The Adventures of the Festival Nomad

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gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 16:06:00 +0000

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It's Boomer Time!

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:27:00 +0000

Yes, that's right! The Boomer Consumer Health & Lifestyle Show is almost here. It's taking place in Lindsay at the Farmers Mutual Exhibition Building on Saturday, April 10th and Sunday, April 11th. There will be lots to see and do for us more "mature" festival nomads. Don't tell Judi that I said the "M" word. She still thinks of me as her "baby"! This is the place where you can come "discover, explore, and learn about how to enhance your life, be healthy and most of all - enjoy yourself to the fullest throughout this exciting and rewarding time of your life!" There will be over 100 exhibitors there to offer you everything from demonstrations and interactive displays and money saving tips to help staying healthy! Judi's new "BFF" (see the Bobcaygeon Food & Wine Festival), Dave Devall will be on hand to tell us all about his life after CTV. Knowing Dave it will be all about fun and golf! The Boomer Consumer Show will give visitors lots more to do, photos taken in a Classic Car (they were new when I was a kid) or on a Harley (my dream!), a chance to "Name That Tune" (remember the old CHUM radio station?), watch a fashion show or just walk around to "Discover Good Living". Judi and I will be there, learning how to grow "old" gracefully or better still how to get the most out of being a "Boomer"!

Love Train Revue

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:53:00 +0000

There’s a lot more music in the air in York Region, thanks to George and Sher St. Kitts and their company, St. Kitts Music Inc. February is Black History Month and to help celebrate it, the St. Kitts have produced the “Love Train Revue”! This is a new show that stars George St. Kitts. The Revue will be held at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts on Thursday, February 11th, 2010. According to their News Release, “Love Train Revue is pleased to have Spider Jones as our illustrious Master of Ceremonies! This event is to raise awareness and preserve our national heritage and all the contributions made by Black Canadians over the years.” The release goes on to say, “Reminiscent of the Apollo Theatre and Soul Train the Love Train Revue show will feature great local Canadian artists; many are Juno winners/ nominees, all coming together to bring you a fantastic night of entertainment. It will be a challenge to sit still while enjoying the Sounds of Motown, Jazz, Authentic African Folk Songs, Soul and Blues. Listen as your favourite artists’ tunes come alive: Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Smokey Robinson, Earth Wind & Fire, Sam & Dave, Wilson Picket, Jimmi Hendrix and Michael Jackson. A real valentine treat filled with love – looks like it’s - time to get your groove on!” One of the great things about the Love Train Revue is their support of local charities. In speaking with promoter Sher St. Kitts, she tells me that raising money for local charities is a “must” for any event they plan. There are three charities being supported, Safehaven (www.safehaven.to), Believe to Achieve (www.believetoachieve.com) and N.O.A.H. Canada – Nurturing Orphans of Aids for Humanity (Canadian Branch) (http://www.noahorphans.ca/). Anyone who would like to attend this great event can purchase tickets at www.richmondhill/ticketwindow.ca 905 787 8811. Group rates are available – contact 905 841 6489, St. Kitts Music, for further information. Finally, another St. Kitts Music Inc. event that will be coming to York Region will be the second annual Aurora Jazz+ Festival coming at the end of July, 2010. I’ll have more on the upcoming event in future Blogs. To find out more about St. Kitts Music Inc. visit their website at http://www.stkittsmusic.ca/.

Ontario Discovered

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:47:00 +0000

I recently discovered a website that I think festival and event visitors will really enjoy! The website is called Ontario-Travel-Secrets.com and is the creation of Guylaine Spencer. Guylaine is a freelance writer specializing in travel, history and the arts. The website exists because of Guylaine’s love of Ontario and all its wonderful treasures! Her articles tell visitors to her website how best to “discover” or “re-discover” Ontario and its many attractions. Ontario-Travel-Secrets.com is loaded with a wide array of eclectic information, ranging from perfect accommodations, exciting attractions, towns and cities to visit to where to find museums, arts and crafts studios and live performances! Guylaine even talks about how to choose camping facilities, financial considerations and how to get where you want to go! All in all, it’s a great encyclopedia of Ontario facts and people. As you click through each page you will learn more about Ontario then you ever knew, this goes for visitors and residents alike! The next time you and your family want to “Discover Ontario”, head to Guylaine Spencer’s Ontario-Travel-Secrets.com website. You’ll be glad you did!

The Great Ontario Communities Series (Cobourg)

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:23:00 +0000

During the past few years Judi and I have visited almost 150 Ontario community festivals and events. The majority have been planned and managed by dedicated community volunteers. As a salute to these wonderful communities and their hard working residents, I will be writing a series of blogs entitled “Great Ontario Communities”. These blogs describe the communities we have visited and will tell you about some of the interesting things we have experienced and the people we have met. The sixth article is about Cobourg, located on the north shores of Lake Ontario.
COBOURG – Fortunately Cobourg is Judi’s and my hometown. It is located on Lake Ontario between Toronto and Kingston. We have lived worked here for 20 years and love the area. Cobourg’s closest neighbour is Port Hope. While there is much rivalry between the two towns, they really compliment one another. Both are tourist oriented, but in different ways. Port Hope is a town of antique shops, historic buildings and Bed and Breakfasts. They cater to an “older crowd”. Cobourg on the other hand seems to be more upbeat and caters to a “younger crowd”. Its beautiful sandy beach is one of the best on Lake Ontario. Its harbour attracts boaters from both Canada and the USA and its unique downtown waterfront RV Park offers both long term and short term campers first class camping facilities! Cobourg attracts all those who love the water and want to enjoy its many pleasures! Judi and I enjoy walking along Cobourg’s waterfront trail most mornings. There is always something different to see and hear! At one time Cobourg hoped to become the capital of Canada. They even built a magnificent edifice, Victoria Hall, for that purpose, but it was not to be. Cobourg prospered, however and today it is the hub of Northumberland County. The county has its newly built offices here. There is a new first class regional hospital close by. A regional shopping mall just celebrated its 20th anniversary and the local Wal-Mart just expanded. Cobourg also offers its residents and visitors plenty of activities. It is the home of several well attended festivals, such as the Cobourg Waterfront Festival (ten’s of thousands visit this event each year), the Cobourg Highland Games, the Cobourg Winter Festival, the Northumberland Ribfest and the fun and sun filled Cobourg Sandcastle Festival. It is also the home of many sporting events. On most summer weekends you will find some sort of tournament, softball, soccer and beach volleyball to name a few! There is even a new community centre planned for completion in 2011. Cobourg is an exciting place to live and to visit! Visit the Town of Cobourg's website at http://www.town.cobourg.on.ca/

