday, August 26, in beautiful Robert Simpson Park. Starting at 9:30am, this festival is a fun day for visitors of all ages. There are games for children and a butter tart competition, with the contest winner to be crowned at noon. This year’s theme is Through the Looking Glass, and be sure to pass through to find Alice, the Mad Hatter and the white rabbit. Ray’s Reptiles will be there at 1pm, and is only one of the many activities planned throughout the day. And as a bonus — admission is free! For more details, please visit <arnpriorrotary.ca>.
The script begins with the credit: “For Elise as promised”. Elise is the daughter of playwright David Myers, who, like many others, wished there was more to The Wizard of Oz story after Dorothy returned home to Kansas. So Myers took it on, with assistance from his friend and composer Scott Michal. Their rendition borrows a little more from L. Frank Baums’ novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz than Hollywood’s The Wizard of Oz movie — for example, Dorothy has silver slippers not ruby, though we’re sorry we don’t know what happened to little Toto.
The Last Oz Story begins with Dorothy (Edison Thompson/Susannah Burt) ending up in another tornado that sends her to a hospital in present day Kansas, where she tries to convince the staff she meets there that she is Dorothy Gale. But no one believes her. Not the kind but absent-minded Dr. Strohman (Rob Glas). Not the stern but cowardly administrator Nurse Leone (Natasha Foster). And certainly not her heartless caseworker, Ms. Tyndol (Laura Robinson), who has no room in her life for fantasy. However, Elise McKenna (Shannon Riley), a young reporter eager for a byline, suspects there is something more to Dorothy’s story and is determined to get to the bottom of it.
With time running out, Dorothy must find a way to help her friends before it’s too late. But how? She lost one of her magic slippers in the tornado, and she needs both if she is ever to get back to Oz and save the day, for back in Oz the Munchkins and other folk are in serious trouble despite the efforts of the Scarecrow (Taylor Gilligan) with his great brain, the Tin Woodman (Xander Sonnenberg) with his big heart, and the Lion (Brady Stephens) with his enormous courage. In fact, they’ve become part of the problem. What’s to be done?
No one, not even Glinda (Kristina Skerries), knows where she is. She just hopes that Dorothy hasn’t forgotten that Oz needs her, too. Because there’s a new witch in town — Peloros (Bobby Martin) — the witchiest witch of them all, and since she arrived things have gone completely haywire in Oz.
This original sequel to the L. Frank Baum novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a funny and moving tale of friendship and redemption told through lovable characters, witty dialogue and unforgettable songs. If you love this classic story and, like Elise, wanted to see more of Dorothy and her friends after they received their special gifts from the Wizard, then this is the show to see. It’s totally family-friendly and hey, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to see what happens when another witch invades the wonderful Land of Oz.
The Last Oz Story takes place at 7:30pm on August 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19, with 2pm matinées on August 13 and 20. Tickets are $22 for adults, $10 for students, and can be purchased with cash or debit at Special Greetings (8 Russell Street in Smiths Falls); online or by phone (283-0300) with credit card. If tickets are still available, they can be purchased half an hour before showtime, at the door, with cash or debit. For more information, please visit <smithsfallstheatre.com>.
On Sunday of the Labour Day weekend, five fine storytellers and a splendid harpist, together with a crowd of lucky listeners, will gather in a rustic Ontario barn not far from Maberly for a telling of the Four Branches of the Mabinogi. Listening to this jewel of Welsh medieval Celtic literature will be a time of deep quiet and creative imagining as listeners travel through the landscapes of the strange and wondrous world these old tales inhabit.
The Mabinogion is a book of eleven stories collected from oral sources and written down by monks in the 14th century. In the 19th century, as part of a growing European-wide interest in traditional oral material, it was translated from Welsh by Charlotte Guest, an English gentlewoman married to a Welsh industrialist. The four stories to be told at this event are referred to as the Four Branches of the Mabinogi because they are loosely linked narratively and share some characters, unlike the rest of the tales in the book.
