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Vol. 7
No. 3
YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER - LANARK, NORTH LEEDS & GRENVILLE
MARCH 2020
Council to host public meeting on future of Confederation Bridge Smiths Falls - Emilie Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca Confederation Bridge in Smiths Falls is a historical landmark, but it was closed in 2015 as the infrastructure was deemed unfit for vehicle traffic. The one-lane bridge connecting Beckwith Street with Centennial Park and the water tower was once a quick alternative to driving downtown and a pedestrian walkway frequently used along the Rideau Canal. Director of Public Works and Utilities Troy Dunlop presented a report with four options to fix the bridge at a special meeting of the town council’s Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, Mar. 2. The first option is building a brand new modern combined pedestrian and traffic bridge at the cost of $2.5 to $3 million. Option two is constructing a waterfront pedestrian bridge for $850,000 without traffic. The third option is to completely refurbish the existing bridge for $1.5 million or to clone the existing bridge by building a new identical one for $1.4 million. Smiths Falls Mayor Shawn Pankow’s first question to Director Dunlop was, “How do we pay for it?” “I think we’ve all got a sort of
nostalgic attachment to that bridge as it’s been around longer than our lifetimes,” Mayor Pankow said. “The last major rehabilitation was in 1996. It didn't receive the attention it needed over the decades. There were other priorities that always seemed to rise to the top.” In 2015, traffic studies were conducted and found that 1,100 cars typically travelled across Confederation Bridge per day. A road with around 3,000 cars travelling down it is considered a collector road. “At the network level it doesn't serve a critical network function; it serves a critical convenience function,” Director Dunlop said. “The more traffic we funnel onto Beckwith Street could raise more delays.” Having a pedestrian or vehicular bridge would help in the summer when the Abbott Street bridge is out to allow boats to pass through the canal, and as construction continues on Beckwith street, opening another route across town. “There is a left turn pocket turned to Confederation Drive,” Director Dunlop said. “There’s opportunities there, we have to be conscious. If we do bring traffic out on Beckwith Street, the sightline to go left doesn't exist (so) it would be right turn only.” “I’m not comfortable making a decision until we have a pub-
Confederation Bridge in Smiths Falls was closed to pedestrian and vehicular traffic in 2015. Council is inviting public input on the future of the bridge and will choose one of four options later this month. Photo credit: Emilie Must.
lic consultation on the bridge,” Councillor Niki Dwyer said. “I’m glad everyone acknowledges the historical significance of the bridge. It’s inevitable we’re going to be losing a piece of the heritage because eventually it’s going to need a full replacement.” Harold Kleywegt, owner of Keystone Bridge Management told council that his staff “Strongly favoured maintaining the appearance of the existing bridge” while also “keeping the
existing configuration.” “I don't want to raise expectations here today that sometime in the next year we’re going to have a new bridge,” Councillor Peter McKenna said. “This is a multi-million dollar project and without funding. I don't see a path in the next one to two years when we have the water tower and other infrastructure problems.” Keystone Bridges collected paint samples from the bridge in
the summer of 2019 and tested them for lead. This led to the discovery that each sample had lead levels higher than environmental standards. Council will vote at the March 16 meeting whether to pass a motion to host a public meeting on the future of Confederation Bridge. Councillor Wendy Alford noted that public input will also be encouraged via the “Speak Up Smiths Falls” page on the town website.
Blueberry Creek Forest School gets kids outside Perth - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Robyn Mulcahy sits with a basket of textiles she tempts students with for sewing projects. Photo credit: Sally Smith.
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At Robyn Mulcahy’s small log cabin, there’s a lot of chatter and chewing at the noisy lunch table; just in the next room, however, in the quietness and brightness of wide, old windows, a young boy sits quietly, immersed in a book. They’re all at school, not the familiar grey box-of-a-school around the corner or down the street, but forest school, a threeyear old program Mulcahy has nurtured and grown to get kids outside and involved with the natural world around them. Of the six hours they’re there on any given day (fall, winter and spring), kids spend all day or a greater part of the day outdoors; there are paths to follow, trees to
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climb, forts to build, chickens to talk to, drawings to do, or just idle time to sit and daydream. Blueberry Creek Forest School and Nature Centre, just outside Perth off Hwy. 7, is one of about 100 in Canada, according to Mulcahy — most in Ontario and British Columbia. Her view is Canada’s lagging behind Sweden and Norway in forest schools but is beginning to catch up. There’s an effervescence about her when she talks about, and walks around, her school. “Children get to lead,” Mulcahy says. “It’s a no rules kind of school, a nature centre; kids eat when they’re hungry,” do what they want and direct their own learning during the day. “Just as much
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as kids are learners, so are we, the teachers,” Mulcahy explains. “The environment is considered the first teacher. We set the environment up to invite real learning opportunities.” For instance, she says, if [kids] want to build a solar oven, [teachers] put everything out and draw them in. “We ask ‘what is this?’ and let them go at it.” So in the bright rooms visitors will find everything from student-made quilts to circuit boards for computers; outside is a different environment — eight hens (lots of different heritage breeds), six rabbits (plus a wild black and white one that once was a pet but doesn’t want to come inside anymore), and one rooster, Mark. Students know how to collect
eggs, they eat eggs, they understand about food and when the “hens stop laying, they become pets,” Mulcahy grins. Forest school, she says, doesn’t replace regular school; children come once, maybe twice a week, or even only twice a month. The rest of the week they are homeschooled, go to private schools or attend public school. The day starts at 9 and goes to 3 p.m. five days a week with every day being different. “We don’t offer a curriculum. We offer outdoor education and arts, with kids doing everything from math, science, and geography, through history, writing, and cooking…and doing it their own way.” continues on page 3
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March 2020
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Cartoon by Patrick Labelle
"The Old Post Office" on Russell MARCH 8TH
Northern teams create warmth on ice
CP Kings Peewee on the left and Iqaluit Blizzard on the right. Photo credit: Brian Turner.
The building was built in 1894 by the Ministry of Public Works for $18,416.00. The postal use of the building was discontinued in 1964 when the Roman Catholic Church acquired the building and used it as a high school until 1978 when the law firm of Ross Cliffen Associates moved in. Today the building is undergoing extensive restoration by its new owner Bruce Linton. Photo Courtesy of The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum
Daniel MacIvor’s Marion Bridge Photo credit: Brian Turner.
Carleton Place - Brian Turner editorial@pdgmedia.ca On Feb 20, Carleton Place Kings Peewee teams played host to 2 teams from the Iqaluit Blizzard at the Neelin Street Arena. Two different squads from each organization faced off in a well-attended and fastpaced evening. The event was organized by Peewee C coach Kyle McKittrick after he learned that the Iqaluit contingent was attending a tournament in Kanata from Friday to Sunday of the same week. McKittrick’s C team
Mayor Doug Black. Photo credit: Brian Turner.
will also be competing in those games. The B teams faced off at 7 pm and after a short center-ice ceremony, the C squads went at it at 8 pm. It was a real testament to the volunteer strength of local minor hockey that the day could be fully organized, promoted, set up, and smoothly pulled off, along with a customary warm Carleton Place hockey-family welcome, with short notice. The goals were to let the players, (aged 11-13) enjoy some healthy and friendly competition
while benefiting from some on-ice cultural exchange. The evening closed with a pizza supper party at the arena’s upper hall. The vast distance between Carleton Place and Iqaluit seemed insignificant compared to the close plays on the ice driven by a strong love of the game. By way of interest, the coach of the Carleton Place B1 team, Rob Forsyth, along with his wife Jen, are the proud parents of 5 adopted Inuk children and Carleton Place is home to several Inuk families.
