Summer In The Hills 2024

ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS

MOCKTAILS : SUMMER’S NON-ALCOHOLIC CHOICE

LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE DUFFERIN’S NEW FILM FESTIVAL

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FEATURES

34 ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS

Each year our roadside verges erupt into a dazzling tapestry of bloom – and an important habitat for butterflies, pollinating insects and birds BY DON

SCALLEN

42 BUGGED!

Insects and their kith are essential to life on Earth – but that doesn’t mean we want to share our houses with them BY

ANTHONY JENKINS

49 A MORNING IN ERIN

An illustrated saunter through the village of Erin for donuts on Main Street and impromptu conversations BY FISHER

MONAHAN

50 LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!

For two jam-packed days in August, Dufferin County gets its own film festival BY

ANNA LEE BOSCHETTO

54 STILL IAIN

Iain and Jane Richmond are determined to face Iain’s Alzheimer’s disease together. The community is there to help BY

GAIL GRANT

81 MAKE MINE A MOCKTAIL

As non-alcoholic drinks surge in popularity, mocktails and other zero-proof libations hit the patio this summer BY EMILY

DICKSON

PULLOUT

59 HEADWATERS FARM FRESH GUIDE

Our 2024 map and guide to the best local produce, meat and craft beverages at farms across the region

25 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE Liz Eakins

27 FIELD NOTES A fishing derby, an archery competition and outdoor summer concerts BY EMILY DICKSON

31 FENCE POSTS I don’t know what happened… BY DAN NEEDLES

75 COUNTRY LIVING 101 A building permit primer BY TONY REYNOLDS

76 FOOD AND DRINK Outdoor dining, a plant-based café and ice cream sandwiches BY EMILY DICKSON

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PUBLISHER & EDITOR

Signe Ball

DEPUTY EDITOR

Tralee Pearce

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Dyanne Rivers

ART DIRECTOR

Kim van Oosterom

Wallflower Design

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Erin Fitzgibbon

Rosemary Hasner

Elaine Li

Pete Paterson

ILLUSTRATORS

Shelagh Armstrong

Fisher Monahan

Ruth Ann Pearce

Jim Stewart WRITERS

Anna Lee Boschetto

Emily Dickson

Gail Grant

Anthony Jenkins

Bethany Lee

Dan Needles

Janice Quirt

Tony Reynolds

Nicola Ross

Don Scallen

Roberta Fracassi

Erin Woodley

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In The Hills is published quarterly by MonoLog Communications Inc. It is distributed through controlled circulation to households in the towns of Caledon, Erin, Orangeville, Shelburne, Creemore, and Dufferin County.

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THE BUZZ ABOUT BUGS

According to famed natural scientist David Attenborough, “If we and the rest of the back-boned animals were to disappear overnight, the rest of the world would get on pretty well. But if the invertebrates were to disappear, the world’s ecosystems would collapse.”

I first came across this quote on the home page of Buglife, a U.K. organization devoted to conserving all invertebrates (not just bugs but also worms, jellyfish and the like). I stumbled across the website a couple of years ago when Buglife announced the winners of their 2021 photo contest. (Do yourself a favour, search the contest online and prepare to be dazzled.) I’ve been an avid follower ever since.

Among Buglife’s many (many!) initiatives is an annual Bugs Matter census in which citizen scientists count and report the number of bug splats on their vehicle number plates. The 2023 results, measured by nearly 26,500 journeys across the U.K., revealed a disturbing 78 per cent decrease in splats since the first survey in 2004, and it’s not just the number of insects that is declining. It’s also the variety – and reports of this decline are duplicated in many other studies around the globe.

With a land mass that is a tiny fraction of Canada’s, and a population 50 per cent larger, the U.K. takes preserving their countryside and its wild inhabitants very seriously. In Canada, we tend to be more blasé, but as Don Scallen reports in this issue, Canadians of a certain age can likewise report that the days when a drive in the country required frequent wiper use to clear windshields of insect carnage are well in our rear-view mirror. That’s why, in “Roadside Attractions,” Don makes an impassioned but carefully considered argument for rethinking the municipal mowing of roadside verges, a practice that, in Headwaters alone, wipes out hundreds of acres of the wildflower habitat that supports insects.

Of course, respecting bugs, and their role in the survival of our own species, doesn’t necessarily mean we have to like them. So, also in this issue, Anthony Jenkins takes a more lighthearted view of the bugs with whom we reluctantly share our homes – and offers some suggestions for sending them on their way, as humanely as possible.

Because like them or hate them, as Attenborough observed, we’re nowhere without them.

MEET THREE CREATIVE CONTRIBUTORS WHOSE WORK IS FEATURED IN OUR SUMMER ISSUE

Gail Grant

Gail Grant has contributed her “Over the (Next) Hill” and “Meet a Community Elder” columns to this magazine since 2015, plus many features with a focus on the senior years. “It’s such a privilege for me to be able to chat with local seniors,” Gail says. “Their diverse achievements and interests are always refreshing and uplifting. I love every moment of it.” For this issue, Gail tackled a difficult topic –Alzheimer’s disease – which she admits was heartwrenching. “But I’m so grateful to the people willing to share their stories.”

A big fan of travel, for her 80th birthday the Caledon resident found herself “far past the end of the road” in the Costa Rican jungle, listening to howler monkeys. Prior adventures included paddling up the Yukon River and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro on a dare, proving you’re never “too old” to do remarkable things.

Anna Lee Boschetto

A first-time contributor to In The Hills, Anna Lee Boschetto delves into the burgeoning film production scene in Dufferin County, uncovering the inspiration behind this summer’s launch of the Dufferin Film Festival and connecting with rising screenwriters who participated in the festival’s inaugural writing contest. Anna Lee is an experienced communications professional and freelance writer whose work has appeared in publications including iRun, Canadian Living and Clean Eating

Alongside her passion for storytelling, Anna Lee enjoys exploring local eateries, tasting fine wine, and supporting community businesses. Based in Bolton, she shares her adventures with her two daughters. When she’s not immersed in writing or community activities, you can find Anna Lee hitting the trails as an avid runner, embracing the beauty of nature as a dedicated outdoors enthusiast, or curling up with a good book, indulging her love for reading.

Fisher Monahan

This intrepid illustrator and travel writer from Creemore mostly splits his time between Glen Huron and Thunder Bay. His latest delightful drawing takes us around the village of Erin. Previous explorations for this magazine took him to the cafés of Orangeville’s downtown and to the hills of Mulmur. Though best known for his book, The Sweetgrass Chronicles: A Walk Across America, for which he wandered from Vancouver to San Francisco, his illustration work captures everything from mycologists to outdoor apparel companies.

Fisher is currently wrapping up his first year at Lakehead University while continuing to draw and work on several design projects. Expect a few missives from Fisher’s rolling studio this summer to appear on Instagram (@fishermonahan), as he’s on a bike tour all the way to Nova Scotia, stopping in all the little towns along the way.

Magnificent trees

I thoroughly enjoyed Don Scallen’s fine piece on the arboreal wonders of the Haslett hilltop in Caledon [“A Magnificent Obsession” spring ’24]. I recall visiting some years back with Caledon’s heritage committee to inspect the fine work that Gary and his contractor were doing restoring their Georgian gem of a house. Their work resulted in not only a heritage designation from the town, but also that year’s award for heritage conservation excellence for him and Mary.

I chatted with Gary about his trees which even then were special. They are an exotic forest delight all too rare in our northern latitudes. While current enthusiasm for native plant gardening is key to restoring insect biodiversity, making room for artful exotic plants where they can thrive must still have a place in our yards.

Last summer’s sun and warmth gave me for the very first time a fabulous multitude of flowers and pods on a wisteria here high in the Albion hills after too many years of hoping. Our yard also boasts a fine dwarf European beech whose dry leaves add interest to the view on dull winter days.

— Ian Keith Anderson, Caledon

I thoroughly enjoyed “A Magnificent Obsession” about Gary and Mary Haslett’s arboretum of amazing trees from around the world atop the hill in northwest Caledon surrounding their beautiful heritagedesignated home.

Paul Aird, my late husband, and I visited Gary and Mary a few years ago to have a look at the heritage windows that they had built for them to replace the original windows. We were looking for ideas for replacing the front windows in our own heritage-designated home. Gary and Mary kindly gave us their time and told us of their experience with their window project. While Paul and I took a different approach in the end – what we had no knowledge of was the amazing arboretum outside the windows! Perhaps we hadn’t mentioned to Gary and Mary that Paul was a retired professor of forestry.

My only concern is the Hasletts’ use of peat as one of the soil amendments in parts of their arboretum. Canada is losing its peat bogs at an alarming rate. They are being mined for the benefit of gardeners and others who seek the water-holding capacity of peat. Peat bogs are a vitally important carbon sink. We need to leave our peat bogs alone for the benefit of our climate. If you

go to any garden centre in these hills, you will find that almost all bagged, composted manure contains peat. Last year, I bought manure made from worm castings because it was all I could find that did not contain peat. I do hope that the Hasletts are successful in their proposal to have the Town of Caledon include their arboretum in the heritage designation of their property. — Linda Pim, Inglewood

We are delighted with Don Scallen’s article about our arboretum, otherwise known as Gary’s “Magnificent Obsession.”

Cursive writing

In his article, Don has captured the essential spirit of the tree collection as it has grown over 30 years. He went above and beyond by researching more information about the plants, and photographer Rosemary Hasner reflected the grandeur of the trees in her photographs. We sincerely hope that, with more awareness about plants that can grow in the hills, more residents will benefit our environment and their own well-being by planting trees and shrubs. — Gary and Mary Haslett, Caledon

I must confess that for the first time over many issues, I did not turn first to the Editor’s Desk [“Little Things” spring ’24]. Better late than never, for your reflections are intriguing, but it’s what you had to say about cursive writing that moved me. During my special education days I fought a losing battle in favour of cursive, especially – and this is what cranked up the loudest protests – for “challenged” students.

Among the several arguments promoting the style, such as its speed and smoothness over laborious printing, is the fact that cursive requires three basic movements. Print needs at least nine, more if you attempt to duplicate professional fonts. It is a more difficult task by any measure.

Students identified as dyslexic or learning disabled, I would argue, benefit from the simplicity of cursive, notwithstanding the standard argument that when one prints, the outcome more closely resembles published text and thus makes both comprehension and production easier. In my long special ed experience, it doesn’t. I take comfort in the news that cursive is being restored to the curriculum, in Ontario at least. Hope it isn’t too late. There may not be enough geezers like me left to teach it. — Ken Weber, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto, Caledon

A weeping scholar tree, Sophora japonica ‘Pendula’, in the Haslett arboretum.

“Amanda provided me with valuable training tips and made sure my dog Archie was fitted properly with the best harness. I really appreciated the time Amanda spent with us and her knowledge and care.”

EMILY L.

A reader reflects

Re “Alison and Jim” spring ’24: As a young lad growing up in Etobicoke, I recalled a delightful painting hung by my parents in our house. Later on in my life I learned from David Silcox’s book on the Group of Seven that the painting was called Mist Fantasy by none other than Mr. J.E.H. MacDonald of that same group of accomplished artists.

This being said, I was quite pleased when I read the article written by Anthony Jenkins concerning art conservator Alison Douglas. It provided some fascinating insight regarding her work as it relates to the Group of Seven. I too have grown to appreciate that group’s artwork. Oh, and they say confession is good for the soul – so I must confess I do not live within the boundaries of In The Hills territory. I recently retired from Canada Post as a clerk. It was in Brampton North’s station that I was introduced to your extraordinary magazine. Several skids of your publication would arrive every season to be delivered to households in Caledon and Bolton by our letter carriers. There would always be a copy or two passed around for our own perusal, and I thank you for that.

But since retiring and knowing I would no longer be acquainting myself with In The Hills, I contacted deputy editor Tralee Pearce last autumn and she informed me that she had just dropped a bunch of your magazines in Inglewood. Upon learning of this I jumped in my car and drove up there from Brampton. At Inglewood’s Coywolf Café I purchased a coffee and pastry and snagged a copy of In The Hills and left a “happy camper”!

I also enjoy checking out your “Artist in Residence” page. It was here where I discovered an artist named Lynden Cowan and I was able to purchase one of her printings. So thank you for that. And thanks go to all your employees for continuing the success of such a wonderful magazine. — Jeff Simmons, Brampton

Corrections

Sharp-eyed readers have drawn our attention to the following errors in the spring 2024 issue. We thank them for the attentiveness.

“William Algie” by Nancy Early: Reader Gaille Musgrove pointed out – correctly – that Maureen Jennings’ novels, which feature fictional detective William Murdoch, inspired the popular TV series Murdoch Mysteries. The series was not inspired by John Goddard’s true-crime book The Man with the Black Valise, as our story said, though the exploits of real-life detective John Wilson Murray inspired both Jennings and Goddard. This error crept in during the editing process and was not included in Nancy’s manuscript.

“A Guide for Loopy Hikers” by Nicola Ross (an excerpt from her new book): Reader David Moule pointed out that the stone used to build Toronto landmarks such as Old City Hall is not limestone, but whirlpool sandstone quarried at the Forks of the Credit. David also noted that the Mississaugas of the Credit did not have a 10,000year relationship with the Forks area. Until the 17th century, the Mississaugas’ traditional territory was north of Lake Huron. They migrated to southern Ontario only after the Haudenosaunee drove out the Wendat. The Mississaugas are now based near Hagersville, Ontario. CONTINUED FROM

We welcome your comments! For more reader commentary, or to add your own thoughts on any of the stories appearing in this issue, please visit inthehills.ca. You can also send your letters by email to sball@inthehills.ca. Include your name, address and contact information. In The Hills reserves the right to edit letters for publication.