Nomad's Top Ten 2009 Festival Highlights

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:04:00 +0000

All of the festivals and events that Judi and I have visited this year have been excellent, but there are a few that have really stood out. The following is our 2009 Top Ten Festiavl Highlight list.
1. FESTIVAL OF TEXTILES AT LANG PIONEER VILLAGE – This past year Judi and I were invited to visit the new Festival of Textiles and to participate in the textile fashion show. Judi and both enjoyed “dressing up” and meeting so many wonderful people!
2. CANAL, RAILWAY AND CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL – This event takes place annually in the charming town of Smiths Falls. Judi and I were invited to “re-visit” the festival by festival chair, Jim McPherson. At the festival we were treated to a Voyageur Canoe trip up the Rideau Canal into the Smith Falls’ “Swale”. This was a wonderful opportunity to visit and enjoy Smiths Falls’ conservation area. This amazing area is home to many unique animals, fish and flowers. We also attended the Festival’s opening ceremonies and were presented with a commemorative print. The event was further highlighted when Judi and I, along with Deputy Minister, Jim Brownell, M.P.P., judged the “Chocolate” contest! A fitting end to a terrific day!
3. ST. LAWRENCE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL – In July we had the pleasure to travel to Prescott for the opening of the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival. The opening play they were presenting was Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew”. This was our first visit to Prescott and their Shakespeare Festival. Not only was the play wonderful, so was our reception by the people of Prescott! Fate seated us directly in front of Prescott’s Mayor, Suzanne Dodge. After Judi and I found out that the Mayor was seated behind us, we introduced ourselves. From then on we were treated like “long lost friends”! After the play the Mayor insisted that we come to the Opening Night Gala! We did, and had a great time. It's Prescott’s bi-centennial in 2010 and the town has plans for many bi-centennial celebrations. I know that Judi and I will go back to help our “friends” celebrate!
4. ILLUMINAQUA – Every second Friday the City of Welland hosts a concert at their new amphitheatre in Merritt Park. This new facility is absolutely amazing as was the opening night of IlluminAqua! The theme of the concert series is FIRE-MUSIC-WATER and the festival followed the theme in “spades”! Flames from the floating “fire pits” glistened and danced on the rippling waters of the old Welland Canal while the “Destino Tenors” entertained an enthusiastic audience! This was definitely a “night to remember”!
5. WASAGA UNDER SIEGE – If you enjoy historic battle re-enactment (which Judi and I do), Wasaga Beach was the place to be during the Wasaga Under Siege re-enactment. The re-enactment included both a naval battle and a land battle, each depicting the challenges of war. After the battles were over, we all marched to the Nancy Island Historic Site where battle participants had set up their re-enactment encampment.
6. NORWOOD FALL FAIR – I’m not sure why I was so surprised, but I was, pleasantly! The Norwood Fall Fair gets top marks! I guess I should have known the event would be great when I visited their website. It was very informative and well designed. The fair grounds and events were even better! Judi and I really enjoyed our visit to Norwood. For anyone who likes to visit fall fairs, Norwood is a “must see”!
7. FORT FRIGHT – In late fall Fort Henry in Kingston transforms itself into “Fort Fright” and frightening it is! So much so that Judi refused to go with me. That was okay because I invited my son-in-law, Eddy, who loves to be “frightened”! The “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is his favourite movie! Our first “adventure” was the famous “ghost walk” tour. Here we learned of the many “ghostly” sightings that have been experienced over the years! After the ghost walk we ventured down to the lower fort where all of the “frightening” activities were taking place. The whole lower fort had been “transformed”! Eddy and I explored each of the rooms and walkways and enjoyed the “frightening” displays and performances! Eddy was in his element and, judging by the amount and volume of screams around us, I would say so were many other visitors!
8. BOBCAYGEON WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL – The Kawartha Settlers Village hosts the Bobcaygeon Wine & Food Festival each year. This year’s event was of particular interest to Judi and I because of their featured chef, Chef Corbin Tomaszeski. We had seen the Chef several times on the TV show, Restaurant Makeover and had even seen him live at the Norfolk County Fair, so we knew what to expect and we certainly were not disappointed with his performance in Bobcaygeon! As an added bonus for Judi, she met her new “BFF”, retired CTV weatherman, Dave Devall. Dave was at the festival acting as MC for the festival’s events. Judi, who has admired Dave for some time, quickly introduced herself and then proceeded to have several photos taken with him! Yes, I was the unwitting photographer!
9. FANSHAWE PIONEER VILLAGE – We had traveled to the village for their Harvest Festival and as a result experienced one of the best pioneer villages we had ever visited! Not only were the village and its buildings very interesting, but the village interpreters were exceptional! They were both knowledgeable and enthusiastic! When I expressed an interest in the farm animals to one of the interpreters, she immediately asked if I would like a personal tour of the barn where the animals were housed. This was a special treat because she was not specifically assigned to the barnyard area. Dressed in her period costume she led me back to the barn area to show me the “restricted” inside. The pride that she showed in her knowledge of the animals was catching. As we walk back to her village “station” she explained to me that the village management had entrusted her with the feeding of the livestock! Fanshawe’s attention to detail was very interesting. Even their “modern day” conveniences, “wheelchair ramps” and “recycling containers” blended in with period construction of the buildings!
10. WARKWORTH CANADA DAY CELEBRATIONS – The Warkworth Canada Day Celebrations were held in Warkworth’s local park. When we arrived it seemed like the whole town was there preparing for the day’s events! They had gathered together and were offering park visitors everything from games to cake and popcorn to concerts! There was so much to do and to eat and, it was all FREE! Our thanks go out to the residents of Warkworth who truly know how to celebrate the spirit of Canada and its birthday!