They’re sisters, with all the complications that come with the best and the worst of those relationships in Daniel MacIvor’s Marion Bridge. Shown here from left, Agnes (Tracy Noonan) the eldest reacts large, as Theresa (Anne-Marie Lindell) tries to pour calm and Louise (Annie West) listens. Funny and poignant, it’s a must see and opens at Studio Theatre Perth on Feb 27. For more details visit studiotheatreperth.com. Photo credt. Submitted.
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March 2020
community Blueberry Creek Forest School gets kids outside
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Looking for other ukulele players
Photo credit: Submitted.
Perth - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca Continued from page 1 To keep costs down, Mulcahy runs an Airbnb on the premises on weekends, over Christmas, and through the summer. The money she takes in from that “covers mortgage, insurance and taxes, so fees aren’t passed on to parents.” On a daily basis, Mulcahy charges “$30 to $40 for a full day of care…affordable for most families.” There are community spaces (at no cost) if parents want to come and help, or if a child has special needs that require one-on-one attention. Mulcahy’s forest school is Reggio Emilia-inspired described as “student-centred…using self-directed, experiential learning in relationship-driven environments.” She adds this concept grew at the same time as Maria Montessori and Waldorf schools in Italy after WWII. Mulcahy, 41, did her own forest school training on Manitoulin Island; she has five children of her own and looking back says, a
little wistfully, she wishes her children could have benefitted from this type of education. She’s also very aware of how much time kids now spend looking at screens each year — “well over 1,000 hours” — so her goal is to get kids outside for over 1,000 hours each year and “give them time away from technology.” The conversation turned thoughtful: “If kids care and love a space, they will be stewards of the land, they’ll learn how to garden, they won’t see themselves as removed from nature but more as understanding the seasons. It’s not always easy…sometimes we need grit in life. Sometimes we don’t get an opportunity to use that grit. “Parents are often afraid of kids getting hurt, so take away all opportunities where that might happen. And now we find teenagers are hurting themselves more. They’ve never climbed a tree, never balanced on an uneven surface, they don’t know their own comfort level. But then they’re allowed to get into a car when they’re 16 and [are expected] to use skills they
haven’t really learned…” After that musing response, she adds with a little grin “take the walls away and kids will stop bouncing off them.” Blueberry Creek Forest School, as well as all the outside activities, encourages all the inside old lost arts like sewing, cooking, sketching, calligraphy (with turkey feathers and ink bottles, no less!), dress making, and painting. Mulcahy offers to show any parent around. “If curious, come out and see,” and she adds a few tempting zingers… “The less I teach, the more they learn — kids are brilliant.” “If they want to read all day, they can.” “In nice weather, they don’t come in at all…lots of sprinklers and mud pies outside.” “Kids are doers and problem solvers.” Blueberry Creek Forest School and Nature Centre is located at 17638 Hwy. 7, Perth ON; call Mulcahy at 613-915-3263. And go to https://www.facebook. com/turtlestone2017/ to see what’s happening.
Smiths Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca Josie Krotki is 10. Not only does she play a 4-string ukulele, she also plays a 6-string guitar. And…she sings. The Grade 5 Chimo student has been at the ukulele for seven months and the guitar for four; her long, slim fingers wrap easily around the neck of the concert ukulele and although transition between chords was difficult at first, with practice, transitions, she says, are much smoother now. There are other ukulele players in Smiths Falls — at least 120 of them, her teacher says. Last year Chimo had a guitar and ukulele curriculum, so there are kids hiding in the woodwork, strumming their instruments behind closed doors or (in warmer weather) on the back porch. Here’s the pitch: let’s start a ukulele group in Smiths Falls. If you have a uke (maybe got one for Christmas), or if you want to learn to play one (adults and kids), putting a group together to egg each other
on is a good way to learn. There are teachers around to demonstrate the basics, the small instrument is easy to learn and it’s not too expensive, either. One of the best things about a uke is its portability — you can take it anywhere — sitting
around a bonfire, out in a canoe. It’s a good conversation starter, it sounds great, and if you know the ukulele, learning the guitar should be a snap. If interested, please let me know at sally@pdgmedia.ca
Josie Krotki’s favourite singer is Grace VanderWaal; she’s learning to play VanderWaal’s song ‘I Don’t Know My Name’ on the ukulele. Photo credit: Sally Smith.
For Your Information with Kathy Botham
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March 2020
lifestyle Lindsay’s PHight;
Mental strength from many sources Health Series
Lindsay Forsyth Brochu with her husband, Jason Brochu (left). Photo credit: facebook.com/lindsay.m.forsyth
Regional - Brian Turner editorial@pdgmedia.ca Lindsay Forsyth Brochu came to the attention of the local social media community last year when she posted her challenge of dealing with a major life-threatening lung condition while just 30 years old. Her symptom, becoming winded, first appeared in 2016 while on a vacation hike in higher altitudes. She put that sign off until the same condition appeared in her normal daily workouts and routines. “I was wiped and out of breath just after some warm-ups,” she commented recently to Hometown News. Visits to her local GP and referrals and assessments by specialists at the Ottawa Heart Institute brought a diagnosis of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, or PAH, a type of high blood pressure affecting the arteries in the lungs, as well as the right side of the heart. The arteries become narrowed or blocked, which decreases the blood flow into the lungs. This causes the right side of the heart to work harder, which in turn,
leads to heart failure. When meds and treatment didn’t bring the expected results, Lindsay made a trip to Toronto for another assessment where it was discovered she was affected by something worse; Pulmonary Capillary Hemangiomatosis, or PCH. If it sounds ominous, it is. It’s so rare; the only treatment is a double-lung transplant. This led Lindsay into a crash course on organ transplants where she learned of the need to relocate from her home with her husband Jason in Almonte, to Toronto to be near the hospital where the surgery would be performed. Over the Christmas and New Year holiday period, just past, Jason set up a Facebook fundraiser, Lungs 4 Lindsay. It speedily met their $20K goal with almost 300 donors. The money will be needed for the temporary relocation and uninsured medical expenses. By the way, in the middle of all this, she had a minor procedure done to repair a hole between the two sides of her heart. Just this past week, Lindsay heard from the trans-
plant center specialists who, although certifying that she’s a good candidate for a transplant, stopped short of putting her on the list just yet due to her reasonably good health. Lindsay finds she is able to keep up with a light schedule but nowhere near being able to return to a busy vibrant life including working as an X-ray tech in both Kanata and Almonte and enjoying the things that most of us take for granted. You might think this would drive most into a deep abyss of depression, but not Lindsay. Even the news the average lifespan of a double-lung transplant in Ontario is currently only 7 years doesn’t faze this powerful soul. She is able to move about a bit without the need of oxygen, but the tank and face-tubing are never out of reach. It’s hard to describe the positive beaming force of her attitude and how she sees the good in just about every situation. She gives credit to her family and husband for keeping her charged. Her mom is an OR nurse in Southwestern Ontario and this career burdens her with more worries about Lindsay than most. And to say she was blown away by the generosity of her fundraiser’s contributors would be a major understatement. She started a blog to keep those interested up to date and thank everyone and her posts are nothing short of inspirational. You can read them on Facebook by searching for Lindsay’s PHight. Her strength empowers those she connects with to learn what she has while on this roller-coaster; you really do have to appreciate all that life throws at you, good or bad.
