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On September 23, Harmony Concerts kick-starts their 2023/24 season at Studio Theatre Perth with a performance by Freddy Vette & His Rhinestones Plowboys. This show is sure to appeal to country fans in the Valley, as their goal is “keeping traditional country music alive, one hit at a time!” theHumm reached out to Freddy to find out more about their upcoming show.
theHumm: I love that you describe traditional country music as “crying steel guitar, heartbreak harmonies, rhinestone suits, just as nature intended.” What is it about those elements that draws you to this type of music?
Freddy Vette: I started playing this kind of music on stage with my parents when I was 14 years old. They made their living as musicians back then, and also operated our family farm. I started playing rock and roll when they retired in the early 90s, and after twenty years of that, came back to play the music that got me interested in performing in the first place. Classic or traditional country music is three chords and the truth. I’m a big fan of that rhinestone-studded suit era of the 50s and 60s. I love the look and the sound, and we try our best to recreate that.
Tell me a bit about your band members, and how long you have been playing together.
The band’s been together since 2016. My dad, Jim Haggerty, plays bass. I convinced him to come out of retirement and it’s a big kick to play with him again after all these years. Al Torrance on lead guitar is a well-known sound tech and musician in eastern Ontario. Brad Baldwin (drums) has been in and around the music scene all his life, playing with all sorts of bands and all sorts of styles. He and I have known each other for 30 years and we have always wanted to have this kind of band. And Al Brisco is on steel guitar. Brisco was the musical director for Ronnie Hawkins in the early 70s and has played with a who’s who of Canadian Country Music through the years. Most recently, with Carol Baker.
How important is it for you and the band to look the part, and where do you get your suits?
The suits are custom made by Double 8 Custom Apparel out of California. They are in the style of the famous Nudie suits from the 50s and 60s. The design of each suit was a collaboration between the band and the tailor. Presentation is everything in show business — it helps us stick out and people remember the suits. The suits usually get a round of applause before we even play a note.
Who are some of your biggest influences and favourite musicians from the past?
The band is largely based on Buck Owens and the Buckaroos with the look and the sound. That band in its heyday is our favourite. Beyond that, we love Ray Price-style shuffling country music, Merle Haggard’s Bakersfield sound from the 60s, and old-style honkytonk like Ferlin Husky and Webb Pierce, to name a few.
You have had some lovely comments from audience members and presenters. What do you try to convey to listeners during your performances?
These are songs that anyone with an interest in traditional country music will know. We try to be very faithful to the original recordings and respect the style in which they were performed. Combined with the fact that this music has largely faded from popular culture, we feel like we’re on a mission to keep it going in our own small way and find the people who still appreciate it like we do.
The concert takes place on September 23 at 7pm, with doors opening at 6:30. Tickets and more information are all available from Harmony Concerts at <harmonyconcerts.ca>.
I recently enjoyed a great breakfast and stimulating conversation organized by a community group with a mission. “A Meal for All” is a relatively new initiative created by an enthusiastic group of volunteers in Almonte. Breakfast is served every Thursday from 8:30–11:30am at the Community Presbyterian Church at 111 Church Street in Almonte. Breakfast is free and everyone is welcome. A free will donation may be made.
Food insecurity is a reality for many throughout Mississippi Mills. A report by our local Health Unit determined that over nine percent of households suffer from some level of food insecurity. This can vary from having to skip meals to not having enough income to buy healthy food.
Folks familiar with the work of the Hunger Stop (The Lanark County Food Bank, which provides services to clients in Carleton Place, Beckwith and Mississippi Mills) became very concerned about how many people in Mississippi Mills are truly struggling with food insecurity. A small group of volunteers consulted in the community and concluded that it was not just food insecurity, but also social isolation that plagues our society. It was decided that the best approach was to begin with a Community Breakfast similar to other food programs in Carleton Place and Perth.
But look out! These community activists see a Community Breakfast as just the first platform in what they hope will be a more comprehensive community service program under the banner of A Meal for All.
Their mission statement reads: “A Meal for All strives to build community by providing opportunities to gather and share wholesome food.”
Although the breakfasts are held in a church, organizers are very upfront that there is no hidden agenda. The goal is to create awareness and support throughout the community by providing opportunities where everyone and anyone is welcome to freely gather — just to sit and chat and share some food. I can attest that the welcome was amazing, the food was terrific, and it was a great place to meet people from different situations in our community ranging from newcomers to familiar faces — in a relaxed setting with no agenda (other than having to make a choice between bacon and sausage).
Once the decision was made to serve breakfasts, A Meal for All formed three teams of volunteers (approximately 8 people each) to prepare and serve the meals on a rotating basis.
The first breakfast was served on May 4, 2023. That day, 24 very enthusiastic guests were welcomed. Over the subsequent weeks the popularity has steadily grown to an average of over 40 guests every Thursday morning. The three rotating volunteer teams serve up an amazing meal as well as making everyone feel welcome, and always encourage people from the greater community to come and join in. As of mid-August some 620 breakfasts have been served, and the volunteers are excited to continue for the foreseeable future.
Initial funding came from community organizations, the Town of Mississippi Mills, businesses, and individuals and amounted to over $8,000. Of that, approximately $3,500 was spent to cover items such as a freezer, industrial toaster, crock pot, chaffing dish, storage cupboard, frying pans, oven trays, utensils and signage.
The remaining funds are being used to support the ongoing operating costs. The free will donations ($120 average per week) are directed to operating costs. Their goal is that by the end of 2023, the Breakfast Program will be 75 percent self-sustaining.
Other community partners have joined in this initiative. The Hunger Stop has provided administrative support in holding funds and offering donors charitable donation receipts. The Mississippi Mills Youth Centre supports the Breakfast Program by delivering weekly home-baked goodies. And, of course, there has been generous financial support from community organizations, individuals and businesses.
In August, “A Meal to Go”, in collaboration with the Hunger Stop, began offering a weekly non-perishable “Top-Up Bag” to be picked-up at the Thursday breakfasts. The bags offer individuals and families the basic items needed to prepare a healthy breakfast or lunch/dinner. This initiative essentially provides a service to Food Bank clients in Almonte rather than requiring them to travel to the Hunger Stop storefront operation in Carleton Place.
What does the future hold? Discussions are underway with the Mississippi Mills Library (Almonte Branch) to create, on a trial basis, a Community Pantry. Based on the “give what you can — take what you need” philosophy, the pantry would be in the entrance area of the library, offer nonperishable food items, and be maintained by A Meal for All volunteers.
A Meal for All can be contacted by email at <hello@amealforall.com> if you want further information or wish to volunteer to help. You can also find them on Facebook.
Once again, it is time to mark your calendars for another season of brilliant music performed by an array of exceptional artists. Discover new favourites and hear masterpieces and classics you love. There will be something for everyone’s ears to enjoy!
The series opens on October 28 with pianists Agne Radzeviciute and Dmitri Levkovich. These young artists boast international careers as soloists and as a duo. On the program of this piano extravaganza: works written for 1 to 4 hands by Chopin, Schubert, Liszt, Prokofiev, Schulz-Evler, Mozart, Rachmaninoff and Mendelssohn.
Our Christmas concert, an annual favourite, is a great way to get into the spirit of the festive season with family and friends. This year, on December 2, the Toronto Brass Ensemble and percussionist Andrew Rasmus will take you on a musical journey around the world to explore the many different holiday traditions. Featuring new arrangements and not-so-standard seasonal favourites, this concert promises to introduce you to many unique and rich sounds. Immerse yourself in the inviting world of brass and percussion this holiday season!
On January 14, don’t miss the opportunity to join the internationally acclaimed Gryphon Trio as they celebrate their 30th anniversary. In this special concert, the Trio will offer a kaleidoscope of favourite musical moments (and stories) featuring excerpts and movements from works by celebrity classical composers, old and new. The second half will feature Schubert’s epic Piano Trio No. 1 in B-flat major, D. 898. As Robert Schumann remarked: “One glance at Schubert’s Trio and the troubles of our human existence disappear and all the world is fresh and bright again.”
We spice things up a little with a performance by the tango ensemble Payadora on March 9. Founded in 2013 — 100 years after tango became hugely popular internationally — this superstar group continues to celebrate and participate in the evolution of this beloved genre by performing its own arrangements of a core repertoire drawing from Argentinian/Uruguayan traditions as well as original songs inspired by those traditions. Be prepared to be swept away by the sounds of tango as you have never heard!
We are thrilled to announce that, to conclude our season on April 13, the esteemed clarinetist and long-time Artistic Director of the Festival of the Sound in Parry Sound, James Campbell, will join forces with world-renowned soprano Leslie Fagan and Angela Park, one of Canada’s most sought-after pianists, for a recital of chamber music and song. In addition to works by Debussy, Saint-Saëns, and Schubert’s Shepherd on the Rock, the illustrious soprano will perform a selection of songs and arias from popular operas and musicals. This conjunction of three of Canada’s finest concert artists is not to be missed!
All concerts take place in the Ron Caron Auditorium of Almonte Old Town Hall. For further information, visit Almonte in Concert’s website at <almonteinconcert.com>. Tickets are available through Tickets Please (TicketsPlease.ca, 485–6434).
Thank you for continuing to support great music in your community.
Artisan Village at the Falls is a funky new endeavour housed in a fabulous building in the heart of downtown Smiths Falls. Committed to providing a space for creative thinkers to explore and express their art, the Village’s retail artist studios provide a place for painters, sculptors, jewellers and other creators to showcase their work. They also offer rental space for individuals and groups looking for a place to get creative. theHumm dropped by with some copies of our August issue and ended up getting the full tour from owner Michael Adams. We thought his vision for the Village definitely warranted an interview!
theHumm: When did the idea for this space first suggest itself to you?
Michael Adams: The concept for Artisan Village at the Falls started over a year ago when my father Brian Adams decided to purchase the building in Smiths Falls that his business (Crossroads Truck Training Academy) had been operating in for over 16 years. There was no question about moving the school, which is so much a part of him now. The main question was what to do with the rest of the building space. We could simply open it to other businesses — or try to do something special. We decided to do something special.
The concept changed several times and continues to change as we grow. The overall vision is to have a place where artists rent their own studios and can create what they want and whenever they want to. We also wanted to have a place where artists can proudly display their work and sell, all in the same space. We see this as a living building, which will reflect the artists that are creating within its walls at any particular time.
What state was the building in when you purchased it, and how have the renovations gone?
The building has been home to so many different businesses, including an ambulance bay. As you can well imagine, many years of people adding on every time they needed an extra room or fixture, and rarely removing anything once it was unnecessary, resulted in a maze of rooms and doors that confused everyone. From peeling exterior paint to uneven interior floors with years of old carpeting, it was a challenging effort. Response has been overwhelmingly positive, particularly from those who saw it in its previous form, and we feel that the building shows quite proudly with a decidedly industrial feel that works incredibly well in showing off the pieces the artists create.
How many artists are currently housed at the Village, and roughly how many more do you have room for? Are there any restrictions in terms of what types of media they can work in?
