Recipes to Experience Elora, Fergus and Wellington

elora, fergus & wellington are

your recipe to experience THE GUIDE TO SEE, TASTE AND TOUCH ELORA, FERGUS AND WELLINGTON COUNTY, ONTARIO!

savourelorafergus.ca

EXPLORE, RELAX, INDULGE, ENJOY

your recipe to experience

the recipe for a good life

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xtraordinary experiences don’t get much better, more diverse or more accessible than this. Located just an hour outside Toronto, Elora, Fergus and Wellington County are gems just waiting to be experienced and explored in 2011.

This guide contains a sample of the many things there are to discover in our

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unique communities. Here you’ll find all the ingredients you need to put together your own personal recipe to savour: special places to get away and stay, fabulous local produce and farm-fresh markets from the people who grow our food.

There’s the Grand River and the famous Elora Gorge, trails and a world-class trout 3

EXPLORE, RELAX, INDULGE, ENJOY

Sylvia Galbraith/wraw.silverthornes.ca

fishery. From sensational festivals, shops, cultural events, music and artisans, they all offer opportunities to taste and experience the recipe for a good life.

ELORA AND FERGUS: A CLASSIC COUPLE Music—from the classics to classic rock—is prominent everywhere. You can hear both international and great home-grown talents at local venues and pubs, and enjoy almost four weeks of musical programming at the Elora Festival.

There are country, Celtic and straightahead rock performances throughout the summer as well. Both the Fergus Truck Show and the Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games—the largest events of their kind in North America—feature an impressive musical component, as well as traditional competitions that draw entries and spectators from far and wide.

The artistic community flourishes here, and is on display year-round at the widely respected Elora Centre for the Arts. There are other creative experiences too—from the Wellington County Museum and Archives, to historic guided or self-guided walking tours, 4

and events that invite visitor participation and expression.

Many of the local works created here are offered for sale in our exceptional shops and unique boutiques. There are many oneof-a-kind items, and it’s a great opportunity to uncover the perfect gift for someone else, or yourself.

Throughout it all, our Bed & Breakfast hosts and innkeepers will pamper you on your overnight stays, with quality accommodations that are as diverse and interesting as the homes and hosts themselves. From rural locales to in-town estates, a B&B stay is a great way to relax and indulge.

And because you will undoubtedly get hungry again sometime after breakfast, there’s a wide variety of dining experiences that will suit every palate and taste. Some of our most accomplished chefs and establishments are featured within these pages.

And, speaking of food...

explore, relax, indulge, enjoy

your recipe to experience

SAVOUR ELORA FERGUS: LOCAL FLAVOUR, LOCAL FOOD A fundamental evolution in food today is the movement to buy local. It is a call that resonates throughout Wellington County, and the practice is readily supported by many area residents and restaurateurs. With the diversity of over 100 local farms and markets, anyone looking for farm-fresh produce—from fruits, vegetables and dairy to maple syrup, elk, beef or ostrich meat and more—doesn’t have far to go. It’s all right here.

Today more than ever, people are connecting with food in a new way. We’re highly conscious of how far our food travels, of who grows it and where. The way we eat, and how we think about that experience, is changing too.

Throughout our community, you’ll see many examples of what we’re doing to share and promote the bounty of the lands that surround the Grand River. Through initiatives like “taste•real–from the ground up”, we are actively connecting businesses with agriculture, chefs with growers.

savourelorafergus.ca

Bed & Breakfasts are working on collective buying to put more local foods on the breakfast table. Small retail food stores are meeting with one another to build partnerships that combine individual strengths and resources. The commitment to local food is everywhere.

We’re doing it all in the spirit of community. You could say we are returning to our roots. Like many people, we know that sustainable farming is not an option, but a necessity; that the local food movement is not a trend, but a fundamental transformation in the collective misdiet of communities across Ontario, and perhaps around the world. We are a proud and active part of that change.

A CULINARY CULTURE IS JUST THE START Our connection to the land here is strong.

Our trails and natural waterways are valued treasures in our community, and make possible the many creative pursuits, attractions and experiences that residents and visitors both relish.

So read on, enjoy, and join us to savour the many recipes we have for you to experience.

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THE HEART OF WELLINGTON

your recipe to experience

savour elora~fergus~wellington

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avour Elora Fergus is our promise of local food at its best. We support our thriving local food culture by partnering with microprocessors and growers throughout Wellington County, retailers and restaurants to offer visitors and residents something very special.

In culinary circles, the flavour of regional foods is sometimes called ‘terroir’. It means “of the earth” and is typically used in reference to the flavours in wines.

But it has also become a term acknowledging the sense of place in the taste of our foods, which can be quite different from one region to the next. The same foods can differ in taste—sometimes subtly, sometimes distinctly—due to soils, watersheds and local climate.

Recipes to Experience is your guide to the agricultural diversity of our region, and INSIDE

Celebrating Local Food Meet the Chefs Meet the Growers Outdoor Experiences Festivals & Events Accommodations Wayfinding & Maps Calendar Highlights The Arts Boutiques & Diversions

the simple goal of Savour Elora Fergus is to share with you our passion for putting more local foods on local plates. Come savour that experience. Bon aplites!

LOCAL FOOD MAP And while you’re here, be sure to pick up a copy of our Guelph Wellington Local Food Map. This annually-produced guide to culinary experiences and agricultural tourism connects you to more than 100 local farms, markets, retailers, restaurants and caterers that sell farm-fresh food.

Produced by the Guelph Wellington Local Food Initiative, it features details of the Wellington Rural Romp which takes place each year in spring and fall, and much more.

Maps are available at our information centres in Fergus and Elora, and locations throughout Guelph and Wellington County.

CONTACT US

9 10 17 26 29 38 56 60 62 66

www.elorafergus.travel

ELORA INFORMATION SERVICES

9 Mill Street E, Elora, ON N0B 1S0 (519) 846-9841 FERGUS INFORMATION SERVICES

400 Tower Street S, Fergus ON N1M 2P7 (226) 383-3000 Toll free: 1-877-242-6353

Savour Elora Fergus / Recipes to Experience visitor guide is produced with the help and commitment of the tourism partners of Elora, Fergus and Wellington under the leadership of Elora Fergus Tourism. Concept, design & layout: Crunch! Inc. Communications; Writer: Melanie Ward; Editor: Garrett Klassen; Principal photography: David Barr; Cover photo: Jamie Buisman; Printed in Canada by Commercial Print Craft. ©2011. All rights reserved. For advertising opportunities, email: info@recipestoexperience.com

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THE HEART OF WELLINGTON

down to earth

grand tastes

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o matter the direction from which you come, all routes that lead here take you on a picturesque drive through some of the most beautiful agricultural landscapes in Ontario. With sprawling family farms and rolling back roads, we feel lucky to live here, and we want you to see why.

Get a taste of who we are by taking a trip off the beaten path, where you’ll find the bounty of our lands in the hands of the people who grow the foods we love to eat.

You’ll see why our local farmers have a passion for their work, their products, and are making a positive difference in the environment we share. When you stroll our downtown cores, you’ll find those local flavours ready to eat.

A favourite weekend tradition from midMay through end-October is the outdoor Elora Farmers’ Market, arguably the prettiest farmers’ market in Ontario. This is a truly local food experience. Held along the savourelorafergus.ca

riverbank in the heart of the village at Bissell Park, this small market offers a fabulous variety of farm fresh foods, from organic fruits and vegetables to meats, cheeses, jams and breads, baked goods and specialty teas.

Every week there’s something new to enjoy, changing with the seasons. The market continues indoors over winter, at nearby Grand River Raceway.

Sip your morning coffee while you explore the sights, sounds and tastes. Get to know the growers and learn some fabulous recipes that use the produce of the season. From fresh herbs to blackberries to blue potatoes, there’s something for everyone, so get there early. You never know who you’ll meet or what you’ll see. This is where people gather and it is always a treat.

In Guelph, Minto, Aberfoyle and communities throughout Wellington, local markets abound, and the Guelph Wellington Local Food Map provides for a great selfguided adventure. Explore the fresh foods of 7

THE HEART OF WELLINGTON

the season at farm gates and surrounding farmers’ markets, Pick-Your-Own fields and garden nurseries. It’s a great way to see the places and faces of the farmers who plant or process the products you’re looking for, or to find the retail stores that sell local, fresh foods.

As you tour around you will see that we are fortunate to live in the middle of a beautiful, natural setting. From the downtown cores to sprawling farm fields, our connection to the land influences every aspect of our quality of life, and we like to live well. We like others to live well too, so you’ll find a great variety of Fair Trade products in our stores.

And you will see a growing commitment in our shops and dining establishments to provide quality local foods and products, so that everyone can have access to fresh, local fare with an appetite for health consciousness.

THE STORY OF OUR COVER This past September, a partnership forged by local food lovers took place at Deerfields Farm in Hillsburgh, here in Wellington County. Early morning thunderstorms fled and left behind a beautiful sun-kissed afternoon. White linens, china, crisp wines 8

down to earth

and fresh flowers were served up with the finest in tastes by local food caterers and chefs. Nothing could touch the warm hospitality, friendly faces and the finest of flavours served up, Wellington County style.

Memories of that afternoon, which are pictured on our cover, were also captured on canvas in the compelling, on-the-spot work of painter Laurie Wonfor Nolan: a glimpse of Taste Real Guelph Wellington—a fundraising initiative to kick-start our Countywide local food program. Laurie’s work, represented at right, is a feast for the eyes, just as that day was a feast for the senses; a recipe to experience, for all who came.

Now... allow us to introduce you to a few of the folks who have inspired us to look beyond food trends, to consider health, wellness, and a sustainable future for the next generations of farmers. The profiles that follow feature but a few of our local chefs, growers and culinary purveyors, whose passion and purpose is a shared view on the future of agriculture and community. Come and see why the bounty of our lands isn’t only in what we grow. It’s in the people who grow it.

That’s our community.

SAVOUR ELORA FERGUS

fabulous food experiences

in celebration of local food

Laurie Wonfor Nolan

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MEET THE CHEF | MATTHEW FOOTE

fabulous food experiences

breadalbane street bistro

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hef Matthew Foote’s passion to use locally grown ingredients in his menu creations is a perfect fit to the principles of freshness and sustainability that is the Breadalbane Street Bistro, and the driving force behind its cuisine.

His is a background that makes him one of Canada’s rising stars. He attributes his success to his training, beginning as a student at George Brown College in Toronto. His subsequent apprenticeship at the Westin Harbour Castle propelled him to other Executive Chef Matthew Foote: making the connection with a sustainable food future, every day.

impressive posts including Scaramouche, The Four Seasons Hotel Toronto and Langdon Hall, where an appreciation for simplicity in food was first instilled.

As Executive Chef, he draws upon the expertise of local artisanal farmers and suppliers to marry fresh local tastes with explosive flavour for a dining experience bar none. He is strongly supported in this by Innkeeper Peter Egger, whose approach is to connect people with the very food they eat by showcasing global delicacies made from food grown right here at home, literally at a grassroots level.