The telling of the old stories is the most ancient of art forms. Still, seldom in this sound-bite-besieged time is there a chance for people to gather together in a listening community for long enough to really immerse themselves deeply in the words, the rhythms, the images, the drama, the people of an ancient and potent story like this one. But on Labour Day Sunday there will be an opportunity for just such an immersion.
You will hunt with Pwyll as he encounters the red-eyed hounds of Aran, lord of the other world. At Beindigeidfran’s side you will avenge the harsh treatment meted out to his sister Branwen. With the survivors of that battle, you will take a decades-long journey of healing. Manawydan will show you how to make saddles and shoes and how to hang a mouse. With Gwyidion you will conjure all manner of illusions, among them a woman made of flowers who will one day become an owl. These and many other adventures await you. If audience response to long stories in the past is anything to go by, you will find yourself amazed by how rich and full an experience it is to listen, really listen, to this kind of magical material in an extended and committed manner.
The tellers come to this work with a great love for epic stories; they have extensive experience telling such long stories as the Odyssey, the Iliad and the Mahabharata. They have worked together, preparing to tell the Mabinogion for over a year now. As storyteller Johanna Kuyvenhoven says: “To tell these stories is to fall deep into a world that is as ancient as it is immediate. The story holds up a mirror to show what it is to be human — beautiful, careless, loyal, vicious, and wildly wonderful.”
Along with the storytelling, Mary Muckle’s harp playing offers a rich musical texture that illuminates the stories, weaving a fine melodic tapestry around the tales, the tellers and the listeners.
Because storytelling is at its heart a communal experience, listeners are encouraged to bring food and drink to share in a potluck supper after the telling. Fueled by the glory of these old stories, no doubt there will be good conversation and maybe even some singing to be shared. A unique and convivial experience. Don’t miss it!
The Mabinogion: Shapeshifting and Wild Celtic Dreaming takes place on Sunday, September 3 from 1–5pm at Wildwood Farm, located at 2501 Old Brooke Road near Maberly. Tellers are Jennifer Cayley, Daniel Kletke, Ellis Lynn Duschenes, Johanna Kuyvenhoven and Jacques Falquet
Tickets are $23 plus fees from Tickets Please (TicketsPlease.ca, 485–6434). For more information, please contact Jennifer at <cayleyjennifer@gmail.com>.
Two brothers — a biologist and a musician — spend the summer of 2020 in quarantine together with their six children at the family cottage near Perth, Ontario. Through the ritual of evening campfires, a thread of an idea emerges that weaves together their combined worlds — art and science, myth and fact, music and moths. Two years and a Canada Council grant later, The Moth Project is bringing their show to a diverse range of venues with the release of an album and accompanying book featuring music, pictures, and words about and inspired by moths.
Is the show eco-theatre? Transdisciplinary and multimedia performance art? “I didn’t understand those terms when I wrote the show,” says Peter Kiesewalter, a Grammy-nominated and Emmy Award-winning composer based in New York City, “but there does seem to be a movement among the arts that incorporates the themes of biodiversity and ecological awareness. I’d explain the show this way: The Moth Project is a 75-minute live show featuring two musicians — myself on keyboard, and violinist Whitney La Grange — performing a diverse range of music, from Bach to Joni Mitchell to KISS to original songs, while a stunning visual tour of macro photography, slow motion video, and dynamic motion graphics are projected onto us, transporting us and the audience to a strange and wonderful world. It is about and inspired by moths with a spoken word narrative arc about my family’s migration from post-war Germany to Canada in the 1950’s.”
Having showcased at arts and science conferences in the first half of 2023, the show is resonating across a wide range of cultural institutions and audiences.
“The next few shows include appearances at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, the National Arts Centre, the Santa Fe Botancial Gardens, the Cutting Room in NYC, and the immersive video projection-mapped Meow Wolf in Denver,” continues Kiesewalter “and we’re thrilled with the enthusiastic response from the biologists and photographers whose images have been entrusted to us.” But perhaps the most important endorsement has come from Robin Wall Kimmerer, the esteemed botanist, professor, recent MacArthur Fellow, best-selling author (Braiding Sweetgrass), and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, whose words and voice grace the piece Reciprocity, a song which asks the question “what can I gift the Earth in return for the privilege of breath?” The answer — pay attention, get to know your neighbours, and create transformative works of art.