We currently have eight artists working within the Village, all with unique styles, media and personalities. We currently have one shared space studio and two larger private studios available. We would also love to attract an entrepreneur who has a love of art and would like to start a small-scale café, as we have a wonderful unit at the front of the building that leads directly to the grand hall gallery. We currently don’t have any restrictions in terms of what media the artists can create with; however, glassblowing or the use of kilns would require some outfitting but is welcome.
Besides renting studio space, how else can artists interact with or utilize Artisan Village?
Artisan Village at the Falls allows people to create and collaborate with fellow artists and share ideas and concepts, and also provides an outlet to show and sell their work under one roof. It also allows for inspiration at any time, as access for the artists is all-hours in a secure environment.
In addition to being open for walk-in visitors, what are some other ways in which you are promoting the art being created there?
Each artist keeps and maintains their own social media and website, and their links are added to the Artisan Village at The Falls website <artisanvillagesmithsfalls.com> and media streams. We announce special events (such as the first annual Smiths Falls Art Crawl, which we participated in on August 19) and announce upcoming events and shows they are participating in or works they want to share. Artists are also creating workshops such as the Life Drawing sessions that begin in September.
We also are well into our first season for the Farmers’ Market at the Falls right in our parking lot every Friday from 3–7:30pm (until October). The Market hosts local farms, foods, candies and craftspeople, as well as local musicians. This is a wonderful addition, as several of the artists are in-studio and creating during these events while the market-goers walk through the building.
Do you have any other hopes for the Village, say, over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years we hope we will continue to attract artists and art lovers — from all media and styles, and from everywhere — who will enjoy, appreciate, and help make this a space to immerse yourself in creative works by creative people, and have a lot of fun along the way.
Artisan Village at the Falls is located at 10 Maple Avenue in Smiths Falls. Find them online at <artisanvillagesmithsfalls.com>.
Stephanie de Montigny, owner of Pure Natural Portraits, has put together an exciting event for a great cause. This year’s annual Back to School portrait event will be held on September 10 at the Almonte branch of the Mississippi Mills Public Library (MMPL), where children can enjoy a day of portraits and exploring educational opportunities in celebration of the new school year, all while supporting the local library. All proceeds from the registration fee will be donated to MMPL to continue their invaluable work of providing local resources for the community.
Children will have the opportunity to be photographed in the stacks or with the antique desk to capture their unique personality, join in for the storytime circle, sign up for their very own library card, and enjoy a trip to local shops for their school supplies. Additional portraits will be available for purchase, with proceeds further contributing to the fundraising efforts.
“With the recent change of doing away with late fees to help make the library even more accessible to all, it was an easy decision to convert the annual portrait event into a fundraiser,” explains Stephanie. “By participating in this event, children get to learn about the fun of library visits and the educational potential of all of the resources, and parents have the opportunity to acquire beautiful wall-worthy portraits of their child.”
The participation fee of $99 per child will go directly to the library. Additionally, sponsors are working together to provide a too-good-to-be-true upgrade option with gift cards for participants to shop local for supplies, to ensure every dollar raised goes to the library, and to further support local small businesses. Registration for the Back to School Portraits event is now open and can be completed online at <purenaturalportraits.com/back-to-school-2023-MMPL>.
For more information about the event, sponsorship opportunities, or details on how to get involved, please contact Stephanie at 371–4594 or <hello@purenaturalportraits.com>.
On September 10 at 3pm, the CAMMAC Ottawa Valley chorus will perform their annual choir concert in the spectacular cathedral setting of St. John Chrysostom Church in Arnprior.
Now in its 70th year, CAMMAC (Canadian Amateur Musicians / Musiciens Amateurs du Canada) draws choristers for a summer choir from up and down the Ottawa Valley, including Pembroke, Cobden, Almonte, Pakenham, Carleton Place, Arnprior, White Lake, Waba, Braeside and Sand Point.
This year the concert showcases three highly talented local professional musicians. Guest Artistic Director is Lisa Webber, a mainstay in the cultural arts scene, founder of the Arnprior Community Choir, Two Rivers Musical Productions and the ladies’ group Tutti, with a very active voice studio in Arnprior.
Renfrew soprano and music teacher Jessica Belanger will lift her voice to the heavens as she performs several solos. Ian Guenette, Music Director and organist at St. James Anglican Church in Carleton Place, will feature on the organ.
Accompanied by an ensemble of other professional musicians, including on harp and glockenspiel, the program includes the much-loved Requiem by John Rutter with solos on oboe and cello. An a cappella piece by Slovenian Ambrož Copi and two short works by Canadian composers Healey Willan and Harry Somers will bring the concert to a resounding end with a double trumpet fanfare!
Doors open at 2:30pm, and tickets are available in advance from White Pine Books in Arnprior (cash only) or at the door. Prices are $25 for adults, $10 for students — children 12 and under are free.
For more information, visit <cammac.ca/ottawagatineau/activities/#valleyconcert>.
For the month of September, the art of Nat Capitanio will be on display at the MERA Schoolhouse. You are invited to McDonalds Corners for the show’s opening event on September 9.
Nat has been an artist all his life. His family immigrated to Canada from Italy when he was three years old. He showed an interest in art, and especially drawing, from an early age. He attended a three-year intensive arts course at the Central Technical School in Toronto. There, he challenged himself by learning art history, illustration, design, printmaking, ceramics and painting, with an emphasis on life drawing. Since then, he has been consistently working on his craft by attending life drawing classes and working with various media and subject matter: figure drawing, still life, landscape and portraiture; in pastel, oils and acrylics.
“I have always been fascinated with the beauty of nature; I strive to show the beauty of the world through my acrylic and oil paintings,” Nat says. “In 2008, I moved to the Lanark Highlands region, which I find truly inspiring and where I have established my own studio.”
You are invited to the MERA Schoolhouse in McDonalds Corners on Saturday, September 9 from 10am to 2pm to meet the artist, view his works and purchase that “must have” piece. To arrange to see the exhibition at times other than the Meet the Artist event, please contact Wayne Stryde at <gwstryde@outlook.com>.
If you love to sing but prefer not to perform, have we got a choir for you!
We are a small community choir based out of Almonte, some of whom have been together for about 13 years. Currently our members come from Almonte, Perth, Kanata, Carleton Place, Pakenham and Arnprior.
Since we are not a performing choir, but rather a workshop and teaching choir whose repertoire includes several genres of music, we are able to tackle some of the more challenging choral music because we don’t have to prepare for concerts. As a choir comprising many seniors, we know that “music makes you smarter”, thus increasing our memory and sharpening our cognition. If you enjoy singing, please consider joining us!
For the past several years the wonderful Cheryl Woods has been our fearless leader, but in light of her recent retirement we are delighted to welcome that very talented Ian Guenette as our new director. Ian studied at Schulich School of Music of McGill University, is the Director of Music and organist at St. James Anglican Church in Carleton Place, and has been the accompanist for several Mississippi Mudds productions. He is also the new accompanist for the Carleton Place Town Singers.
Register by September 10
We sing together from 10am to noon on Thursdays at the Community Presbyterian Church on Church Street in Almonte. The first series of ten sessions will start on Thursday, September 28 and run until November 30. A registration fee of $85 per person is required, and we ask that you register by September 10 so that the music will be ready for you. Please bring cash or a cheque to the first rehearsal, payable to Ian Guenette. This covers Ian’s honorarium as well as costs for insurance and music that you will be able to keep. If you can’t be there on the first day, please arrange for someone else to bring your money or send an e-transfer to <ian_guenette@hotmail.com>.
For more information about this tuneful opportunity, please contact Ian Guenette at <ian_guenette@hotmail.com>.
If you have ever participated in, or even been curious about community theatre, here’s your chance to find out more about it! On September 9 from 10am to 5pm at the Osgoode Community Centre, a group of local troupes are holding a Community Theatre Expo. This free event is open to all ages and features acting and production workshops, ongoing demonstrations, and information about local theatre companies. There’s even a costume photo booth, a video puppet show and face painting for kids!
Workshops include Building Improv Skills, Promoting Your Theatre Company, Drama Games, Using Your Voice, Preparing for an Audition, and Directing in Community Theatre. Find more details at <itrtheatre.com/expo>. The Community Centre is located at 5560 Osgoode Main Street.
Art… and Soul
Whether she’s sculpting in clay or silver, painting impressionistic acrylic abstracts, or designing new gardens or printed circuit boards, Blakeney artist Diana Jackson brings an extraordinary wealth of creativity to her chosen task. From her own words at her website <dianajackson.ca>: “There’s no better way to wake then to open your eyes and be eager to dive into a day of work where creative opportunities abound and possibilities are endless.”
Jackson thrives on possibility and adventure. She embraces new artistic challenges with gusto and aplomb. From intricately wrought sculpted silver earrings to huge cement sculptures, she tackles each project with the enthusiasm and unbridled creativity of a kid. Unlike a kid, however, her creativity is supported by a broad acquired skillset and knowledge base that allow her to imagine and explore possibilities in endless ways.
When I arrive at her personally redesigned home set in a gorgeous natural setting along the bank of the Mississippi River in Blakeney, she invites me to witness the unveiling of her latest sculptures. She leads me to her outdoor kiln — a metal barrel — that has been cooling since an overnight firing the day before, and extracts a wonderful clay fish sculpture that I know my fisher son would covet. Not surprisingly, part of Jackson’s pleasure comes from the uncertainty of what she will discover when she brushes off the ashes and reveals the final touches the firing has added to her sculptures. She doesn’t use a glaze. Instead, she adds various combustibles, salts and oxides into the barrel to create random flashes of earthy colours on her abstracted forms. She is never bored.
Back inside her recently completed major house “renovation” (more like rebuilding) project, Diana shows me her latest artistic foray. For many years she was the primary caregiver to her terminally ill husband in their previous home. She began painting as a way to be immediately available, and to preserve her own wellbeing. Her richly coloured abstract landscapes allow her to “freely explore colour and composition without any tethers to an accurate representation of form.” They reveal her fascination with the colours and shapes and forms that nature so generously offers if we only take the time to see.
Jackson augments her gift of extraordinary perception with a marvelously inventive and unfettered imagination. Her artworks seduce you into expanding your own imaginative horizons to explore new possibilities. Scientists in the emerging field of neuroaesthetics have confirmed that wonder enriches us in many ways.* Contemplation of Diana’s abstract landscape paintings is a great place to stretch your wonder capacity.
“Everything Feeds My Artwork”
Diana divides her time between electronic printed circuit board layout and her varied art media. She thrives on variety, and switches happily from solving stimulating mental challenges while designing electronic circuits to exploring her creativity in sculpting and painting. And gardening. And teaching. And attending formal courses in university settings and workshops by artists in their studios.