And it’s mirrored in Chef Matthew. As talented as he is, he has a down to earth outlook when it comes to food preparation. “It is my sincere desire to cook with my parents’ spirit of hospitality; skill that makes my wife swoon and the logic of my brother,’ he says. “Most importantly, I am never too serious to cook for my children.”

Twelve luxurious overnight suites. Mid-week and weekend getaway packages available. Fine Dining: Breadalbane Bistro.

Gastro Pub: Fergusson Room. 487 St. Andrew St. W, Fergus, ON (519) 843-4770, Toll Free: (888) 842-2825 www.breadalbaneinn.com 10

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MEET THE CHEF | DEREK ROBERTS

fabulous food experiences

fraberts fresh food

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hopping for fresh produce, meats and cheeses is meant to be a daily occurrence here. Styled after the European way of buying daily to eat fresh every day, Fraberts Fresh Food is all about getting the farm to the table, as fast as possible.

Owners Jackie Fraser and Derek Roberts, the “Fra” and “berts” in the name itself, Chef Derek’s enjoy-at-home meals use the same local ingredients visitors can buy in Fraser’s farm-fresh market.

opened their doors with a commitment to offer the freshest foods they could. And that meant finding local producers where foods didn’t have to be trucked for miles, and adjusting both products and meals as the growing season changes.

Chef Roberts is highly adept at adjusting.

A graduate of the Culinary Arts Institute of Ontario, he’s honed his skills with large batch cooking for banquets at Kingsbridge Centre in King City, and refined them further as a sous-chef at the Breadalbane Inn in Fergus.

With those skills, his passion for fresh and the support of local growers, he creates made-from-scratch meals to take home that are as nutritious as they are tasty. Even his deli meats are marinated and cooked here, then hand sliced as needed. Fraberts is also a fresh market, where you can buy and cook with the same ingredients Derek uses every day.

From stews to soups, Chef Roberts begins and ends with fresh. The result—if not just like Mom makes—is very close to it. But then Mom probably didn’t add locally brewed Hockley Valley dark ale to her beef stew.

Event catering and monthly cooking classes available.

Open Mon to Fri, 9 am to 7 pm; Sat 9 am to 6 pm; Sun 10 am to 5 pm. The Fergus Marketplace on the River, 105 Queen St. W, Unit 3, Fergus, ON N1M 1S6 (226) 383-7374 www.frabertsfreshfood.com savourelorafergus.ca

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MEET THE CHEF | JERRY KELLAND

fabulous food experiences

the goofie newfie

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hef Jerry Kelland is a perfect fit, the “real McCoy.” A born and raised Newfie, he’s been at this kitchen’s helm since it opened seven years ago. A wordof-mouth find by owner Rebecca O’Brien and her business partner, Joanne Bach, his meals are inspired by his mom.

“They’re her secret recipes,” he confides.

But there’s more than just inspiration at work here. A graduate of Advanced Culinary at Cornell University, he’s launched many a restaurant, and has experienced all manner of food Below, Joanne and Rebecca: “If you can’t have fun here, you can’t have fun anywhere.”

production, from casual to high dining.

He knows his stuff, which is never more evident than amidst the sometimes-chaos he controls in the kitchen, as his sous-chef and cooks produce meals on a big scale. There’s a family reunion of 50 people going on as we speak, and everyone is hungry. It’s been a busy day; Rebecca jokes that her father-in-law is in the back doing dishes. Thing is, he really is back there. He’s visiting from Newfoundland.

It’s not unusual that family gets called into action. Very much hands-on and close knit, both Rebecca and Joanne work with Chef to insert seasonal offerings in their standard menu of fun and good food.

Jerry explains that Rebecca’s father-in-law procures the lobsters for their annual lobsterfest, cooking them “the way they should be,” in salt water, then loading them on a plane for same-day delivery to the restaurant straight from the pier.

“They’re on the plate that afternoon, and you can’t get fresher than that, B’y,” he winks. “Unless you’re really in Newfoundland.”

Casual dining. Open daily at 11:30 am. Patio overlooking Grand River. Live music every weekend. Private parties up to 80 and catering. 105 Queen St. W, Fergus, ON N1M 1S6 (519) 843-4483 www.goofienewfie.ca. Also be sure to visit Joanne and Rebecca’s authentic British pub, O’Brien’s Tap House, in downtown Fergus.

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fabulous food experiences MEET THE CHOCOLATIER | GERRY BYERS

i love chocolate

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he name says it all. For 17 successful years, chocolatiers Gerry and Krista Byers and their team have been hand-crafting decadent delights in Belgian chocolate at this Fergus location. Their shop is stuffed with chocolate truffles—plus more than 12 flavours of fresh fudge, peanut brittle, Chocolatier Gerry Byers: sometimes love leads to chocolate.

almond buttercrunch, homemade marshmallow dipped in Belgian chocolate, mint smoothies, almond and cranberry bark, gourmet flavoured swirl barks, chocolate covered pretzels... whew!

You get the picture. And they’re all lovingly created on site.

What started out as a small retail operation, born from a shared desire to work together, has become a year-round destination. “We often hear our customers say it’s the best chocolate they’ve ever tasted,” Krista says with pride. “Some come a long way to take home their favourites.”

Their success is due in part to the high quality imported Belgian chocolate they start with, and to their pure creativity in finding new ways of looking at chocolate. But the biggest factor is the love that goes into the attention to detail that makes every chocolate a first-time, delectable experience.

There’s no doubt these chocolatiers have lots of love. Over several years, Krista and Gerry have adopted five Haitian children, and established various in-store programs for sending support to the orphanage where they once resided. They’ve taught a family in Port au Prince how to sew, providing them with a skill for a sustainable income. And their sister store, I Love That Gift! showcasing gifts and home décor, features the aprons this family in Haiti has made. No wonder that “love” figures so prominently in everything they do—from family and staff, to creating some of the finest chocolates and sweets anywhere.

Open year round, Mon to Sat, 10 am to 6 pm. Open late Thurs & Fri until 8 pm, April to December. Extended hours during Holiday times. Delivery to your door by messenger service.

128 St. Andrew St. W, Fergus, ON N1M 1N5 (519) 843-7906 Toll free: (800) 830-7881 www.ilovechocolate.ca savourelorafergus.ca

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MEET THE FLOUR CHILD | FRAN WEIMA

fabulous food experiences

mill street bakery and bistro

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wner Fran Weima is ecstatic. She’s playing in flour, and loves every minute of it. “If I could do only one thing for the rest of my life, it would be baking bread,” she cheerily says. And she’s got her wish.

Fran buys grains locally, milling her own flour to ensure it’s absolutely pure. Today, this self-trained baker is up to her arms, slinging 20 pounds of dough that will convert to whatever her imagination and desire dictates.

Perhaps it’ll be her Red Fife heritage bread or sun-dried tomato and herb. Whichever way it It’s a slice, and then some... Fran Weima sure can bake.

comes together, one thing is certain. It will be fresh out of the oven.

But that’s not all she’s baking. Sinfully delicious desserts are already in the oven—her “Surprise of the Day” is the luscious honeylemon tarts cooling on the racks. The Bistro takes full advantage, using the breads for flavourful deli-style sandwiches, and the desserts to finish a comfort meal. It’s just the spot for coziness.

With a perfect view of the Grand River, the 28-seat Bistro serves tasty homemade goodness. French cuisine figures into the menu, “naturellement”, with such items as coq au vin, beef bourguignon and cassoulet. There are other selections, like a Mexican Shepherd’s Pie and white chili with chicken.

Importantly, anyone with Celiac disease has options here too. Fran is equally skilled at flourless baking, a result of her daughter who also lives with the condition. Her breakfast basket is a perfect example: bacon and eggs, cheese and onions in a shredded potato basket.

(Shhh... you don’t even miss the bread!)

Bakery opens daily at 9 am with seating for 12. Bistro opens daily at 11:30 am, with patio overlooking the Grand River.

Catering for family reunions available in beautiful park setting aside this historic building. 15 Mill St. E, Elora, ON N0B 1S0 (226) 384-2277 www.millstreetbakerybistro.com 14

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MEET THE EVANGELIST | DAVID MEDEIROS

fabulous food experiences

the village olive grove

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tocking nothing but the finest in olive oils and vinegars, the husband and wife team of David Medeiros and Barbara Anderson are on a mission: to take the mystique away from the use of extra virgin olive oils and vinegars through education and sampling.

Man on a mission: David Medeiros is out to educate on the use of fine oils and vinegars.

The idea started with their desire to operate a wine shop. Instead, they opened The Village Olive Grove—not such a big leap.

Oils and vinegars are similar to wine in that each pairs uniquely with different foods.

David explains that only international award-winning oils with gold, silver or bronze designations are carried in store. Many are not sold anywhere else in Canada, such as the one that hails from musician/singer Sting’s estate in Tuscany. And they’re not just for cooking. They shine at providing that healthy finishing touch on foods.

Shelf signs provide informative tasting notes, the origin and Awards on their 50 oils and 30 vinegars, including how to pair with foods. Two tasting bars, one of which overlooks the Grand River, make it easy, scenic and fun for visitors to sample interesting flavours and learn.

Which is the reason they also offer dropin workshops to explore the fine art of tasting and using oils and vinegars, including a handcrafted ice wine vinegar and Verjus, produced provincially in the Niagara Region.

“Oils and vinegars are where wine was 30 years ago,” says David. But not for much longer. He’s out to change all that.

Featuring Rincón extra virgin olive oil from Spain, selected Best of Class and Best of Show; Gold Medal Winner, Los Angeles, 2009.

Tastings and weekend Culinary Workshops throughout the year.

8 Mill St. W, Elora, ON N0B 1S0 (226) 384-7000 www.thevillageolivegrove.com savourelorafergus.ca

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MEET THE CHEF | CAMERON BRYCE

fabulous food experiences

fifty west

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e’s worked at some of the most prestigious hotels and restaurants in Canada. Executive Chef Cameron Bryce wields skills honed from 12 years of food preparation and design in such kitchens as the five-star Eden Dining Room in the Rimrock Hotel in Banff, and the fine-dining Auberge du Pommier in Toronto.

Today, he and his talented culinary team Executive Chef Cameron Bryce: personalizing the dining experience, large and small.

are serving up international foods with local flavours at Delta Hotels’ Fifty West Restaurant. And the kitchen is humming. It takes passion and energy to deliver fine foods in a restaurant which seats 120 people, adding another 65 in the summer with a patio. But they do it. Every day.

“Our kitchen is your kitchen” is the approach Chef and his team takes. If you want something that’s not on the menu, they’ll do what they can to make it. But why would you?

His creativity for blending what’s grown right here with an understanding of what people are looking for arrives at artfully presented, aromatic dishes to tempt the most discerning palate.