Approximately 20% of Canadians report that they are living with mental illness, mental health problems, and/or addictions. While learning and practicing good mental health strategies can promote healing and wellness, mental health is about more than healing from illness or managing challenges. Mental health is for everyone; it’s about living well, connecting well, and feeling capable to face daily challenges. Follow along with us as we dig into mental health and wellness in our threepart Mental Health Awareness series. May 4th - 10th is Mental Health Week in Canada. It was established 69 years ago by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) to destigmatize mental illness and to provide information about what mental wellness actually is. According to CMHA
there are six components to strong mental health: a sense of self, a sense of purpose, resilience, a sense of belonging, contribution, and enjoyment. In short, it is feeling sure about who you are and valuing your place in the world. Top Tips for Optimal Mental Health Remember to take care of your body. Give yourself a strong foundation by eating a well-balanced diet, enjoying pleasant and regular exercise, and getting sufficient sleep. Volunteer or do something for others. Seeing yourself as a contributing member of the community strengthens your self-esteem as well as building social connections and support. Get outside; go for a walk, have a picnic, or take some binoculars and see what birds you can spot. Production of serotonin, the body’s
Janelle Labelle “feel-good” chemical, increases when you spend time in nature. Do something you enjoy; deliberately seek out an activity that stimulates your mind, warms your heart, or makes you laugh. Connect with your creative side: write, draw, take photographs, sing, dance. Immersing yourself in creativity helps you connect to the world in different ways, and gain perspective and pride as you hone your skills. As much as you can, build a circle of friends. Talk with your neighbours. Invite an acquaintance over for coffee. Reach out to someone you appreciate. More of us are more lonely than ever before; connecting to one another strengthens wellness. Visit mentalhealthweek. ca for more wellness tips, and more information about Mental Health Week.
Sledge hockey makes a debut in Smiths Falls Smiths Falls - Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca Anyone who has witnessed Paralympians in action develops a healthy level of respect for these dedicated athletes and the challenges they overcome. A key Winter Paralympics sport, sledge hockey, came to Smiths Falls Saturday, Feb. 29 as the Ottawa-based Sledge Hawks took on the Atom B Bears in a demonstration scrimmage. A group of younger local players also had the opportunity to give the sport a try later in the afternoon.
“We’re going to try to involve as many people as possible,” said Drew Leger, a volunteer director with the Smiths Falls Minor Hockey Association. Leger said the event was organized after the SFMHA received an email from Amanda Harris, a former Smiths Falls resident. Harris, who is the Sledge Development Program Coordinator for Sledge Hockey of Eastern Ontario (SHEO), was looking for an opportunity to bring the sport to Smiths Falls. The Ottawa Sledge
Hawks are the league’s development team. “They were looking to involve their team in some different things, because there aren’t a lot of opportunities,” said Leger. The board of directors of the SFMHA agreed to host the sledge hockey event, and to donate the necessary ice time at the Smiths Falls community centre. Part of SHEO’s mission is to introduce the sport to as many people as possible. Sledge hockey gives disabled and able-bodied athletes the
ability to compete side by side. Following the rules of traditional hockey, sledge hockey players compete sitting on a tubular frame with a pair of metal runners on the underside. A pair of sticks is used both to propel the sledge and to shoot the puck. Special guests at the Feb. 29 event included Paralympian Tyrone Henry. Henry’s sledge hockey team won gold for Canada in 2015 and silver at the 2018 Winter Paralympics in South Korea.
The Smiths Falls Minor Hockey Association Atom B Bears, a group of players aged 10 and 11, took on the Sledge Hawks of the Sledge Hockey of Eastern Ontario league in a fun scrimmage Feb. 29. Photo credit: Chris Must.
Presents:
Welcome to the Rock smiths falls honours COME FROM AWAY
advertorial - John Kessel editorial@pdgmedia.ca If you’ve never been part of a Newfoundland kitchen party, you’re missing a blast, never mind a cultural experience, but you needn’t miss it any longer. There’s one coming from away – from the Rock to be precise, courtesy of Smiths Falls’ Rotary Club. On April 30, celebrating its 98th year of serving the community, the club is celebrating “the remarkable story of the small town (Gander) that welcomed the world on Sept. 11. 2001.” It’s happening at the Gallipeau Centre. Four of the principal players in organizing the welcome to Gander for 38 plane loads of passengers, diverted from New York because of the attack on the Twin Towers, will be there as well as a Newfoundland
band that could blow your socks off. The five-day event for Gander resulted in a massive success of the musical Come from Away to sold out crowds in Washington, Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, Seattle, London, Melbourne, Aus., Toronto and Ottawa. It was a chance encounter by Stewart and Donna Blair last fall in Gander that started it all rolling. The Blairs, visiting the town, were leaving their hotel when they literally bumped into three of the organizers. Stewart is a past president of the Rotarians, but according to Dennis Staples, a Rotarian. It was Donna who “chatted them up.” The encounter ended with the Blairs suggesting “it would be nice if we can do something in Smiths Falls.” The idea was brought to the club, says Staples, and
the kitchen party is what they came up with. The four people featured in the musical, Come from Away, mayor and Rotarian Claude Elliott, Beulah Cooper, officer Oswald ‘Oz’ Fudge, and Brian Mosher, a local broadcaster will be on hand to tell their story. The proceeds of the kitchen party “will go back to worthy causes in Newfoundland,” says the news release of the Rotary Club. “It’s our way to celebrate the effort Gander made,” says Staples. Charlie Payne of Woodie Point and Wayne Parsons of Anchors Away are expected to share their music and humour at the kitchen party. When Anchors Away plays in Gander, it’s always to a sold out house.