She is a seventh-generation member of a Stittsville farming family who moved to Almonte when she was twelve years old — art school was not considered an option. In the 80s she participated in a government-funded educational program for women in non-traditional jobs and earned a diploma in electro-mechanical design at Algonquin College. She got a job at Mitel and was introduced to circuit board drafting, where she learned the rules of design for 24-layer puzzles. Perhaps as an antidote, she acquired another diploma from the University of Guelph in landscape design over six years, and continued her lifetime pursuit of exploring a myriad of other arts.
Fortunately, a book titled Refuse to Choose validated her innate drive to pursue her wide range of interests and passions, and she has never looked back. She has pursued formal studies at the University of Ottawa, Red Deer College in Alberta, Haliburton School of the Arts and the Penland School of Craft in North Carolina. It is through workshops, however, that she has honed her technical skills — with sculptural artists in ceramics (Christina Cordova), metals (Cappy Conard), and cement (Steve Kornher and Wouterina de Rad).
Diana loves being part of a rich arts community, and truly appreciates the support and mentoring she has received from local artists Jennifer Ryder Jones, Chandler Swain, Leta Cormier, Stephen Brathwaite and many others.
Ultimately, though, she finds, “there is nothing like diving into the medium to learn.” And dive she does. At her previous home she created massive cement sculptures to visually enrich both her indoor and outdoor environments. I was searching for a word to describe her versatility, but as a long-time feminist, I abhor the term “Renaissance Man.” So I was delighted to read this at Wikipedia: “From the polymathy perspective, giftedness is the ability to combine disparate (or even apparently contradictory) ideas, sets of problems, skills, talents and knowledge in novel and useful ways. Polymathy is therefore the main source of any individual’s creative potential”. Diana Jackson is decidedly a polymath.
Currently she is focusing on contrasts between our organic and technological worlds. It is a logical choice for an artist who designs both electronic circuit boards and gardens. It is her attempt to strike a balance between the two — i.e., geometric vs. organic, technology vs. the natural world. As she puts it, “It has allowed me to achieve some balance in my own life… a peaceful acceptance that the two can live side by side.”
Autumn Art Exhibition
Diana Jackson’s clay sculptures and abstracted landscape paintings will be on display at the Mill of Kintail Museum for more than a month. This lovely natural setting at 2854 Ramsay Concession 8 in Mississippi Mills is an ideal location to enjoy the diverse gifts of this polymathic artist. There will be an opening reception on Sunday, September 17 from 2–4pm. The site will also host several additional artists in the Gatehouse as a stop on the annual Crown and Pumpkin Studio Tour on Thanksgiving Weekend. Fortunately, feasting your eyes expands your imagination — not your waistband. Coordinates are available on the back of her Artist Trading Card at the top of this page.
*I highly recommend Your Brain on Art — How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross.
Artist Trading Card
With fall colours on full display, the majestic landscapes of the Madawaska Valley transform into a natural work of art at this time of year. It’s easy to understand why so many artists and artisans are drawn to this rugged yet beautiful part of the world. Their art and their inspiring surroundings will both be on display during the two-day Madawaska Valley Studio Tour, taking place on September 30 and October 1. It’s the perfect opportunity to take in the spectacular scenery and experience artmaking up close.
Visit artists in their studios and watch as raw materials like wood, clay, metal and glass transform in the makers’ hands during live demonstrations. Unique art and fine craft will be available for purchase, and youth guest artists will be at some of the studios as part of a mentoring initiative. Don’t miss your chance to see emerging and renowned artists where they live and work.
The Madawaska Valley Studio Tour is a free, self-directed tour that runs from 10am to 5pm each day. Plan your route with friends and family and make a day or two of it. Experience local art and enjoy all that this beautiful part of Eastern Ontario has to offer. Brochures can be found at tourist information centres and businesses throughout the Valley.
For additional information on the artists and artisans, as well as the partners who generously support the arts community, please visit <madawaskavalleystudiotour.com> or follow the Tour on Facebook and Instagram.
The West Carleton Arts Society is delighted to announce that its signature show, Expressions of Art, is returning this fall! Taking place on October 7 (8am to 4pm) and 8 (10am to 4pm), this exhibition and sale will showcase the creative talents of more than thirty top artists from the Ottawa region, all selected through a formal independent jurying process. The show has been held annually for more than 25 years, and is currently presented at the Carp Agricultural Hall.
It will be a fabulous show, featuring a high quality, vibrant display of images and colours with everything from landscapes and abstracts to photography and glass. There will be a variety of artwork and media to please every taste.
Entrance to the show is free and there is plenty of free parking. The venue is fully accessible. Cash donations to the West Carleton Secondary School Fine Arts bursary program are gratefully accepted.
Organizers are also pleased to host a Silent Auction of original art from participating artists. All pieces will be 12”x 12”, with bids beginning at $50. This is an excellent opportunity to acquire a piece to begin, or add to, a collection of original art. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the bursary program that provides an award to a student from West Carleton High School who is going on to study art in a post-secondary setting.
For more information and a preview of some of the artwork, please visit <westcarletonartssociety.ca/expressions-of-art>.
Come out to the friendly town of Almonte on September 9 and 10 for the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum’s 28th annual Fibrefest <almontefibrefest.ca>. Taking place at three locations — the Almonte Community Centre, the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum and the Almonte Old Town Hall, admission to Fibrefest is only $8 per day and grants access to all sites. Local guilds will demonstrate spinning, knitting, weaving, rug-hooking, lacemaking, smocking and quilting, while vendors such as 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 run 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 be sure to check <almontefibrefest.ca> and sign up early to avoid disappointment. Tickets and registration for all workshops are available at Tickets Please (TicketsPlease.ca, 485–6434).
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, she founded the Puppets Up! international puppet festival. Fibrefest is excited to bring her talent and imagination to this festival of fibre arts!
During the two-day festival, explore the permanent history exhibit Material World on the Mississippi at the Museum, which takes you through the process of wool fibres becoming a piece of finished cloth. It includes the industrial machines used throughout the process, as well firsthand accounts of working in a textile mill. Exhibits featured during this year’s Fibrefest are Among the Garbage and the Flowers and Post Up.
Among the Garbage and the Flowers is curated by Susan Avishai and demonstrates how eleven female artists reimagine and redefine cast-off textiles and old clothing. Through artistic reuse, they tangibly demonstrate the dignity of labour, respect for materials, and a greater understanding of the creative process. The exhibit features the art of Susan Avishai, Carole Baillargeon, Sonia Jacyk-Bukata, Judy Martin, Amy Meissner, Liz Pead, Leisa Rich, Melanie Siegel, Sandra Smirle, Judith Tinkl and Alice Vander Vennen.
Post Up is an exhibit by artist and athlete Mallory Tolcher, sponsored by the Municipality of Mississippi Mills as part of their Bicentennial Celebrations. Tolcher is interested in challenging societal norms and redefining femininity within the traditionally male-dominated realm of sport. Through a series of textiles installed on metal rims and wooden backboards, Post Up reimagines the conventional basketball net through the intricate and domestic medium of crocheted lace. By integrating this traditionally feminine practice into the hyper-masculine sport of basketball, Tolcher aims to confront ingrained perceptions of athletics, subvert the confined definition of softness in such contexts, and emphasize the power and strength that lies within femininity.
Traditional Mexican TextilesComing to Fibrefest
In collaboration with the Embassy of Mexico in Canada, the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum (MVTM) will present a live exhibit of traditional Mexican dress, tapestries and art on September 9 from 6–9pm at the Almonte Old Town Hall. For only $25 per ticket, the Mexican textile collection of William Hodge and Robert Wylie will be modeled on the catwalk! All pieces will be available for purchase through a silent auction, and funds will support the MVTM. The Ambassador of Mexico, Carlos Joaquín González, will be in attendance.
Hodge and Wylie have spent the last four decades immersed in fibre arts; creating, teaching, and learning, with a special interest in Mexican textiles. The pieces on display have been purchased from artisans across the Mexican states of Chiapas, Coahuila, Guerrero, México, Mexico City, Michoacán and Oaxaca, and feature handwoven textiles made from handspun wool and cotton. With an array of textures and colours achieved by both natural and synthetic dyes, there’s something for everyone! The collection presents a variety of eye-catching garments, accessories and household items.
Mexican artist Elia Morales’ exhibit, Weaving Ideas, will also be showcased throughout the event, where she will introduce her art. A graphic designer of the National School of Plastic Arts of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), she actively shares her expertise by delivering lectures and presentations on various aspects of sensory design. She has served as a moderator in numerous national and international conferences, where she engages with audiences and facilitates topical discussions. Morales has worked as a designer at the National Museum of Cultures and at the Cultural Dissemination Office of UNAM, and as an independent designer for corporate groups and events. Her plastic work involves different techniques, including engraving, enameling, textile, and Washi Zoo Kei. Her work has been exhibited in several universities and venues nationwide.
The Almonte Old Town Hall venue will be open from 10am to 4pm throughout Fibrefest weekend on September 9 and 10, where the Hodge and Wylie collection will be on display. The auction will open at 10am on the 9th and close at noon on the 10th. Daytime admission to the Old Town Hall is included in the $8 Fibrefest tickets. As we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Municipality of Mississippi Mills, with Almonte being named after Mexican General and diplomat Juan Nepomuceno Almonte, this event is very timely.
Join the fashion show celebrations on September 9 with complimentary refreshments, including margaritas courtesy of Jose Cuervo, and an evening of fun and art while supporting a local charity! Tickets to both Fibrefest and the evening fashion show are available from Tickets Please (TicketsPlease.ca, 485–6434).
“Cultural diplomacy is the best way to bring together the people from two nations like Mexico and Canada. This time, textile art and designs from Mexico will blend together, creating a wonderful ambience of colours, textures, and indigenous cultural heritage to an exhibition that will wrap all our senses.” — Ingrid Berlanga Vasile, First Secretary, Cultural Attaché, Embassy of Mexico in Canada.
“The textiles in this collection are gorgeously coloured and detailed, and we’re excited to showcase them during one of the town’s busiest weekends. We are grateful to William Hodge, Robert Wylie, and the Embassy for coming together to support the Museum in this fundraiser. This will be an excellent event and opportunity to bring international textile traditions to Almonte.” — Michael Rikley-Lancaster, Executive Director/Curator, Mississippi Valley Textile Museum.
The Friends of Mississippi Mills Public Library are holding their annual book sale in Almonte from October 20–22. September is the month to go through your books and bag the ones you would like to donate to the book sale. The funds raised from the sale will go towards supporting and expanding the programming in both the Almonte and Pakenham branches of the library.
Already this year the Friends are proud to have been able to help cover the cost of the children’s summer programming. They also hope to be able to allow both branches of the library to expand programming in the coming months.
You can help make the book sale a huge success by donating your used books. Books in good condition and published in the last five years are most welcome — all genres, and all ages (kids, young adults and adults). French books are welcome as well. Old books, encyclopedias, textbooks, Bibles, and books that have been exposed to dampness or mold cannot be accepted.
It is tempting to just clear out your bookshelves and pass on the entire collection to the book sale, but please remember that the Friends are all volunteers, and will appreciate not having to dispose of piles of books they have no chance of selling.