Reflecting on my career that began in 1984, I can honestly say it has been an exciting roller coaster ride. The biggest perk has been the hundreds of incredible people that I have come to call clients over these 40 years, many of whom have become dear friends. I have shared their joy in seeing their kids grow up and grandkids come along. Today, I consider it a privilege to be helping the second and third generations find their ideal homes.

When I look upon the younger generations buying for the first time, their energy and enthusiasm for owning their own home always puts a smile on my face. It makes me reflect on the year I was married, in 1980. Then, the interest rate for a mortgage was 22%. As unbelievable as that seems now, we were young and never paid attention to “interest rates.” We wanted a house, for which we barely qualified on a combined income of $20,000, and life went on.

We had never paid utilities, mortgages, contractors before, so my husband and

I had a lot to learn – and we did, because we loved having our own home. We dedicated our efforts to paying the bills, each working two jobs, but it was worth it. Eventually our $25,000 mortgage at 22% was paid in full.

In 1984, I had my son. Those days maternity leave was 4 months! I left the corporate world to stay home to look after our son and wondered, what next? The rest is history. The rest is Real Estate. This career was everything I could wish for –a dream job. My own hours, my own boss, and a pace that I adapted to my lifestyle. Real Estate was not a job...it was my pulse and gave me everything I loved, and more.

The corporate world taught me the importance of developing sound business plans. “Plan your work, and work your plan” became my daily, disciplined practice. The experiences over the decades and the knowledge I gained from clients have become key elements of my business practice today, and I thank my clients for making me better at my job.

Today, 40 years later, I am busier now than ever. These four decades of experience allow me to offer a sound, professional approach to everything Real Estate related.

As your Realtor, I will provide the advice and guidance you can trust to get you through the intricacies of buying, selling, financing, building or investing in multiple properties. I will assist you in analysing market trends and timing, and dealing with building inspections, solicitors, surveyors, planners, municipalities and conservation authorities, when applicable.

Allow me to facilitate your real estate transaction, seamlessly and with minimal stress! Trust experience, you are always in good hands. Hence my branded tagline,

“More than a realtor.”

Grateful thanks to all that have made these glorious 40 years memorable. You have enhanced my life and it is such a pleasure to know you and call you friends. A great gift indeed.

The Brampton and Caledon Community Foundation is the choice of individual donors, philanthropists and family estates

• The Brampton and Caledon Community Foundation provides individual endowment funds in the name of the Donor

• An endowment fund at the Brampton and Caledon Community Foundation will support the charity of your choice in perpetuity

• The Brampton and Caledon Community Foundation currently holds over 100 endowment funds valued at approximately $ 11 million... and has allocated over $8 million to worthy charities since inception

• Support charities in our community Today...Tomorrow...Forever by creating your legacy and your permanent endowment fund at the Brampton and Caledon Community Foundation.

•

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LIZ EAKINS

In her highly textured paper pieces, Creemore artist Liz Eakins evokes warmth and comfort through the seemingly contradictory use of cool-toned hues and crispy materials. Liz works with handmade, fibrous Japanese paper – burning, stitching, mark making, crumpling, knotting and collaging her designs into shape. “I am drawn to circles, and lines and repetition. I enjoy layering, both obvious and subtle.” These paper creations, and newer pieces painted on wood, convey light and harmony. One recent installation, a 3D hanging paper wall structure, pictured above, invites the viewer to enter and stay a while, in peace. Liz is the curator of Gallery Lagom in Creemore. Find her works at Lagom 172, at the annual Creemore Festival of the Arts in October, and on Instagram at @eakinsliz

Clockwise from top left

Pale Burn, Japanese paper and thread, 12" x 12" framed

Knot, Japanese paper and mineral paint, 16" x 27" x 7" Displaced, mineral paint on board, 20" x 20"

The Weight of Paper, installation, 8' x 12' x 12'

A

FISHING DERBY, AN ARCHERY COMPETITION AND OUTDOOR SUMMER CONCERTS

BY EMILY DICKSON

get hooked

Fishing enthusiasts wait all year with bated breath (pun intended) for the Island Lake Bass Fishing Derby, taking place from July 13 to 14. Armed with rods and reels, participants test their casting skills to see who can hook the biggest catch. Kids under 15 compete in the Youth Derby with prizes for largemouth and smallmouth bass, black crappie, Northern pike and more. Participants 15 and older can snag the coveted $5,000 first prize. Daily admission and the boat launch fee are included in registration.

HELPING PREVENT OAK WILT

Ontario’s oaks are under threat from an invasive fungal disease that restricts the flow of water and nutrients, and can cause death within weeks. But there are some steps you can take to help reduce the spread. “Unfortunately, there is no cure,” says James Godbold of Hill’N Dale Landscaping, “but you can avoid moving

DRAWING NATURE, IN NATURE

Join well-known artist, educator and shamanic practitioner CJ Shelton and author and In The Hills contributor Nicola Ross for Capturing the Moment, a workshop on the Art of Illustrated Journalling held in the lush gardens of the Alton Mill Arts Centre on June 15.

The goal of the workshop is to “tickle all your senses, helping you to feel as much as observe the world around you, whether it is describing your backyard or Timbuktu,” the organizers say. Later in July, Orangeville artist Ricky Schaede leads three one-day outdoor drawing workshops in Alton and Mulmur.

DOGS AND OTHER WILD THINGS

Browning starts at the leaf margins and progresses towards the petiole, creating a fall-like appearance; then trees defoliate.

oak firewood to other parts of Ontario, and don’t prune, wound or cut oak from April through July, even into November.”

Artists focus on the feral and tap into their untamed imagination at the Headwaters Arts’ Where the Wild Things Are exhibition at the Alton Mill Arts Centre until July 1. And it’s a tail-wagging good time at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives with the Oh My Dog! exhibition of work by artists who have chosen man’s best friend as their muse – on until September 3.

Red oaks White oaks

The Island Lake Fishing Derby is set for July 13 to 14.

Florence Carlyle, St. Bernard, 1897, at PAMA’s Oh My Dog! exhibition.

going for gold

As Team Canada heads to the Paris Olympics in July, be sure to cheer for 29-yearold pole vaulter Alysha Newman, a Caledon East resident who has competed at the Commonwealth Games, the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and the Pan Am Games. Alysha’s goal is to become the first Canadian female pole vaulter to take home an Olympic medal and break the five-metre barrier.

Catch competitive archery in action when The Archers of Caledon host the Canada Cup East from June 21 to 23. Highlights include watching more than a hundred archers launch their arrows and hit targets up to 70 metres away. The club will also be at the Caledon Day event on June 15, where you can try archery for free.

The Island Lake Classic attracts runners, walkers and stroller warriors for a 10K loop around Island Lake, a shorter 5K through challenging forested hills, or a Family Fun Run open to kids 10 and under. The event is September 2, but if you want to train on your treadmill, visit raceroster.com for virtual runs around Island Lake.

GETTING HEALTH HELP, IN YOUR LANGUAGE

TeleCheck, a free and confidential phone service that reaches out to independent adults 55-plus to provide health checks and social connections, has partnered with Polycultural Immigrant & Community Services –their Orangeville branch is on Brenda Boulevard – to provide their services in more languages, including Bengali, Hindi, Portuguese, Urdu and Yoruba.

BRYAN’S FUEL CELEBRATES A CENTURY

Congratulations to Orangeville-based Bryan’s Fuel, which started as a small garage in 1924 and evolved to an HVAC and fuel business that employs 70 people. “We’re really proud to have gotten to 100,” says Laura Bryan, great-granddaughter of the company’s founder, Roy D. Bryan, “but mostly we’re grateful that an amazing community has supported us for 100 years.”

SAVE THE DATES: FUN IN THE SUN

Feel the pride at Celebrate Your Awesome, back on June 15 in Orangeville’s Alexandra Park with great food, music, vendors and performers. The inaugural Erin Pride Festival kicks off on June 22 at McMillan Park with entertainers and artisans. The Orangeville Fall Fair runs from August 30 to September 1.

CONCERT NEWS

Fridays in the Park offers free outdoor concerts starting on June 14 at Shelburne’s Jack Downing Park with performers such as The Campfire Poets, Terra Lightfoot, Clerel and Naomi Bristow, plus Bhangra dancers, a Jumpin’ Jamboree and face painting for kids. Visit the Town of Shelburne website for info.

Erin Hill Acres, on 3rd Line Erin, hosts tribute concerts featuring Eagles devotees Hotel California on June 15 and country tunes by Shania Twin on July 20. She’s sure to impress you much, as the real Shania puts it.

Caledon Day turns 50 this year with multi-platinum and six-time Juno Awardwinning Canadian alt-rocker Sam Roberts Band at the Caledon East Community Complex on June 15.

Held at picturesque venues in small, intimate settings, the Caledon Music Festival from August 4 to 18 brings together some of Canada’s top classical musicians, including Emily Vondrejsova, Douglas Kwon, Sarah Kim, Ryan Davis, Songhee Lee, Catherine Gray, and Daniel Hamin Go.

MIDNIGHT MADNESS

Downtown Bolton’s Midnight Madness takes over on August 9 with musical acts such as the 12-piece Motown group The Momentum Band, plus a food truck alley, patios and a Kid Zone with face painting, magicians and inflatables.

The Archers of Caledon host the Canada Cup East, June 21 to 23.

Glen Bryan, son of founder Roy D. Bryan, with his two sons, Roy (left) and Greg, at Bryan’s Fuel’s third location at 42 Green Street, Orangeville, in 1988.

I DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED…

BY DAN NEEDLES • ILLUSTRATED BY SHELAGH ARMSTRONG

IT’S THE MOST COMMON PHRASE WE HEAR on the phone these days: “I don’t know what happened...” The line has disconnected for no apparent reason. So we call each other back and get busy signals until one or the other gives up. When we finally reconnect, one person says, “I don’t know what happened,” and the conversation picks up where it left off.

The problem is infrastructure, of course. In the case of landlines, the infrastructure is ancient and Bell can’t afford to replace it. In the case of cell phones, the infrastructure still can’t cope with the concept of a hill. Villagers in a river valley hang onto their landlines out of necessity because cell coverage doesn’t extend to them reliably. The larger problem is radio waves still don’t mix comfortably with digital bits and binary fragments, especially in rural areas, a fact which fits with my view of the universe. The countryside has always been hostile to newfangled ideas coming out of the city. We’re still not sure about the internal combustion engine.

We lost our internet for more than three weeks this spring. In ancient times, when an appliance stopped working, its lights would go out. Today, if the internet goes out, the lights on the modem stay on, they just don’t flicker anymore. We still have our landline, something that allows us to keep in touch with immediate family during a power outage. (The rest of the time it keeps us in touch with scammers.)

But hanging onto obsolete technology isn’t always a good idea. Last year my old fax machine, which had sat unused under my desk for the better part of a decade, suddenly jolted awake and called for help

in the middle of the night. The police banged on my door at 3:00 in the morning to tell me someone had called 911 from my fax number. I had to show them the machine to prove it was unharmed. We all shrugged and said, “I don’t know what happened.” The officers left and I went back to bed. The next day I threw the fax machine into the trash and cut the fax line off at the panel.

A nice lady in the Philippines who eventually answered my call told me she thought our internet problem was because I needed a new modem. But the

We missed several weeks of Trump trials, federal budget outrage, inaccurate storm warnings, and all the seasonal scares about ticks, bird flu and hammerhead worms. We had a very pleasant spring.

repairman in the white van who showed up a week later said no, it was a problem in the cell tower which sits on Min Baker Sideroad about two miles distant, over a hill.

“It’s bouncing back and forth between 4G and 5G, and your system can’t handle 5G,” he said, quite confident I knew what on earth he was talking about. He returned later that day to report he had “placed a ban on 5G” in that tower, an action I thought would have required some consultation with the federal cabinet or at minimum someone with a desk. But

he promised me the problem had been solved. He left and about an hour later the modem froze again, and the outside world parted company with us once more. A couple of days later, another nice lady in the Philippines apologized for the lengthy disruption and said she was “escalating” my case and a new modem would arrive in the mail in the next three to five business days.

By this time, my sons had left the house to spend more time at their girlfriends’ houses in town where there’s fibre optic cables. My wife and I had long since togged up in gloves and boots and lapsed back into the analog world of the farm. The weather had turned balmy, so we walked and gardened and burned brush piles without a permit. Then we drove down country to a Fur and Feather show to find interesting new chickens. We missed several weeks of Trump trials, federal budget outrage, inaccurate storm warnings, and all the seasonal scares about ticks, bird flu and hammerhead worms. We had a very pleasant spring. Finally, the new modem arrived in the hands of Rob our postman. I took it into the office and found to my astonishment that the old modem had suddenly come back to life, flickering away and unloading weeks’ worth of news about Taylor Swift’s crop tops. I shrugged, pulled its plug and hooked up the new one. It worked too, and has been burbling away ever since.

I still don’t have the faintest idea what happened.

Playwright and humorist Dan Needles lives on a small farm in Nottawa. His latest book, Finding Larkspur: A Return to Village Life, was published by Douglas & McIntyre last fall.

ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS

Each year our roadside verges erupt into a dazzling tapestry of bloom, and each year those blooms are levelled by municipal mowers. Is there a better way to manage our roadsides and protect this important habitat for butterflies, pollinating insects and birds?

ATTRACTIONS

BY DON SCALLEN • PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROSEMARY HASNER

There is a road in Headwaters that I visit every year in May. Between the gravel shoulders and the cedars and tamaracks of the nearby woodland, yellow lady’s slipper orchids open their exotic-looking blossoms. In the Saugeen-Bruce Peninsula, these orchids grow in dazzling abundance along roadsides. Here they are rare, but that only adds to their mystique. The cheerful patch of lady’s slippers are harbingers of high summer when our roadsides erupt into a dazzling riot of wild bloom – from blue chicory and black-eyed Susans to orange daylilies, pink sweet peas and purple clover, among many others. As summer recedes, these are followed by the regal purples and golds of asters and goldenrod.

