For decades, I have listened to and read countless reports and proposals that insist the future prosperity of this region lies in tourism. I’ve never agreed with this assessment for the simple reason that Glengarry in general, and North Glengarry in particular, lack the sort of attractions that tourists seek. Spectacular vistas, sparkling lakes and waterways, challenging ski hills, quaint villages with upscale boutiques and sprawling collections of outlet malls… we are devoid of them all.
Yes, I know Glengarry is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. That’s one of the reasons I reside here. But, from a tourist perspective, it’s always been a place you pass through or by, on your way to cottage country or a distant ski resort. At least until now.
Thanks to a press release the museum in Dunvegan sent me, I stumbled across the Cornwall and Counties Tourism web site (www.cornwalltourism.com). You owe it to yourself to visit this Internet destination. It does an amazing job of making our humble corner of Ontario look like a place people might want to visit. Amazing!
Its home page also incorporates a Coming Events section that is presently promoting the Galop Canal Bluegrass Festival in Iroquois, the Glengarry Pioneer Museum’s Historical Driving Tour and the popular Cornwall & Counties’ Passport to the Past event (which replaced Doors Open in our region). This coming weekend, June 18th and 19th, it gives visitors free access to some of the fantastic historical sites throughout Cornwall and the Counties, including: the Historic Cornwall Jail, the Bethune Thompson House, the Martintown Mill, the Aultsville Train Station, the Lost Villages Museum, the Dalkieth Historical Society and, of course, our very own Glengarry Pioneer Museum.
“Passport” Weekend in Dunvegan
What does the upcoming Passport to Our Past weekend look like at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum? Well, first and foremost, on June 18th and 19th, admission to the museum is free. To quote straight from the Cornwall & Counties web pages, “Nine heritage buildings, built in the 1840s and 1860s, dot this museum property that pays homage to the early Pioneer Scottish settlements of the Glengarry area. Along with the log constructed heritage buildings, the Glengarry Pioneer Museum also houses many artifacts, archival material, and photographs from the Glengarry settlements. Check out this beautiful link to the past tucked away in rural Glengarry County.”
And they are right. If you’ve never stopped in, make a point of doing so on Saturday or Sunday. When you do, be sure to take in this year’s feature exhibit. It explores early agricultural tools and practices in Glengarry. The weather forecast is perfect… and your entire party will get in for free. The museum is located at the intersection of County Roads 30 and 24 and is open both days from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Dunvegan’s own Magical Mystery Tour
GPM volunteers have also been working hard to organize two additional events for Passport Weekend. The first is the annual Historical Driving Tour on Saturday, June 18th. This year, the caravan of history buffs will focus on the former township of Lochiel, with stops planned at the Glengarry Telephone Company, the Lorne School House, Kirkhill United Church, St. Columba Presbyterian Church, and many more.
I know that the co-organizers, local historians Kent MacSweyn and Harold MacMillan, worry every spring that they won’t be able to fill up the tour itinerary. But for eight years in a row they’ve managed to come up with winning tours, and I doubt if this year will be an exception. “This area has an incredibly rich history,” says event co-organizer Kent MacSweyn, “and we always find hidden gems.”
The tour will depart from the museum parking lot in Dunvegan at 8:45 AM. However, don’t just show up. In order to ensure that they have the right number of delicious box lunches, you MUST make a reservation in advance by calling 613-527-5230, or emailing info@glengarrypioneermuseum.ca. The cost is $25 per person (not car) for members, and $30 for non-members. I don’t know if there are any spaces left, but it’s well worth calling to ask.
Trees, Bees and Weeds: A short lecture series
On Sunday, June 19th, three experts from our area will be presenting a series of short talks on topics near and dear to their hearts.
The first speaker, Robin Flockton, will talk about the Canadian Forestry Corps and its vital role in World War I. Back then, armies relied heavily on wood for the infrastructure of war: the walls and walkways of hundreds of miles of trenches, carriages for light artillery, stocks for rifles and many more applications. However, by 1915, German submarines had choked off the supply of timber from North America. So, in the winter of 1916, the British War Office requested that Canada supply expertise, men and equipment to harvest the forests of Europe. And many of these lumberjacks came from Glengarry. Robin has been studying the history of WWI and its ties to Glengarry County for the past several years. And this promises to be a very interesting presentation.
The afternoon’s second speaker will be Peggi Calder, and her topic will be the flora, or native plant life, of Glengarry and how it can add variety and nutrition to our diets. A long-time resident of Dunvegan, Peggi has been a wild edibles enthusiast for many, many years. She enjoys walking her property and discovering new weeds, roots and seeds that are edible. During the lecture, she will share samples of common plants that can be used in the kitchen… along with some recipes and tips for identifying these useful plants. The depth of Peggi’s knowledge on this topic has always astounded me. In fact, when our kids were young, she took my family on a tour of our backfields and forest that was as fascinating as it was informative.
Last but not least, Stephen Burgess will take to the stage. Stephen owns and operates CedarCroft Farms & Apiaries in North Lancaster. Over the course of his lecture, he will recount his experiences raising bees, cultivating honey and marketing his 100% organic “Honey from the Glen” brand of natural and flavoured honeys. Stephen lives on a farm near Glen Nevis and is passionate about raising bees and educating the public on the benefits of these often-misunderstood insects. He and his wife Linda have close ties to Dunvegan in that two of their children have made their homes in and around the hamlet.
NOTE: the list of this year’s events that you may have picked up at the museum is wrong. It states that the Trees, Bees and Weeds lectures begin at 1:00 PM. The actual start time is 2:00 PM. The cost is only $10 ($8 for members) and this covers all three of these tantalizing talks, plus an assortment of light refreshments.
Friday 17th is Euchre Day
Here’s a quick reminder aimed at euchre enthusiasts — this month’s tournament will be held this coming Friday, June 17th. Admission is only $5 and includes a crowd-pleasing buffet spread of homemade sandwiches and sweets by Sandra Daigle. A 50/50 draw is also part of the fun. The friendly get-together (more of a social event than a cut-throat tournament) takes place in the DRA Hall at 19053 County Road 24. It starts at 12:00 noon and wraps up around 3:30 PM. Everyone is welcome to join us.
Dunvegan church to close…
on Sunday, June 26th. That’s the day when the churches in the Maxville area (Kenyon Presbyterian included) host the 6th annual Maxville Fair Ecumenical Worship Service in front of the heritage grandstand at the Maxville fairgrounds. The Campbell Trio from Alexandria will provide the music throughout the service. The trio featuring Gabrielle, Noel and Rachel, with sound by Scott Campbell, is well known in the area for creating an inspiring atmosphere for special events like this. The offering, after expenses, will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross for Fort McMurray Relief. Everyone is invited.
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