Once you have your stack of books to be donated, please hold onto them until October. The Friends will be collecting and sorting books from October 1–19. The “where” to leave them is a little uncertain at this point, so please follow their Facebook page (and that of the library) and check the October issue of theHumm for further details. From October 1–19 there will be volunteers accepting books, but if no-one is at the site, just leave your books in the drop-off zone. Many thanks!
Almonte has grown over the last few years, and so have the needs of the Lanark County Foodbank — The Hunger Stop, especially as we’ve seen food prices soar. Sounds like a perfect opportunity to reignite the Almonte Safari Dinner fundraiser.
A safari dinner (or progressive dinner) takes the form of a dinner party in which each successive course is prepared and eaten at the residence of three different hosts, all within a ten-minute drive of the Almonte Old Town Hall, where one of the hosts is you! It is a sociable and fun way to raise money.
Prepare to meet some neighbours sharing a nice meal while contributing to a very worthy cause. Stay tuned for more information, and in the meantime, save the date: Saturday, October 21.
If you walk, run, ride or dream along the Almonte Alameda, take time to stop and inhale not just the fresh air but the stories all around you. Wonder how a gopher, a much-loved puppet character, earned a classical bronze statue from friends in the community.
There have been rumours for months, but that’s all behind us now! Just there, facing the recreational trail beside the children’s section of the local library, Gloria Gopher has been bronzed, patinated and raised on a classic column for all to enjoy and ponder.
Ponder indeed. You may know that puppet, and no doubt know her alter ego, Noreen Young. You might have seen Gloria recently at the Canadian Museum of History as part of the exhibit From Pepinot to Paw Patrol — Television of Our Childhoods. Or you might know her from those years on CBC’s Under the Umbrella Tree, where she shared house with Iggy Iguana, Jacob Bluejay and that human named Holly. Or you may have met her in the streets of Almonte during Puppets Up! or the first ever PuppetCon this summer, or in any number of events over the years here and there.
And behind all this magic? Noreen Young — the close gal-pal and creator of Gloria (along with legions of other memorable characters). Look closely — that’s Noreen’s elbow on the statue. Walk around the statue and voilà — one single maple leaf among the rest, a nod to our nation’s tribute of the Order of Canada to Noreen.
This time it was the board of Puppets Up!, along with donors from her home community, saying brava and good work — you’ve made a difference to us all.
On the Friday of the PuppetCon weekend in August there was a most officious, celebratory, funny-ish moment — the unveiling of Do You Ever Wonder — a stunning sculpture crafted by award-winning Canadian artist Denisa Prochazka, with bronze casting by Dale Dunning. Hosted by board members of Puppets Up! and attended by local dignitaries, donors, friends and a load of community puppets that owe their existence to Noreen, the evening sparkled with praise, affection, sunlight and good eats.
Was Gloria impressed? You bet! In a CBC interview with Alan Neal, she said the statue was: “a big surprise, because it was covered up, you know, and then they took the cover off and there I was. I looked really nice — my neck is a little longer than usual — but it makes me look classy.”
As for the artist, Denisa reports that: “This sculpting project has been tremendously uplifting. Not only was it fun and playful to be able to sculpt Gloria and bring her into the sculpting dimension, and the reality of her creation in bronze; it was fascinating to discover the world of puppetry and the love, creativity and thought behind the show Under the Umbrella Tree.” It must be said though, that on a CBC interview Denisa was quoted as saying Gloria was “definitely a diva.” Well.
Noreen returned to the spot a day after the hullabaloo to spend some one-on-one time with the statue crafted in honour of her legacy: “I had a look at it when nobody was around and felt very honoured and peaceful.” We’re so glad.
Enjoy the Almonte Alameda and say “hi” to Gloria and to all the others whose stories are around you under the trees, on the benches and in art. Know that we are a storied place where tales abound — and wonder just what Gloria is thinking with those twinkles in her eyes.
The increased demand for youth support services at Lanark County Interval House and Community Support indicates the pressing need for interventions and programs that address the specific needs of these young individuals who have been exposed to family violence. By providing comprehensive protection and support services, LCIHCS can help youth survivors and those at risk of violence to break the cycle of abuse and prevent future instances of harm. In addition to direct support services, public education and awareness-raising initiatives in schools play a crucial role in preventing and addressing family violence. By implementing educational programs, Interval House can help children and young people understand healthy relationship dynamics and recognize the signs of abuse, and also provide them with the necessary tools to seek help and support.
Financial resources are vital in enabling organizations like LCIHCS to meet the growing demand for their services and expand their reach. With increased funding, they can enhance their capacity to provide essential support, counseling, and educational programs that address the needs of youth affected by family violence. Investing in these resources not only helps individual survivors but also contributes to building safer communities and promoting change in how society addresses domestic violence.
Donations can be made securely online, and you will receive your tax receipt through Canada Helps by donating at <canadahelps.org/en/charities/lanark-county-interval-house>. You can also send an e-transfer to <finance@lcih.com>, or mail your financial gift to LCIH, P.O. Box 107 Carleton Place, Ontario, K7C 3P3.
Upcoming Events
The 15th annual Violet Femmes girls’ night out gala will be held on November 10 at the Almonte Civitan Club. Tickets are $100 and go on sale on Tuesday, September 5.
Enjoy shopping for all shades of purple in Carleton Place on Thursday, September 28 and Thursday, October 26 from 6-8pm at Coastal Consignment (110 Bridge Street), The Dress Shop, (141 Bridge Street) and As Good As New vintage and thrift shop (33 Bridge Street). For more information about Interval House events and services, please visit <lcih.org>.
This summer we have witnessed the Climate Crisis in relentless action across the planet. For decades, climate scientists have clearly predicted exactly what is happening with our increasingly violent weather. It’s caused by rising temperatures. Simple as that. Greenhouse Gases are keeping the heat in. Burning fossil fuels is responsible. More than ever, citizens are wanting to act to slow the progress of the devastation.
I attended the Climate Network Lanark (CNL) Strategic Planning Meeting this summer as a volunteer on the Communications Working Group. I was deeply affected and impressed by the knowledge, passion and commitment of the CNL Board, Executive Team and Working Group leaders around the table. I was inspired and re-invigorated to do my volunteering with the organization: writing here about the work they are doing. This work is basically to make sure Lanark County is doing its part in keeping our world livable for all its inhabitants, and to inform the public of CNL projects they can be a part of.
We are remarkably lucky in Lanark County. These CNL leaders have chosen to come forward and volunteer their high-level expertise in climate science, social justice, policy development, advocacy, governance, environmental law and more. It was a remarkable day for me to witness this roundtable of climate experts contributing their combined energies to CNL. I came away quite overwhelmed with all the ideas and activities these folks are developing as solutions to the climate crisis right here in our area.
The Big Takeaway
We all must have a Climate Action Plan (CAP).
Isn’t this something governments enact? Well, yes — CNL has been working tirelessly with Lanark County to develop and implement the Climate Action Plan for the County. Why? Because half of all our greenhouse gases (GHGs) are managed locally in how we heat and cool our buildings, our transportation and waste management. Unfortunately, in the draft version of the plan, the County rejected the targets for lowering GHGs that were established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and committed to by our federal government as necessary to stop runaway climate chaos. That target — if acted on — would stop global temperatures rising to levels that will tip us into a climate scenario that will be unliveable. That target is to lower GHG emissions by 45–50% by 2030. The County’s draft plan calls for only a 5–10% reduction by the community by 2030. You can see CNL’s key recommendations at <climatenetworklanark.ca>.
Now it’s more important that everyone of us steps up. It’s time for every business, every organization and every household to have their own Climate Action Plan.
Here’s a starting point: the top GHG emitters in Lanark County are transportation, buildings, and (for many) organic waste. Think about how you might incorporate those in your household CAP.
1- Transportation
Electric and hybrid vehicles are great, and a necessary part of reducing GHGs. You may not be ready yet, but as the fleet turns over, prices will drop and more used ones will become available. But in the meantime, become conscious about your current driving practices — the carbon tax is intended to help do that. Consider buying a smaller vehicle, driving less, using car share programs and carpooling. We need to support micro public transit and commuter shuttles. This is happening successfully elsewhere.
We need to bring together everyone who has an interest in developing a public transit system here, including seniors, commuters and working people who can’t afford a car. See future columns for some developments from CNL.
2- Buildings
We can all make use of the grants and incentives to change home heating/cooling systems. It is critical that we get our homes off fossil fuels, including natural gas, which is a terrible GHG, being mostly methane. Cold Climate Heat Pumps are becoming hugely popular due to their advantages (as discussed in previous CNL columns in theHumm). These include the ability to also cool your home and save money on home energy costs. Plus, there is funding available to improve insulation and air sealing, windows and doors, and get heat pumps and solar energy. Better still, you can join a local group of neighbours in your area who are collaborating to make this process easy. Contact <sadie@climatenetworklanark.ca> to join CNL’s Climate Concierge Project.
3- Compost
Composting your organic waste is the easiest and cheapest climate action you can take. Getting organic waste out of landfills is critical. In landfills, it rots and produces methane, 80 times more damaging than carbon dioxide in the short term. Backyard compositing is the simplest approach. But if you are unable to do that, there are some options. Perth has a green bin program for household organic waste, and in Almonte you can check out Just Good Compost <justgoodcompost.com> — a company that provides and picks up containers weekly from homeowners for a $5 fee. That project is being expanded.
Sharewaste <sharewaste.com> is an online mapping service that highlights homeowners who are happy to receive organic waste from their neighbours because they have the space to handle it and need more “gardener’s gold”. Carleton Place and Tay Valley Township are two lower-tier municipalities that will soon be exploring options to handle organics.
4- Talk About the Climate Crisis
Know that you are not alone. There are now two surveys that show that more than 80% of the population of Lanark County wants serious action taken on the climate crisis. Don’t think that a few loud deniers represent the majority. Feel confident expressing your concerns about the wildfires, about potential drought and food shortages, about how to protect your home. That is how we learn how to take care of each other, and how we can rely on our community to support us through a very tough time (and one that will only become harder without serious action).
5- Become an Activist
One of the best ways to ensure that our beautiful planet remains livable for our children and grandchildren is to be a climate activist.
One thing I will personally ask is that you consider becoming a supporter of Climate Network Lanark. For a $25 donation, you can help the work at CNL have an impact. It does take money, even though there are thousands of hours of time devoted by volunteers. Please consider visiting <climatenetworklanark.ca> to become a supporter.
Write your local members of parliament (both federal MPs and provincial MPPs) and ensure they know how much you want action on Climate Change. The provincial member needs to know how disgusted we are with the idea of unnecessarily using greenbelt land for new homes in the GTA, and about the similar impact of Bill 23 in our rural areas and small towns.
Have you ever been on a Climate March or come out to a public square to show your support? Well, I can tell you it’s very uplifting being with others who are feeling like you. Think of the things that have been accomplished by people just saying ENOUGH! and taking the time to march. History is full of regular people coming together to change impossible odds. We all need to be part of the fight to end the use of fossil fuels: so much depends on it.