The Moth Project will be appearing at Studio Theatre Perth on Saturday, August 26 at 7:30pm.
Tickets are $32.50 from <mothprojectlive.com>.
There are some daily routines that are cherished, and in our house it’s the newspaper. Since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, the newspaper has landed in our house daily: The Trail Daily Times, The Kimberley Bulletin, The Victoria Times Colonist, The Globe and Mail, The Halifax Chronicle, The Ottawa Journal, the Citizen and The Almonte Gazette have all had their era.
My father read us “the funny pages” when we were pre-school, all our favourite comic strips from Alley Oop to Blondie, pointing out words and sharing the humour until those characters became part of our lives. He didn’t show us the scary news stories, and there were plenty during war times, but dwelt instead on the picture captions on the sports pages or the local news stories, short little reading lines that might tempt us to look farther.
As we got older, we all wanted a section, and before we knew it, we were interested in following the news for ourselves. That was when newspapers had multiple sections, so one of us could be reading sports while another read the classified ads or the comics or the social pages.
Ah, the social pages, with weddings and lace and bridal showers. Who wouldn’t want a mention regarding that frothy hat? Anyone with a brother on the Trail Smoke Eaters hockey team relished reading how they’d walloped the Kimberley Dynamiters.
We would wait for the “plop” of the paper landing on the doorstep, and run to get the best part first. Any paperboy worth his salt could ride his bike, pitch the paper, and carry on without looking back. Very impressive!
We learned to read using the newspaper, with everything from the want ads to letters to the editor attracting our attention. The comics were a wealth of simple words when we were little, and to this day I consider them a valuable tool for teaching children to read. Any advertising where words and pictures went together gave us a leg up in literacy.
The newspaper has heralded the start of the day for as long I can remember. These days it arrives in our mailbox, delivered all the way up Carroll Side Road by a pleasant early riser who rarely lets us down. The paper gets thinner, but it’s still there with the comics, the puzzles and the editorials that define the events of the day. I rarely see the driver, but when I have, I commend him for his good service.
Now, I guess I could come into the 21st century and get my news online, but it’s just not the same as snapping the pages open, folding back the section and reading words on paper. Occasionally I need to clip a recipe or a poignant op-ed piece. How could I do that on my computer? Many times I start an article, have to leave it, and then come back, and the paper is right where I left it. That wouldn’t happen with the computer, and I’d simply not return to finish the thing.
It’s not as if the paper goes to waste either. I’ve lined garden beds with it, used it as paint dropsheets, covered my work area when I’m working on craft projects. Can you see me doing that with my computer?? It would be some messy thing!
There’s a stack of newspapers waiting for wood stove season too. Here’s the fun of that pile: when I go to use it, I look back at the old stories that by then will be several months old, and consider what’s changed since then. I found some pages from the Covid days a while back, and lived again the fear we felt through the early pandemic. How soon we move on as new crises are touted in the headlines.
That pile of newspaper is tangible history that needs to be preserved. Just handling the brittle pages conjures the passing of time, a connection to the writers, the ad agents, the artists who put that daily work of art to press so the rest of the world would have a neat little package of history to read every day.
If the time comes — God forbid — that the daily paper is no more, my life will be the poorer since I won’t have the patience to sit in front of the computer to read editorials, browse the ads, look for the comics, try the puzzles. I can listen to the news on the radio, but nothing replaces seeing it in print on paper and debating with the editorial writers whose opinions shape our interpretations of what we read.
Oh, I know, you’ll say I could read it onscreen, that this is proof that I’m definitely “old school” — and hey, that’s just fine by me. When you need extra paper to line the birdcage or the puppy crate, call me. I’ve got lots here.
(Yes, I get the weekly Hummail, and read it all, but I also have every month’s Humm handy so I can go back to it every couple of days and read something I missed the first time.)