Events Around the Region CARLETON PLACE
SUNDAYS
Blues w/Redneck Limousine 3:00pm - 6:00pm Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 thewaterfrontgastropub.ca
TUESDAYS
Olde Time Bingo
7:00pm - 9:15pm Carleton Place Arena 75 Neelin St. 613-257-1690 Carletonplacecivitan.com
WEDNESDAYS
Open Jam
9:00pm - 1:00am Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 Thewaterfrontgastropub.ca
THURSDAYS
Karaoke
9:00pm Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 Thewaterfrontgastropub.ca
SATURDAYS
Blues & Classic Rock w/Al Tambay 3:00pm - 6:00pm Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 thewaterfrontgastropub.ca
MARCH 6
Mississippi Blues Society Open Jam 8:30pm - 11:00pm Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 Thewaterfrontgastropub.ca
MARCH 7
Lanark Co. Genealogical Mtg 1:30pm Brunton Hall 1702 9th Line, Beckwith lcgsinfo34@gmail.com
MARCH 12
Meet David Merner 7:00pm - 9:00pm Good Food Co. 31 Bridge St. 613-257-7284 Davidmerner.com
Toastmasters
7:00pm - 8:30pm Riverview Seniors' Residence 204 Lake Ave. 613-250-9282
MARCH 25
MMLT AGM & Tick Talk 6:30pm Mississippi Valley Conservation Centre 10970 Highway 7 613-253-2722
MARCH 27
Lanark Laughs
8:30pm - 10:00pm Waterfront Gastropub 12 Bell St. 613-257-5755 Thewaterfrontgastropub.ca
MISSISSIPPI MILLS
SUNDAYS
Sitting on Sundays
10:00am - 11:00am Big Stone House 218 Strathburn angie@bigstonehouse.ca Bigstonehouse.ca
MONDAYS
Cancer Support Group 10:00am - 11:00am Almonte Library 155 High St. 613-726-8040
TUESDAYS
Music Trivia
8:00pm Almonte Lobby Bar in Alm Riverside Inn
81 Queen St. facebook.com/almontelobbybar
WEDNESDAYS
Duplicate Bridge Club 7:00pm Almonte Legion 100 Bridge St. 613-256-4747
THURSDAYS
Naismith Men's Shed
1st & 3rd Thurs each month at Mamma's 2nd & 4th Thurs at the Mill of Kintail's gatehouse boardroom almontecarver@gmail.com Menssheds.ca 613-461-0013
MARCH 7
AiC: Percussive Encounter 7:30pm Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St. almonteinconcert.com
MARCH 14
Workshop: Greening your Garden 10:00am - 12:00pm Almonte Library 155 High St. kkiddey@mississippimills.ca 613-256-1037
Vernissage: Owens & VanAmeyden
2:00pm - 4:00pm Mississippi Valley Textile Museum 3 Rosamond St. E info@mvtm.ca 613-256-3754 Mvtm.ca
MARCH 15
Open House & Live Music 2:00pm - 4:00pm Orchard View 219 Paterson St. ovmreception@ovlc.com 613-963-5000 Orchardviewmississippi.ca
MARCH 18
Travelogue: New Orleans & the American South 7:00pm Almonte Library 155 High St. 613-624-5306 Missmillslibrary.com
MARCH 19
Trad Song Pub Session
MARCH 6
2:00pm - 4:00pm dave@barleymow.com 613-256-5669 Barleymow.com
Logan Brown
10:00am - 2:00pm Curious & Kind, Heritage Mall 12B Mill St. curious.and.kind.almonte@ gmail.com Curiousandkind.ca
Steve Stacey & Stump Splitters
Community Potluck
MARCH 23
Almonte Hort: No-Dig Gardening
7:30pm Cornerstone Community Church 1728 Concession 11 cornerstone@cornerstone-almonte.ca 613-256-4995 Cornerstone-almonte.com
8:00pm Fiddleheads Bar & Grill Code's Mill, 53 Herriott St. Fiddleheadsbarandgrill.com 8:45pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com
Shawn McCullough 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com
MARCH 7
Workshop: Intro to Tai Chi & Qigong
Almonte Lectures: End of Road for Antiques?
2:00pm - 4:00pm Yoga Connection 39 Gore St. timothybooth9@gmail.com 416-554-1912
MARCH 28
6:00pm Perth Civitan Club 613-267-6104 robinson.wendy@hotmail.ca perthcivitan.com
MARCH 27
7:30pm Almonte United Church 106 Elgin St. AlmonteLectures@gmail.com Almontelectures.net
Workshop: Growing Vegetables Organically 10:00am - 12:00pm Almonte Library 155 High St. kkiddey@mississippimills.ca 613-256-1037
MVTM Soup for Thought Fundraiser 12:00pm - 2:00pm Mississippi Valley Textile Museum 3 Rosamond St. E info@mvtm.ca 613-256-3754 Mvtm.ca
MMPL Seed Library Opening
12:30pm Almonte Library 155 High St. kkiddey@mississippimills.ca 613-256-1037
Folkus: Ian Sherwood w/ Evangeline Gentle
4rd Annual Stampede Steakout & Dance
MARCH 8
Seedy Sunday
10:00am - 3:00pm Perth Civitan Hall 6787 County Rd 43 613-267-2181 Perthcivitan.com
MARCH 9 & 11
Auditions: This Year, Next Year 7:00pm Studio Theatre 63 Gore St. E. 613-267-7469 Studiotheatreperth.com
MARCH 10
Perth Hort: Horticulturalists & Lyme Disease
7:00pm - 9:00pm St. Paul's United Church 25 Gore St. W. robinmcintosh435@gmail.com 613-253-5690 Perthhortsociety.com
MARCH 13
8:00pm Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St. 613-256-9090 Folkusalmonte.com
Henry Norwood
Evening Coffee House
Pancake Breakfast
9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com
MARCH 21
PERTH
MVFN Talk: Water
7:30pm Almonte United Church 106 Elgin St. Mvfn.ca
MARCH 20
7:00pm - 9:00pm St. Paul's Anglican Church 70 Clyde St. Stpaulsalmonte.ca
Meet the Artist: Carol Bajen-Gahm 3:00pm - 6:00pm Sivarulrasa Gallery 34 Mill St. info@sivarulrasa.com 613-256-8033 sivarulrasa.com
An Evening of Comedy
6:30pm Curious & Kind, Heritage Mall 12B Mill St. curious.and.kind.almonte@ gmail.com Curiousandkind.ca
MARCH 22
Clowning Workshop for Performers
10:00am - 2:00pm Curious & Kind, Heritage Mall 12B Mill St. curious.and.kind.almonte@ gmail.com Curiousandkind.ca
SRO Big Band Tea Dance 1:00pm - 4:00pm Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St. srobigband.weebly.com/ tea-dances
MARCH 29
8:00am - 12:00pm Union Hall 1984 Wolf Grove Rd. at Tatlock Rd.
