Owen Sound Winter Guide 2014 2015 by CityOwenSound

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HIT THE SNOWBELT!

Make Owen Sound your destination for cool, Canadian exhilaration!

Enjoy live theatre, music, dining, shopping and OHL hockey while youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here. For more info, call 1-888-675-5555 or visit:

www.owensoundtourism.ca

Connect with us. #OwenSound

2 | Owen Sound & Area WINTER GUIDE 2014/2015

Table of Contents

The Festival of Northern Lights attracts large crowds on opening night. This year, the opening will be held Nov. 14. Photo by Lynn Reket

Catch the Magic ......................................... 4-5 Lighting Upgrades ........................................6 Volunteers Vital to Festival .........................7 Wiarton Willie Festival .................................9 Trivia Night Fundraiser ...............................9 What’s On in Owen Sound & Area .... 10-11 Skating Schedule .........................................13 A Winter to Remember ..............................14 Living in a Winter Wonderland ................15 When the Weather Outside is Frightful ...16

Useful Contacts

Attack Hockey Schedule ............................16 Guide to Museums & Galleries ........... 17-18 Winter Camping ..........................................19 Skiing by the Moonlight ....................... 20-21 A Sledder’s Paradise ...................................22

How to ﬁnd us...

Grey County Tourism 1-877-SEE-GREY (733-4739) www.visitgrey.ca

Driving Distances

PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Steve Harron DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Ken McMillan ADVERTISING SALES: Leah Wyonch, Steve Harron CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Paulette Peirol, Lisa Greig and Karen Buratynski FESTIVAL CHAIR: Doug McKee FESTIVAL VICE-CHAIR: Wayne Lee SPECIAL THANKS: To City of Owen Sound Tourism Staff COVER PHOTO: Harrison Park in Owen Sound after a fresh snowfall. Photo by Shelley Jackson

FESTIVAL SPONSORS

Owen Sound Tourism 519-371-9833 •1-888-675-5555 www.owensoundtourism.ca

From Barrie Guelph Kitchener London Ottawa Toronto

KM 118 135 154 229 638 193

Miles 73 84 96 142 396 120

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Owen Sound & Area WINTER GUIDE 2014/2015

With over 70,000 sparkling lights and 350 displays, the festival creates a magical setting that stirs up memories of Christmas excitement, wonder and bliss

Photo by Nelson Phillips

hat transforms the Festival of Northern Lights into a magical experience is the feeling it generates inside of the people who visit.

“It’s more than just the lights. It’s the warmth that people get when they walk through the festival,” says event chairman Doug McKee. Images of Santa Claus, reindeer and decorated evergreen trees conjure up those feel-good, cozy — perhaps childhood — memories of enjoying Christmas cheer with family and friends. The bright, twinkling lights, set against the pure white snow, stir up feelings of Christmas excitement, wonder and bliss. “The festival has a spirit of warmth and caring that regenerates itself every year,” McKee says. The 27th annual Festival of Northern Lights kicks off Nov. 14 with opening ceremonies featuring ﬁreworks, music, entertainment for the kids and the much-anticipated ﬂipping of the switch. continued next page

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Lighting Upgrades to Make Festival Brightest One Yet Continued from Page 5 The festival, named one of the Top 100 festivals and events in Ontario in 2013, will continue for 52 days, wrapping up Jan. 4. It features some 25 kilometres of lights, stretching along the banks of the Sydenham River and into Harrison Park. More than 350 displays and 70,000 sparkling lights illuminate the vast spectacle. This year’s event will follow on the heels of the most successful to date, which saw a record number of tour buses and cars visit the festival as well as an increase in financial donations. McKee says organizers will build on the success of last season by making this year’s festival the brightest one yet. The tree-lighting along the festival route will be brought up to today’s standards, he says, by adding more strands of lights to better fill in the crowns of the trees as well as replacing dim and worn-out bulbs. The colourful train display on the Marine & Rail Museum as well as the flock of geese on the picnic shelter behind city hall will be re-lit with new bulbs. Another building — a replica of the Marine & Rail Museum — will be added to the tiny village near the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market.

“Many people stay over after the opening ceremonies so they can watch the Santa Claus parade the next morning. People shop in the downtown after visiting the festival. They eat at local restaurants and buy gas at local gas stations,” McKee says.

Organizers say about 35,000 people visit the Festival of Northern Lights each year, which helps to inject some $350,000 annually into the local economy. The event will be advertised this year in the Kitchener-Waterloo, Barrie and Orangeville areas.