It’s not always easy to shop locally. As a national chain, Delta is required to buy foods certified through large distributors. But Cameron works closely with distributors to source ingredients in keeping with the 100 Mile Diet. Result? Chef’s menu reads like a “who’s-who” of fresh tastes: Ontario steaks, lamb and pork.

Truly a delight for any food lover.

Contemporary dining. Open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sunday brunch 11:30 am to 2 pm.

Reservations recommended.

50 Stone Road W, Guelph, ON N1G 0A9 (519) 780-3727 Toll free: (866) 520-4552 www.fiftywestrestaurant.com 16

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celebrity growers

MEET THE GROWERS

elora farmers’ market

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elcome to the “prettiest farmers’ market in Ontario”, surrounded by some of the best farmland, growers and producers in the province. The Elora Farmers’ Market has become a vibrant, wellattended outdoor market throughout the summer season, as well as a cozy indoor market Fresh country air and produce, Saturdays on the banks of the Grand River.

experience all winter long.

The Elora Farmers’ Market has created a special place in our community. On Saturday summer mornings, Bissell Park is the place to be: an idyllic riverside setting lined with trees, a board walk, places to fish and plenty of room to play, right in the heart of the village. The aroma of freshly-baked bread and the brewed coffee lure you in. The warmth and energy of the market vendors and riverside setting add to the pleasure of finding the best in local fare.

This is an authentic farmers’ market experience, where you greet old friends and make new ones. Come and meet the people who grow your food.

Fresh local produce, eggs, baking, fine local meats, fish, artisanal cheeses, preserves. Perennials, herbs and fresh cut flowers, food demonstrations, guest artists and entertainment. Saturdays 9 am – 1 pm, May 14 to Oct 29 rain or shine. Bissell Park, East Mill St., Elora. Winter market at the Paddocks at Grand River Raceway, Nov 5 through March. Plenty of free parking. (519) 846-1396 www.elorafarmersmarket.ca savourelorafergus.ca

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MEET THE LOCAVORES | FROM THE GROUND UP

celebrity growers

taste • real

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ocal food first: that’s the mantra for “Taste Real From the Ground Up”—a brand that guarantees what you buy or eat is grown right here.

A project of Guelph Wellington Local Food, “taste•real” is all about bringing the farmer front and centre, building relationships with you, with restaurants and with our chefs and farmers’ markets, to produce a world-class food experience that’s the real deal when it comes to going local.

The hub of all things local: closing the gap between farm and fork.

Passionately spearheading this local food movement, project coordinator Kate Vsetula explains why. “We want to provide regional food and culinary experiences that are memorable to everyone in our area, and everyone who comes to visit. We have such farming diversity to draw on—elk, ostrich, sheep and goats’ milk cheeses, fruits and vegetables; these are just a few. There’s nothing stopping us from being the hub for all things local.”

Echoing that enthusiasm is outreach coordinator Gayl Creutzberg. “We’ve got it all. Beautiful farms producing great products, and processors and chefs who transform them into ‘taste•real’ culinary delights. It’s all about showcasing and celebrating locally grown, wholesome food.”

The movement is spreading quickly, and in a variety of ways, through festivals that partner with restaurants serving taste•real food; with the local food map that clearly defines where the farms are; and through the spring and fall Rural Romps, where over 20 regional farms and markets open their doors to show people how our food is grown. Taste•real represents the food of Wellington County—its culinary and agricultural experiences brought together under one unique brand, so you always know what you’re getting. Local food first.

Guelph Wellington Local Food, 176 Wyndham St. N, Guelph, ON N1H 8N9 (519) 821-6638 ex 335.

Get your local food map in advance by calling Guelph Tourism Services toll free: (800) 334-4519 or download online at www.guelphwellingtonlocalfood.ca info@guelphwellingtonlocalfood.ca www.tastereal.ca 18

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MEET THE FARMER | LYNDA SAUVÉ

celebrity growers

shepherd’s watch 100 mile market

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ynda Sauvé and Carol Sampson are counting their sheep, while counting their blessings. The hard-working duo are the creators and operators of the Shepherd’s Watch 100 Mile Market & Café in Arthur, a place where farmers, producers, craftsmen and artisans can get their products to market. And it’s a treasure of local delights.

It largely came about out of necessity, because they too needed a place to get their own products to market. Lynda and Carol Lynda Sauvé: cheeses, wool products, and a market that supports businesses 100 miles in every direction.

also operate Shepherd’s Watch Sheep Dairy Farm, and from it comes their independent line of fresh yogurts, artisan cheeses, milk, meat—and plenty of wool. And the 100 Mile Market blossomed to include others in their community.

The pair is as passionate about community and the benefits that come from working together, as they are about their cheeses and handcrafted wool products. For them, it’s about bringing the country community to the customer in one spot, to offer the homegrown, homemade and home-crafted products that would otherwise take people 100 miles off in all directions to find.

It’s working. Their store has become a landmark for local—in baking, in produce, in sweaters, socks, yarn, and a lot more. Even better, on a summer’s day you can sit on the porch and enjoy the tastes and flavours of all good things homegrown, giving you a recipe to experience the country— right where it should be.

Quality blankets, wool, sheep’s milk and sheep products, local foods and friendly service. Open 7 days a week; hours vary.

Farm visits and tours by appointment.

211 Smith St., Hwy 6, Arthur, ON N0G 1A0 (519) 848-2228 savourelorafergus.ca

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MEET THE FARMER | MARTIN DEGROOT

mapleton’s organic dairy

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artin deGroot and Ineke Booy are living the dream. Working in harmony with nature to create a certified organic dairy farm, these farmers are creating products they feel good about. So they should.

Anyone who has tasted their Mapleton’s Organic Ice Cream and Yogurts feels good about it too.

Although you can find Mapleton’s Organic ice cream flavours all across Canada, and their yogurts throughout Ontario, for a real farm Martin deGroot and daughter Arwa: Mapleton’s Organic is a national, homegrown treasure. More than just ice cream, it’s about connecting people with the farm.

experience, they invite you to come out and visit them. Located just a short drive from Elora in the township of Mapleton, the family farm is where the magic happens. It has become a fun destination for thousands of visitors who travel from near and far to get a taste of real farm life.

Making the connection between the farm and the consumer is a priority for Martin and Ineke. They’ve designed a new storefront and family-friendly activities to get people back to the farm to see where and how their food is grown, to learn about animal welfare, and the environmental standards that make Mapleton’s products truly unique.

Visitors can tour the farm, enjoy wagon rides, explore the labyrinth, meet the animals and sample Mapleton’s fabulous flavours—such as Chai or Dandelion organic ice cream, or the creamy Vanilla yogurt. Organic meats and other treats can also be purchased, all with the confidence that these products were raised and produced on site, by the people who greet you when you get there.

Open 7 days a week, 11 am to 6 pm Victoria Day to Thanksgiving.

“Fridays at the Farm” runs every Friday from end-June to Labour Day, 4 to 8 pm. This fun family event includes wagon rides, crafts, buskers, animal demos & farm fresh food. 8548 Wellington Rd. 7, Moorefield ON N0G 2K0 (519) 638-1115. Details at www.mapletonsorganic.ca 20

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celebrity growers

MEET THE GROWERS | LESLIE AND JEFF ZINGER

top market rabbitry

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he health and contentment of their rabbits is paramount with Leslie and Jeff Zinger. For these fourth generation farmers, rabbits are a family passion, including a helping hand at feeding time from sevenyear-old Elizabeth. Johnathan, five, prefers to supervise.

Leslie Zinger: four generations have made rabbits a family passion.

“Every processed rabbit is government inspected for food safety,” says Leslie, getting straight to one of her top priorities.

“The way we ensure that is with our strict regime of cleaning, disinfecting and health assessments.” They’ve built a special barn, where windows wrap the building to let in natural light, and work to maintain a healthy balance with quality feed, which is purchased locally.

With over 150 does and 20 bucks, record-keeping for breeding schedules and litters is a must. But there’s also educating customers about how to prepare rabbit meat, and for that, Leslie talks with local chefs to come up with new recipe ideas, which she gladly shares with customers. “They’re basic, so people can experience the flavour without the daunting task of preparing a gourmet meal.” To encourage trial, they offer not just whole rabbit, but sausage, ground and seasoned rabbit, as well as kabobs, which are perfect for the BBQ. Nor does it end there. Naturally hatched, freerange, non-medicated ducks and geese come and go as they please, taking dips in a pool set aside for that purpose. On a seasonal basis, turkeys and chickens run alongside. And as if that weren’t enough, Leslie grows her own vegetables in a 100 by 150foot garden. “If someone asks for potatoes,” Leslie smiles, “I tell them we can dig up a few.”

Meats available at Farm Gate, or by ordering ahead.

5887 Splint Road, Ariss, ON N0B 1B0 (519) 716-9464 tmr@porchlight.ca savourelorafergus.ca

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MEET THE GROWERS

celebrity growers

guelph farmers’ market

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eeply embedded in our local culture and history is the Guelph Farmers’ Market— a focal point of downtown Guelph since the settlement days of 1827—so much so, that the first market house was erected even before Guelph was proclaimed a City. Over the years, our grassroots market has been A landmark in downtown Guelph, the Farmers’ Market is a chance to meet farmers and producers one-on-one.

host to agricultural events such as the Ontario Provincial Fat Stock Shows and the Ontario Winter Fair.

Today, the Guelph Farmers’ Market is a year-round food affair, housing between 80 and 100 vendors. The market is a community hub where families—visitors and residents alike—come to shop for quality meats, cheeses, produce, baked goods, preserves, and the delicious prepared foods served by our local vendors.

Our farmers work hard, and sell the fruits of their labour with great pride here, while customers enjoy the one-on-one relationship with the producer. During the winter months, the majority of market activity is conducted from within the market building, while our summer market expands to the outside parking lot.

Products range from agricultural, baked and prepared goods, to arts and crafts and non-profit Community information. This weekend, come experience the Guelph Farmers’ Market for yourself.

Located at the corner of Waterloo Ave. & Gordon St. Open year-round, Saturdays 7 am – 12 noon.

For information, call 519-822-1260 ext. 2244, or visit www.guelph.ca/farmersmarket. The Guelph Farmers’ Market is owned and operated by the City of Guelph.

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TASTY ALTERNATIVES | MEET BRENDA MASCHIO

fabulous food experiences

portions–your dietary food store

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t’s a delicious safe haven for those with Celiac Disease, food allergies and dietary restrictions. Portions’ homemade goodness caters to gluten-free, diabetic and renal diets, providing people with healthy convenience. “It’s a tribute to my mother,” Meeting the needs of gluten-free, multi-allergy and specialty diets.

The Gluten-Free place to be!

says Brenda Maschio, explaining how the family business began. “She always served wonderful, made-from-scratch meals.”

Hand-crafted from local, farm-fresh ingredients, individual and family-size meals are frozen for freshness, and ready to heat in microwave or oven. They’ve even developed an allergen spreadsheet that’s accessible on their website, so people can see which, if any, of the top allergens each product contains.