TUESDAYS
Brock Zeman
9:00pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com
WEDNESDAYS
Karaoke
9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 goldenarrowpub.com
THURSDAYS
Open Mic w/Kevin Choffe 8:00pm Fiddleheads Bar & Grill Code's Mill, 53 Herriott St. Fiddleheadsbarandgrill.com
MARCH 5 - 8
Marion Bridge
March 5 - 7 at 7:30pm March 8 at 2:00pm Studio Theatre 63 Gore St. E. 613-267-7469 Studiotheatreperth.com
8:00pm Fiddleheads Bar & Grill Code's Mill, 53 Herriott St. Fiddleheadsbarandgrill.com
MARCH 16
Youth Homelessness in Lanark County 7:00pm Perth Legion 26 Beckwith St E. rcl244@ymail.com 613-267-4400
Eastbound of Bytown
Matt Dickson
8:45pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com
George Turcotte
9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com
MARCH 17
12:00pm - 3:00pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com
Tom Watson
3:00pm - 7:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com
Speakeasy
4:00pm - 7:00pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com
Tom Watson
8:00pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com
Pretty Ugly
9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com
MARCH 19
The Butterfly Fan Club - Perth & District Breast Cancer Support Group 7:00pm - 9:00pm Perth Family Health Centre 33 Lewis St. 613-812-4474
MARCH 20
Knives Out
7:00pm Studio Theatre 63 Gore St. E. 613-267-7469 Studiotheatreperth.com
Chris Strang
8:00pm Fiddleheads Bar & Grill Code's Mill, 53 Herriott St. Fiddleheadsbarandgrill.com
George Turcotte
John Dorsch
MARCH 14
9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com
Matt Dickson
MARCH 21
6:30pm Studio Theatre 63 Gore St. E. 613-267-7469 Studiotheatreperth.com
Shawn McCullough
8:30pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com
Eric Widzinski
Jack Pine
Danielle Hewitt
9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com
MARCH 15
St. Patrick’s Party 2:00pm - 6:00pm Perth Civitan Club perthcivitan.com
Choral Evensong
3:45pm St. James the Apostle Anglican Church 12 Harvey St. cnr Drummond stjamesperth@superaje.com 613-267-1163 Stjamesperth.ca
MARCH 27
Shawn McCullough
8:00pm Fiddleheads Bar & Grill Code's Mill, 53 Herriott St. Fiddleheadsbarandgrill.com
8:30pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com
The Last Ocean
26 Craig St. filmnightperth@gmail.com Filmnightinternational.blogspot.com
8:30pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com
MARCH 24
Lanark Co. Camera Club Mtg
7:00pm - 9:00pm Algonquin College 7 Craig St. secretary@lccameraclub.com
Lanark County Quilters Guild
MARCH 31
Brock Zeman
9:00pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com
SMITHS FALLS
SUNDAYS
Bluegrass Lunch
12:00pm - 2:00pm Bowie's 20 Russell St. E. Bowiessmithsfalls.com
MONDAYS
Duplicate Bridge Club 7:00pm Smiths Falls Legion 7 Main St. E. office95@cogeco.ca 613-256-4747
TUESDAYS
Duplicate Bridge Club 1:00pm Smiths Falls Legion 7 Main St. E. office95@cogeco.ca 613-256-4747
WEDNESDAYS
Darts
7:00pm Smiths Falls Legion Branch 95 7 Main St. E., Smiths Falls 613-283-3292
Where Is My Mind Trivia Night 8:00pm - 10:00pm Bowie's 20 Russell St. E. bowiessmithsfalls.com
THURSDAYS
Bingo
Doors open at 4:30pm Card sales start at 5:30pm Canteen available from 4:30pm to 7:00pm Smiths Falls Legion Branch 95 7 Main St. E., Smiths Falls
Open Stage
8:00pm Bowie's 20 Russell St. E. Bowiessmithsfalls.com
FRIDAYS
Rotary Bingo
Doors Open at 4:00pm Bingo starts at 6:45pm Settlers Ridge Centre 275 Brockville St.
SATURDAYS
Funk & Soul Playlist 9:00pm - 2:00am Bowie's 20 Russell St. E. Bowiessmithsfalls.com
MARCH 6
St. Patrick’s Dance
7:00pm - 9:00pm Lions Hall, Perth Fairgrounds Arthur St. Lanarkcountyquiltersguild.com
7:00pm - 11:00pm Hanley Hall 30 McGill St. N. 613-283-0607 613-283-6116
By the Grace of God
Elvis Tribute
MARCH 25
2:00pm & 7:00pm Full Circle Theatre
MARCH 7
8:00pm Gallipeau Centre
361 Queen St. 613-284-9916 Gallipeaucentre.com
MARCH 8
St. Patrick's Day and Irish Cultural Identity Presentation with Blair Kerr 1:00pm Heritage House Museum 11 Old Sly's Road heritagehouse@smithsfalls.ca 613-283-8560 Smithsfalls.ca
MARCH 11
Spring/Summer Recreation Open House 6:00pm - 9:00pm Community Centre Hall recreation@smithsfalls.ca smithsfalls.ca
MARCH 14
New to You Sale
8:00am - 12:00pm Trinity United Church 41 Market St.
The MacNificent Celtic Band 12:00pm (noon) - 11:00pm Settlers Ridge Centre
Sweet & Savoury Potluck Pie Dinner 6:00pm Trinity United Church 41 Market St.
MARCH 15
Songwriter Series: Keith Glass Band 8:00pm - 11:00pm Bowie's 20 Russell St. E. Bowiessmithsfalls.com
MARCH 17
St. Patrick’s Day Children’s Program 9:00am - 3:00pm Heritage House Museum 613-283-6311 heritagehouse@smithsfalls.ca
MARCH 20 & 21
Bombshell
7:00pm Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave. 613-283-0300 Smithsfallstheatre.com
MARCH 21
Tony Lee R-Rated Hypnotist 9:00pm - 10:30pm Bowie's 20 Russell St. E. Bowiessmithsfalls.com
MARCH 26
By the Grace of God
2:00pm & 7:00pm Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave. filmnightperth@gmail.com Filmnightinternational.blogspot.com
MARCH 28
Led Zeppelin Tribute 8:00pm Gallipeau Centre 361 Queen St. 613-284-9916 Gallipeaucentre.com
Sam Kirmayer Sextet
WESTPORT & RIDEAU LAKES
2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN
Open Mic w/Shawn McCullough
Jeff Callery
SUNDAYS
1:00pm - 4:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN
7:00pm - 11:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN
1:00pm Upper Rideau Legion Branch 542 10099 Cty Rd 10 613-273-3615
MCDONALDS CORNERS
Darts
MONDAYS
Westport Legion Bingo
Doors open at 6pm Play starts at 7pm sharp Upper Rideau Legion Branch 542 10099 Cty Rd 10 613-273-3615
TUESDAYS
Darts
7:00pm Upper Rideau Legion Branch 542 10099 Cty Rd 10 613-273-3615
WEDNESDAYS
Winter Washer Toss
7:00pm Upper Rideau Legion Branch 542 10099 Cty Rd 10 613-273-3615
MARCH 6
John Wilberforce
6:00pm - 9:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN
MARCH 7
WAC East Coast Kitchen Party w/East Coast Experience 1:00pm - 4:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN
Sean Pinchin
7:00pm - 10:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN
MARCH 13
Brock Zeman
6:00pm - 9:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN
MARCH 14
Sam Wilson
7:00pm - 10:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN
MARCH 17
St. Paddy’s w/Turpin’s Trail
8:00pm Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave. 613-283-0300 Smithsfallstheatre.com
6:00pm - 10:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN
Live Music and Dinner
BOTR: David Gogo Band
MARCH 29
2:00pm Montague & District Forget Me Not Club 658 Rosedale Rd S 613-283-8482 613-283-2993
MARCH 31
Community Garage Sale Register by April 3 recreation@smithsfalls.ca smithsfalls.ca
MARCH 31
Finding You Way
1:00pm - 3:30pm Settlers Ridge Mall, Rotary Club Hall 1-866-576-8556 x 221 rhull@alzllg.ca
MARCH 28
MARCH 20
7:00pm - 11:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN
MARCH 21
Head over Heels w/Zak Colbert 6:00pm - 9:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN
MARCH 27