A team of about 75 to 100 volunteers help to make the festival a reality each year. “It really is a magical event,” McKee says. “It’s like it transports them back to good times they remember.” ALWAYS

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Volunteers Vital to Festival Some festival helpers put in more than 1,000 hours each year

ou could call the volunteers behind the Festival of Northern Lights the Santa’s elves of the annual Christmastime spectacle. There is a crew that works in “The Barn” — the Santa’s workshop of the festival — where they build new displays, repair old ones and refurbish lights. volunteers plan Other fundraisers and events, while teams set up and take down the displays each year. Volunteers are vital to the festival. “Nothing happens without the volunteers,” said Hank Vanderschans, who started volunteering last year and Hank Vanderschans with the wooden model of the former Canadian National train station that created this year a scaled- houses the Marine and Rail Museum and Owen Sound Visitor Centre. The model will be part down wooden model of the of the village display by the Farmers’ Market. former Canadian National Bev Crawford, who has been volunteering for 14 years, train station that houses the Marine & Rail Museum and spends about three mornings each week in The Barn. Owen Sound Visitor Centre. He said people don’t require special skills to help out. There Between 75 and 100 people volunteer for the festival each year, said chairman Doug McKee, including some who put in is always someone willing to show new volunteers what to do, he said. 1,000 hours annually. But the volunteers are getting older, he said, and there is a signiﬁcant need for more. “We could use help everywhere,” he said. Each of the volunteers that work in The Barn, for example, are at least 70 years old. One crew is made up of people in their 80s. McKee said efforts are underway to recruit younger volunteers.

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Crawford said he likes that he can help out when he can and is able to come and go from The Barn as he pleases. He said it’s the look on the faces of children when the festival is lit up that is the biggest reward for volunteering. “That’s my paycheque,” he said. Anyone interested in volunteering for the not-forproﬁt festival can call the festival ofﬁce at city hall at 519-376-1440 ext. 1225.

�� Owen Sound & Area WINTER GUIDE 2014/2015

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Another festival that brightens winter Thousands ﬂock to Wiarton to celebrate famous groundhog

here’s another local festival that attracts a lot of attention during winter.

And that would be, of course, the Wiarton Willie Festival - an annual spectacle that draws thousands to the small Georgian Bay community in the middle of winter.

We hope you’ll join us for the

Festival of Northern Lights this winter. For more information visit festivallights.ca

In 2015, Willie will be celebrating his 59th annual festival by offering events and opportunities galore such as award-winning performers, outdoor fun in Bluewater Park encompassing activities like dog sledding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, astronomy, arts and culture, aboriginal crafts, an obstacle course, winter camping and carving. The highlight is always Willie’s prediction at 7 a.m. on Feb. 2 which attracts many dignitaries and members of the media - all of them anxious to ﬁnd out how soon our winter will end. For more information, check out www.visitwiarton.ca

Trivia Night big fundraiser for festival Twenty-six teams rasied more than $6,300 last year

ne of the biggest fundraisers for the Festival of Northern Lights is the annual Trivia Night.

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Last year 26 teams from the Owen Sound area gathered at the Bayshore Community Centre for the competition. When it was all over, the teams had raised more than $6,300. While teams compete to be the trivia champions, they also have a lot of fun along the way, dressing up in costumes and decorating their tables.

This year’s event will be held March 28 and the venue will once again be the Bayshore. To register a team, contact Festival Administrator Leah Wyonch at lwoynch@owensound.ca or register online at www.festivallights.ca

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Fall Lecture Series: Threads of Time ~ Dressing Up Baby: The History of Children’s Attire, Grey Roots Museum & Archives Exhibit Opening – Mrs. Eaton’s Tea Rooms, Grey Roots Museum & Archives Minor Hockey Silverstick Tournament, Owen Sound arenas Brigadoon, Roxy Theatre Food Matters – BALL Lecture Series every Thursday from Nov. 6 – Nov. 27, Bayshore Community Centre Annual Book Sale, Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library Brigadoon, Roxy Theatre Festival of Northern Lights, Opening Ceremonies, Queens Park Moonlight Magic, Downtown Owen Sound Museum Trivia Night & Silent Auction Fundraiser, Owen Sound Royal Canadian Legion The Fine Craft Christmas Show, Harmony Centre Kiwanis 68th Annual Owen Sound Santa Claus Parade, Downtown Owen Sound Rhythm & Pews Concert, Central Westside Church NHL Alumni All-Star Game, Bayshore Community Centre Fall Lecture Series: Threads of Time ~ A Look at the Woollen Mills of Grey, Grey Roots Museum & Archives Brigadoon, Roxy Theatre Fresh Greenery Christmas Workshop, Owen Sound and Area Seniors’ Centre The 4th Annual Scenic City Crokinole Tournament, First United Church Pottawatomi Spinners & Weavers Show & Sale, Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library Holiday Tour of Homes, various locations Victorian Christmas Open House, Bishop House Downtown Christmas Open House, Downtown Owen Sound History of the Thimble – Fall Lecture Series, Grey Roots Museum & Archives Labyrinth Festival 2014, Georgian Shores United Church 10th Annual Scenes of Wonder Nativity Display, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Blue Christmas IV, Roxy Theatre Grey Roots Annual Craft Sale, Grey Roots Museum & Archives Mossy Gatherings Presents Alana Harte, The River Cafe