“Having food allergies ourselves, we understand and care about special diet needs,” says Brenda. And, because they weren’t able to find gluten-free food that was enjoyable, daughter Melisa and husband Jeremy Newton developed their own line of gluten-free breads, buns and baking that actually—what a concept—taste good! Called Newton’s No Gluten, these products are carried in-store, and at a few other selected locations. Portions makes and bakes everything by hand in small batches, using only pure, tested gluten-free flours, with equipment and ovens that are dedicated gluten- and peanut-free.

Five different types of bread are freshly-baked, each on different days of the week. However, all breads and buns are available fresh on Saturdays to taste-test before you buy. The most popular item, Sandwich Bread, is also dairy, egg, soy and rice-free.

Healthy, tasteful gluten-free breads, desserts and retail products plus diabetic renal meals frozen for freshness. Open year-round Tues to Fri, 10 am to 6 pm; Sat until 5 pm. Order ahead to avoid disappointment. 340 Woodlawn Rd. W, Unit #4, Guelph, ON N1H 7K6 (519) 837-3337 www.portionscanada.com savourelorafergus.ca

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DINING

fabulous food experiences

180 St. Andrew Street East, Fergus, ON N1M 1P8 519.787.2900 www.vangalis.ca

café, inn & catering

Scrumptious meals prepared with the freshest ingredients. Our broad menu will tempt every palate, from meat lovers to vegans. We invite you to be our guest.

Relax with us in Comfort & Style 180 St. Andrew Street East, Fergus, ON N1M 1P8 519.787.2900 www.vangalis.ca

café and inn Private Overnight Accommodations Breakfast included in our downstairs café

There are 11 main spices in Indian food that give the flavour.

It’s the way you combine them that makes the difference.

Lunch Buffet: Mon to Fri noon – 2:30 pm, Sat Lunch Special: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm.

Dinner: 5 – 10 pm. Sun Dinner: 1 – 9 pm.

105 McDonnell St., Guelph, ON N1H 2Z7 (519) 821-3343 www.spice11.com 24

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An Experience Waiting to Happen

Specializing in premium, heavily aged steaks and chops with guest-obsessed service and uncompromising standards.

We offer casual dining at its best: friendly service, an inviting environment and made-from-scratch recipes using the freshest ingredients and premium cuts of beef.

The core of the menu is local meat, great steaks, burgers, schnitzel and house made sausages.

Two Great Restaurants • Extraordinary Food • Reasonably Priced Grand River Chop House 5 Amaranth Street Grand Valley, On L0N 1G0 519-928-5700 grandriverchophouse.com

Nith River Chop House 1193 Queen’s Bush Road Wellesley, On N0B 2T0 519-656-9057 nithchophouse.com

THE GRAND RIVER

outdoor experiences

a river runs through it

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he scenery is beyond compare. The eons-old limestone cliffs rising from the riverbed at times take your breath away. Here flows Ontario’s great Heritage River: The Grand.

Imagine drifting on a tube on a hot summer’s day, looking at those cliffs from the bottom up—a wholly different view.

Consider the ballet of fly-fishing in its quiet stretches, matching wits with some of the wiliest and finest brown trout in one of Canada’s premier fly fishing destinations. Or the immense power of the river in the spring and fall, when levels rise and the crescendo at Templin Gardens or the Tooth of Time is almost deafening.

The wonder of nature as exemplified by

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the upper Grand River runs through the centres of both towns, and offers a diverse range of adventures, explorations and activities. The famed Elora Gorge is accessible from within scenic Victoria Park in Elora, and via the expansive Elora Conservation Area just downstream.

Here you can test your kayaking skills, or make arrangements to learn. For a more relaxed water adventure, enjoy a leisurely float through the Gorge in an inner tube and see centuries of nature’s work undisturbed and up-close. You can walk or bike on the scenic Elora Cataract Trailway— a 47-kilometre trail that connects Elora to Belwood Lake, the Forks of the Credit, and points beyond. Don’t forget your camera.

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MEET THE GUIDE | KEN COLLINS

outdoor experiences

grand river troutfitters

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idely known for their education, guiding, expert knowledge, and passionate support of the world-class brown trout fishery, Grand River Troutfitters has broadened its reach as a full-service, “gotta-go-there” fishing Front-of-house O.J. MacDonald keeps the retail store humming when Ken is guiding or teaching.

mecca in southwestern Ontario. Spin fishing has been added to their repertoire. So has live bait and archery. Their 2,700 square foot shop, perfectly situated on the banks of the Grand River in Fergus, now boasts a 20-yard indoor archery range—ideal for birthday parties, private lessons, or for rental by the hour to practice on your own.

From owner Ken Collins’ point of view, archery is just a natural extension of the seasons, and the outdoors. “Whether it’s wading waters or walking woodlands in Ontario,” he says, “it’s all about an outdoor experience.”

He’s as passionate about preserving that experience for all river visitors as he is about personal service, and the quality and variety of the gear in his shop. But for him it’s not about the gear. It’s what it helps you do.

Ken Collins walks the talk. “The rule book on fly fishing has pretty well been written by us,” he says, referring in part to local catch and release strategies that ensure the sustainability of the sport fishery. The result has touched a lot of people. In their plus-17 years of business, Grand River Troutfitters has taught more, taken more people on the river, and helped stock more fish than there ever will be anglers to tell the tale of the “one that got away”.

So tips-up, and keep a tight line. May the fish be with you.

Open year-round. Authorized MNR Hunting and Angling License issuer. Guiding packages, instruction and special excursions.

Founding member and supporter, Friends of the Grand.

105 Queen St. W, Fergus, ON N1M 1S6, (519) 787-4359 www.grandrivertroutfitters.com savourelorafergus.ca

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FAMILY GETAWAYS

outdoor experiences

highland pines campground

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t’s a multi-generational family business, with emphasis on family. Since 1967, Highland Pines has catered to family camping vacations, providing an opportunity for parents and their children to spend quality time together in the great outdoors.

“Safe, relaxed, family fun is what we want as a family. Fortunately, we can offer it to others.”

Situated on 144 acres and encompassing over 600 sites, the campground is a scenic, tranquil spot with the Irvine River running along its back and Lake Belwood cradling it to the south. For Don and Janet Vallery along with their two sons Jesse and Nolan—now 20-plus and involved since they were 13—it’s a labour of love, just as it was for Don’s parents before them.

And every year, it’s something new.

Result: Nature trails. Splash parks. A baseball diamond, basketball court and lots of playground areas. There’s a spot for beach volleyball and another for horseshoes.

Families can decide to lounge at the lake or swim in the heated, guarded pool. Last year, a new facility with washrooms, showers and a laundromat was added.

And when it comes to accommodations, there’s something for everyone. Some sites are seasonal with returning families forming a recreational community, while others are geared to weekend families who use the park as a base to explore the area. There are sites set aside for groups, such as church, baseball, or family reunions. Then there’s what Janet refers to as “glamping”: glamour camping with eight cabins and five themed cottages for families looking for the “outdoors”, without the “roughing it” part.

Only an hour from the city, you’ll find it easy to leave the hustle and bustle behind in our natural setting. We also offer RV sales.

RR1, Belwood, ON N0B 1J0 (519) 843-2537 Toll free: (877) 211-7044 Fax: (519) 843-4151 info@highlandpines.com www.highlandpines.com 28

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FESTIVALS , EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS

experiences to celebrate

the celebration’s the zing

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here aren’t many better at throwing a party than the truckers and the Scots.

Want proof? Two of the area’s biggest events—the Highland Games and the Fergus Truck Show are here. Both feature outstanding musical guests along with plenty of downhome competition and just plain fun.

Music is a big part of everything that happens in our community. And we have it in all tempos and genres. From great live music to award-winning theatre, the roar of a performance engine to the thunder of real horses, around here we believe that culture is food for the soul and we’re serving it up hot.

Dig in!

savourelorafergus.ca

If theatre’s your flavour, the newly restored Fergus Theatre is just the zing, featuring live performances throughout the year in all its resplendent, historic glory. The Drayton Festival is an outstanding professional theatre company just a short drive from Fergus and Elora, and features award-winning musicals, dramas and comedy plays. Each year, more than 200,000 visitors enjoy the high calibre of talent that these local theatres bring.

ELORA FESTIVAL Sweet sounds of voices singing in harmony combine with classical melodies and the rhythmic beats of World Music, and echo through the caverns of the Gorge and flow throughout the village. This is the sound of Elora on a warm summer night. There are stars above, and stars on stage. This year, raise a glass and toast the 32nd Anniversary of the Elora Festival and Elora Festival Singers, as they continue a proud tradition of bringing the world of music right to our doorstep. Once heard, you’ll understand why musicians travel from far and wide to be a part of this amazing musical experience, and why audiences return for multiple performances year after year. The Festival offers special events throughout the spring, fall and winter too. Be sure to check the calendar.

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FESTIVALS , EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS

REALLY BIG SHINY TRUCKS In July, the Fergus Truck Show plays host to the biggest trucking event in all of North America, bringing the industry and the people who rely on it together for an openair family entertainment weekend like no other. The show is punctuated by the roar of the truck pulls and three days and nights of some of country and rock music’s major headline and tribute acts.

SCOTLAND WITHOUT THE AIRFARE In August, the tents go up and the excitement around town builds. You can hear bagpipes in the distance and you know it’s time for the 66th Annual Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games. Kicking off with a Thursdaynight downtown parade, it’s one of the best parties of the summer as clans and the curious gather from around the world to enjoy three days of great live music, highland dancing and world-class competition in the Heavy Events, as well as genealogy, guest speakers, camping and more.

experiences to celebrate

delight in Film on a Plate, the Sensational Soup Off, the Moveable Feast and a Film Festival for Youth. In the spirit of community, our Empty Bowls and Glasses fundraiser supports the Centre Wellington Food Bank.

HERITAGE & SUMMER-LONG EVENTS The spirit of place here is strong, and the telling of it can be found in the Wellington County Museum and Archives. Standing like a hilltop sentinel between Elora and Fergus, it is the jewel of our heritage crown, and a centre for year-round events and exhibitions that take us into the future, celebrating who we are and where we came from.

Add to this Mount Forest’s July Fireworks Festival, complete with Classic Car Show and Motorcycle Show-and-Shine, plus Square Dancing tractors (really!!). In September, get up-close and personal with animals and farm life over three days of the Fergus Fall Fair— this year celebrating a milestone 175th Anniversary! All in all, an unforgettable getaway you can take again and again, just a short drive from wherever you are!

A FEAST FOR THE SENSES When the season turns to fall, Sensational Elora turns the town into a festive, 11-day event that celebrates all things sensory, from music and art, drama, film, heritage architecture and breathtaking scenery, to our love of local food and the people who make it. In this Celebration of the Senses, we 30

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FESTIVALS , EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS

experiences to celebrate

sensational elora: a festival of the senses

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n experience that touches every sense, Sensational Elora is 11 days of celebrating the area through music, art, drama, film and fabulous local foods created by equally fabulous chefs. Did we mention it’s fun?