But each year, just as this bounty of bloom reaches its peak, it falls victim to the blades of municipal mowers. The bad old days of roadside herbicide use are well behind us, but in aggregate, these cutting programs mean the loss of many thousands of acres of insect habitat – insects that pollinate plants and feed birds.

Some cutting along our roadside verges is certainly necessary to keep sightlines clear of trees and shrubs that might hinder a driver’s vision. That this cutting of woody vegetation allows sunlight to spark the growth of wildflowers is an unintended but welcome consequence. However, in this age of declining biodiversity, perhaps it is time to manage this cutting more intentionally – to maximize and protect these wildflower havens

throughout the year. Such an approach would reduce cutting frequency and be scheduled to avoid periods of peak bloom. Most wildflowers don’t grow tall enough or densely enough to inhibit roadway visibility. Where they might, along some curves or roads with narrow shoulders, selective cutting could occur. Management that acknowledged the ecological value of roadside wildflowers might even leave some stretches of road uncut in some years, allowing flowering plants to set seed, reproduce, and feed seed-eating birds.

Beyond safety, works departments in Headwaters cite various reasons for cutting. In Caledon, for example, where cutting takes place at least three times a year, a spokesperson responded to my query about the rationale behind the practice by noting it also keeps “ticks and other insects away from roadsides.”

This response is puzzling. Ticks are undeniably harmful, but it is unclear how these worrisome arachnids would menace drivers or cyclists, and pedestrians tend to walk on the shoulders, not through the vegetation.

More puzzling is why we need to protect road users from “other insects.” How do insects compromise road safety? With the global decline in insect populations, long gone are the days when a drive in the country included turning on the wipers to clear bug-spattered windshields. And “other insects” include pollinators, and a vast array of insects that feed birds such as swifts and swallows. Aerial insectivores, according the 2019 State of Canada’s Birds report, are declining more rapidly than any other category of birds largely because of their diminishing food supply.

“Aesthetics” is another reason offered to support frequent road

cutting. But aesthetics are in the eye of the beholder. Tidy, well-mown lawns are an enduring feature of our domestic landscapes, especially in the urban commons of our front yards, so perhaps it’s no wonder some of us want to see that routine extended to public roadsides. But increasingly more of us are pushing the aesthetic envelope by substituting trees, shrubs and perennials for the near ubiquitous grass, creating personal landscapes that are more ecologically friendly and far more interesting.

Perhaps this progressive thinking should be brought to the management of our roadside verges? Complete consensus is probably elusive, but with

PREVIOUS PAGE: Orange daylilies, aka ditch lilies. FAR LEFT, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT : Yellow lady’s slipper orchids; a bumble bee on purple clover; common daisies; sweet peas. ABOVE: Chicory (foreground) and yellow hawksbeard. RIGHT : Canada thistle.

public attitudes evolving, it is worth seeking feedback from Headwaters residents to provide guidance for road departments. Cutting could be reduced on selected thoroughfares, with the results monitored and the community invited to weigh in with their impressions.

Other jurisdictions are already exploring the opportunities that roadsides offer to biodiversity. A National Planning Framework published in Scotland in 2009, for instance, proposed that “Major linear infrastructure projects such as railways, roads, pipelines and cables should be seen as opportunities to strengthen green infrastructure and ecological networks.” A subsequent report released in 2013, called The Management of Roadside Verges for Biodiversity, identified roadsides as potential “stepping stones” linking isolated fragments of quality habitat.

The Scottish report does not ignore the potential pitfalls of roadside naturalization and particularly notes that sightline safety is paramount. The report also acknowledges that wildlife such as butterflies and birds may suffer increased road mortality along naturalized verges.

A Canadian registered charity called Pollinator Partnership Canada (P2C) likewise acknowledges on its website that “some pollinators, including bees, are indeed killed by traffic, but the positive benefits of creating roadside habitat outweigh the losses.”

The Scottish report recognizes that the biodiversity potential of roadside verges differs from place to place –that a one-size-fits-all prescription for roadside management is not appropriate. Management regimens should be informed by soil type, existing vegetation and the moisture levels of individual sites.

HILLS

Closer to home we can look to the Rural Lambton Stewardship Network and its subsidiary not-forprofit division, Ontario NativeScape, for some guidance. In 2002 RLSN naturalized 220 acres of Ministry of Transportation lands along 38 kilometres of Highway 40 between Sarnia and Wallaceburg with prairie grasses and wildflowers, and christened it the Highway 40 International Prairie Passage. Twentytwo years on, Jake Lozon, the public land manager for RLSN, describes the project as an “amazing” success.

Even so, Lozon acknowledges there remain competing views on how roadside verges should be managed. He told me some RLSN roadside naturalization projects are mowed regularly by adjacent landowners, even

though the project locations are clearly signed as restoration sites.

The Lambton example also demonstrates the necessity of sitespecific management of roadside verges. Though successful in Lambton, it would not necessarily work here. Southwestern Ontario soils and climate historically supported prairie and savannah habitats. Our soils and climate are different.

For its part, Pollinator Partnership Canada advocates for roadside management designed to bolster pollinator populations nationwide and paints a tantalizing picture of what might be possible: “A successful pollinator habitat project on a roadside or transportation corridor holds the promise of supporting the buzz of bees, the hum of birds, and the wondrous migration of monarch butterflies while bringing your community great satisfaction.”

With funding from the federal and provincial governments, P2C published the Technical Guide for Enhancing, Managing and Restoring Pollinator Habitat along Ontario’s Roadsides. The report opens with this statement: “With over 270,000 kilometres of roads in Ontario, marginal habitats such as roadsides are a significant, yet often overlooked resource for pollinator conservation.”

To do the math on one local example, take Mono Centre Road in Dufferin County between Highway 10 and Airport Road, a distance that includes about 10 kilometres of wild verge. About 1.5 metres (approximately 5 feet) are routinely cut from the sides of this paved rural thoroughfare. This amounts to the cutting of 3 hectares (7.4 acres) of vegetation – much of it wildflowers – two or three times a year.

Extrapolate that estimate to even a small portion of the 270,000

kilometres of roads in Ontario, and the aggregate amount of lost wildflower acreage reaches massive proportions. To reiterate, some cutting is required. But again, can we reduce the frequency and avoid prime bloom periods?

Pollinator Partnership Canada thinks we can. It says pollinator activity should inform cutting decisions and recommends “annual or biannual mowing regimes” and waiting until “late fall when the pollinator habitat has finished blooming.”

P2C also encourages planting native wildflowers along our roadsides and the attendant reduction or elimination of “invasive” species. There are some noxious invasive species we

should seek to control, such as dogstrangling vine, phragmites and giant hogweed. But naturalized non-native wildflowers such as chicory, Queen Anne’s lace and the various clovers merit a different approach. Attempts to replace these non-natives with native wildflowers would be a daunting prospect, likely doomed to failure. Further, recent research has found these non-native wildflowers may not be the ecological pariahs we’ve long thought them to be.

Surprisingly, many introduced species of roadside wildflowers are favourites of native butterflies. A paradigm-challenging study conducted by Dr. Heather Kharouba of the University of Ottawa found that native butterflies preferred to sip nectar from non-native wildflowers. Monarch butterflies, for example, visited non-native plants 58 per cent of the time. The findings suggest it is too

FACING PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT : A praying mantis on budding goldenrod; black-eyed Susans; viper’s bugloss; daisy fleabane. ABOVE: Goldenrod.

simplistic to automatically consign all non-native flora to the negative side of the ledger.

Kharouba’s study also found that some non-natives bloom earlier in the year than natives, providing nourishment to butterflies, bees and other pollinators before the natives ramp up flower production. Nonnatives such as Queen Anne’s lace can also feed caterpillars like those of the beautiful black swallowtail butterflies. Further, most of these introduced wildflowers flourishing along roadsides are present precisely because they have been visited by pollinators. Of course, it’s not only insects that like non-native wildflowers. Many of us delight in the summertime tapestry of colour that daisies, clovers, orange daylilies (aka “ditch lilies”), chicory

and many other introduced plants bring to our byways.

This is not to say non-natives should take precedence over natives, however. Natives such as asters, goldenrod and milkweed are brilliant ecological and visual stars and should be encouraged over introduced species where possible. Milkweed, of course, feeds monarch caterpillars, and the asters and goldenrods are top-tier pollinator favourites. And aside from their ecological value, they are visually stunning. But recognizing that nonnatives may also be playing important ecological roles may save us the time and treasure necessary to control them.

In response to climate change, all our local municipal governments are undertaking concerted reviews of their procedures and priorities to boost sustainability and enhance biodiversity. A new approach to

the management of roadside verge habitats should be part of the mix. We need to look at research and projects like the prairie corridor in Lambton for guidance. We need to consult Headwaters residents and honour their feedback regarding roadside maintenance. While our towns and townships should be lauded for their commitment to keeping us safe through their cutting regimens, cutting should be modified to maximize the benefit of roadside verges for pollinators and butterflies, and to maintain the joyful tumult of flowers that brighten our travels through the countryside.

As you read this in the summer, know that in May I wandered once more along that special roadside in Headwaters, reacquainting myself with gorgeous yellow lady’s slipper orchids. These peerless wildflowers flourish along this roadside because of cutting that allows sunlight to reach them. They remind us that thoughtful cutting can create opportunities for wildflowers and the many creatures that benefit from them – including the humans who delight in their beauty. The key is the timing and the frequency.

Read more of Don Scallen’s observations on local flora and fauna in his “Notes from the Wild” at inthehills.ca. Don will present a talk called “A Celebration of Trees” at the

Mono Pollinator Garden Festival at Avalon Lavender Farm on June 15.

LEFT, FROM TOP: Queen Anne’s lace; bouncing-bet (soapwort); purple and white asters. ABOVE: Orange jewelweed, white Queen Anne’s lace and purple Joe Pye weed provide a riot of colour.

BUGGED!

Insects and their kith are essential to life on Earth – but that doesn’t mean we want to share our houses with them. Here’s a closer look at some of our unwanted house guests and how to politely usher them out.

WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY ANTHONY JENKINS

Creepy. Crawly. To most of us, bugs – those pesky critters found scuttling, scampering, flitting, flying and infesting our homes – are a nuisance, and sometimes an outright nightmare.

“Squash ’em!” I say. This is my im mutable, sole-of-the-shoe or rolled-up magazine (but not this magazine!) death sentence for any insect home invader. No negotiation. No rehabilitation. Flattened!

My rationale is this: I inhabit my house; they inhabit everywhere else on the planet! On my turf, they die. Outdoors, they are swatted away with an indulgent frown. This seems fair,

as I am outnumbered by bugs 10 quintillion (yes, “10” plus 18 zeroes) to one.

Some people however – entomologists (and amateur enthusiasts) –actually like and are fascinated by these little six- and eight-legged (or more) creatures increasingly found sharing the sweater drawers, windowsills and under-sink and basement nooks and crannies of our homes.

Kim van Oosterom, a local bug fancier who also happens to be the art director of this magazine, sees things a little differently from me.

Wholesale bug genocide by spray, zapper, lethal trap or satisfying stompand-squish are not options she entertains. She can’t count to a quintillion.

Eight years ago, a move from Toronto to a property on six “re-wilding” (letting lawns revert to wild grasses and flowers) acres in Mulmur brought her much closer to nature.

“I’m a nature lover,” she says. “We should appreciate nature all the time. Bugs are a part of that – maybe a more challenging part. If we were to stop and look around more, I think we would derive more pleasure from things.

“My interest spans everything I come across, not just bugs, but I love bugs. I see something and I want to know what it is. The more you know about insects and what their behaviour is, the easier it is to live with them.”

While Kim may recognize my

HOUSE MOTHS

Enatural reaction, shared by many, to crush nature’s rich assortment of creepy-crawlies when they’re found inside our homes, she says, “Squishing them is not my natural reaction.” She adds, “It’s not that I’m morally against it, just I find squishing something physically repulsive, and unnecessary. Bugs are generally not interested in us at all, and those that are and that can be harmful, such as mosquitoes and ticks, I’m okay with squishing. Stinging and biting us is usually just self-defence for bugs. Learning to live with bugs is totally the better route. Healthier for everybody.” Kim is an avid participant in iNaturalist, a public, worldwide, citizen-

ntomologists, when not using Latin, can apparently be an unimaginative lot when naming insects. The brown house moth is a species of indoor moth. It is brown and nondescript tan. Very common in southern Ontario, these small creatures lay eggs in pantries and around food sources, particularly in humid environments. Their tiny, clear larvae voraciously devour natural fibre garments and home furnishings, even book bindings. They leave discolouring “frass” (bug poop). Adult house moths choose scuttling over inelegant, jerky flight.

If you are unwilling to convert to an entirely polyester wardrobe, wrap off-season furs and woollens in polyethylene bags and store them in a cool environment. Turn your porch light off in summer, or use an amber bulb, and ensure screens on doors and windows are intact and cupboard doors and drawers fit tightly.

BROWN

These particular bugs, an invasive species from Asia first detected in Ontario in 2010, belong to a family of many, many similar-looking bugs (thousands worldwide), only some of which stink, i.e., emit a foul odour when frightened or crushed. Spined soldier bugs, rough stink bugs and dusky stink bugs are kin. But other look-alikes, such as assassin bugs, aren’t even in the same family and are best distinguished from stink bugs by lifestyle. Kissing bugs dine on animal blood. Wheel bugs prefer plant juices. Western conifer seed bugs and boxelder bugs like plant seeds. To differentiate some of these bugs from a brown marmorated stink bug, you may need very good eyesight or an entomologist’s cheat sheet. Many species in both families have the same biggish, medallionshaped body, spindly legs and narrow head. And in addition to being hard to identify accurately, brown marmorated stink bugs damage fruit, vegetable and berry crops.

science database of everything in the natural world from forests to fowl to fungi to farm animals. “My section, my database of uploads, is mostly bugs, but that is because most things are bugs.” That quintillion thing again … Her attitudes are admirable, but when enjoying a beer in a deck chair after a draining day of art directing, what if she should be interrupted by a bug doing the backstroke in her mug? “I’d take my glasses off, stick my face three inches from it and try to determine what kind it was. If I could, I’d get a good picture of it, then I’d let it dry off and fly away.”