Young Petty Stones
7:00pm - 11:00pm The Cove Country Inn
REGIONAL
SUNDAYS
Winter Community Café 10:00am - 2:00pm MERA Schoolhouse 974 9th Concession A meraschoolhouse@bell.net 613-278-0388 meraschoolhouse.org
MARCH 8
Jamboree & Shepherd's Pie Dinner
1:00pm McDonalds Corners Ag. Hall 194 Cameron Rd. stonepilefarm@outlook.com 613-259-5043
MARCH 15
James Keelaghan & Jez Lowe 2:00pm - 4:30pm MERA Schoolhouse 974 9th Concession A meraschoolhouse@bell.net 613-278-0388 meraschoolhouse.org
PAKENHAM
MARCH 6
Open Mic w/Danah-Lee 6:00pm - 9:00pm Mount Pakenham 577 Ski Hill Rd. 613-624-5290 Mountpakenham.com
MARCH 8 & 15
Canada's number one tribute to Led Zeppelin
2:30pm - 5:30pm Mount Pakenham 577 Ski Hill Rd. 613-624-5290 Mountpakenham.com
takes the stage at the gallipeau centre theatre
Après-Ski: Dale Yuke
MARCH 13
Jordan Dubeau
6:00pm - 9:00pm Mount Pakenham 577 Ski Hill Rd. 613-624-5290 Mountpakenham.com
MARCH 18
Pakenham Gardeners: Ferns 7:30pm St. Andrew's United Church 2585 County Rd 29 613-256-4768
MARCH 20
Open Mic w/Sky Papousek 6:00pm - 9:00pm Mount Pakenham 577 Ski Hill Rd. 613-624-5290 Mountpakenham.com
MARCH 25
Speaker Series: First Responders
7:00pm St. Andrew's United Church 2585 County Rd 29 613-256-4768
MARCH 31
Travel: Ireland & Scotland 7:00pm Pakenham Library 128 MacFarlane St. 613-864-5734
PORTLAND
MARCH 6
Water Street Coffee House 7:00pm - 9:00pm Portland Community Hall 24 Water St. cd.bresee3@gmail.com 613-272-8837
MOTHERSHIP
advertorial - submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Led Zeppelin was an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group consisted of vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With their heavy, guitar-driven sound, Led Zeppelin is regularly cited as one of the progenitors of heavy metal, although their style drew from a variety of influences, including blues and folk music. After changing their name from the New Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin signed a deal with Atlantic Records that afforded them considerable artistic freedom. Although the group was initially unpopular with critics, they achieved significant commercial success with eight studio albums released over ten years, from Led Zeppelin (1969) to In Through the Out Door (1979). Their untitled fourth studio album, commonly known as Led Zeppelin IV (1971) and featuring the song "Stairway to Heaven", is among the most popular and influential works in rock music, and it helped to secure the group's popularity. Page wrote most of Led Zeppelin's music, particularly early in their career, while Plant generally supplied the lyrics. Jones's keyboard-based compositions
later became central to the group's catalogue, which featured increasing experimentation. The latter half of their career saw a series of record-breaking tours that earned the group a reputation for excess and debauchery. Although they remained commercially and critically successful, their output and touring schedule were limited during the late 1970s, and the group disbanded following Bonham's death. Many critics consider Led Zeppelin to be one of the most successful, innovative, and influential rock groups in history. They are one of the best-selling music artists in the history of audio recording; various sources estimate the group's record sales at 200 to 300 million units worldwide. With RIAA-certified sales of 111.5 million units, they are the third-best-selling band and fifth-best-selling act in the US. Each of their nine studio albums placed in the top 10 of the Billboard album chart and six reached the number-one spot. They achieved eight consecutive UK number-one albums. Rolling Stone magazine described them as "the heaviest band of all time", "the biggest band of the Seventies", and "unquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock history". They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995;
the museum's biography of the band states that they were "as influential" during the 1970s as the Beatles were during the 1960’s. Mothership - "The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience" Get ready for an electrifying performance! Live on stage, Mothership: Canada's premier tribute to Led Zeppelin. With the first note played, Mothership will transport you back in time to relive the legacy that was Led Zeppelin. With well over 20 years under their belts performing this tribute, they provide a MESMERIZING performance from start to finish with a full night of Led Zeppelin's greatest hits! UNSTOPPABLE HITS like Black Dog, The Immigrant Song, Over the Hills, Ramble On, Whole Lotta Love, Kashmir, Stairway to Heaven, Rock N' Roll, When the Levee Breaks, Fool in the Rain, D'yer Maker, Heartbreaker, Going to California, Dazed and Confused, Good Times Bad Times, The Lemon Song, All My Love, No Quarter and many more!! Mothership has performed at countless festivals, fairs and large theatre style venues. Get ready to relive the legends of Rock N' Roll. The look, the moves, the music, the memories: it's a must-see show for all Led Zeppelin fans!
March 2020
9
Food & Drink
Beer, Wine and Spirits
Craft Breweries in Eastern Ontario Brian Preston ~ The Travelling Sommelier
Westport Brewing Co. Upper Rideau blonde ale. Photo credit: westportbrewingcompany.ca.
How many micro craft breweries do you think are in Eastern Ontario? If you guessed anywhere near 34 you would be right! If anyone knows the percentage of the beer market in Ontario that is craft beer operations, please let me know. Remember the days when it was a choice only between Labatt and Molson? As Guy Fieri would say on his food show, Canadians want 'flavourtown' when they drink a beer, not just a mass-produced beer. Thus was born the movement that has spread around the world in the last few decades. So this month I thought I would feature our more local craft breweries, some of which I have written about more extensively in previous articles. I wanted to feature the ones that are mostly available at local Beer and/or LCBO retail stores along with their Brewmaster tasting notes. I have also selected the ones that go with our upcoming Spring and Summer, although right now it looks like we are still in the grip of Old Man Winter! Embrace the season
and some of these fine beers. WESTPORT BREWING CO. (WESTPORT) • Upper Rideau Blonde Ale 4.7% ABV 16 IBUs A clean and well balanced light ale with a sweet, malty aroma. • Rideau Lakes Red Ale 6.9% ABV 38 IBUs. A complex brew with sweet caramel notes and a smooth finish. PERTH BREWERY (PERTH) • Canada Maple Ale 4.9% alc./vol, 20 IBUs- Their award winning maple ale provides a uniquely Canadian experience, brewed in collaboration with local Temple's Sugar Bush. • Calypso IPA 4.8% alc./ vol, 42 IBUs This unfiltered West Coast Session IPA pours pale gold in colour and features subtle tropical aromas and flavours balanced with light malt body and refreshing finish. • Summer Squeeze 5.1% alc./vol Thirst quenching citrus wheat brewed with fresh orange, lemon and lime. 4 DEGREES BREWING CO. (SMITHS FALLS) • Hill 70 is a Belgian Blonde, with an ABV of 7%.