Bringing all your senses into play: it’s what makes Sensational Elora, well—sensational!

Example: Film on a Plate. You’ve heard of wine paired with food; imagine a “foodie” film paired with food and drink. Take it a step further and let a local chef be inspired by the film, creating the themed pairings based on the movie. Hold it in the historic and newly renovated Fergus Grand Theatre where you get to eat and drink, are perhaps entertained by a guest speaker or musical group, then watch the movie before finishing up with a delicious dessert.

“We’re creating something magical for our visitors and our community,” says executive director Karen Thomas. “And we’re doing it with the help of a lot of very creative and talented partners.”

Case in point: “Art-O-Bus”, combining the artistic community’s Studio Tour with limousine and food service. This event begins with appetizers at the Elora Centre for the Arts, continues with a private visit to five or six studios by luxurious “stretch” to meet the artists; then culminates in a late-night dinner at a local restaurant. Another example? “Races with Taste”—a culinary-cum-horse racing experience at Grand River Raceway, featuring a local chef and winery, setting the scene for a memorable time. There are many more opportunities to bring all your senses into fun-filled play. Which is what makes this festival, well—sensational!

Eleven days of creative fun and food-inspired events. Award-winning Sensational Elora: A Festival of the Senses, runs from Sept 30 to Oct 10, 2011.

9 Mill St. E, Elora, ON N0B 1S0 (519) 846-5638 Toll free: (877) 764-5638 info@sensationalelora.com For tickets & full lineup, visit www.sensationalelora.com savourelorafergus.ca

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FESTIVALS , EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS

experiences to celebrate

fergus truck show

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t’s the definition of “Go big or stay home”: 30 acres, close to 400 trucks, where owners and onlookers of all ages congregate in a celebration of both the beauty, and the beast. Beauty in the chromed to-the-nines, A celebration of chrome, music and food: it’s a weekend family affair.

body-painted art-on-wheels, pristinely cleaned, polished, and dusted for the Show and Shine.

And the beast, in the revving of enhanced engines in the modified truck and tractor pull— hauling a dead weight from a standing start until the wheels spin and all forward motion stops. As one volunteer put it, “It’s like drag racing on dirt.”

It’s North America’s largest truck show, due in part to the efforts of hundreds of volunteers. Originally intended only as a one-time event to raise funds, the Fergus Truck Show is now in its 26th year with over $500,000 given back to the community.

There’s always great entertainment that includes a bit of everything for everyone: country and rock-country, tribute acts and straight-ahead rock with local bands or headliners like Emerson Drive. There’s a Saturday night beef barbecue followed by a light show that has nothing to do with fireworks and everything to do with decked-out, illuminated chrome on wheels. With a pancake and sausage, true trucker-style breakfast on Sunday, it’s three July days of muscle-flexin’, truck-struttin’, food and music-lovin’ fun for kids of every age. You have never seen trucks like this.

If you got it, a truck brought it! The Fergus Truck Show runs July 22-24, 2011. Camping reservations, tickets and registration for Show & Shine available online, or by phone. (519) 843 3412 info@fergustruckshow.com www.fergustruckshow.com 34

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FESTIVALS , EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS

experiences to investigate

wellington county museum & archives

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stablished in 1954, the Wellington County Museum and Archives today makes its home in a building with a much earlier and storied history.

Originally constructed in 1877 as a selfsufficient industrial farm to house the poor, it was called the “House of Industry and Refuge.� Later, it became a long-term care home.

Since 1975, when the Museum located here, an ever-popular year-round program of events and exhibitions draws thousands of visitors annually. Changing museum standards and building codes led to an expansion and renovation project that was completed in 1987. And in 2010, a much-needed expansion of the Archives has tripled storage capacity, and provides a larger and better equipped public reading room to meet the increasing demand by genealogists and researchers.

The impressive hilltop site and stately 19th century architecture reflects the importance of the Museum and Archives as an established feature in the cultural and historical mosaic of the community. Stories from our past to the artistic voices of our present celebrate who we are and where we are going. Changing exhibitions and honoured long-term displays guarantee that visitors will see something new on each visit.

Outdoor all-ages activities include butterfly-watching and the annual end-of-summer car show. Visit our website for a full list of events, including Doors Open and Harvest Home Festival.

0536 Wellington Rd. 18 (between Fergus and Elora) Fergus, ON N1M 2W3 (519) 846-0916 www.wcm.on.ca 36

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FESTIVALS , FAIRS, ATTRACTIONS & EVENTS

experiences to celebrate

the 175 th fergus fall fair

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ust three years after the Scots settled Fergus, the Fair came to town. That was 175 years ago. Now rich in a history of agricultural education that began with a simple Young Master Luke Hannam shows off his prized beef calf.

exhibition for farmers, the Fergus Fall Fair has transitioned into the place where urban meets rural, and they’re getting along just fine.

“It teaches kids where food comes from,” explains Board member Deb Veldhuizen. “At last year’s Fair, we had a life-size fiberglass cow that kids could really milk into a pail. Even our Ambassador, Chantel Dirksen, got into the act.”

A new ambassador is chosen to represent the Fair each year and, speaking from experience, Rebecca Hannam says it “puts young people into leadership positions. You have an opportunity to spread agricultural awareness by visiting local classrooms, attending community events and showcasing what the Fair is all about.”

Operated by the Fergus Agricultural Society, the Fair is the tenth oldest in Ontario, and brings agriculture and community together for three days of family fun and local food. There’s every kind of animal on display at one time or another, and popular events such as lawn tractor pulls (that’s right, lawn tractors) and the Dog and Pony Show races, always draw the laughs.

Special plans are underway to celebrate the Fair’s 175th Anniversary, says past ambassador Jeanine Moyer. “We’re arranging for lots of local entertainment, a “Gramma’s Parlour” heritage display, and our first-ever Lumberjack Show.” Cue music. It’s fun for everyone, from grandfolks to kids.

After 175 years, it’s still “The Place” to see the largest egg, the tallest corn, the potato with the most eyes, and much more. The Fergus Fall Fair runs from Sept 16 to 18. Kick off is Sept 11 with Community BBQ and live entertainment. Half-price midway: Sept 15. All events at Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex, 550 Belsyde Ave. E, Fergus, (519) 843-3371 www.fergusfallfair.ca savourelorafergus.ca

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ACCOMMODATIONS

overnight experiences

welcome home

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ake a deep breath—and exhale.

Whatever kind of escape you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place. Each of our area Bed & Breakfasts and Inns has their own unique charm, and hosts are well-versed in the art of indulging.

As a group, we’ve set ourselves a lofty goal: to “set the standard” when it comes to Bed & Breakfast accommodations in Ontario.

Our members, the B&Bs of the Fergus Elora Bed & Breakfast Association, which includes Guelph, strive to provide a quality of service and overnight experience that is unsurpassed.

Our communities also feature outstanding Inns and larger hotels, such as the Delta Hotel in Guelph, and the historic Breadalbane Inn in Fergus.

Several websites are available to help you find room availability and property details in advance. A visit to www.febba.ca will show you at a glance who has rooms available within the entire community, which is especially helpful when you want to overnight on a popular weekend. And if you find yourself in-town without a “smart phone” and need help finding a room, simply call or visit one of our Information Centres listed on page 6. They’re open seven days a week, and will go online to 38

help you find a last-minute room, quickly and easily.

But a bed isn’t all that makes for a Bed & Breakfast experience. There’s the breakfast too. And many of our members like to go out of their way to provide a breakfast you’ll remember and rave about—often made with locally available produce and ingredients.

In a lot of little and large ways, we’re here to do what it takes to make you feel at home. Welcome to ours.

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ACCOMMODATIONS

relax & indulge BED & BREAKFAST CODES

FB CB PB SB AC R CC SF YR C P NP WA

Full Breakfast Continental Breakfast Private Bath Shared Bath Air Conditioning Reservations Credit Cards Smoke Free Year Round Children Welcome Pets in Residence No Guest Pets Wheelchair Accessible

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ELORA

roger dufau & kathleen stanley FB,PB,AC,R,CC,SF,YR,C,NP

drew house

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estled in the heart of Elora, Drew House offers guests a magical retreat from the pressures of everyday life. A historic two-acre estate, this nineteenth-century home with its rustic stone coach house and gardens provides room to relax and enjoy a peaceful night’s stay.

Drew House was constructed between 1848 and 1854 by George Drew, a prominent village attorney. It is notable for its fine architectural features, from its wraparound porch and hand-carved bric-a-brac trim, to its distinctive cathedral windows.

The historic main house is ideal for families. The front, with its grand staircase, has four guest rooms, a library, fireplace, kitchen, sitting areas and two full baths. The rear portion of the house—originally the servants’ quarters—can sleep a maximum of five, with two bedrooms, sitting areas, fireplace, and kitchen.

The renovated stone coach house, which once served as a livery, features six guest rooms, all with private bath. Two are equipped with Jacuzzi-style tubs. We serve a full, gourmet breakfast each morning. Cooking classes are offered periodically throughout the year. With ample off-street parking, we are within walking distance of Elora’s shops, restaurants, cinema and scenic attractions.

120 Mill St. E, Elora, ON N0B 1S0 (519) 846-2226 innkeeper@drewhouse.com www.drewhouse.com 40

fergus elora bed & breakfast association

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ro cober

ELORA

FB,CB,PB,R,CC,SF,YR,NP

log cabin heaven

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elcome to our luxurious, private Bed and Breakfast, Day and Destination Spa—open year round! We are featured in Inns, Healing Lifestyles and Spas, Solo, Spalife and Grand Magazines.

Our secluded, five-acre, hilltop country spa retreat is just across from the Elora Gorge Conservation Area. The gated entry leads to our beautiful log home, offering one luxurious guest suite for the ultimate in privacy, with king size, hand-carved log bed and a glass walkout onto a private sundeck, overlooking your own enchanted forest.

Amenities include private ensuite with oversized Jacuzzi, bathrobes and imported aromatherapy products. The Spa offers an indoor heated pool, waterfall and cedar sauna. Relax in the hammock for two, enjoy a meditation, cooking class or outdoor hot stones massage.

Our resident California chef creates menus using local, organic foods and offers Mediterranean cuisine, vegan, vegetarian, Celiac and specialty diets. Packages available with gourmet dinners, cooking classes, massages, meditation, facials, scrubs and candlelit swims to meet your every desire! Overnight packages for one to two adults.

Day spa packages and cooking classes available for private groups from one to 10 adults.

Indulge your senses in a quiescently delightful experience for the spirit and leave peacefully refreshed!

7384 Middlebrook Rd, Elora, ON N0B 1S0 (519) 846-9439 info@logcabinheaven.com www.logcabinheaven.com setting the standard: www.febba.ca

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ELORA

paul & donna coombe FB,PB,R,AC,SF,YR,P,NP

chez du soleil

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elcome to our charming modern home situated close to the heart of downtown Elora, nestled on a quiet street with peace and privacy. It’s the perfect place to escape and relax after exploring the village’s shops, pubs, restaurants, local parks and the Elora Gorge. Or perhaps you’ve come to enjoy one of our many festivals.