Many people’s “ick” response to insects is understandable, even to Kim,

particularly when we encounter bugs in our homes. “Nobody wants bugs in the house, especially if there are a lot of them,” she acknowledges. Faced with an infestation, she favours enlightened catch-and-release (maybe after a photo session?) whenever possible.

Of “exterminators,” Kim has no personal experience, though she admits to feeling a negative “kneejerk resistance” to the idea, which she acknowledges may not be fair.

It is difficult not to feel a positive knee-jerk reaction toward the personality and professionalism of John Firth, operations manager with Environmental Pest Control. He is a “structural pest control technician”

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

BROWN MARMORATED STINK BUGS

Classier (they feed on nectars, not filth) than common house flies, their smaller, greyer cousins, alongside whom they seem sluggish by comparison, cluster flies like the light and heat of a south-facing window. They cluster there for warmth after overwintering in hibernation. A nuisance rather than a threat to people, they don’t spread disease or do damage and, having only nectar-sucking mouths, they don’t bite like deer flies or horse flies. They can live longer than a year and are clever enough to return to their lodgings in your home via the same cracks in foundations and window frames, torn screens, loose weather stripping and open vents. Defend your home accordingly.

CLUSTER FLIES

The living definition of creepy and crawly, silverfish are found worldwide and have been for more than 400 million years. Small, primitive, silvery-scaled, wingless insects, silverfish scurry for darkness with a rapid fish-like wiggle when a light goes on. They are nocturnal, liking things damp and dark – think under sinks, in drains or along basement foundations. Deemed a mere nuisance, they don’t bite, sting or transmit disease, but their poop can contaminate foodstuffs.

Silverfish dine on starches – cardboard, newspapers, insulation, cereals, flour, adhesives, dandruff (!) – and can survive a year of their estimated three- to six-year lifespan on water alone. They are beneficial in their place and that place is outdoors, where they are excellent compost creators.

They are deterred by cleanliness. Mop, vacuum, wipe down, dehumidify the basement, throw out piles of three-year-old newspapers, eat your pizza and dispose of the box. They like both.

SILVERFISH

CRICKETS

Crickets are not grasshoppers. They can be distinguished from grasshoppers as they are smaller, nocturnal, usually brown (not green) and have longer antennae. They can jump farther and males “chirp” (“singing” to attract females, repel males, and as postcoital boasting) by rubbing their forewings together as opposed to rubbing their hind legs against their forewings as grasshoppers do. Crickets are omnivorous, eating anything from food scraps, to insect eggs, aphids, fruit, fungi, and woollens. Outdoors, they in turn become food for frogs, bats, birds, spiders, snakes, mice, rats and other, bigger, crickets.

In Southeast Asia, they are a diner’s delicacy when deep-fried and are sometimes kept as caged pets for their chirping song.

Medieval peasants started the pervasive myth that earwigs are wont to crawl into a sleeping human’s ear and lay eggs in their brain. Medieval peasants were wrong. Unfolded, an earwig’s forewings – it has two sets, fore and aft – do slightly resemble a human ear. Despite their abundance of wings, earwigs don’t fly much, or well.

Medieval peasants didn’t know about using amber porch lights to avoid attracting these nocturnal insects, or how to fix dripping taps, pipes and air conditioners, or about keeping a 12-inch dry zone (no mulch or shrubbery close to a home’s foundations) to deny earwigs, centipedes, silverfish, etc. the damp environment that attracts them.

EARWIGS

Lwho has been hands-on in homes and commercial buildings throughout Headwaters for more than 25 years. John doesn’t exterminate. “That was a term used quite a long time ago,” he says. “Integrated pest management is more than just spraying. It is trying to find solutions that don’t revolve around poisons. “Pest control had a bad rap. Insecticides were being used that were toxic and not conducive to being around people and pets. What we do today is a lot of monitoring, mechanical traps and tools to gain control versus just spraying insecticide in people’s environments. None of that exists anymore.”

He adds, “We find solutions that will not affect the surrounding environment. We ensure that what we use is not going to affect non-target insects like honeybees. We are not going to get rid of everything, just get rid of a problem so people can enjoy their home.”

In John’s career “battle against bugs,” does it ever get personal? Does it ever feel like it is him versus them, with a winner and losers, and victory marked by a hearty “Yeah!” and a satisfied fist pump in a dark corner of an insect-free basement or attic?

“For sure. Sometimes it does get personal,” he admits. “You have problems to solve. If you don’t have a solution right away, you have to figure out what is going on. It can be tricky. You have to outsmart them. As a pest

ady beetles, also called ladybugs, are considered symbols of good luck in many cultures. The Asian variety, alternatively prefixed by “oriental,” “harlequin,” “Japanese” or “pumpkin,” has a body colour ranging from yellow though amber to reddish-orange. And it is larger and spottier (6–20 black spots) than our indigenous two-spotted ladybugs. The Asian beetles also eat our domestic ladybugs, whose populations are declining. Proliferating worldwide, the voracious Asian lady beetle was introduced to North America in 1916 to combat aphid infestations on soybean, alfalfa and rose crops. Oops! Invasive!

Asian lady beetles can live a year or more, eat other beneficial insects and after wintering indoors, their corpses can festoon spring window ledges like confetti. They can be denied entry to homes by the aforementioned attention to screens, cracks, gaps and vents. Alive or dead, they are best dealt with indoors by vacuuming and disposing of the results in a sealed plastic bag.

Two-spotted lady beetle.

ASIAN LADY BEETLES

A final note about bug

In everyday speech, bug refers to all the creepy-crawlies that inhabit the planet along with us humans – and that’s how the word is used in this piece. But many entomologists reserve the word bug for “true bugs,” a specific taxonomic category that includes, for example, insects such as stink bugs but not cluster flies. And then it gets complicated –because the common name of some insects that are not true bugs includes the word bug (e.g., ladybug).

control professional, you want to use a variety of different things – pheromone traps, baits, microbials, insecticides, not the same thing over and over. It does get personal over the years, sure.”

Unconditional, unequivocal, absolute victory over insects in a home is “unrealistic, depending on the bug,” John notes. “It is something we strive for. It takes time. We have to explain that a few ants here and there are what we call ‘an acceptable threshold level.’ If there are hordes, we can definitely help.”

Help, most assuredly, better than Googled home remedies using stuff found in the fridge, under the sink or in a spice rack. “Those can deter, but not resolve a long-term problem. Home remedies or store-bought pest

products may end up being more toxic than anything we are going to use.”

We unenlightened, brutish types squash any bug we catch invading our homes. Green pros manage insect incursions in a targeted, environmentally conscious manner. Bug aficionados love, understand and coax the little critters back outdoors. Wherever you fall on this spectrum of indoor pest control, herein is a small sampling of what you might find yourself up against.

Anthony Jenkins is a freelance writer and illustrator – and merciless scourge of indoor insects.

Anew word for your vocabulary: synanthrope

A synanthrope is an animal that lives near, or with, humans and benefits from the environment created by people. The common house spider, which is not an insect but an eight-legged arachnid, is a synanthrope that is most happy indoors, where it remains warm and safe from natural predators such as birds and omnivorous insects. It poses little danger to humans, biting with mild venom only in self-defence, and is more likely to play dead. It can also help us humans, by spinning its webs to trap and devour insects such as fleas, ants, moths, centipedes and cockroaches in low human traffic areas such as basements and attics. So brush the cobwebs from your face, and say, “Thank you!”

COMMON HOUSE SPIDERS

519.315.1122

DUFFERIN COUNTY LIGHTS! CAMERA!

ACTION!

GETS A FILM FESTIVAL

For two jam-packed days in August, short independent films will fill the big screen at Orangeville’s Opera House.

BY ANNA LEE BOSCHETTO • PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROSEMARY HASNER

Danielle Hawkins says seeing the 2018 teen romantic comedy about a closeted gay teen, Love, Simon, inspired her to start writing film scripts, but not because she liked the movie – quite the opposite. While it was marketed as a film about a gay teen, it was criticized for how much it was targeted toward straight women. “I thought a lot about how very little queer representation in media there was,” says the high school senior. “There were barely any coming-of-age films with queer women as a focus, which is something that I really wanted to see.”

Local and visiting filmmakers will have a chance to see her first film, Lakeweed, at the inaugural Dufferin Film Festival taking place August 9 to 10 in the Orangeville Opera House theatre. Danielle’s film is one of two that are based on scripts that won the screenwriting competition sponsored by DFF. The other, a haunted house tale called Handsy, is by Liam Gillespie and James Gerus.

The two-day celebration of Canadian independent short film is more than a showcase of movies; it’s intended as a testament to the creative spirit and cultural vibrancy of the Headwaters region, says founder and festival director Kelly McDowell, a Caledon native now living in Orangeville.

“This is an arts and culture community – the Dufferin Arts Council, Alton Mill Arts Centre, Theatre Orangeville, Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival, Monday Night at the Movies – and the film festival is a way to make Canadian film more accessible, and to help people learn how to network and meet more people in the film industry.”

Kelly and Christine Hann, a filmmaker living in Mono and the event manager of the festival, infused it with this accessibility ethos from its start in September 2023 when they announced the screenwriting contest to connect local talent to the proceedings.

After submitting scripts by the end of December, the budding filmmakers learned of their wins in February – and the opportunity to bring those scripts to life with local production house Rose Digital Media Group, which is run by Nick Rose and where Kelly works, in addition to her occasional work as an actor.

The young filmmakers met with the team in April at Westside Secondary School to start planning their June shoots. (A group of young people from Shelburne’s youth arts organization, Streams Community Hub, are also joining in to assist and learn.) From location scouting to casting and creating the shot list, the winners have been meeting weekly with the crew to keep on top of the production process.

“They are wonderful,” says James Gerus. “No egos on that team. They’re people who love to make art, love to make cinema.” And Christine, who often works with Rose Digital Media Group, says the winning screenwriters “bring a lot of professionalism and enthusiasm to the

process. Each of them has brought great ideas and are also open to learning about each stage. It’s been a pleasure to work with them.”

Kelly says much like the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival and others, the film fest has the capacity to boost the local economy. “DFF fits in under our economic development initiatives,” she explains. “Our goal is not to go to our small businesses for money. It’s to bring in business and show what this community has to offer.” Although it’s not Toronto or Sundance, Kelly’s inspiration does come from ongoing discussions and meetings with fellow film festival directors worldwide. A not-for-profit organization, DFF is supported through local partnerships with sponsors and individual donors.

A theatre actor since the age of seven, Kelly didn’t see a way forward as an actor unless she was willing to move to Los Angeles. “What I didn’t realize then, and I know now, is that you didn’t have to be in Hollywood to build a successful career as an actor,” she says. After earning a degree in business communications and public relations, she worked in event management with Arts Whistler and others. In 2016 Kelly embarked on a career in film involving everything from acting, to casting and production.

On the program

Filmmakers from across Canada have applied to appear on the program, and Kelly is confident the festival program will be reflective of the diverse tapestry of Canadian culture and identity. “We have had an unexpected number of films submitted for our first year and we are very excited to present them to our jury,” she says.

At a recent Saturday workshop at Westside Secondary School, screenwriter and Orangeville high school student Danielle Hawkins (left) works behind the camera with Dufferin Film Festival director Kelly McDowell, while festival event manager Christine Hann looks on. Hawkins’ film, Lakeweed, will appear at the festival in August.

For Kelly the focus on shorts in the 20-minute range allows DFF to showcase as many films as possible, as well as shining a spotlight on as many Canadian filmmakers as it can. “They allow you to just take a bite.”

The weekend kicks off with an opening night red carpet and film screenings Friday, August 9 at the Opera House. This will include the two premières from the screenwriting competition. This is followed by the Friday Night Social in the Bluebird Café & Grill back parking lot. Movies start up again bright and early on Saturday morning, along with a networking coffee event at the Town Hall Atrium, followed by more movies in the afternoon.

Film lovers can also attend a speaker series at the Orangeville Library’s Mill Street location, featuring industry professionals such as a special effects artist discussing her experience as a woman navigating the film industry. For many attendees the highlight will be the awards presentation on Saturday night. The full schedule and tickets will be available at dufferinfilmfest.com in June with newsletter subscribers being among the first to know.

In the meantime, the festival has already provided a platform for emerging talents Liam, James and Danielle. Family movie nights first sparked Liam’s interest in film –early favourites were The Incredibles and The Lego Movie – and when his interest turned toward Oscarwinning films as he got older, he also became hooked on storytelling.

“Stories are one of the foundations of the human spirit,” says Liam. “I remember being really enveloped in that world and I began writing.” A Westside Secondary School student headed to McMaster University in Hamilton this fall, he has several creative interests, including photography.

Liam was inspired by the DFF screenwriting workshop he took back in November 2023. There he collaborated with James to produce their winning script. Handsy is the tale of a young boy who becomes trapped in a haunted house while looking for his lost dog. When James, a Theatre Orangeville veteran and screenwriter

himself, heard Liam talking about his initial seed of an idea for Handsy, he could immediately visualize the concept coming to life on screen and suggested they work together to develop the script.

Danielle attends Orangeville District Secondary School and will be at Ontario College of Art and Design University in the fall. While Hollywood may seem worlds away, Danielle’s passion for storytelling has no bounds. With a love of non-traditional storylines garnered from 1980s classics such as The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo’s Fire, along with the recent innovative animation in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, she is excited for the opportunities that lie ahead.