Get ready for the tenth annual North Frontenac Back Roads Studio Tour, taking place on the weekend of September 23 and 24. This year there will be 25 artists exhibiting in 15 different locations from one end of North Frontenac Township to the other. From Cloyne, through Fernleigh and Ardoch, on to Plevna, then Ompah, Snow Road and Mississippi Station, the tour wends its way through some of the loveliest wild countryside in Ontario, at possibly the most beautiful time of year.
The 22 returning artists are welcoming three brand new participants this year. Owen Phillips in Fernleigh is a photographer who sells cards and framed photos. Penny Hawley in Ardoch presents various decorated wood and glass objects, as well as her paintings. Over in Cloyne, Deborah Stanley decorates many objects with acrylic glass paint. These three join the painters, fabric artists, photographers, potters, woodworkers and others who have loved being on the tour during the nine previous years of its existence. Visit <northfrontenacbackroadsstudiotour.com> for profiles of each participating artist.
North Frontenac Township is located North of Highway 7 at Sharbot Lake, and East of Highway 41 at Cloyne. Studios are clustered around various villages, with three artists in the Cloyne vicinity, four near Ardoch, six in and around Plevna (with four at the Plevna Community Hall), three together on the highway just outside of Ompah, and two more on the way down to Mississippi Station/Snow Road. Clustering the studios makes it easy to stop at most or all of them during your visit.
For more details on the Tour, including information on all the artists, a map of the route, the location of washrooms and suggested places to grab a snack or have a meal, just visit the website. And mark the weekend of September 23 and 24 on your calendar for a beautiful, interesting and adventurous exploration of North Frontenac Township and many of its fabulous artists.
In late September, the Kingston WritersFest will be celebrating its 15th anniversary with a terrific lineup of exceptionally talented authors, as well as a focus on “the art of the word beyond the printed page.”
The theme of this year’s festival is “Unbound.”
“We wanted this year’s theme to highlight the fact that written art is not relegated to one style, one form of print — it is alive in song, screen and stage, it defies genre, it is playful, experimental, weird and wonderful,” Festival Artistic Director Aara Maccauley announced earlier in the summer.
Highlighting that theme, this fall’s festival will showcase several multi-disciplinary events including an exhibit featuring the original artwork of Vancouver book jacket designer Oliver McPartlin, a conversation about songwriting with The Gertrudes, a world premiere stage reading of a play by 2023 Voaden Prize-winning playwright Brandon Zang, and a spoken word performance by award-winning poet Britta Badour, better known as Britta B.
Like most years, though, this anniversary-edition of the Kingston WritersFest begins with a bang — with Heather O’Neill and Emma Donoghue reading from their latest novels on opening night.
Beloved national bestselling author Heather O’Neill (The Lonely Hearts Hotel, When We Lost Our Heads) leads things off with a reading from Mystery in the Metro, a novel in serial form, which is being published weekly in the Montreal Gazette over the course of thirty weeks. Afterward, Merilyn Simonds will be in conversation with O’Neill, who says she was curious to try the serial form because “’tis how writers of yore used to publish novels.”
Later that night, multi award-winning international bestselling author Emma Donoghue (Room, The Wonder, The Pull of the Stars) will debut Learned By Heart, her highly-anticipated new novel based on the true story of prolific English diarist Anne Lister, dubbed by many as “the first modern lesbian,” and her love affair with Eliza Raine. The deeply researched book explores Anne’s life, loves, and the bucking of convention in nineteenth century York. After the reading, Donoghue will chat with Festival Director Maccauley about the book and her phenomenal body of work.
Opening night is Wednesday, September 27 — and tickets for these two phenomenal author events should be hot items, so get yours early.
In light of current catastrophes, another highlight of the festival is sure to be John Vaillant reading from his latest book Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast, a stunning account of the colossal wildfire that ravaged Fort McMurray in 2016. Vaillant’s highly acclaimed book takes readers on a riveting journey through the intertwined histories of North America’s oil industry and the birth of climate science, and closely examines the unprecedented devastation wrought by modern forest fires. A lively and important discussion with Warren Mabee, Associate Dean and Director of the School of Policy Studies at Queen’s University, will follow. Vaillant takes to the stage on Thursday, September 28 at 7pm.
The following afternoon, bookseller extraordinaire Ben McNally returns for the always popular Book Lovers’ Lunch. Ben knows books, making this event a festival favourite since 2009. The ticket price includes a tasty lunch and a top-notch list of insightful book recommendations for discerning readers. Organizers say that tickets for this event always go quickly too, so act fast.
Later on Friday afternoon, the incomparable writer, activist and world traveller Rosemary Sullivan will be in conversation with Eric Friesen about the writing life and her much anticipated memoir Where the World Was.
In the evening, Giller Prize-winning author and emergency and addictions physician Vincent Lam takes to the stage to talk about his celebrated novel On the Ravine, a wise and compelling work that compassionately explores the doctor/patient relationship, and the devastating experience of opioid addiction and loss. He’ll be joined by Mike Condra, a physician and advocate for mental health education, for an intimate discussion about the profound impact of the opioid crisis on those struggling with the addiction, and those struggling to treat them.
For something a little lighter, fans of CanLit trivia can expect to enjoy a rousingly good time at Friday night’s Literary Trivia Night, hosted by the charming comedian, radio show host and author Ali Hassan. You’ll want to bring along your smartest bookworm buddies, because festival organizers report they have doubled down on prizes.
Readings and conversations with authors Alicia Elliott (And Then She Fell), Michael Crummey (The Adversary) and Angela Sterritt (Unbroken) highlight Saturday afternoon’s literary programme, while Kingston’s The Gertrudes will give a free community concert, performing songs from their new album Just To Please You. The show will be followed by a discussion with Kingston’s Poet Laureate Sadiqa de Meijer about the art and process of songwriting.
That night, as part of an event called “The Big Idea: CanLit Unbound,” Carol Off will helm a lively panel discussion with four independent Canadian publishers and authors about current trends in CanLit. The panel includes Dundurn Press president and publisher Kwame Scott Fraser, writer and co-founder of Hingston & Olsen Publishing Michael Hingston, novelist and essayist Stephen Marche, and Cobourg-based fiction writer, poet, editor, translator and creative-writing instructor Stuart Ross. The panel will consider the growing trend of AI-generated writing, and what needs to be done to keep CanLit vital and relevant in the future, as chatbots and major mergers loom on the horizon.
On Sunday morning, bestselling and award-winning author Patrick deWitt (French Exit, The Sisters Brothers) will talk about his latest novel The Librarianist, a celebration of the extraordinary in the so-called ordinary life of a retired librarian. Kingston author Mark Sinnett will be in conversation with deWitt.
Also appearing at the festival are Emily Urquhart, Deborah Dundas, Wayne Grady, Otoniya J. Otok Bitek, Catherine Hernandez, Janika Oza, Jason Heroux, Leanne Liberman, Paul Vermeersch and Anuja Varghese.
For a detailed schedule of events — including the festival’s writing retreats and master classes — or to buy tickets, visit <kingstonwritersfest.ca>.
Please Note: advance sales for the Kingston WritersFest began in mid-July and run until Tuesday, September 26. During the festival, door tickets will be available to purchase online or from the Festival Box Office located in the lobby on the main floor at the Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront.
Learning Again in Almonte welcomes back popular presenter Tom Shoebridge with a course entitled Exploring the Magic of Cinema. Commencing September 14, participants will view six films followed by informed discussions where participants share their insights and reactions. While the titles are a secret, they include Canadian and international features and one remarkable feature-length documentary. Prepare to broaden your experience of cinema! Reserve your seat by registering now at <learningagainalmonte.ca>.
Then on September 30, historian Michael Dupuis presents a fall lecture based on his book Bearing Witness: Journalists, Record Keepers and the 1917 Halifax Explosion. He will recount the day of the explosion and introduce you to the journalists who covered the disaster. While admission to the lecture is by donation, registration is required. Please check <learningagainalmonte.ca> for details.
Later in the fall, in collaboration with the Mississippi Mills Public Library, Learning Again in Almonte celebrates the Bicentennial by looking towards future development.
Residents of Lanark County share a deep affection for our communities and some trepidation about how change might threaten our way of life in the places we cherish. Plan to attend This Place We Call Home: Nurturing Growth in our Communities, which begins on October 2. Over six weeks, an impressive lineup of speakers will examine the challenges of rural growth and inspire participants with an exploration of innovations that can address development issues.
Local architect Peter Mansfield will discuss the notion of adaptive reuse; giving new life to old buildings in order to address the needs of the future while preserving their historic relevance. Peter will also take us on a virtual tour of Detroit, a city that is pulling itself out of the ashes of catastrophic decline by reimagining itself and thinking outside the box.
Ottawa architect Rosaline Hill will explore the notion of neighbourhood and what works to make a liveable community.
Jim Mountain is a local architect whose career has seen him facilitating “Main Street Projects” across the country. He recognizes that the first step in building a community that works for everyone is to listen and build consensus. The fourth session will walk us through that process.
In session five, Terrilee Kelford shares her experiences with a tiny house project, and Dona Bowers reviews how she pooled her resources with three other women to build and live in a co-housing initiative.
For the final session, Tay Valley Senior Planner Noelle Reeves and Mississippi Mills Senior Planner Melanie Knight explain the municipal planning process and strategies to mitigate concerns. This series will cover lots of information on a topic relevant to all who care about community development. Register at <learningagainalmonte.ca>.
Almonte’s Mill Street Books is delighted to present a series of literary evenings with favourite authors from near and far this autumn. They will take place from 6:30–8pm at the Almonte Branch of the Mississippi Mills Public Library and are free of charge, but registration is required at <missmillslibrary.com>.
An Evening with Roy MacGregor is first on the roster, on Wednesday, September 13 from 6:30-8:30pm. Come spend the evening with one of Canada’s greatest journalists as he shares stories from his new book Paper Trails.
From his early days in the pages of Maclean’s to stints at the Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen, National Post and The Globe and Mail, MacGregor has been one of the country’s best-read journalists. While news media were leaning increasingly right or left, he always leaned North, his curiosity trained by the deep woods and cold lakes of Algonquin Park to share stories from Canada’s farthest reaches, even as he worked in the newsrooms of its southern capitols.
Paper Trails is filled with reminiscences of an age when Canadian newsrooms were populated by outsized characters, outright rogues and passionate practitioners, and is a must-read account of a life lived in stories. Roy’s books will be available for purchase at the event (cash or e-transfer), and there will be an opportunity to have them signed by the author.
Then on Thursday, September 14, you are invited to join author Amanda West Lewis and moderator/partner Tim Wynne-Jones to celebrate the launch of Amanda’s latest novel Focus. Click. Wind.
Set in New York City and Toronto in the late 60s, this artful coming-of-age story pulses with youthful rage. Against a backdrop of bombs too far to hear yet so close to home, Lewis gives heroine Billie Taylor a passionate voice and a camera lens through which an aching, timeless truth is revealed: the casualties of war don’t end on a battlefield.
