Last Saturday’s Festival of Small Halls concert at the DRA Hall was a resounding success from start to finish. The evening began with a chili dinner cook-off. Four crock pots of homemade chili vied for the hungry diners’ custom. And while the non-vegetarian offerings sold out first, the vegomatic dishes weren’t far behind. In all, over 50 meal tickets were sold. And that’s on top of the complimentary servings enjoyed at the performers’ table.
Jasmine Bleile was the night’s first entertainer and she was no stranger to many of those in the audience. Some because of her exposure on CBC. Others because she’s a Glengarry girl through and through. Jasmine is the daughter of Richard Bleile, president of the Glengarry Historical Society and his wife, Suzanne Bujold. The young singer grew up on Concession Road 7, North Lancaster, and attended Glengarry District High. She even played at the garden wedding of Ben Williams and Aiden Burgess of Dunvegan South.
Jenn Grant, the concert’s headline performer, was equally well received. A folk pop singer-songwriter from Lake Echo, Nova Scotia, Ms. Grant treated the appreciative audience to a mix of tried and true fan favourites and compositions from her latest album, Paradise.
Before the concert began, I spoke with Small Halls general manager, Kelly Syms, and she told me that this was just the first of a series of concerts the Festival hopes to bring to Dunvegan. “I fell in love with this little hall the first time Carma Williams showed it to me,” said Syms. “It’s precisely the sort of venue that the Festival was designed to showcase.” The Dunvegan Recreation Association volunteers are to be congratulated for organizing this unique event.
Clark dominates euchre
It was heartening to see so many new faces at last Friday’s euchre luncheon in Dunvegan. Enough players crossed the threshold and plonked down their five-dollar admission fee to fill five tables. And that’s without a number of our regular attendees.
Former Dunvegan resident, Donald Clark, was the day’s big winner. Donald now lives in Cornwall, but still travels back “home” to play cards most months. In addition to winning one of the 50/50 draws and our “Most 4s” prize, his impressive euchre score secured a 1st place finish.
Second prize went to Isabel MacLennan, and third prize went to Michel Bourbonnais. Our other “50/50” draw winners were Arlene Munro, Jean MacLennan, Geraldine Bedard and Gilles Lalonde. And last of all, Jean MacLennan’s name was drawn as winner of the September door prize.
The next DRA Euchre Lunch is scheduled for Friday, October 20th in the DRA Hall at 19053 County Road 24 from 12:00 noon to around 3:30 PM. Admission is only $5.00 and includes delicious pre- and post-game lunches.
The Yanks are coming!
Moving on down the road, this coming weekend, September 23rd and 24th, is the Glengarry Pioneer Museum’s eighth reenactment of life in Upper and Lower Canada in the early 19th century. Naturally, the main focus of the family-friendly event is the recreation of military encampments of the time, as reenactors from across Ontario, Quebec and the United States flock to Dunvegan. However, that’s not all.
Visitors will also get a glimpse of what it was like for civilians back then, thanks to an “1812 Fashions & More” show and a fully stocked “Sutlers Row.” This 19th century equivalent of pop-up stores in a modern mall will have an impressive array of goods on sale… from historical reproductions, period clothing and cookware to fresh baked breads, leatherwork, iron work and much more. And silhouette artist Jillian Metcalfe will be on hand to capture your profile for posterity for just $10. Remember, there’s no ATM in Dunvegan, so be prepared.
While I’m not entirely sure how it will work, I’m anxious to see the War of 1812 “Photo Booth” in action. It’s a new attraction, courtesy of the Crysler’s Farm Battlefield group. And, on Sunday, after the camp attends the special “1812 Old Time” service at 9:00 AM in the stone kirk across the road, the museum is hosting a Scottish Crofter’s Tea. To accompany the homemade foods, Baronne de Kippenross, Lady Philippa Boyer de Clairmont, will talk about the “History of the Tartan” from 10:30 AM to 12 noon. The cost to attend the tea is $10, with all proceeds going to the museum.
The gates open at 10:00 AM each day… with Saturday’s battle scheduled for 3:00 PM and Sunday’s at 2:00 PM. One final note —park only in the designated areas, not along County Road 30. Experience has shown that when vehicles are parked this close to the battlefield, the mock cannon fire can shatter car windshields.
Block your ears
I’ve been asked to forewarn Dunvegan residents that this Friday will be punctuated with the sound of frequent cannon fire. It’s Educational Day at the museum and every 25 minutes, from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM, the cannon’s roar will be the signal for the school groups to change stations.
Grade 7-8 students from three schools will be attending this innovative program: Glengarry District High School, Pleasant Corners Public School and St. Jude Catholic School. Thanks to volunteer reenactors who make history come alive, the students will learn about military life in the period, get a taste of the challenges of everyday life in Upper Canada in 1812.
Surprise!
If you’re wondering why there were so many cars at the Dunvegan Hall on Sunday night, here’s the scoop. Honorary Dunveganite, Bill Gilsdorf, was being fêted by his friends. His upcoming 80th birthday falls on September 20th. (In one of those synchronicities of life, Bill shares this date with my wife Terry and former Dunveganite Julie Addison.) Bill had been lured to hall on the pretext of dropping something off on the way to a quiet dinner with friends at a local restaurant. The surprise party organizers got around the telltale collection of parked vehicles, by telling Bill it was yet another “MacLeod Get Together.” By all accounts, Bill was rendered speechless by the surprise… a rare event in and of itself. Many Happy Returns, Bill (and Terry and Julie).
Musical houses
Speaking of the MacLeod clan, this past weekend marked an important change for the Dunvegan branch of the family. Kenneth and Annette MacLeod have just sold their farm to Mark Franklin. The couple are officially hanging up their shepherd’s crooks and retiring to the far more leisurely field of cash cropping.
In the 1993 book The MacLeods of Glengarry, I learnt that the MacLeod family has farmed in Dunvegan since around 1794 when Alexander MacLeod emigrated from Gleneig, Scotland to Lot 27 of Kenyon Concession 9. However, Alexander MacLeod’s farm wasn’t the one that Kenny and Annette just sold. The original 18th century holding is now part of Eileen Campbell’s farm. I’m still researching the story behind the acreage that Mark Franklin has purchased.
As for the MacLeods, they’re downsizing and have bought the round-log house that Marj Monroe built a few years ago a little west of our place. This makes Kenny and Annette our new neighbours. As for Marj, my understanding is that she’s moving to Maxville.
Stork report
I’m pleased to announce that Dunvegan’s population grew by one last Wednesday, September 13th. Mark and Jade Fraser were blessed with the arrival of Sadie Grace, a sister for Lauren and Olivia… and a fourth grandchild for Jack and Linda Fraser. Congratulations!
“CIP” meeting
As a part of North Glengarry’s Community Improvement Plan (CIP), a public information meeting will be held Thursday evening, September 21, at 7:00 PM in the DRA Hall.
I had a quick look at the Township’s web site, and it would appear that, having completely transformed downtown Alexandria and Maxville, they are now moving on to Phase 2 of the program: rural hamlets.
While residential projects in North Glengarry’s more remote communities may be considered, applications for commercial establishments will take precedence. The only problem I can see is that few of these hamlets have any businesses left. As I’ve mentioned here before, our Property Standards by-law needs some real teeth. I’d much prefer to see these funds used for this purpose. That said, Terry and I plan on attending Thursday’s public forum. I hope to see you there.
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