Nomad’s Top Ten Festival Tips

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:09:00 +0000

Over the years Judi and I have discovered a number of festival tips. Many of these have been learned through the “School of Hard Knocks”! Although I have mentioned a number of these in various articles, I thought I would present them again in this “Top Ten” list.
1. CHECK THE FESTIVAL’S WEBSITE – Most festivals and events now maintain a website. If you are planning on visiting a festival or event, this is the best place to start. On the festival’s website you should be able to find out important information such as festival dates and times, exact location, costs and activities.
2. PRE-PLAN YOUR ROUTE – Nothing can be more frustrating then getting held up on the highway because of a traffic jam! Having an alternative route plan can help eliminate or minimize “traffic frustration”. The “Google Map” is the festival visitors’ best friend. Judi and I use it all the time. By using their “Get Directions” (Link to Get Directions) feature, you can find and print plenty of alternative routes. And, who knows, the alternative route will likely be a lot more adventuresome and fun then the direct route!
3. DEVELOP A CHECKLIST – Having a festival/event checklist can make visiting an event more enjoyable, especially if the visit includes children! Forgetting something important can be quite bothersome, if not downright annoying! No-one likes to have to turn back the retrieve an important item! Planning what you need, in advance, cuts down the chance of this happening. Once you have created your initial list, you can use it for all the festivals and events you plan to visit!
4. BRING A FRIEND - If you enjoy visiting festivals and events as much as Judi and I do, you’ll likely want to share the experience with your family and friends! When you are deciding what festival or event you plan to visit, ask around to see who else would like to go with you. If not your family or friends, consider asking a “senior” to go with you. “Spread the festival joy and fun!”
5. PACK A PICNIC LUNCH – Not all festivals and events have a wide selection of nutritious food. If you are concerned about this, pack a picnic lunch. This way you can choose food that is appealing to the whole family and you’ll likely save a little money in the process! As Judi keeps reminding me, “Don’t forget the sanitary wipes to clean your hands!”
6. WATER – It is very important to bring water with you. Not all events have water available. This is particularly important in the hot summer months! Without enough water in your system, you can easily become dehydrated quickly! Using a refillable water bottle is best, especially for the environment!
7. TAKE A PICTURE OR FIVE – Capturing the memories of a great event is so easy and inexpensive these days because of digital cameras! You no longer have to worry about wasting “film”! A word of caution, though, make sure you have enough memory space on your “Memory Card” and that you have an extra set of batteries.
8. CLOTHING – Always plan your clothing for the event you are visiting! This goes for both clothing and footwear. If it’s a summer event, remember to bring a hat and sun block. If it’s the winter, "layer" your clothing so that you can “strip” down or up depending on how hot or cold you feel! As for footwear, make sure you wear your most comfortable walking shoes or boots.
9. BRING CASH – Many festivals and events only accept cash for their admittance fee. The same goes for food booths amusement rides and parking. Make sure you bring enough cash to cover all contingencies! Some festivals and events do offer ATM machines, but most don’t.
10. WASHROOMS – If you are like some of us (me), knowing the location of event washrooms is a must! Some events mark the location of their washrooms on their program and that’s great! However, you can’t always count on that convenience, so make sure you ask festival staff where they are located. If that’s not possible you might want to reconnoiter the grounds while you still can!

P.S. Let us know if you have any "Festival Tips" you'd like to share.

The Great Ontario Communities Series (Campbellford)

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:47:00 +0000

During the past few years Judi and I have visited almost 150 Ontario community festivals and events. The majority have been planned and managed by dedicated community volunteers. As a salute to these wonderful communities and their hard working residents, I will be writing a series of blogs entitled “Great Ontario Communities”. These blogs describe the communities we have visited and will tell you about some of the interesting things we have experienced and the people we have met. The fifth article will be about Campbellford, located along the banks of the Trent River.
CAMPBELLFORD – Fortunately for Judi and me, Campbellford is only an hour’s drive away! This is one of the most picturesque towns along the Trent-Severn Waterway. As you enter Campbellford from the south on County Road 30, you encounter a long park strip that is nestled between the county road and the waterway. Follow the park (Old Mill Park) far enough and you come to the downtown area plus you will be greeted a giant replica of the Canadian “Toonie” (two dollar coin). Campbellford is the hometown of the Toonie’s creator, internationally collected artist, Brent Townsend. In the summer, the park is a beautiful place to stop and have a picnic lunch! Judi and I try to do this a least twice a year. As you can probably tell from my enthusiasm, Campbellford is a wonderful place to visit (and live)! There are lots of interesting shops in the downtown area including Bennett’s Furnishings and a “to die for” bakery! I can still feel the “sugar rush” from their decadent donuts! So far Judi and I have visited two of their annual events, the Polar Bear Plunge (January) and their Canada Day Celebrations (July 1). Other annual events include the Campbellford Bridal Fair (February), the Trillium Walk in Ferris Park (May), Chrome on the Canal (July), Campbellford BIA Waterfront Festival (July), Campbellford-Seymour Agricultural Fair (August), the Santa Claus Parade (November) and finally, the Showcase of Lights (December). Nearby, “must see” attractions include Westben Arts Festival Theatre and Ferris Provincial Park. Westben Arts Festival Theatre is renown for its “World Class Music and its Wide Open Countyside”. The following is an excerpt from their website. “Bringing culture and nature together in perfect harmony, the magnificent 400-seat timber-frame barn opens onto a lush meadow, surrounded by the gently rolling hills of Northumberland County.” and “The stage hosts an incredible array of renowned Canadian and international artists, from full symphony orchestras & choruses to chamber music and soloists.” Ferris Provincial Park is located just outside of Campbellford. It’s trails are open summer and winter. The 300 foot long suspension bridge, 30 feet over the Ranney Gorge, gives all its visitors an adventure to remember! So, whether it’s picnicking along the waterfront, shopping in the downtown or visiting on of the town’s terrific festivals or attractions, Campbellford is a “must” visit! To find out more about Campbellford, visit the BIA website at http://www.campbellfordbia.ca/.