Dry, and crisp with notes of apple, pears, banana, clove and spice. The complexity of the fermentation process and the hops and esters from the yeast give it a delightful, fruity background leading up to a very clean finish, with little after taste. Best served in a tulip-style glass, it pairs well with savoury and/or spicy dishes. History: On August 15, 1917, Canadian troops attacked and captured Hill 70 in WWI. STALWART BREWING CO. (CARLETON PLACE) • Dr. Feelgood / Snake Oil IPA 6.8% - 69 IBU Barley, wheat and rye give Feelgood a complex dry body, but the star of the show is its unrestrained use of zingy hops offering fruit, citrus and resin to the nose and palate. • Down By The River 5.3% - 29 IBU. DBR is crisp and clean with a tantalizingly full feel through the magic of wheat and oats. Featuring a nose hinting of flowers and fresh-squeezed lemons, DBR finishes dry with a mild bitterness. Coming to Beer Stores across the Ottawa area and select LCBOs starting in March. GAN BREWING CO. (GANANOQUE) • Naughty Otter Lager Alc/Vol 5.2% 17 IBU The beer that started it all, a medium body lagered ale with an aroma of grains, clean bitterness and subtle citrus tones from the hops. They also have a Naughty Otter Pilsner 4.7%ABV If you have any topics you want me to cover in future columns drop me an email at brianpreston@hotmail.com. The Travelling Sommelier!
NOW OPEN
ENJOY THE DRIVE LOVE THE FOOD
GREAT FOOD GREAT TIMES
7 Church Street, Westport 613-273-7733 www.tangledgardencafe.com
7 Church Street, Westport 613-273-9900 www.lostpennypub.ca
MONDAY, MARCH 16 AT 6:00PM - 9:00PM Join us for our Charcuterie & Green Beer Workshop. Create your own board to take home for the special day! Special Guest Jeff Murphy from locally owned & operated 4 Degrees Brewing Company . For more information visit or tickets: facebook.com/events/1470981573079850
613-283-7707
Let's Eat
Brian Turner
Harvest Social; A whole new world of flavour I, like most of my generation, grew up around a meat and potatoes dining table. But fortunately times and our tastes have changed and matured and we now regularly experience the thrills of new dishes, novel combinations of flavours, and appetizing presentations from skilled artisans. Local entrepreneur Erin MacDonald is bringing her take on great food to Smiths Falls and area, and judging from early crowds, many of us are eager to explore her culinary world. Harvest Social just opened in the historic Davidson Court on Russell Street in Smiths Falls last month and Erin’s signature salads, soups, and sandwiches (not to forget butter tarts worth fighting over) are already packing her 50 seat facility. I dropped by for lunch (plans are in the works to expand to dinner service later this year) on a frosty winter afternoon and discovered that her creations do more than just satisfy hunger; they help to drive the winter blues away. I opted for her suggestion on the beet salad, accompanied by a steaming bowl of tomato and roasted red pepper soup. Her personal selection of fresh greens and veggies ensures that even in the dead of winter you can easily imagine you’re feasting on garden fresh harvests on a warm summer day. She makes all of her dressings in-house using oils and vinegars sourced from the Kingston Olive Oil Company. My half-size plate was generous (you really need an appetite for the full serving) and was loaded with roasted beets, cucumber, spiced candied walnuts, candied lemon peel, creamy goat
First customers Dakota Bashford and Jenna McElravy with owner Erin MacDonald in the middle. Photo credit: Brian Turner.
cheese on a bed of kale drizzled with a Sicilian lemon vinaigrette. The sweetness of the beets and walnuts perfectly matched the slight bitterness of the kale and the goat cheese and lemon dressing brought a smooth hit of delight to the palette. The soup was perfectly spiced, thick, and filling. Erin got her grounding in the world of fresh veggies while helping out at a local market garden. She attended the University of Guelph where the hotel and food admin program caught her attention. After graduation she spent a few years in Long Island, New York honing her food creation skills. While she didn’t plan on opening a restaurant in the middle of winter, a surprise opportunity to locate in the Davidson Court complex just couldn’t be passed by. Its heritage captured her and she believed the former
home of a bakery (opened in 1889 to become one of Eastern Ontario’s largest) would make a perfect fit. Harvest Social is open Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm and is fully accessible. You can check out their complete menu along with rave reviews on their Facebook page (harvestsocialsf) or reach them at 613 283 0438. They’re located just off the main business corridor, Beckwith Street in Smiths Falls, at 7 Russell Street West with plenty of on-street parking. As mentioned, plans are in the works for dinner hour operations later this year along with a liquor license (can’t wait to see which vintages Erin will pair with her dishes). After sharing her menu and my experience with friends and neighbours, another visit is on the horizon. My soup and salad came to $14.50 before tip.
10
March 2020
culture Perth Inside Out: The shaping of the “Prettiest town in Ontario”
The Town of Perth has been unique in relation to other small towns in Ontario, ever since it was founded more than two centuries ago by a small group of settlers who trekked from Brockville to arrive here in the spring of 1816. While we will be discussing here some history from the time those Europeans first arrived, we must remember that the Algonquin First Nations peoples were occupying the lands of the Ottawa River watershed thousands of years before. Although this narrative will not touch on everything which shaped the character of Perth, we will speak about a few of the most important influences with information drawn from such sources as David Bromley’s “Perth Remembered”, the Perth & District Historical Society, and books by Ron W. Shaw and Susan Code McDougall. Many others have contributed to the collective archives
of a rich local history. So, how did Perth evolve from a military settlement to become the “Prettiest Small Town in Ontario” as decided by TV Ontario in the year 2000, and then further enhance its reputation in the years following? Bromley’s Perth Remembered website details the arrival in Canada of three transport ships. Many of the ships’ passengers would travel from the port city of Quebec to Prescott and Brockville, and so laying the foundation for the historic trek to what is today Perth. The arrival of those first settlers in 1816 marked the beginning of what became known as the “Perth Military Settlement”, which the Perth & District Historical Society describes as “an 1815 concept that covered present-day Perth and the adjoining early townships of Bathurst, North Burgess, South Sherbrooke, Drummond, North Elmsley and Beckwith.” Perth was one of three military settlements, the other two being Lanark and Richmond. Shaw’s well-researched books: “Influence and Ambition: First Persons of Perth” and “First We Were Soldiers, The Long March to Perth” chronicle those times in great detail, and are available online and
in several local bookstores. The location of the settlements was influenced, at least in part, by the decision to build the Rideau Canal System, which would make navigation possible for boats larger than a canoe along the proposed route. The canal was engineered with the construction of a series of locks between Ottawa and Kingston. Much more information is available on the websites of Parks Canada and Rideau Canal about this. Not only did the building of the canal influence the geography of the region, but the many Irish and Scottish immigrants who came to form the labour force contributed to the flavour of local populations. Many workers also came from the French-Canadian settlements of what was then Lower Canada. It became more than a military settlement after work began in 1827. At this point in history, it is well worth reading Code McDougall’s book titled “A Paddle down the Tay Canal.” The book delves into the building of the Tay Canal by the Tay Navigation Company, which came into being after the famous Colonel By chose not to use the Tay River as part of the Rideau Canal system. To quote from the book:
Terry O'Hearn
“The Little Red House, 1907, the oldest house in Perth, now at 65 Craig Street was built of logs in 1816. The house has served at various times as tavern, school, church, public hall, masonic lodge, and printing office.” Photo credit: Dave Bromley, Perth Remembered.