For Lakeweed, Danielle drew on a collection of short stories she had written to create a short that touches upon themes of friendship, loneliness and anger, and is inspired in part by Danielle’s penchant for spooky stories. “At its core, it’s an urban legend tied to the emotions of a very tumultuous relationship between two girls. I think everyone will see something different,” she says.

A welcome development

Brenda Stephen, a longtime organizer of Orangeville’s Monday Night at the Movies (MNM), sees the DFF as a welcomed addition to the

community. MNM, known for its curated presentations of independent films, operates in collaboration with the Toronto International Film Festival’s Film Circuit, which brings outstanding films and artists to communities across Canada.

Brenda says the new festival will not only promote the area as a cultural destination, but also provide enriching opportunities for local youth interested in the film industry. In an era where blockbuster superhero franchises and over-the-top action movies often take top billing at the box office, Brenda says she is heartened by the DFF’s focus on creating a space for Canadian independent filmmakers to thrive.

Tristan Barrocks, a Canadian film director who lives in Shelburne, led the screenwriting workshop Liam and James attended after connecting with Kelly and Christine over their shared passion for film. Tristan is also a member of the festival jury. He sees the DFF as an opportunity to both share his experience with budding screenwriters and give back to his community.

“I was happy to help because I grew up in theatre, and then film, photography and editing. Anything to support these grassroots opportunities for a younger generation,” Tristan says. “Not everyone needs to be at the Toronto International Film Festival to

share their stories. There is a certain cadence and feel to the larger festivals. We need a curated experience that speaks to the diversity of race, of thought, of perspective and from the rural perspective.”

Tristan, like his students, emphasizes the importance of storytelling: “Our greatest gift is our perspective, the way we see the world, the way we take in information, the way we put it through our lens, and filter and personal experiences.”

Finishing touches

As Kelly and Christine finalize the festival plans, they say they’ve been inspired by the response to a call for volunteers and welcome any help from film enthusiasts. “Even if someone only has a few hours, we would gladly appreciate their help,” Kelly says.

At a time when competition for audience attention is fierce, Kelly hopes local audiences will embrace the event. “The success of the Canadian film industry relies on the relationship with and support of its audiences,” she says. “As Canadians we should support and encourage the artistic growth and development of our homegrown talent, and be impressed with what our country’s filmmakers are creating.”

Anna Lee Boschetto is a freelance writer living in Bolton.

Mono screenwriter and actor James Gerus (left) and Orangeville screenwriter and high school student Liam Gillespie collaborated on their film, Handsy, which will be screened at the Dufferin Film Festival.

Iain and Jane Richmond with their two-year-old pup, Leo. “Jane is much more aware of my condition than I am,” Iain says. “I just live with it … she deals with it.”

Still Iain

In September 2020, Iain Richmond was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and for Iain and his wife, Jane, everything about their life changed, except their commitment to face it together. Their community was there to help.

BY GAIL GRANT • PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROSEMARY HASNER

At first, Jane Richmond wasn’t sure what was happening as her husband Iain’s behaviour began to change. Iain would forget to make the dinner he’d planned, or to give Jane her phone messages, or how she liked her tea.

“My original thought was that Iain simply wasn’t listening to what I was saying, but I soon realized that I was beginning to see a shift in his cognitive abilities,” she says.

In September 2020, Iain was diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s disease. “When the diagnosis finally became official, it was something of a relief,” says Jane. She noticed her own attitude immediately flipped from one of annoyance to compassion.

“It wasn’t that he wasn’t listening, it was that he wasn’t remembering,” she says. “The clues were everywhere, and I felt as if I was living in an emotional crosswind.” The Richmonds had watched Iain’s mother suffer through the devastating effects of dementia, so they knew better than most what lay ahead.

Aware they would not be able to keep pace with the demands of their large country property as the disease progressed, one of the first things Jane and Iain did was to sell the house

they had built in Mono built 46 years ago, and move to a home in an adult community next to Orangeville, where their living space was on a single level and more compact, and they were closer to the support they needed.

A disease with no cure Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a perplexing umbrella of diseases for which there is no cure, although the pharmaceutical companies are working toward medications designed to mitigate some of the effects.

According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, more than 700,000 Canadians currently live with some form of dementia, with about 3 per cent of them under the age of 65.

Alzheimer’s is caused by a buildup of abnormal proteins in the brain and reveals itself through memory loss and other mental disabilities severe enough to interfere with daily life. Research shows that although genetics is one risk factor for developing the disease, familial Alzheimer’s accounts for less than 5 per cent of all cases.

Once you’ve been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, you can’t leave it behind;

you might be able to keep it at bay, but only for a limited time. Every person’s manifestation of the disease is unique, so a tailored approach to care is required, and that approach needs constant revision as the disease progresses.

As a caregiver for an Alzheimer’s patient, Jane, a retired VON nurse, knows that the sheer unpredictability can be overwhelming. “This is a brutal, complicated disease, and what is required of the caregiver differs day to day,” she says.

One morning, shortly after their move, for instance, Jane was happily anticipating her first cup of tea being prepared in the kitchen, as usual, by Iain.

“I heard a tremendous crash, followed by a terrifying yell,” she says. “I flew into the kitchen. Iain was standing with a bewildered expression on his face, clearly in a lot of pain and surrounded by shards of glass, scalding tea burning his torso and foot. He was in a total state of confusion, not understanding at all what had just happened.”

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

“I consider myself fortunate that there isn’t an ounce of ill will in Iain. He is still the easy-going, gentle soul he always was, but it’s a constant, moment by moment effort to have him present.”

“Our memories are the bedrock of who we are. When these are being siphoned away by disease, it is easy to become consumed by grief, often laden by anger, and miss life’s joyous moments.”

The glass teapot had slipped from his hands and shattered on the granite counter. The consequences could have been much more severe had Jane not been there to deal with it.

“I watch my own emotions fluctuate from deep sadness, to anger, and to gratitude for the time we’ve lived a normal life together. And I’m also aware that other things I’d like to be doing with life are now on hold,” she says.

Indeed, analysis by the Canadian Institute for Health Information concludes that unpaid caregivers of seniors with dementia are nearly twice as likely to experience symptoms of distress, anger or depression than those caring for seniors without dementia. Furthermore, a 12-year study by Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes found that spouses who care for partners with dementia are six times more likely to develop the disease themselves, perhaps because of the associated stress and inattention to their own health.

Support for caregivers

Dini Dimakos Shevchenko is the program support lead with Caregivers in the Hills, a government funded, no-cost program established by the Hills of Headwaters Collaborative Ontario Health Team and designed to support unpaid caregivers such as Jane.

“Our memories are the bedrock of who we are,” says Dini. “When these are being siphoned away by disease, it is easy to become consumed by grief, often laden by anger, and miss life’s joyous moments.”

Dini works with caregivers on a long-term basis, assessing changing needs, providing time away from full-on care, links to necessary local resources such as personal support workers, and even snow removal contacts. She is often the first call made by caregivers who feel things are getting out of control. CONTINUED

Currently there are more than 200 recognized unpaid caregivers in the Dufferin/Caledon area, each with an identification badge that affords recognition of the caregivers’ role in patient care. Worn within the health care setting, it is designed to encourage mutual respect, communication and compassion in interactions with medical staff. Jane has been part of the program since its launch in December, 2020.

“Too often caregivers have been excluded from dementia patients’ consultations with medical professionals,” Dini says, “leaving them with little understanding of how the disease is progressing or what next steps are required. A caregiver’s badge is one step toward solving this problem.”

Dini also has a personal connection with the Richmonds. “Iain was the much-beloved English teacher and librarian when I attended Centre Dufferin high school in the ’90s. He also directed the school’s production of Guys and Dolls, and it was a master class for the students who worked on that production. He still has a twinkle in his eyes, and he is always game for a good story and a hearty laugh,” she says.

While Iain, 85, is currently able to manage most of his personal needs and continues to recognize most people, his short-term memory has all but evaporated, and he needs constant reminders and coaching to get through the day without mishap. He checks in with Jane on a regular basis, asking her how he is doing. “Jane is much more aware of my condition than I am,” he says. “I just live with it … she deals with it.”

And the couple has had to come to grips with other new realities. One of them was that Iain gave up his driver’s licence immediately after the diagnosis. “That wasn’t an easy call for me, but it was a necessary step,” he says. “I was actually on my way to my appointment to take the three-hour DriveAble test when I finally admitted both to myself and out loud that everyone was better off with me not

ever getting behind the wheel again.” But even as his world contracts, Jane believes it’s important that Iain is fully included and participating in life. “He still helps out in the kitchen; it still annoys me to no end how he loads the dishwasher; we still do the crossword together. Life goes on. But he is constantly on my mind,” she says.

In an effort to stay on top of things, Jane finds herself buying two of many non-perishables while doing her grocery shopping these days, knowing it’s much easier to ask Iain to get something from their well-stocked larder than to make the grocery store run. Still, she admits, “I’m afraid I will lose my patience with Iain – and at times I do. In rational moments, I know that is so unfair. And I’m grateful for my experience in the medical field. It allows me to advocate on Iain’s behalf when it’s needed.”

Education and awareness

Carmelina Cicuto, executive director of the Alzheimer Society of Dufferin County, met me with a firm handshake and a list of three statistics: 66,900 Ontarians will develop dementia this year; 316,600 Ontarians will be living with dementia by the end of 2024; and 185,000 care partners will provide more than 5 million hours of unpaid care every week this year in the province.

She went on to say that about 1,500 people currently live with dementia in Dufferin County, and that number will triple by 2050. “My team and I are currently working with 500 clients in Dufferin, but it’s my best guess we are perhaps supporting only about 30 per cent of those in our area affected by dementia,” she says.

The Dufferin society has been active since 1999 and is part of a federation of 26 Ontario societies, adding more heft to government lobbying efforts. As Carmelina sees it, lack of early diagnosis opportunities coupled with woefully inadequate dementia care facilities is a looming health care crisis in our province.

“It’s becoming clearer that we are

“Iain still helps out in the kitchen; it still annoys me to no end how he loads the dishwasher; we still do the crossword together; life goes on. But he is constantly on my mind.”

finally moving away from the societal devaluation of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia that has been rampant in our world. We are now able to discuss it around the dining room table. The next step is giving dementia testing the same weight that testing for various cancers is receiving. A diagnosis of dementia doesn’t mean life is over,” she says.

Along with political advocacy, a key mandate of the local Alzheimer Society is community education. Carmelina and her team regularly take on speaking engagements in local high schools, and even elementary schools, emphasizing brain health awareness.

More broadly, the society promotes dementia-friendly communities. This includes such initiatives as year-long partnerships with local governments, police and public-facing businesses to help them adapt their physical environment and communications skills to interact respectfully with people with dementia.

There is a testy edge to Jane’s voice when she says, “Iain is still Iain. He hasn’t become his disease. I get annoyed when I hear reference to ‘the guy with Alzheimer’s.’ It undermines his dignity.”

Carmelina and her team also offer caregiver support groups, a young onset group, a “persons living with” group, initial resource counselling, and behavioural support workers, along with the essential fundraising group.

Carmelina has been at her job for two years now, coming on board immediately post-Covid, a time when all not-for-profit organizations suffered from drastically reduced volunteer hours during lockdowns. “Happily, we are seeing an increase in interest in volunteer jobs, albeit a slow one,” she says. Volunteers are required for administrative support, at fundraising events such as the annual Walk for Alzheimer’s in May, and for friendly visits and phone chats. The society also relies heavily on student placement volunteers.

Early diagnosis and education are also key pillars in the medical practice

of Dr. Kiddy Klair, an internist and geriatrician at Headwaters Health Care Centre. Over a coffee with me, she elaborates: “My advice is to get tested. Your mid-60s is a good time, but earlier than that is even better. This gives us a baseline to work from, and an idea where you might be headed.”

She also recommends taking time to become educated on the rapidly evolving field of brain health, and notes, for example, a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine which explores nutrition and brain health. “Taking a look at wellrespected websites can yield valuable insight,” she says. “And exercise. This keeps coming up in study after study as a preventive strategy for avoiding not only dementia but many other agerelated problems.”

Her long-term vision is to establish a geriatric day hospital, where older adults and their caregivers would receive greater levels of care, education and engagement, with medical attention from a wide range of health care professionals and an onsite geriatrician. “But at the moment, this is just a dream,” she says.

Personality changes

Jane is aware that Iain’s presentation of the disease is on a spectrum. “I consider myself fortunate that there isn’t an ounce of ill will in Iain. He is still the easygoing, gentle soul he always was, but it’s a constant, moment-by-moment effort to have him remain present,” she says. “For example, he quickly forgot the lovely dinner at Mrs. Mitchell’s restaurant the family enjoyed recently.”

For others, along with memory loss, the personality changes in their loved ones are more acute.

In the spring 2024 issue of this magazine, longtime “Headwaters Nest” columnist Bethany Lee outlined her family’s journey with her mother Carol’s Alzheimer’s disease. Bethany and her husband, Derrick, kindly agreed to spend some time with me to expand the story.

Tel: 519-942-0061

www.nadinemeek.com

nadine.meek@nbpcd.com

Our commitment is to provide an extraordinary real estate experience –while serving others in fulfilling their home ownership & investment dreams. We have the time, patience & expertise to understand our clients’ needs & enjoy helping them accomplish their goals.

“This is a hideous disease. There are trip wires every where. One person is drowning, and three or four are being pulled under. But you can’t correct it out of them. That’s the reality.”

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Oaks residence in Shelburne, settling in on the second floor, the secured area devoted to memory care patients.

“Because I was very young at the time, I only had an inkling of what my grandmother Urla’s Alzheimer’s journey encompassed. My parents tried to shield me from it,” says Bethany. “But with my own mother, Derrick and I knew from the beginning we had a major role to play.”