Festival Correspondents WANTED

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:33:00 +0000

There are some 5,000 festival and events in Ontario. Judi and I have visited about 45 events per year over the last three years. While this is large number of events for us to cover, it’s not enough to satisfy our desire to cover and write about as many Ontario’s festivals and events as possible. That is why we have developed our “Festival Correspondents Program”. So now we are seeking individuals and couples to join our “Festival Correspondents Team”. “What’s involved”, you ask? It’s simple, all you have to do is to choose a festival or event you are interested in visiting and the let the “old” Festival Nomad (me) know which one you want to visit! Once you’ve made your choice, we will contact the event’s organizers and let them know that you are coming. Where possible we will arrange for media credentials. After you have finished your visit you will provide us with your report on the event plus any digital photos you have taken. Yes, we want digital photos to enhance the festival’s article and the more, the better. Judi and I usually take a hundred or so photos per event we visit. This allows us to choose the best photos possible. From there, Judi and I will do the rest. We will your publish your article (with photos) and you will get full credit! Your name “in lights” so to speak! You’ll be a “Festival Insider” with the opportunity to tell others about your festival experiences! It’s all fun and simple. Heck, we’ll even give you your own “Ontario Festivals Visited” baseball caps! If you’d like to find out more about joining our “Festival Correspondents Team”, call the Festival Nomad (Gary McWilliams) at 1-888-818-0255 or e-mail him at gary@ontariofestivalsvisited.ca.

Incredible Dad

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:34:00 +0000

A little while ago I discovered a great new website call “Incredible Dad”. It’s actually created and managed by a friend of mine. That’s my disclosure! However, it is so clever that I thought I would tell you about it. Although it doesn’t actually fall under the category of “festivals and events”, it does deal with kids and parenting, so what could be more “festivalish” (new word) then that? Okay that may be a bit of a stretch, but it’s still a great website and one that I think you should take a look at. This is especially true if you have children or grandchildren of your own. The “Incredible Dad” takes a common sense, fun approach in dealing with kids and their problems or, as my Dad use to say, their “challenges”! Take the Incredible Dad’s “Dad Tips” as an example. One of the “tips” is “Top Ways to Store Your Kid’s Art and the Funny Things They Say”. In this tip the Incredible Dad shows you how to easily store you kid’s arts and crafts plus he gives some great ideas on how to preserve some of the precious things your kid’s say! Another tip, “Top 5 Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Broccoli” talks about fun ways to make the “challenges” of eating Broccoli “enjoyable”! Heck, I might even eat some Broccoli myself! The Incredible Dad’s range of topics include “Dad Tips”, “Fun Tips”, “Restaurant Reviews”, “Vacation Reviews”, “Activities Tips”, “Instant Expert” and “Book Reviews”. These are all from the perspective of kids! As I said, this is a new website, but one with huge potential. I think it could become the standard for “common sense and fun parenting”. Who knows, perhaps some day the Incredible Dad will take his kids to one of Ontario’s fabulous festivals or events and tell us all about it, from his kids’ point of view! Check out the Incredible Dad website at http://incredibledad.com/.

The Great Ontario Communities Series (Buckhorn)

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:13:00 +0000

During the past few years Judi and I have visited almost 150 Ontario community festivals and events. The majority have been planned and managed by dedicated community volunteers. As a salute to these wonderful communities and their hard working residents, I will be writing a series of blogs entitled “Great Ontario Communities”. These blogs describe the communities we have visited and will tell you about some of the interesting things we have experienced and the people we have met. The forth article will be about Buckhorn, the home of the Buckhorn Fine Art Festival.

BUCKHORN – I have written about Buckhorn before. It was one of four communities featured in my recent “Friendly Places” Blog. Judi and I love Buckhorn. In fact, we lived for a few years about 10 km south of Buckhorn on Chemung Lake. During that time we became very familiar with the community of Buckhorn and its people. Buckhorn is a 20 minute drive north of Peterborough and is located at Lock 31 on the Trent-Severn Waterway. I think Buckhorn may be best known for it annual Fine Art Festival. 2010 will mark its 31st Anniversary. From this wonderful festival many other events have sprung, especially ones that are held at the Buckhorn Community Centre! Here is a list of some of them: Dinner Theatre (held in the spring and fall), Spring Craft Show (held in May), Canada Celebrations (held July 1), Fiesta Buckhorn (held in July), Buckhorn Fine Art Festival (held in August), Harvest Craft Show (held Thanksgiving Weekend) and In the ‘Nick’ of Time (held in late November). Other great events are held in the region and add to the popularity of the area. A few include the Buckhorn Maplefest held at the McLean Berry Farm in March and Colours ‘n’ Crows, which lets you tour the region during the fall looking for “autumn colours and scarecrows”. It’s hard to believe that so many great events can be run by a community of so few people. But then again, that’s the charm of this community, dedication and enthusiasm! It never ceases to amaze me, when I talk to one of the many volunteers, of just how much energy they possess! People and events is not all that Buckhorn offers. Not surprising there are several great art galleries located in the area, including Bayside Boutique and Art Gallery, the Whetung Ojibwa Centre and Gallery-on-the-Lake. The area is also home of several well known artists, including internationally recognized and collected, Michael Dumas. If it’s fishing or boating that you are interested in, Buckhorn is located between two fabulous lakes, Lower Buckhorn to the east and Upper Buckhorn to the west. These two lakes are great because they form part of the Trent-Severn Waterway. This versatile area has a lot of other things to see and do. There is the City of Peterborough 35 km to the south and Bobcaygeon 24 km to the west. No matter what time of year you choose to visit Buckhorn, you will never be at a loss for something to do. Check their community website at http://buckhorncanada.ca/.