Wake to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, home baking and the fragrances of a delicious full breakfast. Have the house to yourself; our one guest room has a queen size bed, central air, wireless internet, satellite TV, mini fridge and a private bath. (We can also accommodate two couples travelling together, in which case the bathroom would be shared.)

226 John St., Elora, ON N0B 1S0 (519) 846-0177 chezdusoleil@gmail.com www.chezdusoleil.com

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ELORA

Member: FOBBA

margaret & john markvart FB,PB,R,CC,SF,YR,C,NP

four seasons ~ quatre saisons

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elcome to our home on three scenic acres overlooking the beautiful Grand River Valley just a short walk away from the entrance to the Elora Gorge Conservation Area. Three beautifully decorated bedrooms, two with ensuite, one with private bath. Warm hospitality, delicious breakfast.

7379 Wellington Rd. 21, R.R. 2, Elora, ON N0B 1S0 (519) 846-8678 email@fourseasons-quatresaisons.ca www.fourseasons-quatresaisons.ca 42

Member: FOBBA

fergus elora bed & breakfast association

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anne simpson

ELORA

CB,PB,R,AC,SF,YR,C,NP

gardener’s cottage

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his charming one bedroom apartment is attached to a 160 year old farmhouse, and has a full kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room. Enjoy the gardens from the comfort of your own patio or wander freely in the beauty of the surrounding landscape. An in-ground seasonal swimming pool is available.

A generous continental breakfast of local and homemade produce will be provided in the apartment for guests to enjoy at their leisure. We support the “buy local” movement, and as much of our food as possible will be provided by local farmers and vendors.

Gluten free foods are also available on request.

7193 Middlebrook Rd., Elora, ON N0B 1S0 (519) 766-5904 gardenerscottagebb@yahoo.ca www.gardenerscottage.ca

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ELORA

marilyn bustard FB,CB,PB,R,AC,CC,SF,YR,NP

sem wissler house

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his old stone house with very colourful perennial gardens offers two rooms with ensuite bathrooms, and a two-room suite with queen bed, single bed, pullout couch and TV/VCR. Common areas include den with TV/DVD, library with TV, living room, kitchenette, deck and patio.

17 George St., Elora, ON N0B 1S0 (519) 846-2130 marilyn.bustard@sympatico.ca www.bbcanada.com/1248.html setting the standard: www.febba.ca

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kay & dave bradley

ELORA

FB,SB,AC,R,SF,C,NP

stoneacre

W

elcome to Stoneacre— your home away from home. Our 1873 restored stone home provides a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. We offer two rooms, each with a queen bed. There are two bathrooms—one up and one down, a wood stove in the family room for winter evenings, private off-road parking and an acre of tree shaded gardens. Start your day with a full breakfast (let us know if a special diet is required), then walk into Elora to shop, dine, or hike the scenic Elora Gorge.

363 Geddes St., Elora, ON N0B 1S0 (519) 846-5497 stoneacre@wightman.ca www.bbcanada.com/4645.html

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ELORA

chris craig & david bluhm FB,PB,AC,R,CC,SF,YR,NP

tynavon “The most beautiful B&B in the region.” –Toronto Star ynavon offers relaxation and comfort in an 1856 stone home only three blocks from downtown.

Four beautifully decorated rooms with private baths and lovingly restored living room with fireplace await. Recommended by Janette Higgins’ “Best Places to Bed & Breakfast in Ontario”.

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84 Mill St. E, P.O. Box 1024, Elora, ON N0B 1S0 (519) 846-6695 (866) 334-3305 relax@tynavon.ca www.tynavon.ca 44

fergus elora bed & breakfast association

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julie denneny

ELORA

CB,PB,AC,R,CC,SF,YR,P,NP

wiggit hall guesthouse & gallery

W

elcome to our historic guesthouse and gallery. Perfectly located among other historic homes, we are only a short walk to everything Elora has to offer including shopping, dining, festival venues and the gorge. Each room is distinctively decorated with its own personality and is complimented by an ensuite bathroom, individually controlled airconditioning and WiFi Internet access. Our perennial garden, balcony and porch are comfortable places to enjoy your freshly ground coffee and home baking or to chat, surf, read or perhaps paint...

249 Geddes St., Elora, ON N0B 1S0 (519) 846-0024 wiggithall@cogeco.ca http://home.cogeco.ca/~wiggithall/

www.timmurton.com

only half of a bed & breakfast experience is the bed Experience the outstanding breakfasts and beds served up by the members of the Fergus Elora Bed & Breakfast Association.

.ca Setting the Standard

visit www.febba.ca for complete property information and online availability setting the standard: www.febba.ca

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FERGUS

bert & marilyn peel FB,PB,AC,R,SF,YR,NP

riverwood b&b and retreat centre

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xperience the country. Riverwood offers a beautiful, peaceful setting in which to relax, tucked away on 12 acres of woods with the Irvine River running through the back of the property. Enjoy the beautiful perennial gardens and a walk in the woods.

In our air-conditioned home, guests enjoy a separate wing of the house including a sunroom, living room with TV and walkout to the wrap-around porch. The guest rooms have ensuite baths and are all on the main floor of the house. We are minutes away from Fergus and Elora. Bicycle and snowmobile trails are close by. We have plenty of parking for cars and recreational vehicles.

We provide “Hobby Getaway Packages� for scrap-bookers, knitters, card makers and quilters. Bridge Getaways are also popular. We are pleased to announce the addition of our new hobby room and fully equipped exercise room. Bert and Marilyn are dedicated to making your stay a memorable one.

6885 5th Line, R.R. 1, Belwood, ON N0B 1J0 (519) 843-9982 www.riverwoodretreatbb.com Member: FOBBA

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FERGUS

deb & rich schlieker FB,PB,AC,R,CC,SF,YR,P,NP

stonehurst

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njoy the warmth and comfort of our heritage home. Our timeless 1867 Georgian stone home is located in the heart of Fergus, mere steps away from the local restaurants, shops, entertainment and sights.

More than a complement to the town, Stonehurst shares in its history and is an ideal place to stay when you visit and explore Fergus and Elora.

Recommended by Janette Higgins as one of ‘The Best Places to Bed & Breakfast in Ontario’, our guests enjoy beautifully appointed rooms each with a private ensuite– two have the added luxury of an air-jet tub. High ceilings enhance the generous room size and the bedding is of superior quality for a most restful slumber. Guests have use of the year-round hot tub and exercise room as well as a seasonal swimming pool. Those wishing to relax in tranquil surroundings can choose to spend time in the conservatory with its indoor fountain, in the Victorian and Georgian gardens or simply lounge in the shade on the front porches.

The scrumptious daily breakfast is served with traditional flair in the elegant dining room. Stonehurst breakfasts always include coffee/tea, juices, fresh fruit, home-baked specialties and a hot daily selection.

265 St. David St. S, Fergus, ON N1M 2L6 (519) 843-8800 info@stonehurstbb.com www.stonehurstbb.com setting the standard: www.febba.ca

Member: FOBBA 47

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FERGUS

mike & linda baker FB,PB,AC,R,SF,YR,NP

after the ceilidh

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fter the Ceilidh offers two spacious guest suites: The Skye Garden Suite is an intimate third-floor hideaway featuring queen-sized bed, private ensuite bath, gas fireplace, separate air conditioner, mini fridge, coffee maker, and relaxing Jacuzzi tub for two. The romantic Ceilidh Castle Suite offers a queen mahogany four poster bed, private ensuite bath with jet massage shower, gas fireplace, separate air conditioner, mini-fridge and coffee maker.

Our guests enjoy the common MacKay sitting room with TV, comfy chairs, wireless internet and a second floor balcony. Located an easy walk to downtown Fergus eateries and pubs.

505 St. Andrew St. W, Fergus, ON N1M 1P4 (519) 843-4411 lambko@sentex.net www.febba.ca/ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee, from the Gaelic for party or dance)

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ria pulles

FERGUS

FB,PB,R,CC,SF,YR,NP

de herberg

S

urrounded by gardens, fields, trees and a secluded pond, de Herberg is a peaceful haven, close to Fergus and Elora.

It offers three spacious rooms, all with private bathrooms, one with a Jacuzzi, as well as a sauna and exercise room. Enjoy a great European style breakfast.

Lunches and dinners are available on request.

061125 Dufferin County Rd. 3, R.R. 4, Belwood, ON N0B 1J0 (519) 843-7552 utah38@sympatico.ca www.febba.ca/deherberg Member: FOBBA 48

fergus elora bed & breakfast association

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FERGUS

arlie & verna hunt FB,CB,PB,AC,R,CC,SF,YR,C,NP,WA

dream corners

F

or down-home hospitality, come visit our century home which maintains a lot of its originality. Relax in our guest lounge or sit on one of our many decks and enjoy our beautiful gardens; then awake in the morning to the aroma of home baking and enjoy our scrumptious breakfast.

Our home offers three rooms which includes a family suite and wireless internet. We are close to downtown with its many pubs, restaurants, shops and the Grand River for fly fishing enthusiasts, or you can take a walk or bike ride on the nearby Elora Cataract Trailway.

498 St. David St. N, Fergus, ON N1M 2K2 (519) 787-7737, fax: (519) 787-2152 dreamcorners@wightman.ca www.dreamcorners.com

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FERGUS

chris & helen juergensen FB,AC,R,SF,C,NP

fergus fly~in

N

ew Cape Cod house with heated indoor pool and sundeck. Two large guest rooms with a third bedroom behind one of them, which is suitable for family or close friends. Our rooms have sofa and armchairs, tables and colour TV. Enjoy our country breakfast with home-baked bread and buns. Arrange for a daytrip in our airplane.

6868 Beatty Line, R.R. 1, Fergus, ON N1M 2W3 (519) 843-1487 christel.juergensen@sympatico.ca www.fergusflyinbandb.com Member: OFCA setting the standard: www.febba.ca

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FERGUS

george & dorothy collin FB,PB,SB,SF,YR,NP

maplecrest farm

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elcome to our renovated country stone house, just 10 kilometres to the tourist events of Fergus, Elora and Belwood Lake. A unique gathering room and solarium are special features in our home. Gardens and a pottery studio are our focus. Come and enjoy!

6827 2nd Line, R.R. 3, Fergus, ON N1M 2W4 (519) 787-1849 gd.collin@sympatico.ca www.bbcanada.com/5304.html Member: OFCA

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FERGUS

peter & melanie morel FB,PB,R,CC,SF,YR,P

oxy acres

O

ur log home on 95 acres of reforested farmland offers a peaceful, bright environment with all accommodations on the main floor. Perennial gardens, trails and birdwatching. Visit Melanie’s weaving studio.

Fifteen minutes from Fergus and the Grand River. Enjoy a full breakfast prepared with seasonal local produce.