“While, today, the Tay Canal welcomes boaters from both near and far who seek a quiet idyll, its founders foresaw it as a conduit for commerce ... A navigable waterway offered a fast, efficient and proven means of raising a community out of subsistence and into prosperity.” The Tay was meant to be a smaller replication of the Rideau system, however the workmanship was not up to the same standards, and so was never successful commercially. Because many of the skilled workers of the canal settled in the area after com-
pletion of the project, we have some of the most impressive stone architecture in North America. Some workers also became farmers and merchants, and so the face of Perth changed rapidly. The year 1914 saw the arrival of the first Jewish family, as recounted here earlier. The Hoffman and Karakowsky families were the backbone of the group, and went on to be successful merchants. Those families contributed much to the growing reputation of Perth. The 200th anniversary of that first settlement was celebrated on a grand scale
by “Settlers Trek 2016”, which was a group of citizen re-enactors who set out from Brockville on May 15 of that year. It concluded in Perth on May 20, when everyone converged at the Perth Basin to continue the celebration with other re-enactments and displays. In a future column, some military history of the twentieth century will be discussed, and how the military presence Perth was built on has all but disappeared. If you have any comments or suggestions, please email me at: terry@pdgmedia.ca
Perth Museum ready for 2020, highlighting new programs and exhibits Perth - Emilie Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca
Photo credit: Emilie Must.
WE’VE MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION
Trailers & Parts IN EASTERN ONTARIO
New & Used Trailers USED EQUIPMENT
PARTS & ACCESSORIES
SERVICE DEPARTMENT
2181 Tennyson Road, Perth | trailercountry.ca | 613-267-3580
Hidden between the storefronts of Gore Street in Perth, National Historic Site the Matheson House sits with the town’s oldest artifacts inside. In 2019, the museum had between 8,000-10,000 visitors. It is already preparing for its 100th birthday in 2025. “The museum originally opened in the MacMillan building right across from town hall in 1925 and it moved here as a centennial project in 1966 and it opened in 1967,” said Kathryn Jamieson, Heritage Tourism Manager for the town of Perth. The Honourable Roderick Matheson built the house in two parts starting in 1835 and finished in 1840. Matheson lived there with his 13 children until 1929. “He had twins with his first wife who died shortly after giving birth,” Jamieson said. “Then he married his second wife and had 11 children.” Jamieson said the best room in the house is the 1840s kitchen. “I think it’s because it’s casual and relaxed,” Jamieson said. “The other rooms are very formal so they’re very beautiful
but they’re just not quite as relaxing as when you walk in because the atmosphere is just totally different. People love the kitchen.” The front foyer and the dining room feature beautiful chandeliers reminiscent of Toronto’s Spadina House. On the second floor is the large, imposing drawing room filled with antique furniture and art. One of the most popular exhibits is the container in the visitor’s centre, which houses the two pistols used during the Last Duel in Perth in 1833. On the third floor there is a dollhouse replica of the way the rooms looked when the family lived in the home as well as a collection of Indigenous artifacts and clothing. “He was a banker and one of the founders of the Tay River Navigation business until he reached the Senate in 1867,” Debbie Sproule said. Sproule has been the Administrative Assistant for more than 30 years and has witnessed the museum go through many changes. “The programming is our main focus in 2020,” Jamieson said. The museum has new partnerships with the La-
nark County Neighbours for Truth and Reconciliation and the Lanark Drum Circle to offer Indigenous history. “We did the art and Indigenous culture days in September of last year and we’re looking at doing more events and building on that with them and we’re exploring exhibit ideas with them as well.” The museum is planning to apply for grants to create a full exhibit on Perth’s Indigenous identity. Another event the museum hosts is Pizza Days using the outdoor bake oven. “It was refreshed almost two years ago,” Jamieson said. “The interior was rebuilt. We kind of did training on it last summer and this year building on that, getting more activities and more reasons for people to come through the door who haven’t been in awhile.” The museum also has a section on Perth history on the third floor. It has part of the area’s vast collection of minerals, one of the largest in Canada. Visitors can tour the museum year-round from 10 am to 6 pm between March and December and 10 am to 5 pm January to March.
11
March 2020
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12
March 2020
the marketplace directory
business
BEHIND THE BUSINESS:
Brian Turner
Who’d a thunk it? Omid McDonald of Dairy Distillery, Almonte
Photo credit: Submitted.
When you look at Omid McDonald’s background and early career path, having it eventually reach the CEO position of a new, unique and vibrant craft distillery wouldn’t be an expected track, but as he reflects, many of the steps are common no matter what business you’re in.
His early grounding in computer software led him, at a young age, to assisting his Ottawa U math professor father in research on predicting fetal distress. When he was ready to strike out, his first venture was a medical software specialty firm that eventually employed over 60 people.
From there it was into the very competitive world of telecom in Europe where another software start-up of his made its mark with some very large players in the industry. Returning to Ottawa he went on to strike up another specialty firm, this time for the audio DJ sector. But it was a visit to a distillery that proved fateful in Omid’s journey. It created an itch that could only be treated by finding a location to set up his own beverage craft-house. A chance discussion with a family cousin about farmers sometimes having to dump excess milk was the eureka moment when he first posed the question; can you make an alcoholic beverage from milk products? The germ of an idea that became Vodkow (a smooth and clear spirit created using milk sugars) was born. When asked how a software writing circuit-head can
succeed in the distillery business he replies that a lot of the basics and underlying experiences are the same. It’s all about building relationships, and understanding what people want. He’s been overwhelmed at the support Dairy Distillery has received from the public, the local municipal administration, and area businesses. He believes his company has reached its current position in less than half the time than if he had chosen another location. The staff complement is now up to 8 and keeps growing as their newest line of cream liqueurs will hit LCBO shelves later this year. Physical facility expansion is also on the horizon. They are supporting Ontario milk farmers in a sustainable way while delivering a product that has made a hit with consumers. Looking at Omid’s history, this is nothing new.
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