Carol and Jim Lee, Bethany’s mom and dad, lived happily on an acreage in Everett, with horses and dogs to keep them busy, and active social lives both here and in their Florida wintering spot. “Mom had always organized family birthdays and Christmas celebrations, but it slowly became apparent that these tasks were quietly being taken over by Dad,” says Bethany.

Tragedy struck the family in 2016 when Bethany’s brother died suddenly, and shortly after that Covid shut down the world. These two events exacerbated the isolation that was creeping into Carol and Jim’s life.

According to Derrick, “Bethany and I had been encouraging them to move from the country property into a condo in Orangeville, but it took a while for them to capitulate.”

It wasn’t until 2022, when Carol was diagnosed with advanced dementia, that the move into Orangeville finally happened, and by that time Jim was a full-time caregiver, with a wife whose personality, unlike Iain’s, was undergoing an alarming transition. She was frightened of being alone, of trees, of weather, even her beloved dog. Jim continued to say, “I’m okay,” but then he suffered a heart episode and was hospitalized.

Bethany moved in to take care of her mom, and realized how impossible things had become. The situation was untenable and unsustainable, and Bethany and Derrick made the decision that Jim had been reluctant to make. Carol needed to be in full-time care. She was added to the crisis list for long-term care in Dufferin. Six weeks later she was admitted to the Dufferin

“We feel hugely fortunate that mom is living in Dufferin Oaks,” says Bethany. “It’s clean, with wonderful and caring staff, great food, and it is government funded.

“Derrick and I were in agreement all the way along about this. I know families that squabble and bicker about the next move, but we could see that bearing the entire weight of caregiving had placed Dad in a very dark place,” she says.

“This is a hideous disease,” adds Derrick. “There are trip wires everywhere. One person is drowning, and three or four are being pulled under. But you can’t correct it out of them. That’s the reality.”

Bethany has learned to communicate more precisely with her mom. When she visits, Bethany starts each conversation with, “Hi Mom, it’s me, Bethany, your daughter.”

Jane Richmond can empathize. “Sometimes I feel that there has been a death in the family, but nobody has died. I am constantly forcing myself to live with the reality of watching Iain’s world shrink. Keeping to a pre-arranged schedule helps the days to flow, but things aren’t always beautiful,” she says.

However, even as she acknowledges that “everything has been set aside in favour of this horrible disease that is coming relentlessly at us,” Jane feels confident for now in her ability to rise to the occasion. That confidence comes in part from her determined focus on the blessings that offset the challenges: “When I’m safe in my bed at night, with Iain breathing softly beside me, I feel hugely fortunate that we are living where we are, with family and community support around us.”

Gail Grant is a freelance writer who lives in Palgrave.

2024 HEADWATERS FARM FRESH

YOUR PULLOUT GUIDE TO REALLY LOCAL FOOD

Headwaters Food and Farming Alliance is a network of local food champions nurturing a food system that is prosperous, productive, sustainable, transparent and fair. We are committed to building relationships and growing together in Dufferin-Caledon.

Headwaters Food Charter • Farm to School • Farm Fresh Guide • Dinners and Experiences HFFA Hub Network • Food Access Subcommittee • Championing Local Food and Farming Events

Show your local food love and engage with us! hffa.ca • info@hffa.ca @headwatersfood

HFFA is a project of Headwaters Communities in Action

2024 Field to Fork Dinner Series at Lennox Farm BUY TICKETS Proceeds support HFFA

CHEF NICK FINGARSON

@FOODIE_SHNICKSGOURMETFOOD

CHEF LAURA MAXWELL @AVLINGTO

CHEF BRANDON BANNON @MARILYNNRESTAURANT

CHEFS NISHANT SINGH NEGI AND YUMI NAKANO

So Much More than Good Food

BY MELINDA M c ARTHUR

In Ontario we are blessed with a landscape as fertile as it is diverse, home to over 200 types of food grown and produced right in our own backyard. An astounding 60 per cent of the food cultivated in Ontario also graces the tables of its residents – a testament to the incredible strength of local food in our province.

Here in the Headwaters region, our connection to the earth and agriculture is palpable. And I think guests can feel it when they visit. There’s a tangible sense of rejuvenation that comes from being close to the soil, the plants and the animals. It’s in the crisp air, the friendly smiles, and the exceptional food.

We see it firsthand when families gather around a table at our on-farm café, sharing a meal that was grown just a stone’s throw away. Kids ask questions about how vegetables grow and whose cows are in the field, sparking conversations that link meals back to the farms they came from. It’s these moments, full of laughter and learning, that remind us of the joys of community and the simple pleasure of eating together.

The local food movement that started years ago from the drive to support local has also become about experience. With the increasingly digital world we live in, there’s a growing desire for real connections and authentic encounters you just can’t get from a screen.

Visiting local farms and farmers’ markets fi lls that void, allowing people to become part of the story and history of the food they consume. The interaction with their community and producers is a refreshing break from the digital world and a chance to feel truly alive.

Is that why authenticity is so important to us today? To watch farmers and producers who gather freshly laid eggs, or plant seeds in the fertile, rich soil, or care for their herd or flock; who keep a watchful eye to monitor the uncontrollable weather, and then harvest the plants to sustain animals and humans alike through Ontario winters. Those actions are indeed authentic. That’s what touches us all. That connection to the land that we think we have lost.

As you explore this year’s Headwaters Farm Fresh Guide, you’ll fi nd some of the very best places to go for those authentic experiences. And between you and me, the food tastes better too!

Each listing is your personal invitation to explore the abundant agricultural offerings of the Headwaters region.

Now, go rediscover the joy of local food and fall in love all over again!

Melinda McArthur is vice-chair of Farm Fresh Ontario. She and her family operate Heatherlea Farm Shoppe in Caledon.

WELCOME TO FRESH LOCAL FOOD

We hope this year’s Headwaters Farm Fresh guide will inspire you to get to know your local farmers, put fabulously fresh food on your table and, as a bonus, explore the beautiful countryside in our own backyard.

The easy-to-use maps and listings are designed to help you find the very best vegetables, fruit, meats and craft beverages that farms in Caledon, Dufferin and Erin have to offer — whether it’s direct from their farms, through a CSA, or at a weekly farmers’ market or independent retailer.

Support local farmers. Enjoy local food.

Headwaters Farm Fresh is a joint project of Headwaters Food and Farming Alliance and In The Hills. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the following:

Above: James McArthur, 10, digging into a burger at Heatherlea Farm Shoppe, © Barry Best for Central Counties Tourism. On our cover: Ramraj Basdeosingh harvests rhubarb at Lennox Farm in Melancthon, © Paul Bettings Photography

MEET YOUR LOCAL FARMERS

Farms are listed alphabetically. Numbers correspond to location on map. ● for Dufferin ● for Caledon & Erin ● for farmers markets

NA Not shown on map. Online orders, off-farm retail or appointment only.

FARM GATE

CSA

Community Supported Agriculture. Buy an annual farm share for fresh weekly pickup.

Farm-grown products at farm stall or farmhouse.

56

Albion Hills Community Farm

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, COMMUNITY KITCHEN, ON-FARM STORE

Caledon

16555 Humber Station Rd

Karen Hutchinson, manager albionhillscommunityfarm.org

Farm-fresh vegetables, garlic, honey at farm stand; allotment plots; all-ages education programs on bees, pollinators, native planting for ecoliteracy education

Jun–Oct : Thu 12–7 or by appointment; online ordering, delivery and farmgate pickup available

64

Albion Orchards

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, ON-FARM STORE, YOU PICK

Caledon

14800 Innis Lake Rd

Scott Lunau 905-584-0354

albionorchards.com

Apples, pears, baked goods, Christmas trees, cider, honey, maple syrup, vegetables, sweet corn, pumpkins

Aug–Oct : 10–6 daily; Nov–Dec : Mon–Fri 10–6, Sat–Sun 10–5

ON-FARM RESTAURANT

Enjoy a meal or snack.

ON-FARM STORE

Full retail outlet: farm-grown and other products.

21

Amaranth Springs Farm

FARM GATE

Amaranth 554090 Mono-Amaranth Townline Deb Walks, Chris Kowalchuk 519-942-4716

amaranthsprings.ca

Select seasonal vegetables and fruit, pasture chicken, eggs, grass-fed beef, grass-fed goat

Call ahead for farm-gate order pickup

16

Anam Cara Rising

FARM GATE

Grand Valley 322345 Concession Rd 6–7 Elaine O’Sullivan 289-990-7973

anamcararising.ca

Ecologically grown vegetables and herbs; plant medicine workshops; herbal products; on-farm yoga

By appointment only

ONLINE ORDER

Produce can be ordered online. YOU PICK Pick your own fruit or vegetables in season.

7

Austerfield Apiary Honey & Botanicals

CSA, OFF-FARM RETAIL, ONLINE ORDER

Melancthon 581099 County Rd 17 Rita and Matt Chantree 519-925-5010 austerfieldapiary.com

Also at Shelburne Fresh Variety, Shelburne Foodland, Lennox Farms, Harmony Whole Foods Market

Unpasteurized honey, bee pollen, royal jelly, propolis, honeycomb, beeswax bags, soap, lotion bars By appointment only, but hours are flexible; phone ordering available; check website

23

Avalon Lavender Farm

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, OFF-FARM RETAIL, ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER, YOU PICK Mono 347036 Mono Centre Rd Alexis Levine avalonlavenderfarm.ca

Also at Orangeville Summer Farmers Market

Lavender and various derivatives, cut-your-own bouquets, heritage barn boutique, stone circle, river walk, daily yoga (6 pm), Sat high tea Thu–Sun 10–7; pickup available

FARMERS MARKETS

A Creemore Farmers and Artisan Market

B Grand Valley Farmers Market

C Orangeville Farmers Market

D Erin Farmers Market

BENNINGTON HILLS FARM

37

Barnarrow Farm

FARM GATE, ONLINE ORDER

East Garafraxa

062233 County Rd 3

Dave and Lisa de Kleer

519-831-5845

barnarrow.ca

Also at Georgetown Farmers Market

Dry-aged beef, small-flock chicken, Ontario lamb; bulk, boxes, individual cuts, patties, sausages, pepperettes

By appointment only; pickup and delivery available

17

Bennington Hills Farm

FARM GATE, ONLINE ORDER

Amaranth

253504 9th Line

Jeff and Samantha Roney 519-215-9288

benningtonhillsfarm.ca

Also at Orangeville Farmers Market (preorder only)

Regenerative farm offering grassfed, pasture-raised, non-GMO beef, chicken, eggs; unpasteurized honey, non-GMO small grains, legumes

Order online, call or email to arrange farm-gate pickup

36

Berrys4U

FARM GATE, YOU PICK

East Garafraxa 064383 County Rd 3

Eric Henneberg 519-993-4437

berrys4u.wordpress.com

Also at Orangeville and Erin farmers markets

Strawberries, raspberries; seasonal pick-your-own and picked

Check website for hours

12

Besley Country Market

FARM GATE

Shelburne 716 Victoria St

Evan Besley, Amy Blodgett 519-943-4966

besleycountrymarket.ca

Tomatoes, sweet corn, pumpkins, squash and other seasonal fruits and veggies; baked goods and preserves

Late May–Nov : Thu–Sun 9–5

32

Breedon’s Maple Syrup ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER

Adjala

3662 Concession Rd 3

Dawn and Kent Breedon 705-435-5269

breedonsmaplesyrup.com

Also at Hockley General Store

Maple syrup, maple butter, maple sugar Thu–Sun 10–4; in-store shopping or order online and arrange pickup

38

Calehill Farms

FARM GATE, ONLINE ORDER

Orton

9319 Erin East Garafraxa Townline Brittney Livingston, Andrew Mazurka

519-820-1337

calehillfarms.ca

Also at Erin Farmers Market

Whole chicken and chicken cuts, including breast, thigh, drumsticks, wings and sausage; ground chicken burgers; beef halves and quarters, packs, individual cuts Tue and Thu 1–7; otherwise by appointment only; online ordering available

69

Campbell’s Cross Farm YOU PICK

Caledon 3634 King St

Josie and Michael Gallo 416-294-7642

campbellscrossfarm.com

Sunflowers, raw honey, watermelon sandwiches, ice cream and gelato; wellness and paint classes

Aug : 30+ acres of sunflowers, seasonal products and markets, photography, yoga and paint classes, picnics, fresh-cut sunflowers and cut-your-own; Sep–Oct : corn maze

47

Chickadee Hill Farm

FARM GATE, ON-FARM STORE

Caledon 18249 Shaws Creek Rd

Jean-François Morin 519-350-6411

chickadeehill.ca

Also at Erin Farmers Market

Year-round free-range eggs; seasonal vegetables; grassfed beef, chicken, pork, lamb; canned goods, honey Fri–Sun 9–6

14

Connie’s Kitchen and Fresh Produce

FARM GATE, ONLINE ORDER

Mono 487207 30 Siderd Connie Arteaga 705-715-6396

connieskitchen.ca

Also at Beau Cafe, Alliston : Sat 9–1 (summer season)

Seasonal vegetables, preserves, free-range eggs, Italian baking, Italian meals, maple syrup, honey, creamed honey

Call ahead or order through website for curbside pickup and delivery

41

Curly Creek Farm

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, ON-FARM STORE, YOU PICK

Orton

8750 27 Siderd

Mark and Heather Gerchikov 289-242-9342

curlycreekfarm.com

Honey, lavender, duck eggs, haskap berries, beeswax candles; guided farm tours 9–8 daily; tours by appointment

62

Davis Feed & Farm Supply

ON-FARM STORE

Caledon

15770 Mountainview Rd

John Davis, Sean Davis 905-584-2880

davisfeed.ca

Eggs, pumpkins, squash, honey, sunflower seed, flowers

Check website for store hours; phone orders, delivery and farm-gate pickup available for all products