Family dogs share our home, and canine guests are welcome. Special rates for dog care while you explore. Horse livery is available at a neighbouring farm.

7032 3rd Line, R.R. 3, Arthur, ON N0G 1A0 (519) 848-6521 belv@sympatico.ca www.febba.ca/oxyacres Member: OFCA 50

fergus elora bed & breakfast association

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FERGUS

barbara dyer FB,AC,SF,YR,NP,SB

st. george’s

B

uilt in the 1920s, this charming red brick house offers two bedrooms each with double beds and central air conditioning. Close to downtown Fergus and situated directly across from the Curling Club.

Only five minutes to Elora with its picturesque scenery and quaint boutiques. Short drive to St. Jacobs and Mennonite Country. Local attractions include Elora Gorge and Quarry, art and glass studios and antique stores. Close to excellent fly fishing on the Grand River and hiking and biking on the Elora Cataract Trailway.

185 St. George St. W, Fergus, ON N1M 1H8 (519) 787-1825 saintgeorge@sentex.net www.bbcanada.com/2655.html

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FERGUS

jennifer johnson FB,PB,AC,R,SF,YR,NP

thistlebrae

S

ympathetically restored c1920 home with two ensuite, queen guest rooms. French doors from guest living room lead to deck and in-ground pool. Multi-course breakfasts feature home baking and preserves. Walk four blocks to downtown Fergus and the Grand River.

146 Garafraxa St. E, Fergus, ON N1M 1C9 (519) 843-3083 jenjohn@cogeco.ca www.febba.ca/thistlebrae setting the standard: www.febba.ca

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40

webb & sandra kamminga

MARYHILL

FB,PB,AC,R,CC,SF,YR,NP

maryhill country inn

M

aryhill Inn is an historic 1850s restored country inn which offers six luxurious guestrooms, each with its own ensuite bathroom, fireplace, comfortable sitting area, satellite TV/VCR and air conditioning. Some rooms have a clawfoot or soaker tub.

A full gourmet breakfast is served on Wedgwood China in our elegant great room.

The Inn is centrally located near Fergus/Elora, and 12 minutes from St. Jacobs, which features boutique shopping and a large farmers’ market.

Enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the Inn which served as a stagecoach stop in the 1800s.

1302 Maryhill Rd., Maryhill, ON N0B 2B0 Toll free: (877) 748-3098 manager@maryhillinn.com virtual tour: www.maryhillinn.com

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GUELPH

marietta and joanne marshall FB,PB,AC,R,CC,SF,YR,P,NP

through the garden gate

T

ucked in the back of a 1950s red brick bungalow there is a spacious garden suite, complete with ensuite bath, internet, TV and fireplace. Come... step through the garden gate and find a place of serenity and comfort.

Through the Garden Gate Bed & Breakfast is located near St. Joseph’s Health Centre, close to downtown Guelph, minutes away from the University of Guelph, and a short drive to many of the attractions in the surrounding area.

38 Edgehill Dr., Guelph, ON N1H 5E2 (519) 836-7835 Toll free: (877) 590-7164 throughthegardengate@bell.net www.bbcanada.com/gardengatebb Member: FOBBA 52

fergus elora bed & breakfast association

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GUELPH

melanie & andy mclennan FB,PB,SB,AC,R,CC,SF,YR,C,NP

london house

S

ince 1987, we have welcomed thousands of guests from around the world—and from the neighbourhood—through the doors of London House Bed & Breakfast. Many guests return time after time, and year after year. Some have become good friends.

Our heritage home is quiet and comfortable. It’s located in one of Guelph’s most beautiful neighbourhoods—just a short walk to shops, restaurants and entertainment.

The smell of Melanie’s fresh baking and speciallyblended coffee will coax you out of bed in the morning.

The attention to your personal needs, and to the fine details of decor and cleanliness, will keep you coming back again and again.

Whether you’re in Guelph on business, for the arts, or visiting family or your student at the University, you’ll find London House Bed and Breakfast the next-best place to home.

80 London Rd. W, Guelph ON N1H 2B7 (519) 824-6874 Toll free: (877) 836-6874 info@londonhouse.ca www.londonhouse.ca Member: FOBBA setting the standard: www.febba.ca

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janet perry

GUELPH

FB,PB,AC,R,CC,SF,YR,C,P

norfolk guest house

L

uxury, elegance and romance: this lovely guest house is where quality meets value, built in 1865 by James T. Brill. Distinguished by its fine architectural detail and lush gardens, Norfolk Guest House fuses old-world charm with modern influences, creating a unique atmosphere for a peaceful and relaxing stay. Nestled in one of Guelph’s finest and oldest neighborhoods, it’s perfect for weddings, romantic getaways, business travel or just a refreshing break from the mundane.

Create moments to remember. Indulge in the spa-like atmosphere of the room, soak in your Jacuzzi, and order-in breakfast. Ahhh...

102 Eramosa Rd., Guelph, ON N1E 2L8 (519) 767-1095 janet@norfolkguesthouse.ca www.norfolkguesthouse.ca

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d o n n a c o o p e r, B H E c

GUELPH

FB,PB,AC,R,CC,SF,YR,C

willow manor

B

reakfasts at Willow Manor are always served with charm and enthusiasm! We incorporate the freshest natural ingredients we can find from the joyous bounty grown in the countryside that surrounds us—including those from our very own herb garden! Our delicious cooking, using traditional country recipes, is honest and satisfying with a genuine concern for diet.

“At the end of a long day, we came to Willow Manor—the kind of B&B you dream of finding and seldom do.... The amenities are excellent and include large Jacuzzi tubs and heated floors in the bathrooms.

The house has a welcoming, old country inn ambience, due in part to the genuine warmth of the host.” FOOD & DRINK MAGAZINE 408 Willow Rd., Guelph ON (519) 763-3574 Fax: (519) 763-4531 willowmanor1@on.aibn.com www.willowmanorbb.com Member: FOBBA 54

fergus elora bed & breakfast association

ACCOMMODATIONS

savourelorafergus.ca

overnight experiences

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ELORA

maps & wayfinding Accommodations 21 Drew House 22 Log Cabin Heaven 23 Chez du Soleil 24 Four Seasons 25 Gardener’s Cottage 26 Sem Wissler House 27 Stoneacre 28 Tynavon 29 Wiggit Hall 31 Stonehurst 32 After the Ceilidh 34 Dream Corners 35 Fergus Fly~In 38 St George’s 39 Thistlebrae 45 Van Gali’s

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Growers / Producers Attraction / Event Retail / Service Chefs / Culinary Bed & Breakfasts Dining+Accommodation Tourism Info Centre

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www.elorafergus.travel 1.877.242.6353

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All rights reserved.

Maps © 2008-2011 The Township of Centre Wellington.

Map designed by Greg Wolowich.

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FERGUS

maps & wayfinding

Shops & Boutiques 58 Karger Gallery 59 Ben Heather Celtic 60 Elora Mews 61 Brodericks Clothiers 62 Cherry Hill Entertainment

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Chefs / Culinary 1 Breadalbane Bistro 2 Fraberts Fresh Food 3 The Goofie Newfie 4 I Love Chocolate 5 Mill St. Bakery & Bistro 6 The Village Olive Grove 45 Van Gali’s

Attractions & Events 15 Grand River Troutfitters 18 Fergus Truck Show 19 Wellington County Museum & Archives 20 Fergus Fall Fair 48 Elora Gorge Conservation Area 49 Fergus Scottish Festival 50 Elora Festival Office 51 Elora Festival Venues 53 Elora Centre for the Arts 54 Elora Fergus Studio Tour (various locations) 55 Blown Away Glass 56 Stone Threads Fibre Art 66 Grand River Raceway 66 OLG Slots

Growers 8 Elora Farmers’ Market

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savourelorafergus.ca

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GUELPH AND WELLINGTON COUNTY

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Growers / Producers Attraction / Event Retail / Service Chefs / Culinary Bed & Breakfasts Dining+Accommodation Tourism Info Centre

14 41 44

42 43 13 47 63

Savour Elora Fergus www.savourelorafergus.ca

7 www.guelphwellingtonlocalfood.ca

All rights reserved.

Maps Š 2008-2011 City of Guelph & Wellington County Map designed by Andy McLennan, Cartographics.ca.

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maps & wayfinding Accommodations 7 Delta Guelph Hotel 16 Highland Pines Campground 22 Log Cabin Heaven 24 Four Seasons 25 Gardener’s Cottage 30 Riverwood 33 De Herberg 35 Fergus Fly~In 36 Maplecrest 37 Oxy Acres 40 Maryhill Inn 41 Through the Garden Gate 42 London House 43 Norfolk Guest House 44 Willow Manor

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Chefs / Culinary 7 Fifty-West 47 Spice 11 Growers 10 Shepherd’s Watch Market 11 Mapleton’s Organic 12 Top Market Rabbitry 13 Guelph Farmers’ Market 14 Portions Dietary Food

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Attractions & Events 52 Mount Forest Fireworks Festival 57 Wellington Artists Gallery 63 Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival 63 Guelph Jazz Festival 63 Festival of Moving Media 64 Hillside Festival 65 Eden Mills Writers’ Festival

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savourelorafergus.ca

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CALENDAR

2011 highlights APR–DECEMBER MAY–DECEMBER APRIL 10 MAY 1 MAY 5–7 MAY 14–OCT 29 MAY 14 MAY 28 MAY 28 MAY 29 JUNE 25

JULY 1 JULY 8–31 JULY 9-10 JULY 22–24 AUGUST 1 AUGUST 11

Historical Walking Tours, www.elorafergus.travel Throughout the year, explore our rich past led by lively costumed characters.

Hike the Trail Series, www.trailway.org Each month enjoy a themed hike along the historic Elora-Cataract Trailway.

Tartan Day, www.fergusscottishfestival.com One day celebration of our Celtic Heritage in the heart of downtown Fergus.

Grand Taste, www.centrewellingtonrotary.ca Culinary extravaganza featuring the best of Wellington County.

Artcetera, www.eloracentreforthearts.ca – Three-day art auction combining silent and live auctions and final day reception.

Elora Farmers’ Market, www.elorafarmersmarket.ca – Now in Bissell Park, Saturdays 9 am to 1 pm. Come meet the people who grow your food.

Fergus Bridal Tour, www.fergusbridaltour.com Everything Fergus has to offer to make your wedding spectacular.

Spring Wellington Rural Romp, www.guelpwellingtonlocalfood.ca Experience a day in the countryside, meet local farmers and enjoy real taste!

Skyburst Elora, www.eloralions.org Elora Lions’ dazzling annual fireworks display at Grand River Raceway.

Elora Writers’ Festival, www.artscouncil.elora.on.ca – Celebrating fine Canadian writing since 1994 in a unique and intimate setting.

Doors Open Fergus and Elora, www.elorafergus.travel A one-day opportunity to explore our hidden heritage treasures.

