I was pleased to see that the museum’s call for Dunveganites to fly the Union Jack in support of the GPM 1812 re-enactment event’s 10th anniversary didn’t fall entirely on deaf ears. I spotted a number of locations (Tilkers, Peggi Calder, James Prevost, Sandra MacPherson and the Dunvegan church among them) sporting the classic symbol of Canada’s British heritage. However, I just learned that one of these participants, Peggi Calder west of the hamlet, had her flag stolen today on Monday while she was in town. Albeit hers was an especially nice flag… fashioned from real cloth with a sisal rope lanyard. Nevertheless, what sort of asshat steals a person’s flag? No doubt someone who had a flag-deprived childhood and a burning desire to have their revenge. Peggi tells me that she stood on the bed of her truck when she fastened it to her pole, so the “perp” couldn’t have just reached up and grabbed it. Or perhaps she or he was tall enough to do so and that’s a clue. Nevertheless, if you know who perpetrated this crime, please encourage them to return it to Peggi or myself. I’d appeal to them directly, but I’m not confident they know how to read.
Dastardly Doug and more
The Glengarry Pioneer Museum received two pieces of welcome news recently. The first spot of positivity is that schools in this region will have to rely increasingly on LOCAL historical resources like the museums in Williamstown and Dunvegan and the County Archives in Alexandria when it comes to enriching their Canadian history curriculum. It appears that cuts made by that dastardly Doug Ford are forcing schools in the area to shop locally for history… in lieu of busing kids to Quebec City, Ottawa and Upper Canada Village.
The second concerns the museum’s “1812 Education Day.” For many years, busloads of local grade school students have visited Dunvegan on the Friday before the Re-enactment Weekend and seen Canadian history come to life before their eyes as re-enactors and other museum volunteers put on demonstrations and answered questions. Unfortunately, some schools were never able to participate because the event coincided with a Professional Day. However, I’m told that the school board concerned has offered to take the museum’s 1812 Education Day into account when putting together future PD schedules. Commonsense prevails, a win-win for all.
Skinny 1812 Report
This year, my observations on the museum’s 1812 Re-enactment Weekend are admittedly shallow. For reasons unknown, I have become a persona non grata amongst the flint and steel set and am no longer privy to their press releases and post-event reports.
Nevertheless, looking in from the outside in, it appeared that the event was very well attended… at least on the Friday and Saturday. While I was admittedly skeptical to start, the bus tour link to other venues in the Township appears to have been a success. And the visual impact created by the 1812 power pole hangings and colourful SD&G banners contributed greatly to the hamlet’s festive air.
Lisa’s List…
What a perfect day last Friday was. Picture-perfect weather. The museum replete with knowledge-hungry students. Five full tables of euchre enthusiasts from near and far at the DRA Hall. And to top it all off, Dytha Dixon (who has been not feeling well recently) returned to the euchre fold.
Here are the day’s results, thanks to our official scorekeeper, Lisa Chapman. Our “50/50” winners were Fred Rob, Jennie Laforet, Joe McDonell and Rolland Paquette. As for top scores, Isabel McLennan took first prize with 90 points. Joanna Van Loon came in second with 88. And Doug Robillard and Margo McRae split the third prize with 78 points each.Isabel McLennan won the “Most Stars” prize with five of the pointy stickers. And Joe McDonell claimed the door prize.
The next DRA Euchre is on Friday, October 18th (at 19053 County Road 24) from 12:00 noon to around 3:30 PM. Admission is only $5.00 and includes delicious food and a great bunch of card players. We can proudly boast that no one has been injured to date during one of our friendly tournaments.
Big music… small turnout?
I was sorry to hear from Ben Williams, president of the Dunvegan Recreation Association, that as of last week only 42 tickets had been sold for the Festival of Small Halls concert in Dunvegan. The concert takes place this coming Friday, September 27th at 7:30 and features Newfoundland singer-songwriter Matthew Byrne. I don’t understand the reluctance of people in this region to support events like this. Unless it’s a Celtic or Country Music group with homegrown musicians, it would seem that North Glergarrians don’t want to know. Refreshingly loyal, but strangely limiting.
It would also be interesting to learn from the Small Halls people what success looks like to them. Do they take the long view when it comes to building an audience? I sincerely hope so. Not every artist they’ve booked has been five-star, but each one has offered something unique and the concept of the festival is terrific.
On the positive side of this coin, you know if you buy a ticket you’ll probably have room to perfect your “manspreading” techniques… regardless of your declared gender. And if you want to really make a night of it, the DRA is offering a Roast Beef Dinner with all the trimmings, before the concert, for just $20. A vegetarian alternative is also available. To make a dinner reservation, contact Ben Williams at 613-525-4006, or wood_guy_ben@yahoo.ca. Concert tickets will be available at the door. Or you can purchase them in advance on the Small Halls web site: www.OntarioSmallHalls.com.
Tour includes Dunvegan stop
If live music isn’t your bag (as we used to say in the 60s), might I suggest you take the 2019 annual Apples & Arts Tour which takes place this coming Saturday and Sunday, September 28th and 29th from 10:00 AM to 4 PM each day. This year, 13 of the 33 artists on the tour map, call North Glengarry home. Not surprisingly, they are all also members of the Glengarry Artists’ Collective.
To bring this news item even closer home, Dunveganite Brenda Kennedy’s studio on Greenfield Road will be one of the highlights on the tour. She will be exhibiting a range of older and newer paintings, drawings and painted furniture pieces. Apples & Arts Tourbrochures are available at the museum and other locations across the township. They’d probably even be on display at the Dunvegan Post Office, if we still had one. Alternatively, you can let your fingers do the walking and visit the Apples & Arts web site: applesandart.ca.
Dunvegan population uptick
I was thrilled to learn that Sean Burgess and his wife Erica Rose are expecting… a baby. To be even more precise, Erica is the one who is expecting. And Sean is anxiously awaiting the arrival, which I’m told will be sometime in January. Congratulations.
By the way…
Just ninety shopping days to Christmas. (Costco is already putting out stuff for next Easter.)
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