Amanda will read excerpts from her work, followed by a Q&A period moderated by Tim Wynne-Jones and a book signing. Books will be available for purchase at the event, with payment by cash or e-transfer. Space may be limited, so please register in advance at Mill Street Books by phone (256–9090) or email <millstreetbooks@gmail.com>.
An Evening with Charlotte Gray is up next, taking place on Tuesday, October 10. One of Canada’s preeminent authors and historians, Charlotte Gray will be celebrating the release of her latest book, Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons, a captivating dual biography of two famous women whose sons would change the course of the 20th century.
Born into upper-class America in the same year, Sara Delano (mother of Franklin Delano Roosevelt) and Jennie Jerome (mother of Winston Churchill) refused to settle into predictable, sheltered lives as little-known wives to prominent men. Instead, both women concentrated their energies on enabling their sons to reach the epicentre of political power on two continents.
Set against one hundred years of history, Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons is a study in loyalty and resilience. These women were often presented as lesser figures in the backdrop of history rather than as two remarkable individuals who were key in shaping the characters of the sons and preparing them for leadership on the world stage.
And finally, An Evening with Lesley Choyce will take place on Wednesday, November 15. Come out and celebrate the launch of The Untimely Resurrection of John Alexander MacNeil, the long-awaited sequel to the much-loved Lesley Choyce book that has sold over 700 copies at Mill Street Books since 2017! In addition to presenting the new book, Lesley will share insights about his writing process and advice about how to create memorable characters.
For more information about these and other events, visit <millstreetbooks.com> or call them at 256–9090.
It’s been a while, but the Merrickville Artists Guild (MAG) Studio Tour returns at the height of autumn for one weekend only – September 30 and October 1 from 10am to 5pm each day.
For the past two years MAG chose caution, particularly for participating artists and studio visitors, with a hiatus on in-person tours. Now it’s time for local artists to throw open the studio doors and welcome the public back again, as has been the tradition since 1985!
This year’s 22 participants are eager to show and sell their work, including paintings in various media, handbound books, printmaking, pottery and ceramics, jewellery, sculpture, hand blown glass, photography, thread painting, ?bre art, woodworking and woodturning. Watch handblown hot glass take shape before your eyes, or pull proofs off of a vintage printing press.
Artists new to the Tour include Lorraine Delangis, who creates evocative fabric sculptures perfect for home or garden; wood turner Stephane Gendron; painter Manon Gendron; Sherry Clairmont, a woodworker who creates fantastical birdhouses; and thread painter Lisa McShane.
A beautiful 19th century village… a lovely autumn weekend… what better time and place to discover Merrickville’s nationally and internationally renowned artists and craftspeople in their own studios? Watch them create, discuss their processes, buy directly from them, and leave with your own original work of art with its own story to tell!
Visit <mag-artists.ca>, download the brochure, and plan your own self-guided tour for September 30 and October 1. For more information, contact MAG through <mag-artists.ca/home/connect> or email Larry Thompson at <studio@greyweathers.com>.
Mississippi Squares, a vibrant and spirited square dancing club, has been a dynamic part of the community since its inception in 1986. Nestled in the heart of Lanark County, this lively club draws its name from the nearby Mississippi River and Lake. It’s an area rich in community spirit, and Mississippi Squares has embodied this spirit for decades.
Offering a warm welcome to all, Mississippi Squares has evolved into one of the most prominent members of the Eastern Ontario Square and Round Dance Association. Guided by the expert calling of Brian Crawford, who has been the caller since 1999, the club practices modern square dancing with enthusiasm and expertise.
The heart of Mississippi Squares beats every Tuesday and Friday evening. Their engaging format alternates between Basic and Mainstream Tips on Tuesdays and exhilarating Plus Dancing on Fridays. This pattern not only ensures a balanced and exciting dance routine but also aids the swift integration of new dancers into the fold, fostering a warm and inclusive atmosphere.
After navigating the challenges posed by the past few years, Mississippi Squares is back in full swing. The club has secured a venue for their dancing activities. Masks are not mandatory; the club is embracing a mask-friendly environment. Regular sanitization and staying home when unwell are practices that the club encourages.
In the heart of this club lies a sense of camaraderie that bridges gaps and fosters lasting friendships. The Mississippi Squares not only thrives in its dancing endeavours but also extends its reach to the community. The club’s dedication to fostering new talent and creating a welcoming environment has earned them a significant presence in the Eastern Ontario dance scene.
A Call to New Dancers
If you’re seeking a joyful and engaging activity, consider joining Mississippi Squares. The club offers an unforgettable journey into the world of modern square dancing. Their mission is to inspire, entertain and unite through dance, making every evening a memorable experience. Dress comfortably in casual attire; no formal dress code applies. Plus, you don’t need a partner to enjoy the evening; everyone is welcome, whether you arrive solo or as a couple.
As a new season approaches, Mississippi Squares invites you to embrace the joy of square dancing. Join them at the Brunton Community Hall (Beckwith), just 2km south of Carleton Place on Hwy 15, beginning on Tuesday, September 5. The first two sessions (September 5 and 12) are free! The evenings unfold from 7:30–9:30pm, providing the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and discover the magic of dance.
For further inquiries, please contact Debbie at 296–1817 or <vinnyjg@hotmail.com>, or reach out to Betty at 256–0551.
Step into a world of rhythm, laughter and camaraderie with Mississippi Squares. Your journey into the joy of square dancing awaits! For more information, please visit <mississippisquares.ca>.
Sarah Harmer is coming to Lanark Highlands, making a special guest appearance on September 16 as part of the Reform Gravel Mining “Rock” Tour of Ontario this summer. Harmer will appear between 3:30 and 5pm on an outdoor stage at Wheelers Maple (1001 Highland Line in McDonalds Corners), along with other local musical luminaries and guest speakers. But that’s not all! Arrive early and participate in a ceremonial paddle around nearby Barbers Lake.
Attracting local supporters, music fans and media, this Paddle & Parade Party begins at noon on September 16 when the Shabot Obaadjiwan and the Snimikobi First Nations will offer a pipe ceremony and drumming prior to the launch of a birch bark canoe. This craft will lead a flotilla of unmotorized craft on a 30-minute paddle around Barbers Lake. Anyone is invited to participate with a paddle board, canoe or kayak, and the required PFD and pre-registration. The launch site is at Anderson Heritage Farm (137 Anderson Lane, off Highland Line Road), near Wheelers Maple. Follow the signs.
The Paddle will be followed by the Parade and Party, with a piper calling everyone from the lakeshore to a slow drive along Highland Line Road, passing by proposed extraction zones, and culminating in the outdoor concert venue and refreshments outside Wheelers Maple.
The Reform Gravel Mining Coalition of Ontario, along with the Friends of Lanark Highlands, is staging the event to bring awareness to the recent flurry of applications for new and expanded aggregate extraction licenses in the rolling hills between McDonalds Corners and Elphin, and beyond.
In addition to musical guests, RGMC representatives and local speakers will sound the call for a moratorium on aggregate extraction in Ontario. They will be drawing attention to the need for a new approach to managing and regulating gravel and sand mining in order to limit the climate crisis, fulfill constitutional obligations for consultation with Indigenous Nations, and to restore democratic participation in local planning.
Concerned residents have raised their voices in opposition since March of 2023, questioning applications by local operators for expanded tonnage and sought-after below the water table aggregate extraction permits. Concerns centre on source water quality, human health, and maintenance of biodiversity and the dark night sky.
Residents want to ensure the health of the community by protecting their complex network of wetlands and waterways, important as carbon sinks and source water, from the infiltration of pollutants such as obstructive fine particles, uranium, other heavy metals and imported contaminants.
Local citizens worry that by altering the landscape, the extractive industry will curtail the emerging eco and agri-tourism economy of Lanark Highlands.
The people of Lanark Highlands are seeking greater consultation among the province, industry and Indigenous people, pointing out the need for in-depth study of sites having potential archaeological significance.
And ultimately, the community seeks to preserve the significant population of species at risk — notably Blanding’s and painted turtles, trumpeter swans, golden eagles, meadowlarks, whippoorwills and more — that inhabit the environmentally complex area of wetlands, uplands and waterways, including Long Sault Creek, Barbers Lake and the Mississippi River.
Please bring your own lawn chair to the concert — and if you want to paddle, supply your own craft and PFD. Pre-registration to paddle is available online, along with more information, at <friendsoflanarkhighlands.org>.
Mark your calendars for a captivating weekend of artistic immersion at the 31st annual Perth Studio Tour. Taking place over the Thanksgiving weekend on October 7 and 8, this year’s tour offers a unique opportunity to explore a myriad of artistic expressions at four rural stops, while also spotlighting the talents of emerging artists.
For over three decades, the Perth Autumn Studio Tour has been a testament to the vibrant creativity that defines the community. As the tour celebrates its 31st year, it continues to unite artists and enthusiasts in their shared passion for the visual arts. This event promises an enriching experience, showcasing a diverse spectrum of artistic media and styles.
Tour Highlights
At the Maberly Hall (180 Maberly Elphin Road), you are invited to immerse yourself in a collection of expressive paintings; knitted, woven and felted alpaca garments; wooden furniture; intricate metal embossing and more.
At the Catherine Orfald Studio (1848 Old Brooke Road), you can delve into captivating paintings, textile arts, artisanal chocolate, pottery and creative expressions that offer unique perspectives.
Savour a Harvest Lunch at the charming Brooke Valley School (190 Seaborn Lane) while exploring outdoor artistry showcasing medieval woodenware, ironwork, mixed media paintings, hand-dyed art and expressive oil paintings.
Discover diverse forms of creativity at The Cordwood Studio (590 Brooke Valley Road), including feltwork, hand-carved wooden earrings, functional stoneware ceramics and more.
Emerging Artists Spotlight
The Perth Autumn Studio Tour proudly places a spotlight on emerging artists, providing a nurturing platform for their unique voices to shine. Experience the infusion of fresh perspectives and innovative techniques as these talented individuals share their visions alongside established artists.
The tour runs from 10am to 5pm each day, and directions and details can be found at <perthstudiotour.com>. Join the conversation on Instagram and Facebook @perthstudiotour using #PerthStudioTour.
The artists invite you to celebrate the 31st edition of the Perth Studio Tour, a testament to the enduring power of artistry, creativity and community engagement. Discover, engage, and immerse yourself in the diverse world of visual arts in a rural setting during this exciting weekend.
The Clay Studio Collective (CSC) is set to open this fall in Athens, Ontario as a permanent public pottery studio for all ceramic artists in the Leeds & Grenville Region.
The Collective is an enthusiastic group of potters that will run and share the pottery studio. Membership is either monthly, hourly or event-based to attend classes and workshops. Once open, their facilities will offer a staggering amount of equipment, with ten pottery wheels, kilns, hand building equipment and storage space.