The Great Ontario Communities Series (Brockville)

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:35:00 +0000

During the past few years Judi and I have visited almost 150 Ontario community festivals and events. The majority have been planned and managed by dedicated community volunteers. As a salute to these wonderful communities and their hard working residents, I will be writing a series of blogs entitled “Great Ontario Communities”. These blogs describe the communities we have visited and will tell you about some of the interesting things we have experienced and the people we have met. The third article will be about Brockville, located in the along the banks of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

BROCKVILLE – Whenever Judi and I drive to eastern Ontario, we try to include the City of Brockville in our itinerary. We love exploring Brockville’s unique picturesque waterfront downtown and its rich historic architecture. Brockville is known as the “City of the 1000 Islands” and is located along the banks of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The city, named after the British General Sir Isaac Brock, is one of the oldest cities in Ontario. This “loyalist” area was first settled in 1785 by hundreds of American refugees. They later became known as “United Empire Loyalists”. To find out more about this historic city, I would recommend that you visit the Wikipedia website/Brockville (Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brockville)
Brockville has a wonderful main street full of interesting and attractive shops to investigate. Judi and I love to have dinner at the “New York Restaurant”. This is an established “Chinese cuisine” restaurant with great food and attentive service. To get to Brockville from Cobourg, Judi and I normally travel the 401 Highway to Gananoque and then take the 1000 Island Parkway to Brockville. This scenic route runs parallel to the St. Lawrence and overlooks the many fabulous island homes and cottages. On clear summer days the river is teaming with pleasure boats! Once you leave the Parkway, the road that leads to the historic downtown is lined with gracious century homes. There is plenty to do in Brockville with its great parks, interesting attractions and wonderful special events. Their parks include the St. Lawrence Park, Centeen Park and Hardy Park; attractions include 1000 Island and Seaway Cruises, the Brockville Museum and Canada’s Oldest Railway Tunnel. Brockville festivals and events include the 1000 Island Jazz Festival (held in May/June), the Brockville Riverfest (held in July), the Brockville Ribfest (held in August) and the Thousand Island Writers Festival (held in October). To find out more about Brockville, visit the city’s website (Link: Brockville)

The Great Ontario Communities Series (Bracebridge)

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:00:00 +0000

During the past few years Judi and I have visited almost 150 Ontario community festivals and events. The majority have been planned and managed by dedicated community volunteers. As a salute to these wonderful communities and their hard working residents, I will be writing a series of blogs entitled “Great Ontario Communities”. These blogs describe the communities we have visited and will tell you about some of the interesting things we have experienced and the people we have met. The second article will be about Bracebridge, located in the Muskokas.

BRACEBRIDGE – Like Bobcaygeon, I have been visiting Bracebridge for many years. First when we had a cottage in Baysville and now because our friends Ross and Cathy have a cottage nearby. Although Judi and I haven’t been to a festival or event (yet) in Bracebridge, I thought I would include it for two reasons. The first is likely obvious if you have small children and have traveled to Santa’s Village. Santa’s Village has been Santa’s summer home for over 50 years. Children of all ages love to visit the Village to enjoy their amusement park and Sportsland. My other reason for including Bracebridge is that this is the home base of Sunset Cruises and the M.V. IDYLLWOOD. If you have read my previous blogs, you will know that Sunset Cruises is owned and operated by Captain Randy Potts and that he currently has one boat in service, the Idyllwood. You will also know that he is in the process of restoring the historic PEERLESS II. This boat roamed the Muskoka Lakes for many years delivering gas and oil to the area’s cottagers. Randy is now turning the Peerless II into his second cruise ship. I will be writing more about Randy and his restoration this coming spring! The Town of Bracebridge is located in the “Heart of the Muskoka”. The Muskoka River runs through the town and flows into Lake Muskoka. This leads into cottage country and a lot of summer fun! Bracebridge is the “hub” for summer cottagers. This is where they meet, eat and buy groceries and other supplies. The town caters, not only to the needs of its 16,000 permanent residents, but to its 1000’s of transient cottagers and visitors. The downtown shops that line the main street are plentiful and fun to explore. The side streets hide many interesting attractions, including the Woodchester Villa (an Octagonal House Museum) and the Muskoka Rails Museum. Special events also add to the town’s charm. Festivals and events include Summerfest (held in early July), Art in the Heart (held on summer weekends), Bracebridge Highland Games (held in mid-August) and Santafest at Santa’s Village (held in mid-December).

The Great Ontario Communities Series (Bobcaygeon)

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:02:00 +0000

Over the years I have been able to travel throughout North America. During these travels I have visited many fascinating places! I believe that very few of the places I have visited rival Ontario’s great communities! During the past few years Judi and I have visited almost 150 Ontario community festivals and events. The majority have been planned and managed by dedicated community volunteers. As a salute to these wonderful communities and their hard working residents, I will be writing a series of blogs entitled “Great Ontario Communities”. These blogs describe the communities we have visited and will tell you about some of the interesting things we have experienced and the people we have met. The first article will be about Bobcaygeon, the picturesque town located in the heart of the Kawartha Lakes.

BOBCAYGEON – We visited this community this summer to attend their Wine and Food Festival. The Festival was held at the Kawartha Settlers’ Village. Although this was our first “festival” visit to Bobcaygeon, it certainly wasn’t our first visit to the town or area. To be truthful, Judi and I are very familiar with the town as we have visited it many, many times both for pleasure and for business. That is why this is such a great place to start our new series! Bobcaygeon is located along the Trent-Severn Waterways, north east of Lindsay. National Historic Lock 32 sits in the middle of the downtown area. Two Kawartha Lakes border the town, Pigeon Lake to the east and Sturgeon Lake to the west. Judi and I have spent many restful days by this beautiful lock. The downtown is full of delightful retail shops and restaurants. Bobcaygeon is also the home of many retirees. It seems to be the perfect mix of cottage country charm and “big city” appeal. The city of Peterborough is less than an hour’s drive away while Toronto can be reached in two hours. There is plenty to do into the area, especially during the summer and fall months. In addition to lots of fishing and boating, there are many special events, including the Bobcaygeon Wine and Food Festival, the Victoria County Studio Tour and the Bobcaygeon Festival of Trees. To find out more about this “Great Ontario Community”, go to their website at http://www.bobcaygeon.org/.

Should I Tell You?

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:55:00 +0000

Did you ever do one of those “bone-headed” things that make you want to “crawl” into a deep dark “cave” and not come out for a year or so? One of those “things” happened to me a few months ago when Judi and I visited Prescott and their St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival! If you have read any of my other articles about this Festival, you will know that the play, “The Taming of the Shrew” was moved from its normal outdoor venue to an indoor venue. The reason given was that there were thunder storms on the distant horizon! I found this difficult to believe because it was sunny and bright in Prescott! However, in the “bright” sun we drove to the Church where the play was now to take place. I parked our car and we walked to the church to join the waiting line. Eventually we were ushered into the church and the play began. We became entrenched in the play! Part way through, however, I looked up at the high windows of the church and saw flashes of lightning! The STORM was upon us and I was humbled! By the time the play was over and we were exiting the church, the storm was over and the rain had stopped. Our walk back to the car was dry and uneventful. I remotely unlocked the car door and opened it. The door felt too light! I wondered why until I looked inside and realized that I had left my window OPEN! The whole driver’s side was drenched! I now had the prospect of a 3 ½ hours drive home on a soaking wet seat! I want to tell you that my “behind” and other parts were cold and “wrinkled” by the time we reached Cobourg!