Dec. 6 Dec. 7 Dec. 12 Dec. 13 Dec. 13 Dec. 13 Dec. 13

10 | Owen Sound & Area WINTER GUIDE 2014/2015

Festival in the Park, Harrison Park Christmas Concert of the Georgian Bay Concert Choir, Harmony Centre Family Holiday Fun Day, Grey Roots Museum & Archives CFOS & Sun Times Christmas Fund Broadcast, Roxy Theatre Christmas in Nashville, Roxy Theatre Georgian Bay Children’s Choir, “Sounds of the Season” Christmas Concert, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Georgian Bay Symphony’s “Family Christmas Concert”, OSCVI Regional Auditorium, 4:00 PM A Festive Christmas, Georgian Bay Symphony, OSCVI, 7:30 PM Moreston by Candlelight, Grey Roots Museum & Archives

Dec. 13 Dec. 19 Dec. 20 Dec. 21 Dec. 31

January Jan. 3-4 Jan. 3 Jan. 4 Jan. 8 Jan. 17 Jan. 23 Jan. 23-25 Jan. 24 Jan. 30

February Feb. 5-7 Feb. 7 Feb. 9 Feb. 11-14 Feb. 16 Feb. 20 Feb. 20 Feb. 21 Feb. 26

March

Mar. 16-20 Mar. 20 Mar. 20-22 Mar. 21 Mar. 24 Mar. 28 Mar. 28

April Apr. 18 Apr. 23

Christmas Bazaar, Summit Place Retirement Residence Intergenerational Christmas Gathering, Owen Sound and Area Seniors’ Centre A Swingin’ Christmas with the Toronto All-Star Big Band, Roxy Theatre Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols, Leith Church Beckett Family New Year’s Celebration, Roxy Theatre

Rogers Hometown Hockey, Bayshore Community Centre Moonlight Ski, Sawmill Ski Trails, Hepworth Festival of Northern Lights Closes The Landscape & History of Scotland: Lecture Series every Thursday from Jan. 8 – Feb. 19, Bayshore Community Centre Bayshore Broadcasting Bridal Show, Bayshore Community Centre Dallas Smith Concert, Bayshore Community Centre Scouts Winter Campout, Harrison Park The Mudmen, Roxy Theatre PA Day Adventures – Archeology 101, Grey Roots Museum & Archives

The 39 Steps, Roxy Theatre The Jones Boys, Georgian Bay Symphony, OSCVI William “Billy” Avery Bishop’s Birthday, Bishop House The 39 Steps, Roxy Theatre Cobble Beach Family Day, Cobble Beach Resort Don Amero, Roxy Theatre Let’s Grow Together – Owen Sound and Area Seniors’ Centre Chinese New Year Celebration, Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library & Grey Roots Museum & Archives Tomorrow’s World – BALL Lecture Series every Thursday from Feb. 26 – Apr. 2, Bayshore Community Centre

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Western Ontario Drama League Festival, Roxy Theatre Rightsizing Your Home and Possessions, Owen Sound and Area Seniors’ Centre Provincial Broomball Championship, Bayshore & Julie McArthur Regional Recreational Centre Health Fair, Bayshore Community Centre Climate Change Spring Lecture Series every Tuesday from Mar. 24 - Apr. 14, Grey Roots Museum & Archives Festival of Northern Lights Trivia Night, Bayshore Community Centre Nothing But Classics, Georgian Bay Symphony, OSCVI

Georgian Bay Symphony’s 16th Annual Vintners’ Dinner and Wine Auction, Stone Tree Golf & Fitness Grey Roots Regional Heritage Fair, Grey Roots Museum & Archives

For more information about events in Owen Sound, visit www.owensound.ca/events or call 519-371-9833.

Owen Sound & Area WINTER GUIDE 2014/2015

| 11

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Owen Sound Indoor Skating Schedule SUNDAY

MONDAY

FREE PUBLIC SKATING (all ages) 1:30-2:50 pm Julie McArthur RRC Oct. 5 - Mar 15 Except March 1

PRE-SCHOOL (5 yrs & under) 10-10:30 am Bayshore Oct 6–Mar 23 No instruction provided

TUESDAY NOON HOUR 12–1:20 Bayshore Oct 7–Mar 31

A Story & Skate Program will be offered 9:15–9:45 am prior to pre-school skate except for Oct. 13 Free Program

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY HOCKEY SHINNEY 12–12:50 Bayshore Oct 1–Mar 25 No contact or slap shots. Helmets are required, other equipment optional, but recommended

FREE HOLIDAY SKATING COMPLIMENTS OF Julie McArthur Regional Recreation Centre Bayshore 1:30-2:50 pm Dec. 21 7:00–7:50 pm Dec. 22 Dec. 28 1:30-2:50 pm Dec. 23 1:30–2:50 pm Dec. 29 1:30–2:50 pm Dec. 30 1:30–2:50 pm Jan. 2 1:30–2:50 pm