Fergus Riverwalk Festival, www.fergusarts.ca Art exhibit and live music throughout picturesque downtown Fergus.

Canada Day Celebrations, www.elorafergus.travel Day long festivities in Elora, twilight celebrations and fireworks in Fergus.

The Elora Festival, www.elorafestival.com – Treat yourself to the world’s finest music; various locations throughout Elora.

Art in the Yard, www.eloracentreforthearts.ca Popular annual outdoor juried art exhibition and sale.

Fergus Truck Show, www.fergustruckshow.com North America’s leading family entertainment and trucking event.

Industry Day at Grand River Raceway, www.grandriverraceway.com Catch the spirit of live harness racing, featuring the Battle of Waterloo.

Pipes, Plaid and Pageantry Parade, www.fergusscottishfestival.com Kick off to Festival weekend! Enjoy pipes, marching bands through Fergus.

1-877-242-6353

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experiences to bookmark

AUGUST 12–14

Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games The best of Scotland, without the airfare. www.fergusscottishfestival.com AUGUST 27 Grand River Truck & Tractor Pull, www.grandriveragsociety.com Action-packed event with over 100 hooks coming down the track!

AUGUST 28 Antique and Classic Car Show, www.wcm.on.ca Entertainment, refreshments, family activities and the best cars around.

SEPTEMBER 9 Fergus BIA Classic Car Show, www.fergusbia.ca About 140 oldies drive into downtown for this annual classic show n’ shine.

SEPTEMBER 16–18 Fergus Fall Fair, 175th Anniversary, www.fergusfallfair.ca Country joins with the townsfolk for a fun weekend, including a midway.

SEPTEMBER 24 Fall Wellington Rural Romp, www.guelphwellingtonlocalfood.ca Celebrate Fall Harvest by touring bountiful Wellington County farms & markets.

SEPTEMBER 24/25 Elora Fergus Studio Tour, www.elorafergusstudiotour.ca OCTOBER 1/2 A unique opportunity to visit working artist studios and meet the creators.

SEPTEMBER 30Sensational Elora, www.sensationalelora.com OCTOBER 10 Award-winning, 11-day Festival of the Senses, featuring the renowned music, art, drama, film, food, scenery and architecture of historic Elora.

OCTOBER Twilight Zoo, www.eloracentreforthearts Tim Murtons’s Twilight Zoo on the grounds of Elora Centre for the Arts.

OCTOBER Monster Month, Monster March Parade (Oct 22), www.elora.info Movies, walking tours and many more ghoulish gatherings.

OCTOBER 2 Harvest Home Festival, Wellington County Museum, www.wcm.on.ca A family celebration of the county's rich agricultural past.

NOVEMBER 5Elora Farmers’ Market, www.elorafarmersmarket.ca Saturdays 9 til 1.

MARCH 17, 2012 Wintering at the Grand River Raceway: fresh local fare year round.

NOVEMBER 26 Elora Santa Claus Parade of Lights, www.eloralions.org Enchanting evening parade of colours and light through picturesque Elora.

DECEMBER 4 Fergus Santa Claus Parade, www.elorafergus.travel Come celebrate Christmas as Santa parades through historic Fergus.

DECEMBER 11 Christmas Festival, Wellington County Museum, www.wcm.on.ca Festive music, family activities and refreshments, plus a visit from Santa Claus!

DECEMBER Christmas in the Village, www.elorafestival.com Elora Festival Singers’ Christmas concert series is an annual rite of winter.

YEAR-ROUND Fergus Elora Bed & Breakfast Association (FEBBA), www.febba.ca Experience the outstanding breakfasts & beds served up by our welcoming Bed & Breakfast hosts.

For a full and complete year-round listing of all festivals and events in Elora, Fergus and Wellington County, please visit www.savourelorafergus.ca, and click the Calendar link. savourelorafergus.ca

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THE ARTS

experiences to inspire

the arts in elora and fergus

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here is a cultural vibe that radiates through Elora and Fergus, a creative energy that draws artists, musicians and art lovers together to build an enclave of talent with an appreciative audience. Art is alive here. Culture feeds our souls and we invite you to savour the sights and sounds that inspire our vibrant villages.

Some of the most important artists in our nation have been inspired by our landscape. A.J. Casson fell in love with and painted our scenic views. This is the birthplace of the panoramic camera, through John R. Connon’s lens. More artisans followed, wooed by the rustic beauty and historic structures. There was something special here and everyone could feel it.

ARTISTIC EXPRESSION IN EVERY FORM Today we are home to an eclectic and celebrated creative community: dancers and choreographers, writers and poets, actors, musicians, painters, singers, sculptors, potters and weavers, photographers, designers and craftspeople—all visionaries of culture.

From this innovative group, organizations and collectives have blossomed, each with its own distinct flavour of artistic expression.

Village Idiot Productions bring live music and outdoor art to Elora while independent theatre companies such as Elora Community savourelorafergus.ca

Theatre and Grinder Productions grace the stage of the newly refurbished Fergus Grand Theatre. Exhibitions hosted at the Wellington County Museum include the annual juried art show, “Insights.”

Through the Elora Arts Council, artists of diverse mediums put together the Elora Fergus Studio Tour, a successful behind-the-scenes tour of the intimate studios of participating artists that has become a southern Ontario “must-see” event over two weekends in fall.

A CENTRE FOR THE ARTS Art has a permanent home in a 150 year-old restored heritage school building which has become the Elora Centre for the Arts. It offers studio and performance space, fine art instruction in different mediums and children’s programming. The Minarovich Gallery welcomes the public to exhibitions featuring an impressive combination of nationally renowned artists and locally emerging talents. The gallery is free to the public.

When the summer sun warms the rocks of the Gorge, the arts come outdoors with a summer lineup of family-friendly events. July brings the annual Art in the Yard to the grounds of the Elora Centre for the Arts, an art-lovers shopping delight.

Whatever the season, the spice of life is art, and we have it here in abundance. It’s eye candy all year long. Enjoy the view.

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THE ARTS

experiences to inspire

One Hot Date!

A two hour private workshop for two.

Learn the seductive art of glassblowing at our studio located in Elora, Ontario. Workshops & teambuilding also available. Call or email Tim/Katherine at 519-846-8268.

tk@blownawayglassstudio.com tk@blown

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THE ARTS

experiences to inspire

Be sure to visit during the Elora-Fergus Studio Tour!

Wellington Artists’ Gallery and Art Centre Exciting new creations by local artists working in many media May 1st to November 13th, 2011 For directions and information, visit www.wellingtonartistsgallery.ca

mirageLimousine your mobile oasis

Open daily 10:00 am to 5:00 pm 6142 Wellington Road 29 RR4 Fergus, ON 519-843-6303

Weddings, proms, casino trips, special functions & events. Airport flat rates, corporate accounts.

519.846.1900 www.miragelimousine.ca

Sometimes you travel for fun. Sometimes it’s work. But it’s always because you need to get somewhere. We help you manage a process, so that you can think about the destination. And enjoy getting there.

Sedans and stretches serving all major airports and your personal transportation needs throughout southern Ontario. savourelorafergus.ca

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HISTORIC WALKING TOURS

Find self-guided tours online: www.elorafergus.travel

WALKING TOURS AND SEASONAL TREATS A variety of guided walking tours are on offer during the year; in addition to dates shown, other Walks are regularly scheduled.

Raconteurs Al Koop and Gary Bryant of Older Voices share their stories and unique perspectives on the histories and mysteries of Elora and Fergus, dating back to their founding in the mid-1850s. (Fun and spooky!)

IT’S A DATE! April 10 May 15 June 25 July 1 August 12-13 Sept 25 Oct 22 Oct 29

Fergus Tartan Day Elora: Youth Planet Fergus & Elora: Doors Open Elora: Bissell Park Fergus Downtown Elora: Studio Tour Event MonsterMonth: Lantern Tour MonsterMonth: Lantern Tour

GHOULISHLY ENTERTAINING In October, the monsters come to town. Acclaimed local artist Tim Murton helps turn the town into a larger-than-life ghoulish gallery of frightful fun.

Don’t miss it!

Elora Centre for the Arts.

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DIVERSIONS

boutiques & attractions

the finishing touch

I

f art is in the eye of the beholder, then this historic Scottish enclave and pop into a the beholder has much to please the eye fine clothier, gift shop or browse some in Elora and Fergus. books. There are excellent jewellers, pubs, a The wealth of artists and artisans who chocolatier, and an highly-personal and live here, and the shops that showcase their experienced health food store, amongst works, hold extraordinary discoveries for many others. every kind of shopper. From painting and In between, soak in the energy, the photography to sculpture and metal work, soothing power and majesty that is the Grand from exquisite glass to hand-crafted River. It flows through the heart of town in an jewellery, from fine chocolate to carved area known as Templin Gardens—a scenic, wood, clothing to Celtic, you’ll find it all not-to-be-missed visit at the walking bridge within an easy stroll along our main streets. to the old Fergus Marketplace building.

Some items are clearly one-of-a-kind, And when you’ve experienced it all— while others are merely uncommon and relax. Let yourself be pampered in any of our unusual. In shops housed in peaceful, serene day-spas, whose sole centuries-old stone buildings, mission is to make you feel you’ll find unique items you rejuvenated—just in time to have simply have to stop to some fun at the slots and take in admire, and sometimes, live harness racing at the Grand make your own.

River Raceway.

In Fergus, just five Elora and Fergus are truly kilometres and mere unique. Wellington County and the City minutes away, you’ll of Guelph, with its University and renowned agricultural research station, are discover a different, leaders on the world stage on many important but equally fronts. We have places, landscapes and experiences rewarding here that you will not see or find anywhere else. experience.

We’re all about giving you that exclusively personal Walk the experience which is yours alone; one that is fed and fueled by streets of whatever moves you. All the ingredients are here. And as every good chef knows, it’s all about how you put them together.

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RETAIL RECIPES

boutiques & attractions

UNIQUE SHOPS • COURTYARD • GALLERY

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explore, relax, indulge, enjoy

RETAIL RECIPES

boutiques & attractions

Apparel for Men & Fashion for Women Located on St. Andrew Street,

Historic Downtown Fergus 519.843.3870 | 519.843.6996 brodericksclothiers.com Open MOn thru SAt, 9–6 tHurS & Fri, 9–9 savourelorafergus.ca

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Looking for the unusual?

You’re likely to find it here.

Fun gifts, novelties, unique home items, games and all things to amuse and entertain you! Some you probably haven’t even thought of or imagined, and a selection that changes every week.

All this plus great DVDs and a large assortment of quality bargain books.

We have over 50,000 of them—all at 50 to 80 percent off retail—with thousands priced at $5.99 or less.

Come explore our diversions, distractions and fun, in 10,000 square feet of classy, comfortable, relaxing retail space.

Located in the Old Fergus Market Building overlooking the Grand River.

Open late, 364 days a year.

www.cherryhillentertainment.com

Visit recipestoexperience.com and enter code 1126 for a chance to win a prize package in Elora & Fergus!