What a difference a wee passage of time makes. While searching the Glengarry County Archives’ database, a small display ad popped off the page of the January 17th, 1974 Glengarry News and grabbed me by the eyeballs. It read: “T I P (Turn In A Pusher) Call 525-1714. Don’t give your name. This is completely anonymous.” Fifty years later, give or take, North Glengarry’s capital boasts three legal pot retail outlets. And while they don’t have a phone number, at least one to which I’m privy, typing “ocs.ca” into you Internet browser will connect you to the official ‘pusher’ in the province: the Ontario government itself.
Regular service returns
Spring is almost upon us. And the Kenyon and St. Columba congregations are resuming services in their respective churches as of this coming Sunday. Rev. Jim wants me to remind members of Kenyon Presbyterian Church in Dunvegan that worship services for the months of March and April will be at 9:30 am. Everyone is welcome to join them in the journey towards Easter.
Student jobs posted
Another sure sign of the approach of warmer weather is the posting of summer job positions at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum. The museum is now accepting resumes for three student positions that can start as early as May, or July if a suitable high school candidate is selected.
I agree with curator Jennifer Black when she says, “The positions are all amazing learning experiences.” The three lucky students will get to interact with the public, help organize events, guide group tours and help with administration, research, social media and even video editing. Training will be provided. However, a gregarious nature and an interest in 19thcentury Canadian history are definite assets.
“It’s a fun, welcoming place to work,” Jennifer went on to say. “So if you know a college, university or high school student looking for summer employment, please have them check out the details on our website: GlengarryPioneerMuseum.ca.
Fresh ideas wanted
Ever since the day it opened its doors in the summer of 1962 the Glengarry Pioneer Museum in Dunvegan has been guided by input from the public it serves. Given the museum’s extensive collection, honest feedback helps the museum’s Executive Committee to understand what interests Glengarrians most, what they want to see more of, and how the museum could do things differently. And the tradition continues with the announcement of the GPM’s 2023 Strategic Planning Session on March 25th from 9:00 am until noon.
If you’d like to have your say — or are just curious — you’re invited to attend. The half-day session will take place in the church hall beside Dunvegan’s Kenyon Presbyterian Church. There’s plenty of free parking across the road. All that the subcommittee organizing the event asks is that you RSVP your intention to attend by March 17th. This will allow them to plan for the refreshments and light lunch that will be provided. For more information, or tell them you’ll be there with bells on, please contact the museum at 613-527-5230 or by email info@glengarrypioneermuseum.ca.
Covid wins once again
This past weekend, I was asked if the DRA would be holding its ever so popular Pizza, Crokinole & Taffy event at the Dunvegan Recreation hall this spring? Sadly, the answer is NO. As Anne Forrester-Bertrand explained in an email, “It was decided that it is still too risky to hold this event as there is too much hand-to-hand contact with the game pieces.”
The event used to feature a pizza-by-the-slice dinner, followed by a rousing tournament of Ontario’s official board game: crokinole. As an added sweet touch, there’d be a halftime maple syrup taffy break. Sadly, it was one of the first casualties to the DRA activity program when the pandemic hit. Which means the last time it was held was the spring of 2019.
Some would argue that there is very little, if any, evidence at this stage that ‘touch’ is a significant vector for the transmission of Covid virus. The common cold, yes… but Covid, no. As a result, many groups, including seniors, have resumed card tournaments, book sales and a whole host of other touch-oriented activities. It’s disappointing I know, but maybe it will be safe enough next year.
Free St. Paddy’s concert
As a consolation prize for the loss of Crokinole, Kim Raymond, president of the Dunvegan Recreation Association, tells me they are organizing a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, sort of. It will take place on Saturday, March 25th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm in the afternoon and features the MacLeod Fiddlers. I’m not sure what fiddle tunes the students have lined up, but I imagine at least a few will hail from the land of my ancestors. The concert is free. All the DRA asks is that you bring a cash or food donation for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank. Kim will be responsible for getting the donations the food bank the following week.
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