57

De Boers Market

FARM GATE, ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER

Caledon

10002 Castlederg Siderd Kori de Boer, Casie Kuypers 289-503-3000

deboersmarket.ca

Beef, chicken, pork, lamb, honey, maple syrup, seasonal vegetables Wed–Fri 10–5, Sat 10–3

70

Dixie Orchards

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, ON-FARM STORE, YOU PICK

Caledon 14309 Dixie Rd

Paul and Lynnette Gray 905-838-5888

dixieorchards.com

Apples, sunflowers, pumpkins, hazelnuts; small market and bakery; wagon rides, corn maze, farm animals, straw jump Mid-Aug–Oct : 10–5 daily

CAMPBELL’S CROSS FARM

72

Downey’s Farm Market

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, ON-FARM STORE, YOU PICK

Caledon

13682 Heart Lake Rd

905-838-2990

downeysfarm.com

Play area, farm animals, corn maze, bakery, wine and hard cider, sweet corn

May 17–Oct 31 : 9–5 daily; Nov 23–Dec 24 : 9–5 daily

71

Downey’s Strawberry and Apple Farm

FARM GATE, YOU PICK

Caledon

13707 Heart Lake Rd

Greg and Melissa Downey 905-838-4777

downeysupickfarm.ca

Sweet corn, pumpkins, gourds, squash, quince, honey, apple cider; pick-your-own strawberries, raspberries and apples

Check website for seasonal hours

39

Elliott Tree Farm

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, FARM GATE, ON-FARM RESTAURANT, ON-FARM STORE, YOU PICK

Erin 9467 Erin East Garafraxa Townline

Derek Elliott

519-216-0699

elliotttreefarm.ca

Maple season : weekends 9:30–12:30 (pancake maple breakfast in restaurant); Apr–Nov : museum open weekends 11–3; Christmas season : daily 9–5 (restaurant open weekends); check website for dates

44

Everdale

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, CSA

Hillsburgh 5812 6th Line

Della Campbell-Dandy, co-founder 519-855-4859

everdale.org

Certified Organic

Community farm with harvest share, growing food for food banks, team building, on-farm music fundraisers, farmer training, farm school, small weddings, meeting space, farm stays

Mon–Fri 9–5

45

Farmstead Fresh Organic Microgreens

OFF-FARM RETAIL

Erin 5th Line

Marcel Piper, Josh Scheerer 855-252-3877

farmsteadfresh.ca

Also at Harmony Whole Foods

Market, Heatherlea Farm Shoppe, Hillsburgh Foodland, Everdale Sunflower microgreens, pea shoots, broccoli microgreens, radish microgreens

By appointment only; call ahead or contact via website

8

Fiddle Foot Farm

CSA, ONLINE ORDER

Mulmur

796530 3rd Line EHS

Graham Corbett, Amy Ouchterlony 519-925-3225

fiddlefootfarm.com

Organically and biodynamically grown vegetables, weekly CSA shares and online custom orders (Sep–Mar)

By appointment only; check website for custom online orders

65

Flying Dutchman’s Apiary

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, FARM GATE, ONLINE ORDER

Caledon

14681 Torbram Rd

Robert van den Hoef, Shelley Baker 519-938-2457

rob.vdh@me.com

Bee educational tours, honey, comb honey, garden plants, maple syrup, eggs; bee rescue in southwestern Ontario

Email or call ahead Mon–Sat 9–6 to set up convenient pickup time

43

4th Line Cattle Co.

FARM GATE, ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER

Hillsburgh 5682 4th Line

Matt and Tamaran Mousseau 519-766-6079

4thlinecattleco.ca

Also at Erin Farmers Market

Grass-fed and -finished beef; Texas longhorn and Hereford steaks, roasts, extra lean ground beef, stewing beef, burgers, sausages, pasture-raised heritage pork, free-range eggs

By appointment only; order online and schedule pickup via website

19

Fresh and Tasty Mushrooms

FARM GATE

Amaranth 475226 County Rd 11

Sean Declerc, Shannon Coleclough 519-925-3215

freshandtastymushrooms.com

Specialty and wild mushrooms; all-natural produce

Farm pickup by appointment only; check website for market locations

25

Future Spell Farm

Specialty Herbs

ONLINE ORDER, YOU PICK

Mono

714538 1st Line EHS

Jessye Finch 647-237-3317

futurespell.com

Farm-direct, ecologically grown herbs

By appointment only; pickup and delivery available

HORSESHOE HILL FARM

18

Grand Maple Farm

ON-FARM STORE

Amaranth 294392 8th Line

Mark and Cynthia Tijssen 519-939-1889

grandmaplefarm.ca

Maple syrup, honey, Amaranth-grown preserves

Call ahead

42

Heartwood Farm & Cidery

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, FARM GATE, ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER

Erin 5438 2nd Line

Brent Klassen and Val Steinmann 416-527-4352

heartwoodfarm.ca

Small-batch craft cider, grassfed beef, maple syrup, honey and other seasonal products; regenerative farming experiences, workplace off-site retreats, farm “glamping” overnight stays

Order online for pickup or delivery; check website for bookings for patio, tasting room and seasonally varying on-farm experiences

48

Heatherlea Farm Shoppe

CAFÉ, ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER

Caledon 17049 Winston Churchill Blvd

Pat and Gord McArthur 519-927-5902

heatherlea.ca

Artisan dry-aged Angus beef, fresh meats, espresso drinks, baked goods, cheese, produce, heat-and-serve meals, local foods

Year-round Tue–Sun; licensed patio; check website for hours; shop in-store or order online for pickup or delivery

34

Hereward Farms

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER, YOU PICK

East Garafraxa 141051 15 Siderd

Julie Thurgood-Burnett, Stephen Burnett 226-779-4973

herewardfarm.ca

Also at Grand Valley Farmers Market, Hockley Valley Resort Spa, Beauty Bar on Main, Orangeville Flowers, Deja Vu Diner, Foxy Face, Henning Salon

Culinary lavender, lavender tea, lavender ice cream, lavender jams and chutneys

Wed–Sat 10–4; pickup available

The Heritage Bee Co.

OFF-FARM RETAIL, ONLINE ORDER

Mulmur

Debbie Gray

705-466-2337

heritagebee.com

Certified B Corp; female-founded; member, 1% for the Planet

Handcrafted Ontario honeys; flavours include triple lemon, ginger, lavender, rosemary; classic liquid and creamed wildflower honey; gourmet honey sets made with 100% wildflower honey

Pickup available for online orders; free shipping throughout Ontario for orders $60+; visit website for details and retail locations

49

HoneyComb Cottage Bee Company – Belfountain

FARM GATE, ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER

Caledon 17162 Old Main St

J.L. Marshall facebook.com/honeycomb cottagebeecompanybelfountain

Raw local honey, pure honeycomb, raw beeswax, creams and lip balms, candles, baskets, honeybee nucs and queens

Self-serve honey shed open daily 11–6 or order online through Facebook

63

Horseshoe Hill Farm

FARM GATE

Caledon East 15691 Horseshoe Hill Rd

Linda Gillstrom 905-586-1536

Sweet corn, squash, zucchini, garlic, cherry tomatoes, pie pumpkins, small–jumbo pumpkins, gourds, jalapeño peppers, honey

Aug–Oct : Sat–Sun 12–5

60

Humbervalley Honey

FARM GATE

Bolton 255 Glasgow Rd

Larry Zembal

416-708-0276

lzembal@rogers.com

Raw honey

Mon–Sat 9–6; call first to order and confirm pickup time

22

Islandview Farm Market

FARM GATE

Mono 633520 Hwy 10

Charles and Susan Hughson 519-941-9098

islandviewfarmmarket@gmail.com

Certified Organic

Garlic, vegetables, pies, tarts, preserves, honey, crafts Jun–mid-Oct : weekends 9–6, watch for trailer

20

Jenala Farms

ON-FARM STORE, YOU PICK

Amaranth 475080 County Rd 11

Ken and Faye Brett 519-938-0801

jenalafarms.com

Pick-your-own and readypicked strawberries; honey

Hours vary depending on availability; check website or Facebook page

Local raspberries, strawberries, wild blueberries, peaches, fresh picked peas, lettuce, tomatoes, cor n and much, much more.

2

Kidd Farms

FARM GATE

Melancthon

438162 4th Line

John, Nancy, Bruce Kidd

519-925-6453

kiddfarms@gmail.com

Also at Harmony Whole Foods Market

Maple syrup

Mon–Sat approx. 8–8; call ahead

35

Knollbrook Farms

FARM GATE

East Garafraxa 142239 County Rd 5

James Masters, Wendy Masters 519-362-3128

knollbrookfarms.ca

Beef, chicken, lamb, seasonally Mon–Sat, by appointment only

58

Kooner Farm Market

ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER, YOU PICK

Bolton 8086 Castlederg Siderd Indy Kooner

416-858-4639

facebook.com/koonerfarms

Raw honey, free-run eggs, organic vegetables, cut flowers

Mid-May–Dec

3

Lennox Farm

ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER

Melancthon 518024 County Rd 124 French family

lennoxfarm.ca

Homegrown fruit and vegetables, baking, preserves; agricultural education classes, farm tours, field dinners

Mar–Dec : self-serve market (closed Tue, Wed); farm-gate pickup and online ordering

10

Lions Share Farm

FARM GATE, ONLINE ORDER

Mulmur 837023 4th Line E

Hilchey family 519-925-2222

lionssharefarm@gmail.com

Organically grown seasonal vegetables, such as spinach, asparagus and many more

Open year-round at 837023 4th Line E; Sat 10–6, mid-May–Oct, farm gate at 587993 10 Siderd; email to sign up for weekly flyer

NA

Living Against the Current CSA, FARM GATE

Mono Jennifer Cosby 226-799-3997

livingagainstthecurrent.com

Seasonal raw, unpasteurized honey (liquid, creamed and cut comb); registered queen and nuc producer Farm gate 8–8; phone or email for farm-gate pickup location

15

Long Lane Acres

ONLINE ORDER

East Luther-Grand Valley County Rd 25

Jerry and Tina Martin

519-500-6191

longlaneacres.com

Also at Grand Valley Farmers Market

Ethically pasture-raised beef, maple syrup

By appointment only; phone ordering, pickup and delivery available

40

Majestic Water Buffalo

FARM GATE, OFF-FARM RETAIL, ONLINE ORDER

Erin 6003 1st Line

Karen Mansfield and Andy Fraser majesticwaterbuffalo.ca

Water buffalo meat, milk, cheese, lamb free-range eggs

Fri–Sun 10–5 or by appointment; online order for farm pickup; delivery available

11

Maple Grove Farm and Market

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, ON-FARM STORE, YOU PICK

Mulmur 936215 Airport Rd

Chris and Robyn Wallace 705-435-5386

maplegrovefarm.ca

Made-in-house baked goods, prepared meals; seasonal local produce; preserves, local meats and dairy; seasonal pick-your-own and events

Open daily year-round; check website for details and events

55

Mount Wolfe Farm

CSA, ONLINE ORDER

Caledon 10054 Old Church Rd

Crandall/Haney/Showell sisters 647-335-8897

mountwolfefarm.ca

Summer and winter vegetables and options to add maple syrup, honey, garlic, eggs, bread, freerange chicken, rainbow trout, seasonal fruit, preserves and more

Weekly pickup in summer; biweekly up to mid-January; online ordering with on-farm pickup or delivery service

27

Murphy Meadow Farms

FARM GATE, ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER

Mono 793236 3rd Line EHS Fred, Ian and Elaine Murphy 519-288-5324

murphymeadowfarms.com

Regenerative farm offering grass-fed and -finished beef, pasture-raised chicken, raw wildflower honey, farmfresh free-run eggs

Thu 3–6, Fri 12–5, Sat 9–2; online order through website; text, email or call to arrange pickup

5

Not So Hollow Farm

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, FARM GATE, ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER

Mulmur 838369 4th Line E

Viki Reynolds, Ian Payne 705-627-8004

notsohollowfarm.ca

Native trees, shrubs and perennials; food forest, permaculture and pollinator plants; honey products

Check website for hours; online sales with farm-gate pickup

6

Ontario Honey Creations

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, OFF-FARM RETAIL, ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER

Mulmur 938343 Airport Rd

Sarah Allinson-Chorabik 647-400-8507

ontariohoneycreations.com

Also at Orangeville Farmers Market, Heatherlea Farm Shoppe, Spirit Tree Estate Cidery Honey, honeycomb, honey vinegars, mead (honey wine), honey soda, creamed honey; on-farm experiences

Thu–Sun 10–6; order online for Canada-wide shipping

LONG LANE ACRES

LENNOX FARM

NA Owl Dream Farm

OFF-FARM RETAIL, ONLINE ORDER

Orangeville

46 Victoria St

Curtis Lazelle

647-621-5590

owldreamfarm.ca

Microgreens : radish, broccoli, sunflower, pea shoots, mustard, alfalfa, cilantro

Mon–Sun 9–5; pickup and delivery available

30

Peaceful Valley Farm

ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER

Mono 934409 Airport Rd

Brenda Bot and Tom Peters

519-942-1804

peacefulvalleyfarm.ca

Honey, maple syrup, farm-fresh eggs, preserves, baked goods

Fri–Sat 10–4; online order for pickup or delivery to Orangeville

4

Peace Valley Ranch

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, ONLINE ORDER

Mulmur

638135 Prince of Wales Rd

Cosack family

519-925-6628

pvrbeef.ca

Premium grass-finished black Angus freezer beef available May, Aug and Oct; sides and mixed quarters custom cut, wrapped and delivered to your door; ranch tours by appointment only

24

Providence Meadows

FARM GATE

Mono 347122 Mono Centre Rd

Curry family 519-942-9505

providencemeadowsfarm@ gmail.com

Year-round free-range eggs, seasonal heritage vegetables, pumpkins, maple syrup, chicken, turkey, lamb, whole roasting duck meat

Self-serve or call ahead

52

Pure Caledon Hills Honey

FARM GATE

Caledon

17895 Heart Lake Rd

Paul Reader 519-927-3376

purecaledonhillshoney.com

Honey, bee pollen, beeswax, honeycomb

Mon–Sat 8–6

1

Purple Hill Lavender Farm

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, ON-FARM STORE

Clearview

7484 6/7 Nottawasaga Siderd Emma, Jessica and Brian Greasley

705-822-5931

purplehilllavender.com

Also at Heirloom 142

Dried lavender bouquets, lavenderinfused home and body gifts

June–Aug 10–5; check website for hours

59

Queensmere Farms

FARM GATE, ON-FARM STORE

Caledon 15505 Centreville Creek Rd

Val and Nicholas Brooksbank 289-231-2180

queensmerefarms.ca

Products fresh from our farm, including brown eggs, wildflower honey, broiler chickens and Galloway vac-packed beef cuts

Mon–closed, Tue–Fri 9–6, Sat 9–5, Sun 10–5; calling ahead is advised as hours cannot always be maintained

28

Reid’s Potatoes & Farm Market

ON-FARM STORE

Mono 833153 4th Line

Brooke Reid

519-940-4096

reidspotatoes.com

Potatoes, vegetables, eggs, chicken, pork, beef, jam, honey, flowers, maple syrup, pies, quilts and more

Open daily year-round

66

Riverdale Farm & Forest

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, FARM GATE

Inglewood 15707 McLaughlin Rd

Owen Goltz

905-588-0085

riverdalefarmandforest.ca

Seasonal vegetables, biochar, wood vinegar, compost, tea extracts, eco tours and workshops

Jun–Oct

MOUNT WOLFE FARM / NKOSI BREAD CO.