NOON SKATE 12–1:20 pm Bayshore Oct 2–Mar 26 (except Dec 25, Jan. 1) ADULT SKATE 7:00–8:00 PM Bayshore Oct 2–Mar 26 (except Dec 25, Jan. 1) MARCH BREAK Julie McArthur RRC

Mar. 16 1–2:20pm Mar. 17 1–2:20pm Mar. 18 1–2:20pm Mar. 19 1–2:20pm

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FIGURE SKATING SHINNEY 7:30–9:00 am Bayshore Oct 3–Mar 27

SKATE-8 (8 yrs & under) 11–11:50 am Bayshore Oct 18–Mar 14 (except Nov. 8, Jan. 24)

ADULT NOON SKATE 12–1:20 PM Julie McArthur RRC

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Owen Sound & Area WINTER GUIDE 2014/2015

| 13

A Winter to Remember

Last year’s weather was good news for winter tourism ................................................................................................ By Paulette Peirol

ast winter was extreme.

It didn’t set any records in terms of snowfall - despite the mountains of snow that towered over people’s heads - but it was cold, long and brutal, according to senior climatologist David Phillips of Environment Canada. “It was a wicked winter that wouldn’t leave.” Last year we saw 5 to 20 percent more snow than usual, he said. Yet the winter was consistently colder than most, and also longer, with snow on the ground from Halloween to Easter. It was the coldest Novemberto-March in 67 years in the Lower Great Lakes, Phillips said. Blame the polar vortex, which “stayed like an unwanted house guest” until spring. “November, December, January, February, March, April – each month was about three degrees colder than normal,” Phillips explained. There was no winter thaw, so the snow kept piling up, to almost three feet (82 cm) in February.

Georgian Bay and Lake Huron froze over, which made for excellent ice fishing as well. Plus, the extra snow helped to bring the low lake levels back to normal. “The snow was pretty and reliable, which is always good for tourism,” Phillips said. He noted that it is sometimes difficult to convince people in Toronto that it’s pretty and white up here, when all they can see is slush at home. At the same time, they need assurance that they won’t freeze or become snow-stayed when they arrive. “You want it to look and feel like winter, but not to the extent that people are afraid to come.” What can we expect this winter? There’s a 60 per cent chance that El Nino may come in from the Pacific and warm things up, Phillips said. And an almost equal chance that it will stop somewhere in the middle of the country and leave us in the cold. He predicted that the winter of 2014-2015 will likely be “not as long and not as cold” as last year.

It also snowed more often. One Conditions last year were ideal for outdoor The best winters of all strike a hundred and ﬁve days, to be precise, middle chord, he said, with not too enthusiasts. compared to an average of 80 days most years. Photo by John Fearnall, Good Noise Photography much snow, and not too little. Just a few years ago, in 2011-2012, we With 30 per cent more snow days had a very warm winter, crippling last winter, the ground stayed “pristine and white,” which winter sports such as ice ﬁshing, cross-country skiing, was a boon for recreational sports such as skiing and outdoor skating and snowmobiling. To top it off, a spring snowmobiling. Blue Mountain Resort had a record year, with frost decimated that year’s apple crop, killing off most of the 142 days of skiing offered, while District 9 snowmobilers blossoms. enjoyed 14 weeks of groomed trails – more than double the These wild swings in weather are “a hallmark of climate usual six weeks, said Karen Buratynski, district manager for change,” Phillips says, and they’re not about to end soon. the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs.

14 | Owen Sound & Area WINTER GUIDE 2014/2015

Living in a Winter Wonderland

Owen Sound typically gets 11 - 13 feet of snow each winter ................................................................................................ By Paulette Peirol

t’s no secret that we live in a snowbelt. It comes with the territory when you occupy a prime spot on Georgian Bay that’s subject to lake effect snow.

That’s the snow produced when cold northwestern winds move clouds across the bay, picking up warmer vapours that turn into ice and snow. Owen Sound typically gets about 1113 feet of the white stuff each year. How do we cope? Remarkably well. We wear boots, buy snow tires, and carry portable shovels in the back of our cars. We know how to drive through blinding storms (and when to call it quits). We take up winter sports such as crosscountry skiing, snowshoeing, skating, hockey, ice ﬁshing and snowmobiling, and produce some outstanding athletes. Our kids make snowmen and quinzees and toboggan in city parks. We host an annual winter camp-out for Scouts. And we create magical events such as the Festival in the Park and the Festival of Northern Lights to help see us through to the spring. Snowy winters are part of our culture, part of our charm. When people visit Owen Sound in winter, they are coming FOR winter. They’re tired of the grey slush of the big city. Winter brings tourism dollars into the economy, particularly at the Blue Mountain Resort near Collingwood. Heated yurts at McGregor Point Provincial Park are typically booked solid

Snowy winters are part of our charm and culture. on weekends and smaller businesses such as Ontario Winter Camping, which offers heated teepees and yurts in nearby Wiarton, are also thriving. Owen Sound is a hub for snowmobilers and many local hotels offer discounts for people on sleds. This year, we will be a host community for Rogers Hometown Hockey with public celebrations at the Bayshore Community Centre, home of the Owen Sound Attack OHL team, Jan. 3-4.