P.S. My new address is at the “Bat Cave”… I’ll see you in a year or so!!!

Why Not Share?

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:28:00 +0000

Festivals and events are great fun and present a wonderful opportunity to share! It’s simple really, make sure when you decide to go to an event that you share your experience with someone else! This includes telling your friends and family about a great festival or events that you have visited or, better still, invite someone to go with you. Festivals and events can be much more enjoyable when shared with loved ones or friends! Because Judi and I visit so many events through the year, it’s impossible to take people with us all the time. However, when we do it always makes the event seem more memorable! Over the years we’ve gone with a number of different friends and family. I think the first was to the Toronto Zoo’s Spring Toad Festival. We went to this one with my daughter and her family. The fun that the grandchildren had was awesome! Since then we have visited the Bala Cranberry Festival with our friends Ross and Cathy and their young daughter, the Polar Bear Festival in Campbellford with my brother Chuck and his wife, Flo and their friends, Wilf and Win, the Beaches Jazz Festival with my son, Travis and his wife Ina and to the Canadian International Military Tattoo in Hamilton with my sister Barb. There were more times, but you get the idea. Sharing these events with our family and friends was a wonderful experience! So, if you are going to go to a festival or event I urge you to invite someone else to go with you! If not family or friends, invite a senior in your community. Most seniors love outings like this and make wonderful companions. They will have a great time and you will be rewarded by having a more memorable visit!

Friendly Places (Part Two)…

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:21:00 +0000

This article acknowledges our two remaining “Friendly Places”. We certainly appreciate all people and places described in these two articles!

Lang Pioneer Village (Keene) - A few years ago I met a fellow "Cobourgian" at the annual Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) conference. She recognized me and introduced herself to me. She told me that she was the Special Event Co-coordinator for Lang Pioneer Village in Keene. I had heard of the Village, but had never visited it. My new friend, Laurie Siblock, suggested that Judi and I should come and tour the Village sometime. After our chance meeting at the FEO conference, Judi and I, plus my family, have visited Lang Pioneer Village on a number of occasions! Along the way Laurie has introduced us to a number of the Village’s volunteers and staff, including Joe Corrigan, the Village’s General Manager. Now when we visit the Lang Pioneer Village, Judi and I feel like family. This past summer we participated in their Festival of Textiles’ Fashion Show as “period models” and more recently Judi volunteered as a raffle ticket seller at their Applefest. Lang Pioneer Village is just one of those places we can go at any time and always be welcomed!

Smiths Falls – Although we had visited Smiths Falls and their Canal, Railway and Chocolate Festival two years ago, it wasn’t until this year that we felt the true warmth of this wonderful community and its residents! It all started with a simple e-mail! The new festival chair e-mailed me asking for information about Ontario Festivals Visited. From there it escalated into many e-mails and culminated in an invitation to re-visit the new and improved Festival! There was, of course, a bribe involved! Jim McPherson told us that if we came on opening day he would arrange a historic Voyageur Canoe trip along the Rideau Canal and onto the Smiths Falls “Swale” (click HERE to read my “Swale” article). This offer was “sweetened up” by Jim asking Judi and I to judge the Chocolate Contest! How could we refuse such an offer! On arriving at the Festival grounds, we were met by our now “fast” friend, Chair Jim McPherson! From that moment on Judi and I were treated very well! The highlight of the day and evening came during the opening ceremonies! Jim invited me up to front and introduced me to the crowd that had gathered. He then presented Judi and I with a framed limited print that depicted the Smiths Falls many attractions. Neither Judi nor I had any idea what Jim had planned, but we were certainly honored. In reflection of our Smiths Falls experience, both Judi and I fondly look back at our time there and the terrific people we met!

Friendly Places (Part One)…

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:15:00 +0000

Over the past 2 ½ years Judi and I have visited over 75 different communities. Each one has its own unique charm, but only a few really stand out! In this article I would like to acknowledge my four top “friendly places”.

Buckhorn – We have been traveling to the Village of Buckhorn for over 25 years. We even had a boat moored for a couple of years at the Buckhorn Yacht Harbour. Our first experience with the Village was at their annual Fine Art Festival. Since our first visit, we have been back to Buckhorn hundreds of times. However, it’s only been over the past few years that we have discovered the true spirit of the community! To date we have visited four of their events, the Buckhorn Fine Art Festival, Colours ‘N’ Crows, Fiesta Buckhorn and the Buckhorn Maple Syrup Festival held at the McLean Berry Farm. At each one we were always greeted with friendly enthusiasm! Even outside the events, when we needed information or help, we could always count on the wonderful Buckhorn residents. The community spirit is always there!

Prescott – This town completely caught us off guard! We had been to Prescott a few times before, but only to drive through. On a sunny July afternoon we had driven to Prescott to visit their St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival. We arrived at their normal venue only to be told that the play had been moved to a local church. The move was due to a forecasted severe thunder storm coming to the area. At the church we were greeted by friendly volunteers who told us that the doors to the church would be opened shortly. We joined others who were also waiting. The people around us talked about their town and the upcoming play. This was opening night, so no-one knew what to expect. Eventually we were led to the front of the church to an open seat. The lady who led us gave us some insight as to what was going to happen once the play started. She also told us that Prescott’s Mayor, Suzanne Dodge, would be sitting behind us! As we waited for the play to start, people started to fill the seats in the church. All around us people said hello and asked about us. They knew we weren’t from the area. Eventually the Mayor took her seat behind us and I turned around to say hello and introduce ourselves. There was an immediate connection between us. I felt that I had met a long lost friend. Suzanne told us all about her town and its attractions. You could see the pride in her eyes when she talked about Prescott and its people. She told us that next year, 2010, was their bi-centennial and that they had a lot of events planned throughout the year. She invited us come to Prescott to help them celebrate. As this was the Festival’s opening night, the town was hosting a Gala after the play. Not only did Mayor Suzanne invite us to the Gala, but several people around us also insisted that we come. We had a wonderful time and certainly appreciated how we were treated. Prescott is definitely one of the top friendly places we have visited! (Part Two - continued next week)

Making the Most…

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:54:00 +0000

Sometimes you may go to an event that does not meet your expectations. What do you do? Do you turn around and go home or do you make the most of it? Judi and I feel that you should stay and try to “make the most of it”. Who knows, you might just be surprised! There may be something you missed at first look, an exciting ride, an interesting exhibit or, perhaps a later event. Having an open mind and looking a little harder may reveal a real “gem”. The big thing is to find a schedule of events or to approach an event organizer to find out what “things of interest” are happening later in the day. If after checking things out there is still nothing of interest, don’t let the disappointment ruin your entire outing! Look for other forms of entertainment.