“We promote a welcoming and inspiring environment, and conduct ourselves with integrity, openness and shared responsibility,” says Executive Director Dianne Richmond. “We share ideas, resources and a willingness to mentor and learn together.”
Interested? They are currently accepting more like-minded individuals to join as members in their growing clay community. Express your interest and sign up for all the news at <claystudiocollective.com>.
You Can Help!
The CSC is in the final stages of implementation and needs funding to cover the remaining expenses to establish the studio. Please support this venture to provide the community a place to gather and create! Send an e-transfer to <claystudiocollective@gmail.com> or donate on their website at <claystudiocollective.com>.
The Arnprior & District Humane Society is proud to be a No Kill shelter for cats and dogs in our community.
We provide a safe haven for lost, abandoned and neglected animals. We ensure that all critters in our care are provided shelter, food, veterinary attention and lots of tender loving care. Our dedicated staff and volunteers labour each and every day to keep animals safe until they find their forever home.
We are not funded by government. The daily operation of the shelter is totally dependent on the generosity of individuals and businesses through donations and sponsorships.
Our financial recovery from the pandemic has been a slow one, but we are planning several major fundraisers in the coming months. The first is our annual Walk-A-Thon, to be held on September 30. The second is our Feliz Naughty Dog Bake & Craft Sale, taking place on November 12 at the Nick Smith Centre in Arnprior. Our Pet Pics with Santa dates and venues will be confirmed at a later date.
We are currently looking for committed volunteers in all areas of operations. If you are interested in fundraising, driving animals to and from veterinary appointments, or cleaning and yard work, please consider joining our team. For more information, please find us on Facebook or visit <arnpriorhumanesociety.ca>.
On Saturday and Sunday, September 9 and 10, Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum will host the 2023 Rideau Artist of the Year Competition. Spectators are invited to the picturesque grounds of the museum, where artists will be creating original works that capture the beauty of Smiths Falls — where industrial heritage meets the natural landscape — in the tradition of en plein air art making.
For more information, please contact Megan McIlvenna by calling 283–6311 or emailing <heritagehouse@smithsfalls.ca>. The Heritage House Museum is located at 11 Old Slys Road.
After an overwhelmingly positive response to last year’s competition, the museum is excited to once again invite artists to create over the two days of the weekend. All submitted pieces will be displayed in the museum’s gallery until Sunday, October 15, in a showcase of local talent.
A jury of art professionals will review submissions and select two winners. One winner will receive a prize of $1000 cash and the title of Rideau Artist of the Year. That prize is open to all registered artists who are 18 years or older. For the 2023 competition, a new Youth category is open to artists 18 and under, and the winner will receive a $200 cash prize and a $50 gift certificate to The Craft Witch.
The Heritage House is Smiths Falls’ community museum, offering changing local themed exhibitions, art shows and events in a one-of-a-kind 1860’s home. This open-concept museum welcomes visitors to step beyond the velvet ropes to immerse themselves in history. Main level Victorian rooms feature artifacts that were made in the area or brought to Smiths Falls by local families. Test out the uncomfortable furniture or play the piano before heading upstairs to enjoy other periods of local art and history in the gallery spaces.
Enjoy a picnic in the gardens or take a short stroll through parkland to the Rideau Canal (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Old Slys Lockstation. For more information on the Museum’s services or special events, please visit <smithsfalls.ca/heritagehouse>.
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Are you intrigued by the paranormal? If so, Spirits of the Counting House is your chance to learn about paranormal investigations! The Counting House, now the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum (MVTM), has been in use for over 150 years. It’s seen many people come and go, but have any of them lingered? Join G.H.O.S.T. Canada and Nightwatchmen Investigative Team as they look into this very question on Saturday, September 16.
They will be teaching a workshop from 3–5pm where you can learn how paranormal investigations work, what equipment they use, and what it all means. They will then conduct two investigations: one from 6–10pm, and a second from 10pm to 2am. The workshop is $10, the investigation is $50, and spots are limited! New and existing Museum members get 20% off their tickets and must call Ryan at 256–3754 to receive the discount code. A valid email is required to receive your tickets. Tickets can be purchased online at <mvtm.ca>.
G.H.O.S.T. Canada is a paranormal research group based in Ottawa that conducts paranormal investigations using research, observation and critical thinking, along with state-of-the-art equipment. Their goal is to capture verifiable evidence and clarify misconceptions concerning the paranormal. The Nightwatchmen Investigation Team is dedicated to learning about local paranormal mysteries, experiencing them for themselves, and possibly capturing evidence for further studies. From poltergeists to other paranormal phenomena, they do their research for each site. They conduct both public and private paranormal investigations. Don’t miss out on your chance to join them for Spirits of the Counting House!
“The building has been around for over 150 years, and, as with any old building, there are creaks and drafts,” explains MVTM curator Michael Rikley-Lancaster. “Shadows can play tricks on you. Whether you believe in the paranormal or not, this is a great opportunity to participate in a unique event.”
Celebrating its 17th year, the Sundance Artisan Show invites you to spend time along a beautiful riverbank setting with 40 local artists in Maberly, Ontario during Labour Day weekend.
Peppered across two acres of forest, field and riverfront will be a diverse group of creators specializing in various art forms: pottery, wood, sheet metal, stained glass, artisan soaps, fibre art, jewellery, clothing and blown glass, to name a few. The artists have been working hard over the year and are ready to present to you their wonderful creations. The setting is ideal for relaxing while shopping for the perfect gift for that special someone. Feel free to grab a chair and enjoy sitting by the beautiful Fall River with its old mill ruins.
Parking and entrance are free; donations are welcome.
Sundance will take place on all three days of the September long weekend (September 2–4). It runs from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, and from 10am to 2pm on Monday. The show is located at 126 Maberly Elphin Road, at the intersection of Highway 7 and County Road 36. Further details can be found at <sundancestudio.ca>.
Conflict in communities, in families and among friends seems increasingly visible, and the resulting separations can be painful. How can we have conversations that bring us together rather than drive us apart? Many of us were raised in families and communities where disagreements were pushed under the rug, or the “answer” imposed by a parent or community leader. Being able to engage in conversations from different points of view without ending up making the situation worse is a skill that is desperately needed in our communities today.
Would you like more skills for engaging in difficult conversations? This fall there will be an opportunity to expand your capacity to listen and engage across difference in a six-week program being held at the Perth Public Library. In weeks one and two we will explore how personal and social histories impact beliefs and behaviours in relation to conflict and how we can work with these beliefs to gain more flexibility and comfort. In week three we will consider how we can support community resilience during social moments of reckoning, such as those relating to racism and colonialism. In the last three weeks we will learn specific skills as we practice remaining open to deeper understandings and possibilities toward resolution. The skills weeks are scheduled two weeks apart so that there is more time to practice.
The facilitator, Deborah Conners, teaches community engagement and social justice courses in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at Carleton University, having earned a mid-career PhD in 2016 and an earlier Masters in Conflict Studies. Her courses, based on adult-learning principles practiced over several decades in community development and consulting work, take a “learning together” approach to frame a dynamic learning experience that is (hopefully!) useful to everyone involved.
The program begins on October 4 and concludes on November 22. The first four sessions are one week apart, and there are two weeks between each of the remaining sessions. Topics include “Introducing a framework for understanding conflict” (Oct. 4); “Who do we think they are? A trauma-informed approach to conflict” (Oct. 11); “What do the ‘isms’ have to do with it? Exploring gender, race and ability” (Oct. 18); “Practicing crucial conversations” (Oct. 25); “Practicing non-violent communication” (Nov. 8); and “Further practice” (Nov. 22).
All sessions run from 1:30–4pm at the Perth Library. The cost of the program is $110. For more information or to register, email <deborah@artsforhealing.ca>.
If you think that a drive through the country on a crisp Fall morning will stir your senses, there is no better place to drive than to the Perth Farmers’ Market, especially on the morning of Saturday, September 30. Not only will the pungent sights and smells of autumn be found wafting through the air, but the sounds drifting out of the Crystal Palace will further enhance the experience.
The “Belles of St. Paul’s” are delighted to return to this locale to play pieces that were learned for the Ontario Guild of English Hand Bell Ringers Festival in Kingston last spring. It has been said that all music has colour. Why not venture out to see if you can picture a glistening colour of dark red with flames reflecting through glass created by the rich tones of the “battery and bass bells” or a smashing sense of orange and yellow created by bells known as treble. Add to these some arrangements with chimes, and you might find a hint or two of blue sneaking into the sound.
Whatever the colour the morning sunrise is that day, with the mist rising from the Tay Basin and a hint of sunlight shining through, you will be assured of a colourful performance by The Belles of St. Paul’s from 9:45–10:45am on September 30 at Perth’s Crystal Palace.
A native of California, Dave Wickerham first played with an electronic organ at four years of age, and was at the pipe organ six years later. While living in Arizona for twelve years from his early teens, he became assistant organist at three Organ Stop Pizza restaurants. Emerging as a gifted entertainer, he graduated from university having studied classical organ for six years.
Moving to the Chicago area in 1984, he carried on this “work and play” duet: staff organist at Pipes and Pizza, and organist in various churches. Then for ten years Dave moved on to Wisconsin at Piper Music Palace before beginning a two-year special engagement in Las Vegas as featured organist at Roxy’s Pipe Organ Pizzeria at the Fiesta Casino and Hotel.
From the glitter of Nevada, he returned to his post at the Piper in Milwaukee for three years. Later, Dave was the organist and curator of the legendary private Milhous Collection in Florida for seven years.
On the global scene, Dave was a celebrated feature performer in Melbourne to rave reviews at the national convention of theatre organists. He has returned for three tours of Australia and New Zealand over the years.
Finally, he moved to the “great American north” in upper Michigan, where he became resident organist and co-manager of the Crystal Theatre. Still a resident of Crystal Falls, is he going to return to Perth enough times to savour all our pizza restaurants? Even if none of them have theatre organs, they’re close to St. Paul’s!
With the fall colours reaching a crescendo, you are invited to take a pleasant drive to a matinée in Perth on October 1 to hear the vibrant beauties of both classical and theatre organs, and to see a master of the keyboards at his craft. Absorb the resounding crescendos of glorious Thanksgiving hymns, medleys from show tunes, and spontaneous improvisations of familiar classics from Bach to Webber.
It will be a rather unique chance to experience the two worlds of organ music, separately and together, from one console! Relax in a refurbished heritage space with superb sightlines and acoustics, fully accessible and air conditioned. Seating is curved around the arc of the extended platform on the somewhat saucer-shaped flooring of the 1880s church. The audience shares a sense of intimacy — an “at-homeness” — whether seated in the balcony or the main floor.
Celebrate the Thanksgiving season at St.Paul’s in Perth on Sunday, October 1 at 2:30pm. Tickets are $20 for adults, $35 for families (students are free), available from Tickets Please (TicketsPlease.ca, 485–6434). This is a rare opportunity to witness a creative artist and entertainer at one of only two theatre organs in Ontario in a public venue. Even if there isn’t a pizza oven inside!