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Owen Sound & Area WINTER GUIDE 2014/2015

| 15

When the Weather Outside is Frightful W

e’re Canadian and we’re resilient, but sometimes, the weather is just too much! Here are some ways to ﬁnd comfort and joy – or maybe a little inspiration – when it’s howling outside.

LEARN: The Bluewater Association for Lifelong Learning (BALL) hosts lectures at the Bayshore Community Centre each Thursday. Visit www. bluewaterlearns.com The Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library offers books, music, videos, magazines, free use of computers, a bright, playful children’s section and cozy ﬁreside seating in the historic Carnegie wing. www.olco.canlib.ca/client/owensound View winter exhibits at Grey Roots Museum & Archives, Bishop House and the Tom Thomson Art Gallery. The Owen Sound and Area Seniors Centre offers many programs. Call 519-376-8304. Join a club! All are listed in the Owen Sound Community Guide, available at the city’s Visitor Centre or online at www.owensound.ca/programs.

Drop by the Harmony Centre, a community hub. Visit www.harmonycentreos.ca

The Roxy Theatre hosts live performances downtown. Visit www. roxytheatre.ca.

SWEAT:

The Georgian Bay Symphony is offering half-price season’s passes for new subscribers and deep discounts for youth. Visit www.georgianbaysymphony.ca.

Try something new and invigorating, like NIA, pilates, aquaﬁt, karate, step dancing, bowling or spin classes. The city has several yoga studios and martial arts centres, plus a bowling alley. If you’re looking for a gym, visit www.owensound.ca/search/node/ ﬁtness.

SAVOUR: Owen Sound is home to more than 70 eateries, from licensed restaurants to casual cafes. Live music is offered at the Frog Ponds Cafe, the Bleeding Carrot, the River Cafe, Jazzmyn’s, the Coach Inn, Tuscany’s, the Harb and Harrison Park Inn Restaurant. View the city’s events guide for details. www.owensound.ca/events.

PAMPER YOURSELF: For a full service spa, try Cobble Beach Resort or Le Scandinav at Blue Mountain. Hair, Body & Soul, Kula Spa and The Spa West 9th Street also offer spa services in Owen Sound.

Attack Hockey - Home Schedule November Sat. 1 Sat. 8 Sat. 15 Sat. 29

vs Kitchener vs Windsor vs London vs North Bay

February @ 7:30 PM @ 7:30 PM @ 7:30 PM @ 7:30 PM

Wed. 11 vs Barrie Sat. 21 vs Guelph Wed. 25 vs Barrie Fri. 27 vs Erie Sat. 28 vs Erie

@ 7:30 PM @ 7:30 PM @ 7:00 PM

March

December Sat. 6 vs Kitchener Sat. 13 vs Mississauga Wed. 17 vs Plymouth

January Sat. 1 vs Kitchener Sat. 3 vs Guelph Wed. 7 vs Peterborough Fri. 9 vs Sarnia Sat. 10 vs Belleville Sat. 24 vs Kingston Sun. 25 vs Erie Wed. 28 vs Niagara Sat. 31 vs Sudbury

@ 2:00 PM @ 7:30 PM @ 7:00 PM @ 7:30 PM @ 7:30 PM @ 7:30 PM @ 2:00 PM @ 7:00 PM @ 7:30 PM

Sat. 7 vs Saginaw Sun. 8 vs Sault Ste. Marie Sat. 14 vs London Wed. 18 vs Plymouth Sat. 21 vs Sarnia

16 | Owen Sound & Area WINTER GUIDE 2014/2015

@ 7:00 PM @ 7:30 PM @ 7:00 PM @ 7:30 PM @ 7:30 PM

@ 7:30 PM @2:00 PM @ 7:30 PM @ 7:00 PM @ 7:30 PM

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Your Guide to Museums & Galleries Tom Thomson Art Gallery

The Art of Private Jukes

840 1 Ave. W., Owen Sound, ON N4K 4K4 (519) 376-1932 www.tomthomson.org/

While overseas during the Great War, many soldiers documented their experiences in journals, letters home and in drawings. Private Jukes was one such young man. During his time of service he created hundreds of drawings, watercolours and pen and ink sketches depicting not only battle scenes and their aftermath but also moments of pastoral beauty that could still be found in the French countryside. On display until Jan. 11, 2015

Canadian Spirit: The Tom Thomson Experience This ongoing exhibition gives visitors an educational and entertaining introduction into Tom Thomson’s life, his connections with Owen Sound and Grey County, and the factors that led him to become one of Canada’s greatest artists. Canadian Spirit: The Tom Thomson Experience is made up of the TOM’s important collection of objects, photos, documents and artworks by Thomson. Ongoing display at the TOM.