Here are a few ideas.
* See if there is a fun park close by or an interesting attraction close by and then check it out
* Try taking a unique route home. One that you haven’t traveled before. There may be interesting towns and landscapes along the way.
* Stop along the way and visit unique and fun shops
* Depending on the time of year and the region you are traveling, there may be other things to interest you. For example, if you are traveling in the Niagara region or Prince Edward County there are lots of vineyards to explore. If you are in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, there are many beautiful farms and quaint hamlets to investigate
* If you’ve planned ahead like Judi and I do, you will have packed a picnic lunch. Find a scenic place to stop, relax and eat. If you have also packed some games for the kids, this would be a good time and place for them to “blow off steam” and have some fun
* Make arrangements to visit friends or family along the way back home

Some of the ideas outlined above may take a little pre-planning, but I think you will be glad that you took my advice! It’s not that you are looking for a “bad” festival or event. It’s just that you are aware of the possibility! Whatever you decide to do, make the most of your day!

How Not to Pack!

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:45:00 +0000

In order to save on the cost of going to festivals and events and to eat healthier meals, Judi has been making and packing picnic lunches for us to take to the festivals and events we visit! We’ve been doing this since the beginning of August and it’s been going very well, until now! Each time Judi carefully thinks through what we are going to eat and what she needs to pack. She includes such things as forks, knives, spoons, salt, napkins, etc., all of this along with our food and beverages. To preserve the food in the hot weather and to keep our drinks cool, we have a thermal lined picnic bag. As I said, all was well until last week! Judi prepared and packed the food as usual. Our recyclable water bottles were freshly filled and also packed. We loaded everything into our car and then headed for our destination! We were going to visit the event in the morning and then head to Wellington to visit my brother Chuck and his wife, Flo. After the festival visit we went back to the car, ready to have our picnic lunch. We wanted to eat before we headed out to Chuck and Flo’s. Judi opened the thermal bag and let out a loud scream and then a low moan! This was followed by a few well chosen words! I can’t repeat them here! The bottom of the bag was completely filled with WATER! We had just purchased new water bottles and had not tested them out! The contents of the water bottles had leaked! Everything was soaked and the water bottles were empty! Even though the sandwiches had been carefully wrapped, the water had managed to seep in! They were just nicely soggy! I was hungry and needed eat, so I suck in a big breath and bit into the soggy sandwich! Needless to say, the lunch was not quite what we had in mind when we started out that morning! So, here is my FESTIVAL NOMAD advice for the day… “Check out your new water bottles for leaks BEFORE you pack them with your lunch!” Also, take your mother’s advice, “Never eat a soggy sandwich!”

Participation…

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:28:00 +0000

Every once in a while Judi and I get to participate in one of the events we visit. Sometimes it’s by chance and other times it’s by choice. Whatever the circumstances, we always have fun and feel privileged that we were asked. The Festival of Textiles at Lang Pioneer Village is a good example. It all started with a simple e-mail from Lang’s Special Events co-coordinator, Laurie Siblock. Her e-mail simply said “Are you still coming to our Festival of Textiles and if you are, would you and Judi like to be one of our period fashion models?” The answer to the first part of the question was “yes”. The answer to the second part of the question wasn’t quite as simple! If I was going to participate, I wanted Judi to do it too. Judi doesn’t like too much limelight! She likes to stay in the background! This was going to be a big “leap” for her! Finally after much hesitation, Judi agreed to participate with me. The next hurdle was finding out if they had clothes to fit us. It would be no problem fitting Judi, but for me, that’s another story! We sent our measurements to Laurie and eventually received a message that we were both in. Fortunately the women who had made and was supplying the outfits had a relative with a similar size and shape to mine! We were now committed! Soon the Festival date arrived and we made our way to the Village. We had never participated in anything like this before, so we didn’t know what to expect. As I have said before, at most festivals and events Judi and I like to fade into he background and not be up front and central! Actually, there were going to be some 44 models, including us, participating, so our “spotlight” was going to be fairly short and sweet! Still, we did have to dress up and become something we weren’t use to. We arrived at the Village on time for the pre-show information meeting. There we others, like us, who had never “dressed up” before, so we didn’t feel alone. Once the meeting was over and the instructions given, we walked to the dressing area, Judi to the women’s and me to the men’s. Everything had been laid out perfectly. Each outfit was labeled with the participants name and a volunteer “helper” (the outfitters husband!) was there to lend a hand! A good thing for me as the boots I was given were VERY snug! After I was completely dressed, I decided that my look was “interesting”! With the transformation complete I walked downstairs or should I say, I nearly slipped downstairs. The shoes had hardly been used and were VERY slippery! Many of the other participants were dressed and waiting outside for further instructions. It was great to see so many wonderful period fashions! I found Judi amongst the crowd and went to her. She looked fantastic! I little too fashionable for me and my outfit! Eventually we were all lined up and ready to play our part in the Festival of Textiles period fashion show. One by one we were summoned to the stage and posed while the commentator described our ensemble. From there we left the stage and walked on the “catwalk” to the applause of the audience. It was all great fun and most enjoyable. As a matter of fact, I am not sure who had more fun, the audience or the participants. My money’s on the participants! Judi and I both enjoyed our experience and we thank Laurie and the Village staff for making us feel part of their big family!