Mississippi Mills All My Relations (MMAMR) is delighted to report that we have reached our fundraising goal of $130,000 for our Seven Gifts Truth and Reconciliation project! The generous support of local individuals, businesses and organizations in our community has been vital in helping us reach this goal. We would also like to acknowledge the funding received through the many grants that aided this immense project to come to fruition. These include the Canada Legacy Fund, Canada Community Revitalization and Recovery Fund, Anglican Diocese Healing & Reconciliation Fund, Anglican Foundation of Canada and the United Church of Canada Justice and Reconciliation Fund.
The Seven Gifts public art installation is part of the accessible Wellness Walk sponsored by Age Friendly North Lanark under the umbrella of Carebridge. We are very grateful to this group, who inspired us to pursue the vision for this incredible project. We also are most grateful for the other organizations who have been engaged with us in its planning and development: St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Almonte United Church, Sivarulrasa Gallery, the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, Plenty Canada, the WRC construction company and the Municipality of Mississippi Mills Bicentennial Committee.
A special thank you to the numerous volunteers who worked many hours keeping the Seven Gifts project moving forward. It is time to recognize and celebrate the Seven Gifts!
Meet the Artists,See the Art
On the evening of Friday, September 15, the Sivarulrasa Gallery will host a Meet the Artists event where people can drop in and view the wooden animal totems created by Nish Nabie, and also meet all of the artists involved in the creation of the Seven Gifts installation, including Nish Nabie, Deborah Arnold, Darlene McLeod and Dale Dunning. Running from September 15 to October 20, The Seven Gifts exhibition will feature Nish Nabie’s carvings inspired by the Seven Grandfather Teachings, as well as audio-visual material by photographer Rik Walton about the Seven Gifts project, including QR codes that will link viewers back to the actual Seven Gifts installation site. The gallery is located at 34 Mill Street in Almonte <sivarulrasa.com>.
On Sunday, September 17 from 1:30–4:30pm, The Seven Gifts will be officially opened in Riverfront Park along Spring Street in Almonte. The public is invited to come and share in the Ceremony and Celebration led by Elder Larry McDermott. There will be traditional smudging, drumming, and presentations by Elders and artists. Ribbon cutting, traditional foods, music and children’s activities all will be included in our afternoon. The Opening Ceremony and Celebration of the Seven Gifts marks this grassroots step towards restoring friendship and trust between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in our area.
Going forward, our hope is to develop several different educational audio/visual presentations about the Grandfather Teachings, the history of the Algonquin people, and the installation itself. These will be accessible through a QR code at the site and on the MMAMR website at <mmallmyrelations.ca>.
Again, a BIG thank you to everyone who had a hand in making this all happen! Merci! Migwetch!
This autumn, Dream Rock Promotions presents two terrific tribute bands at Perth’s Farrell Hall. Both are 19+ events that start at 8pm, and tickets can be purchased from Tickets Please (TicketsPlease.ca, 485–6434) for $34 plus fees (or at the door, if available, for $39).
On September 23, Bootleg Creedence presents the timeless sounds of Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Fogerty solo albums. Based on the shores of southern Georgian Bay, they may not have been Born on the Bayou, but this Travellin’ Band will be Down on the Corner at Farrell Hall for a fabulous show.
The four seasoned musicians in Bootleg Creedence have been making music in various combinations and styles for over twenty-five years, so it is only fitting that they should come together to pay homage to a group that dominated the charts during their own formative years.
And on October 21, Fleetwood Mac Mania brings their stunning visual and musical tribute to Fleetwood Mac. Each veteran player in this tribute band brings their spirit to re-create, with incredible accuracy, the look and feel of one of the biggest rock bands of all time. With the solo hits of Stevie Nicks as part of the show, the harmonies, instrumentation and on-stage chemistry have surprised and captivated audiences from coast-to-coast.
Fleetwood Mac Mania has been touring since 2007. The front line captures the harmonies and chemistry of Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham that made Fleetwood Mac one of the most successful bands of our time. The rhythm section, with their years of experience, holds down the signature Mick Fleetwood and John McVie driving pulse to perfection — accurately recreating the full intensity of the original band.
It is with much pride and excitement that we are announcing a re-launching of Valley Players Almonte!
Valley Players Almonte (VPA) is a theatre of and for our community, led through the inspiration and efforts of the volunteers who comprise our theatre family. We are committed to providing high quality, inclusive, and diverse theatre for Almonte and the Ottawa Valley, with at least two productions per year. We are starting with It Had To Be You in December 2023 and moving to an immersive Evening of One Acts in May 2024.
VPA a non-profit community theatre established in 1983 that has been providing live theatre in the Almonte Old Town Hall up until a recent hiatus. This stunning historical building boasts a Douglas Fir auditorium and is a premier venue for live theatre, musical performances, craft shows, weddings, conferences, exhibitions, community dinners and events, feature films, and professional music recordings. Truly a place of “Art and Community at Play”.
During the aforementioned hiatus, the former board remained committed to supporting other community theatrical productions, charitable donations, bursaries and awards. At the same time, a small group of enthusiastic theatre volunteers were searching for opportunities to create quality theatre where the only defining difference between community theatre and professional theatre was that nobody got paid. They had considered starting their own company when former board member Catherine Clark mentioned the VPA to them. As Almonte is such a creative community, it was a surprise that there wasn’t an active community theatre group in town, thus the desire to bring a commitment to ongoing live theatre productions was culminated. With the support of Catherine Clark, a new board was formed including Sarah Edwards as President, Val Bogan as Vice President, Trina Malcolmson as Secretary, Oksana Kavera as Treasurer, and Juli Heney as Director of Membership and Training.
As our new board moves forward, we want to thank the board that has stewarded Valley Players Almonte and provided endless assistance in the transition period. Fraser Scantlebury, Laurie Dickson, Catherine Clark and Lesley Moll have gone above and beyond to set us up for success.
One of the first things we need to do is re-engage and re-integrate into our Almonte and Ottawa Valley communities. Our first efforts will be a walk about town with some bookmark flyers as well as participation in the Holiday Parade. We are looking forward to continuing to provide inspiring productions and we recognize that we can only do this with the help of volunteers and audience members.
We are currently seeking volunteer support for our December 2023 production of It Had To be You. Specifically, we are looking for front of house ushers, stage crew, tech support and canteen support. We are also going to need some help on November 25 to create our December 5 Holiday Parade float entry.
If you are interested in volunteering with Valley Players Almonte, please contact Juli Heney at <ValleyPlayersAlmonte@gmail.com>. If you are interested in becoming a member, or donating to help get us off the ground, please go to our website at <ValleyPlayers.ca>. If you are interested in purchasing tickets for our upcoming shows, they will be on sale soon at Tickets Please (TicketsPlease.ca, 485–6434).
If I’d known then (1960) what I know now, I’d not have fallen for the old adage that girls could only be teachers, nurses or secretaries. Maybe I’d have been brave enough to have donned a hard hat, visi-vest and boots, and become a forestry student. However, those were the days when forestry people were all men. Forest firefighters were enlisted among the guys in the bar. If you were old enough to drink, you were old enough to get your butt out the door and protect your community. All you needed was brawn and a hard hat and you were a firefighter. And you definitely were not female!
Not anymore. There are nearly as many women as men going into forestry courses, and it’s obvious everyone is on an equal footing. Thanks to our involvement with the Ontario Woodlot Owners Association (the source of the famous chainsaw course), we are getting to know some of these young people personally, and oh my, are they special!
In early August, we were privileged to have been chosen for a day-long exercise by the Algonquin Forest Technicians program, to host the graduating class of over twenty students and two instructors. These eager young people came to tour the woods, set up evaluation plots and practice their technical skills in our forest. We tromped through the woods, looking at oyster mushrooms, sedges, hemlocks, woodpecker cavities and maple trees. They were interested in everything, taking pictures and notes, and genuinely caring about the state of our forest.
You won’t be surprised that I spent far too long regaling them with my love of nearly every tree and blade of grass we encountered. However, they too were eager to discover what my attraction for the forest entailed. During the visit we had time to hear their stories, and found we had much in common. Again, I was wishing I was much much younger! I wanted to be using those tools, measuring and calculating.
Instead, I was the one making the muffins. Before they left, we exchanged phone numbers and emails and vowed to keep in touch. What do you know, that has happened!
Fast forward to mid-August, when we took our one road trip of the summer — to Pembroke to see these fine young people graduate. We were happy to sit behind their families and relish a bit of their pride as each student was recognized for their considerable effort in completing the two-year intensive Forestry Technician programme. Their silver rings shone as brightly as their own promise of the future.
Have you ever gone to a peewee hockey game where you don’t know any of the kids on the ice? Can you imagine that years later you might say you remember when they were scooting around hoping the hockey stick would keep them upright? Have you attended a science fair or a drama production or a track meet? It’s the most fun, watching young people strive for their potential in any field. They’re living in the moment and putting forth their best performance. Even if we’re not the doting parents, we can cheer them from the sidelines. In fact, it’s probably easier for us not having to live their fears and anxieties.
Graduating from anything is an achievement, recognition of endeavour, and the gateway to the next level. The ceremony itself is nearly bittersweet though, considering that the particular group will likely never be together in one place again.
These brilliant young people are indeed the future. We felt privileged to attend their graduation, and it made me think we should attend ceremonies like this more often. They were lauded as prime examples of dedication to their profession, bright young minds that are embarking on careers to save our planet.
In the meantime, we are really hoping they will consider coming back to our own tiny woods to find solace, study, or simply visit. They’re fine young people with dreams and potential, and it’s our sincere wish that years from now we’ll be able to say we were there at their graduation.
Every student who goes into their new school with trepidation this month has the opportunity to find their special talent. Time will flash past until they too are standing on a stage receiving recognition, a ring, a certificate. This rite of passage is an indication that they are indeed the future, and they can be justly proud of their own accomplishments. Even if we’re not their families, we too laud their progress.
Come to Westport on Saturday, September 23 from noon to 9pm for the return of the popular Westporch event, where visitors and residents meet businesses on front porches around the village for fun, food and fabulous entertainment!
Westporch is a free outdoor walking tour of Westport, as front porches become a showcase for regional artists, musicians, activities and treats.
This year’s event will feature 15 porches with live music and entertainment throughout the day. There will also be a smashed burger barbecue, and a dog music maze complete with photos of your furry ones.
Providing a soundtrack for the day are the following musical guests: Mike Cochrane & Fred Pringle, Matt Dixon, Ompah Dom, Colleen Fitzgerald, Head over Heels (featuring Gord McRae on drums), James King, King of the Swingers, Eric Mundy, No Principals, Olivet Baptist Gospel Ensemble, Outskirts: Celebrating the Music of Blue Rodeo, Scott Owen, Tom Savage, Eric Uren and Doug Van der Horden.
Come on out for this village-wide family-friendly day and support local talent and businesses. Tips, donations and purchases are all welcome.
Find more details at <whatsonwestport.ca/westporch-festival-2023>.
Meet you on the porch!