If It Weren’t for the War If It Weren’t for the War brings together work by Allan Harding MacKay and Dick Averns (contemporary ofﬁcial war artists), Tim Whiten (a Vietnam Veteran) and Tina Poplawski (whose family was interned in Siberian gulags during the Second World War, suffering post traumatic stress that was visited upon subsequent generations in her family). Each of these artists will draw upon their personal experiences to create work responding to the theme. On display until Jan. 11, 2015

Autumn Colours Selections from the Gallery’s Collection Of all the visual elements of art, colour has the most immediate impact on us. Our reaction to it is complex, and has been a subject of considerable study by artists and psychologists. The exhibit showcases the artists’ use of a single colour to create that big impact. On display until Jan. 11, 2015

James Sebesta: Retrospective A retrospective exploring the various bodies of work Sebesta has created throughout this career as an artist. A large range of themes and imagery for a retrospective. Imagery includes still life, abstract descriptions and personal and public works associated with mental illness and disability that relate to perceptual psychology. On display from Jan. 18 - Mar. 15, 2015 more listings on Page 18

       

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Community Curators Select VII One of our annual favourites, Community Curators features work from our Permanent Collection selected by members of the public. On display from Jan. 18 – Mar. 15, 2015

Bishop House – Museum, Archives, and National Historic Site 948 3rd Ave. W., Owen Sound, ON N4K 4P6 (519) 371-0031 • www.billybishop.org/

Shards of Vanity

High Flight

Lauren Craste’s artwork explores the many layers and meanings of decorative collectibles: as indicators of social status and class, and demonstrators of power, wealth and politics. He is fascinated by vandalism, especially that which accompanies revolution “when the works of art are destroyed because they incarnate an ideology, or symbolize a speciﬁc social class.” On display from Mar. 22 – May 24, 2015

The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force in Canada. Starting with RFC in the Great War to the British Commonwealth Air Training Program to RCAF. On display until end of December, 2014

Scott Everingham Beauty mixed with brutality, Scott Everingham’s work explores the physicality of oil paint depicting experimental and conceptual realities. Each brush mark with a bold intention, Everingham forms ﬁctional environments that are both striking and severe. On display from Mar. 22 - May 24, 2015

Grey Roots Museum & Archives

Speaking Stones This exhibit explores the various renovations made to the Q ueen Anne revival style home as well as the stories of Billy and the house. On display until March, 2015

We Are Warriors An exhibit looking at the involvement of First Nations soldiers in the Great War and Second World War. On display until May, 2015

Gallery de Boer - Fine Art

102599 Grey Road 18, Georgian Bluffs, ON N4K 5N6 (519) 376-3690 www.greyroots.com/

970 - 2nd Ave. E., Owen Sound, ON N4K 2H6 (519) 376-7914 • www.gallerydeboer.ca/

“Aluminating” Grey Roots: Our 10th Anniversary: “There’s Just SomeTIN About It!”

This exhibit features more than 30 artists with different perspectives and ways of expressing their creativity. The exhibit will showcase an array of genres including abstract, contemporary, landscape and impressionistic art. Also view the permanent exhibit of Robert Markle’s work, which features the infamous pieces that caused so much controversy in his career. On display until April 2015

Check out a new pod exhibit that marks Grey Roots’ 10th anniversary! On Display until January, 2015

Saints & Sinners: A Spirited History of Grey County This exhibit tells the story of alcohol in Grey County, from the early days of our ﬁrst settlers, to the wild days of Prohibition; from our highly successful breweries and distilleries to our secretive bootlegging operations and many things in between. On display until December, 2015.

Bountiful Grey County: Our Agricultural Heritage A Grey Roots original exhibit featuring the agricultural heritage of Grey County. On display until May, 2015

Mrs. Eaton’s War Look back on the Great War through the words of soldiers’ letters. A Grey Roots original exhibit. On display January to May, 2015

Lt. Jaffrey Eaton and Mrs. Christopher Easton. Photo courtesy of the Grey Roots Museum & Archives

18 | Owen Sound & Area WINTER GUIDE 2014/2015

“Creative Explorations” - A Group Exhibit

Owen Sound Artists’ Co-op

279 10th St. E., Owen Sound, ON N4K 1S4 (519) 371-0479 www.osartistsco-op.com/

Guest Artists The Artists’ Co-op welcomes monthly guest artists. This winter will feature: October: acrylic painter Brian Dalton. November: woodworker Jim Scott and photographer Paul Murphy. December: 20 years of co-op members past & present January: textile artist Beatrix Ithurralde February: textile artist Patti McMeekin March: textile artist Halina Shearman

Exhibits at the adjoining Legacy Gallery: Family Works A joint exhibition highlighting the family of potter Steve Irvine and mixed media artist Joan Irvine. On display until Nov. 30, 2015

Next Generation Emerging young artists from Grey and Bruce counties are featured. On display from January to the end of March, 2015

The yurts at MacGregor Point Provincial Park provide toasty accommodations for winter campers.