The Month of Fall Fairs…

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:24:00 +0000

October is the month of freshly harvested produce, autumn colours and fall fairs! One of the best fairs is coming up soon. The Rockton World’s Fair will be held on October 9-12, 2009! The fair was originally known as the Beverly Agricultural Society Fair. Back then the prize money was a whopping $194.50! Since then the fair has grown and changed and so has its name. So how did it become the “World’s Fair”? The story, according the fair’s website goes something like this, “In 1878 Andrew Kernighan commented that the fair should be called the "World's Fair" because all of the world comes to it. The next day local newspapers carried an article about the fair entitled "The World's Fair at Rockton". In 1966 the fair officially became the Rockton World’s Fair. It may not be a “World’s Fair” as we have come to know them, but is certainly a “world class fair”! The fair now has 500 volunteer members, 1,200 exhibitors and $80,000 in prize money and it hosts over 100,000 visitors! This year’s fair looks bigger and better then ever! From the calf judging to the horse jumping and from The Gathering Place to The Meeting Place, the Rockton World’s Fair has everything a family would want and expect from a Fall Fair! Take a ride back in time and find out why the Rockton World’s Fair is a “world class fair”! Check out their website at http://www.rocktonworldsfair.com/index.htm.

Migration Festival – “With Flying Colours”

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:02:00 +0000

It’s hard to believe that almost a year has passed since we traveled to Kingsville for their annual Migration Festival! This year is their 40^th anniversary and the theme of this year’s festival is “With Flying Colours”. It’s a wonderful event because the whole town seems to embrace it and their migration heritage! Last year Judi and I were amazed at how many people, especially the young people, participated in the Migration Parade! If people weren’t riding or walking in the parade, they were sitting o the side of the road cheering on the marchers! Judi and I both feel that this was one of the best parades we have visited! To us, it is obvious that the organizers of this event take a great deal of pride in their town and their favourite son, Conservationist, Jack Miner! The festival kicks off on Friday night with opening ceremonies at the Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary. The ceremonies are a tribute to Jack Miner, his beliefs and his devotion to his beloved migrating birds! The next two days, Saturday and Sunday, continue the Festival’s celebration of fun and migration heritage! Migration events include the Saturday morning Migration Parade, the Marketplace located in the Kingsville District High School and the Children’s Festival which takes place, in part, at Kingsville’s beautiful Lakeside Park and Pavilion. One of the newer events is the Outdoor Show. The Show also takes place in Lakeside Park and Pavilion and this year the Festival committee has partnered with Delta Waterfowl Inc. Delta Waterfowl (Delta’s website: http://www.deltawaterfowl.org/) is one of the leading conservation groups in Canada!

If you are looking for something to do this fall that’s fun for the whole family, the Kingsville Migration Festival on October 16-18 is the place to be! Make sure you get there in good time for the Saturday morning Migration Parade! It runs along Kingsville’s Main Street and starts at 10:30 am. Take my word; you won’t be sorry you visited this event! Check out the Migration Festival’s website at http://www.migrationfestival.ca/. It’s 40 year young!

Bayside’s Fall Art Show and Sale…

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:40:00 +0000

If you love nature art, there is an art event in October that you will not want to miss! That’s right, one of the worlds most accomplished and collected nature artists, Carl Brenders, is coming to Buckhorn’s Bayside Boutique and Gallery for their Fall Art Show and Sale. Brenders attention to detail is one of the reasons he is so admired by collectors and peers alike! The details in Carl’s paintings are not by chance! As stated in his biography, “Carl spends many hours in the field observing nature and taking countless photographs, not just of animals, but of rocks mosses, grasses and so on for his background.” The exact date of Carl’s visit to Canada^th, 2009. He will be there from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm, signing autographs and talking about nature and his art. His new giclee limited edition prints, “Snow Leopard” and “Talk on Old Fence”, will be there ready for sale and personalization! If you have never been to Bayside Boutique and Gallery, you are in for a big treat when you do! The gallery is located near the village of Buckhorn (north of Peterborough) on Upper Buckhorn Lake! October is one of the best months to travel in this area. The fall colours should be at their best during the show! Don’t forget to bring your camera… for Carl and the Fall Colours! Check out the Bayside website at and the Bayside Boutique is Sunday, October 11http://www.baysideboutique.com.

I understand from Leslie that the original of the "Snow Leopard" painting will be on hand for viewing, plus they have a Show Special for the Snow Leopard print @ $145 regular $195 until September 30^th. This is an opportunity not to be missed!

When New Meets Old…

gmcwilliams@steponeconnections.com (Gary McWilliams) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:04:00 +0000

Anyone who thinks that new can’t compliment old and still maintain the integrity of old, has never been to Fanshawe Pioneer Village! Fanshawe is a wonderful heritage village that honors the “old” while conforming to modern realities! You will be able to read about our visit to the Fanshawe Harvest Fest in a few weeks, but until then I thought I would tell you about some of the ways they have handled difficult challenges.
Challenge #1 – Disability Access: It's not likely that our pioneer ancestors were too concerned with wheelchairs and disability access. So how does a “heritage settlement” handle this modern challenge? Since wheel chair ramps are a must in today’s society, especially for a public facility, not having ramps was not an option! But what about the “modern” look? Fanshawe’s solution was simply to use old distressed wood. As a result the ramps look like they not only belong there, but that they have been there forever!

Challenge #2 – Recycling and Litter: Blue Boxes and metal garbage cans don’t blend in with heritage buildings and gardens! Fanshawe handled this beautifully. They build old rustic “miniature sheds” and then placed them in strategic locations throughout the village. They have been made so well that they just blend into the “heritage atmosphere”. Judi and I had explored most of the village by the time we realized how Fanshawe had disguised their litter and recycling receptacles!

It is amazing that simple solutions like these aren’t used by all heritage facilities. A little imagination goes a long way. If you are in the London area, Fanshawe Pioneer Village is certainly worth the visit! The village, now 50 years old, is located in the Fanshawe Conservation Area. Their next big special event is their “1812 Invasion of Upper Canada” re-enactment on October 3-4, 2009. To find out more about this event and Fanshawe Pioneer Village, visit their website at http://www.fanshawepioneervillage.ca/. If you do visit the village, tell them the “Festival Nomad” sent you!