Winter Camping in a Yurt Cozy accommodations and great winter experiences ..................................................................................................... By Lisa Greig

id-winter you need to shake things up, you know? You don’t have to travel far to do it either. Last year, my partner and I decided to check out winter yurt camping at MacGregor Point Provincial Park near Port Elgin.

night, and it was incredibly peaceful just to stroll around the park all bundled up. There’s also a super fun and totally unique outdoor skating oval. This awesome 400 metre ice trail makes its way through the woods in the park. It’s open from 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. and is lit at night. There’s also a hockey pad available if you go as a group and a game of shinny is what you’re after.

It was a totally new experience for us and we were surprised at how well equipped the yurt was with a propane fireplace, bistro set, electrical outlets and lighting as Brad Fitz and Lisa Greig love winter Bring some bird seed. Many of the well as four vinyl windows that let you see camping so much that it’s now an migratory birds that call Bruce County the snow fly from the comfort of your toasty annual outing for them. home in the summer head south for the accommodations. And I mean toasty! We winter, but there are a number that do brought thick bedding, but we tossed it off in the middle of stick around. With bird seed and patience you may be able to the night because we were so warm! Outside the yurt there’s get them to feed out of your hand! a fire pit (winter bon fires rock), kitchen shelter, picnic tables Skiing and snowshoeing are major activities in the park and a propane barbecue with a side burner; it really is a home during winter. Seven kilometres of set track cross country ski away from home. trail and twenty kilometres of unplowed road and shoreline Indoor (yeah!) washroom facilities were about 200 metres for snowshoeing await you. You totally won’t be bored. from our yurt; the paths are well maintained and clearly Winter camping may seem daunting to some, but honestly, marked. Just bring a flashlight or headlamp to light your staying in a yurt is more like staying in a cabin. You don’t way. need any fancy gear other than your normal outdoor wear While the yurt itself is an attraction and you may just want for winter. Anyone can do this, and I highly recommend that to spend time inside cuddled up with a good book or a loved you do. My partner and I have made it an annual trip we one, you will likely want to get outside and enjoy the winter loved it so much! wonderland that the park offers. We stayed over on a Sunday For more information visit explorethebruce.com or the following link: http://www.ontarioparks.com/park/ What is a yurt? It’s an eight-sided, 16-foot diameter, macgregorpoint

tent-like structure installed on a wooded deck ﬂoor. It’s a wee home for your winter weekend getaway.

The writer is a Bruce County Tourism Information Ofﬁcer.

Owen Sound & Area WINTER GUIDE 2014/2015

| 19

Skiing by the Light of the Moon Local club offers chance to experience the magic of night-time skiing ................................................................................................ By Paulette Peirol

to dessert, coaxes hungry skiers to indulge. The food is catered by Paul Thomas and Karin Hayden-Thomas of the Marketside Cafe in Owen Sound. Two of their children, Jacob and Eli, were longstanding members of the GBN racing team.

ant to try something fun, romantic and quintessentially Canadian? Head to the Sawmill Ski Trails on a clear winter night to ski or snowshoe under a full moon. Each year the Georgian Bay Nordic Ski Club holds a moonlight ski to raise money for its racing team. The event takes place at the Sawmill Ski Trails, featuring many kilometres of groomed, wooded trails about a 20-minute drive north of Owen Sound near Hepworth. There you’ll find a hive of activity around the small clubhouse - people waxing skis, shedding or adding layers, talking with friends and ski-mates, or helping themselves to hot apple cider Skiers enjoy a meal in the clubhouse and marshmallows to roast on a nearby during the Moonlight Ski event at fire. Tea lights in mason jars help set the Sawmill Trails. tone, flickering in the snow. Inside, the rustic clubhouse has been transformed into an elegant cabin, just for this night. Tables are set with runners, candles and bouquets of winter greenery, while a spread of delicious food, from homemade soups and appetizers

20 | Owen Sound & Area WINTER GUIDE 2014/2015

“This is a great opportunity to get some exercise, catch up with friends and experience the magic of skiing at night,” says event organizer Joanna Bottrell, whose sons, Rod and Gavin, are avid skiers, hitting the trails at least four times a week as members of both the GBN racing team and the West Hill Secondary School ski team.

The moonlight ski fundraiser helps cover GBN costs for training and races. This year it will be held on Jan. 3rd. Moonlight skis have taken place here for years, and were formerly organized by the Bruce Ski Club, which manages the trails and clubhouse. The Bruce Ski Club is one of the largest in Ontario with more than 750 members. The club also maintains classic ski

trails at Colpoy’s Bay and Red Bay. The Sawmill site features 11 kilometres of trails groomed for both classic and skate skiing, its newer cousin. A one-kilometre “jackrabbit” loop is lit at night, so you can ski any night of the week. Snowshoeing is also popular here, with three different trails – a 1.5 kilometre loop, 3.5 km loop and 8 km loop. “This is the big drawing card for our area,” says Sawmill Trail Captain Fred Scheel. “Sawmill is the only trail with skate skiing, and that’s what interests the high school and elementary kids.” The next closest place with skate-skiing is Duntroon, more than an hour away. If you’ve grown up with classic skis and would like to give skate skiing or snowshoeing a try, you can rent equipment from Suntrail Source for Adventure in Hepworth.

BILL WALKER

MPP, BRUCE-GREY-OWEN SOUND

The Sawmill trails are generally open from late November to late March, depending on weather; last year saw close to 150 days of skiing, Scheel says. Cross-country skiing is “good training for kids, and great for families,” he says. “It’s not adult-driven, and it’s not kid driven. It’s all-inclusive. You’ll see families pulling kids in sleighs and those kids grow up to be skiers.”

bill.walkerco@pc.ola.org www.billwalkermpp.com

For more information on the Bruce club visit www.bruceskiclub.ca

519-371-2421 or 1-800-461-2664

Other Clubs in the Area

Owen Sound Cross Country Club, which operates trails on the Bruce Trail north of Massie. www.owensound.org/ski/ • 519-376-8046 Sauble Cross Country Club - 18 kms of groomed ski trails branching out from Sauble Falls Provincial Park through wooded areas and open fields. The trails are located 1 km north of Sauble Falls, off the Sauble Falls Pkwy. www.skisauble.freehostia.com/ Glenelg Nordic Ski club – 25 km of regularly groomed and trackset trails southwest of Markdale. www.glenelgnordicskiclub.org/ Kincardine Cross Country Ski Club Trails are at Stoney Island Conservation Area (property of the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority) on County Road 23, four kilometres north of Kincardine. www.angelfire.com/co/kccsc/ Beaver Valley Nordic Ski Club - Trailhead runs out of overflow parking lot at Beaver Valley Ski Club www.beavervalley.ca/2013/12/beaver-valley-nordic-ski-club-new/

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Other Places to Ski Allan Park Trails – (Saugeen Country) www.saugeenconservation.com/ca.php?page=allanparktrails Scenic Caves Nordic Adventures – www.sceniccaves.com Kolapore Wilderness Ski Trails (Kolapore Uplands) do guided skiing and moonlight skis - www.kolaporetrails.org/ Coffin Ridge Winery – www.coffinridge.ca/ (cross country ski the vineyard and après ski by the fire) Cobble Beach Ski Trails - www.cobblebeach.com/amenities/ (they have trail map/ rentals)

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243 8th Street East

519-376-2232

Famous for Food...Favoured for Atmosphere In The Heart of Owen Sound Since 1984

Owen Sound & Area WINTER GUIDE 2014/2015

| 21

A Sledder’s Paradise

Breathtaking rides on 2,000 kms. of trails in Grey Bruce ............................................................................................. By Karen Buratynski

rey Bruce is famous for its sandy beaches and amazing sunsets during the summer months but what a lot of people don’t realize is there is another world to explore once the snow ﬂies - one that can only be seen on the seat of a snowmobile.

the Bruce National Park, are only accessible by snowmobile during the winter months.

Within the area there are approximately 2,000 kms. of interconnected snowmobile trails built and maintained annually by volunteers.

They join small town to small town, where the local business owners welcome riders to stop and refuel, enjoy a good meal and relax in the comfort that is a Grey Bruce winter.

Team that with lots of snow and the diversity of scenery and you have something that is breathtaking. Those fortunate enough to live or cottage in the Grey Bruce area have a virtual playground of snowmobiling opportunities in their own backyard. The touring rider also enjoys this winter wonderland and the incredible trail system draws many snowmobilers to the area every winter.

Heading south from there the trails continue to wind across rolling farm ﬁelds, pass by Walters Falls, through canopies of bush trail and along the banks of the Saugeen River.

The writer is manager of District 9 of the Ontaro Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC). More information on snowmobiling in Grey Bruce, including what to do to get started and how to obtain a guide that features all of the local trails, can be obtained by contacting the OFSC District 9 Ofﬁce at 1-800-387-7669 or visiting the website at www.ofscdistrict9.ca.

Craig Nicholson, known as the Intrepid Snowmobiler, notes that “the Grey Bruce Region provides reliable sledding thanks to being well positioned for lake effect snow and offering a good, extensive network of land-based trails that are well signed and regularly maintained by local snowmobile clubs.” “The quality of our ride was equal to or better than anything else in Ontario,” he said about his visit to the area. “We discovered more than enough straightaways and wide-open ﬁeld trails to satisfy even the most ardent among us. Plus there are so many trail options that our choice of loops seemed almost endless. With good planning, you may never have to ride the same trail twice.” Those who choose to explore Grey Bruce by snowmobile can easily pick an afternoon adventure or a multiple day tour. Many riders take a two-day excursion from Owen Sound to Tobermory and back by snowmobile, enjoying both the Lake Huron and Georgian Bay side of the Niagara Escarpment. Many parts of this trek, such as Skinner’s Bluff and areas of

Visit www.roxytheatre.ca for our coming events 251 9th Street East Owen Sound, ON 519-371-2833

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22 | Owen Sound & Area WINTER GUIDE 2014/2015

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The Magic of Christmas begins here!