53

Rock Garden Farms

ON-FARM STORE, YOU PICK

Caledon East 16930 Airport Rd

Iuglio and Galati families

905-584-9461

rockgardenfarms.ca

Fresh fruit, vegetables, freerange eggs, maple syrup, homemade preserves, sauces, home-baked pies, garden centre Apr 1–Nov 1 : 8–6 daily

ROCK GARDEN FARMS

NA

Rock View Farms

OFF-FARM RETAIL, ONLINE ORDER

Mono

Mitch and Kate McReavy

519-217-8623

rvfmonocentre.com

Naturally raised, pastured meats : beef and chicken

By appointment only; pickup available

31

Sheldon Creek Dairy

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER

Adjala 4300 Concession Rd 5 den Haan family

705-434-0404

sheldoncreekdairy.ca

Also at many local retailers – check map on website for locations

Milk, cream, yogurt, kefir, sour cream, cheese, ice cream, flavoured milks, meat, preserves; seasonal dairy bar

10–6 daily; online ordering available (check website) for pickup and home delivery

NA

Sola Gratia Farm

ONLINE ORDER

Melancthon 237064 4th Line NE Griffith family 519-288-5678

solagratiafarm.ca

Also at Orangeville and Erin farmers markets

Organically grown vegetables; pastured chicken, turkey; chicken and duck eggs; handmade soap and natural ice cream; einkorn and gluten-free baking Visit website for online orders

9

Toad Hole Farm FARM GATE, ONLINE ORDER

Mulmur 587448 10 Siderd Niels Pearson 519-925-5983

ned696@hotmail.com

100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef

Call landline (no texts, please) to arrange pickup or free home delivery

51

Valleybrook Farm

ONLINE ORDER

Caledon

18178 Horseshoe Hill Rd

David Jackson 905-460-4662

blackcow@sympatico.ca

Grass-fed and -finished black Angus beef

By appointment only; call ahead; phone order, pickup and delivery available

61

Van Dyken Farm YOU PICK

Caledon

14510 Gore Rd

Van Dyken brothers 905-857-3561

Beans, eggplant, onions, peas, peppers, rapini, tomatoes, zucchini

Call for hours and availability

CRAFT BEVERAGES

26

Adamo Estate Winery

ON-FARM RESTAURANT, ON-FARM STORE

Mono 793366 3rd Line EHS

Adamo family 519-942-3969

adamoestate.com

Also at select restaurants

Small-batch boutique winery with retail shop, tasting bar, lunch and dinner, patio, event and meeting spaces, scenic views year-round; award-winning wines

Check website, as hours change through the summer, and to book event spaces

68

Badlands Brewing Company

ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER Caledon 13926 Chinguacousy Rd

Troy Baxter, Michael Nuttall, Grace Wilkinson badlandsbrewing.ca

Fresh craft beer

Summer hours from June : Fri 12–5 on-site consumption, pickup; Sat 12–6 on-site consumption, food, pickup, live music 2–4; Sun 12–6 on-site consumption, food, pickup

54

Caledon Hills Brewing Company

OFF-FARM RETAIL, ON-FARM RESTAURANT, ONLINE ORDER

Palgrave 17219 Hwy 50 416-988-2003

caledonhillsbrewing.com

Also at local pubs and restaurants, the Beer Store, liquor stores (check website) Vienna Lager, Bohemian Pilsner, Kölsch, Summer Solstice, Mango Wheat, Mexican Cervesa, Cream Ale and more; food available in brew pub dining room and on patio

Check website for hours; contact-free delivery available (check website)

72

Downey’s Farm Market

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, ON-FARM STORE, YOU PICK

Caledon 13682 Heart Lake Rd

905-838-2990

downeysfarm.com

Play area, farm animals, corn maze, bakery, wine and hard cider, sweet corn

May 17–Oct 31 : 9–5 daily; Nov 23–Dec 24 : 9–5 daily

Satisfy Your Hiking Craving

14

Escarpment Gardens

OFF-FARM RETAIL, ONLINE ORDER

Mono 487151 30 Siderd Joey Lemieux

escarpmentgardens.ca

Also at Shelburne Foodland, Harmony Whole Foods Market, Tottenham Health Foods and Orangeville Farmers Market

Certified Naturally

Grown herbal teas

By appointment only; order through website for farm-gate pickup

46

GoodLot Farmstead Brewing Co.

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, FARM GATE, ON-FARM RESTAURANT, ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER

Caledon

18825 Shaws Creek Rd

Gail and Phil Winters 519-927-5881

goodlot.beer

On tap at select local restaurants, bars; also available at select LCBOs across Ontario

Organic hop farm and solarpowered brewery with tasting room, beer gardens, disc golf and food truck

Open year-round : Thu–Fri 3–8, Sat 12–8, Sun and holiday Mon 12–7; province-wide delivery available

42

Heartwood Farm & Cidery

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, FARM GATE, ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER

Erin 5438 2nd Line

Brent Klassen and Val Steinmann

416-527-4352

heartwoodfarm.ca

Small-batch craft cider, grassfed beef, maple syrup, honey and other seasonal products; regenerative farming experiences, workplace off-site retreats, farm “glamping” overnight stays

Order online for pickup or delivery; check website for bookings for patio, tasting room and seasonally varying on-farm experiences

29

Mono Centre Brewing

ON-FARM STORE

Mono

388113 Mono Centre Rd

Zach Gammage 519-939-1473

monocentrebrewing.ca

Craft beer

Check website for hours

NA

Pommies Cider Co.

OFF-FARM RETAIL

Caledon

Lindsay and Nick Sutcliffe

416-201-2101

pommies.com

At LCBO, bars, restaurants, Loblaws, Sobeys, other grocery stores

Pommies Original Cider, Pommies Farmhouse Cider, Pommies Mimosa Cider

Mon–Fri 9–5

50

Sonnen Hill Brewing

ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER

Caledon 20727 Heart Lake Rd

519-940-0200

sonnenhill.com

Easy-drinking beer, lagers, ales and fruit beer; on-site bottle shop, tasting room, beer garden and walking trail, summer food pop-ups

Taproom, bottle shop, beer garden : Fri 2–8, Sat 12–8, Sun 12–6; pickup and delivery available

ORANGEVILLE FARMERS’ MARKET

67

Spirit Tree Estate Cidery

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, ON-FARM RESTAURANT, ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER, YOU PICK

Caledon 1137 Boston Mills Rd 905-838-2530

spirittreecider.com

Feast Ontario certified Also at many local stores

Sweet and hard cider, artisan breads, pastries, pies, pizza; eat-in and takeout; tours; summer : live music on weekends

Thu 10–5, Fri–Sat 10–9, Sun 10–5; accessible; curbside pickup available

33

Windrush Estate Winery

AGRI-ENTERTAINMENT, ON-FARM STORE, ONLINE ORDER

Adjala

3100 Concession Rd 3

J.C. Pennie, Marilyn Field 905-729-0060

windrushestatewinery.com

Also at Alton Mill, Beyond the Gate, Black Birch, Cabin, Chez Michel, Duntroon Highlands Golf, Gourmandissimo, Millcroft Inn, Mrs. Mitchell’s

International award-winning VQA wines : pinot noir, cabernet franc, dry riesling, pinot grigio, chardonnay

Sat–Sun 12–4 : tours and tastings; order online for delivery or pickup

FARMERS MARKETS

A

Creemore Farmers and Artisan Market

Sat 9–1

May 18–Oct 26

Creemore Station on the Green parking lot 10 Caroline St E creemorefarmersmarket.ca

B

Grand Valley Farmers Market

Wed 3–7

Jun 26, Jul 24, Aug 28, Sep 25, Oct 9

Elizabeth Taylor Pavilion 32 Water St grandvalleyfarmersmarket@ gmail.com

C

Orangeville Summer Farmers Market

Sat 8–1

May 4–Oct 19

Downtown Orangeville 87 Broadway orangevillefarmersmarket.ca

C

Orangeville Winter Farmers Market

Sat 9–1

Nov 2–Apr 19 (closed Sat, Dec 28)

Orangeville Town Hall 87 Broadway orangevillefarmersmarket.ca

D

Erin Farmers Market

Thu 3–6:30 : Jun 20–Sep 26

Sun 12–4 : Jun 23, Jul 21, Aug 18, Sep 22

Erin

Erin Fairgrounds “agri-dome” 184 Main St erinfarmersmarket.ca

Cookstown:

A PERMIT PRIMER

So, you want to build an addition on your country property? Be prepared to become an expert in zoning and building permits – as well as the needs of your local conservation authority.

BY TONY REYNOLDS • ILLUSTRATED BY RUTH ANN PEARCE

THE DEMAND FOR BUILDING PERMITS IS brisk in the hills of Headwaters. In the town of Erin, the building division issues about 300 building permits each year. Joe Forte, the town’s chief building official, says that number will grow substantially, as homeowners add decks and other amenities to the nearly 2,000 new homes coming to the area over the next three or four years. Becky MacNaughtan, the chief building official for Dufferin County, adds the high demand for housing is inspiring many homeowners to add apartments in basements, over garages or in new outbuildings.

For major projects or those that include demolition or load-bearing walls, architects and professional trades will likely be involved. They’ll know what permissions are necessary and will help get stamps of approval. If you’re considering making some changes, here’s a primer on the basics.

Do you need a permit?

Building permit requirements are consistent in all jurisdictions because building departments enforce the Ontario Building Code, a provincewide statute, but it’s good to start with a phone call to your municipal office. Consider doing your homework first on the building department websites for your area in the County of Dufferin and its municipalities, Erin or Caledon.

Does every project need a building permit? No, but most do and some fine details can make the difference. For example, a new storage shed up to 15 square metres doesn’t need one. However, if it will

be used for anything other than storage, it can’t be more than 10 square metres without a permit. New windows won’t need one if they’re the same size or smaller than the originals. Changes to the zoning of a building from, say, residential to office, will require a building permit even with no construction. All this might sound like a daunting process, and it can be.

Whatever your plan, connect with the experts before you get too far along with your design. As Erin’s Joe Forte puts it, “Just a conversation about what you’re doing and the scope of the work. At times we do ask for a sketch if the person isn’t sure what they want to do or how to explain it.”

Caledon, Erin, and Dufferin have online submission processes and guides, but you can go into their offices for help. Dufferin also has new how-to videos to help guide the process.

Building departments are mandated to issue residential permits within 10 days – Dufferin averaged 7.2 days through 2023. However, that time doesn’t start until they have all the information, which includes zoning and conservation authority permissions.

Appeasing the conservation authorities

Building departments generally protect the integrity of construction and the safety of people; conservation authorities protect the ecology of watersheds and other natural features on their properties – and they can be very protective, even mother-bear ferocious. Architect Harry M. Lay, who works on many local projects, puts it another way: “The conservation authority can be like an angry dog on the other side

of the fence. You must humour and feed it whatever it wants until it goes to sleep. Only then can you jump the fence.”

If you live in a watershed – and in this neck of the woods it’s hard not to – you will likely need a development permit from a conservation authority: Credit Valley, Toronto and Region, Grand River, Saugeen Valley or Nottawasaga Valley. There may be constraints and limitations to work around, and requirements to meet before they sign off.

You may also need a further permit from the Niagara Escarpment Commission, an arms-length agency of the Ontario government that oversees the Niagara Escarpment Plan, if you’re inside its 195,000-hectare development control area, which cuts a jagged path covering 34,000 hectares through Caledon and Dufferin. This can take months (or even longer), so give them a call early on.

Again, technology can help. Conservation authorities’ websites have interactive maps to help you figure out if your property is their concern. What’s more, your project may require permission from a conservation authority even if you’re not building a structure – if your landscaping plans might affect the environment.

A word of caution: If you get started without permits and are discovered, keep in mind there are penalties, and you might have to tear everything down and start over.

Tony Reynolds is a freelance writer who lives happily above Broadway in Orangeville.

DINE EN PLEIN AIR, PICK PLANT-BASED FOODS OR INDULGE IN A HANDMADE ICE CREAM SANDWICH

BY EMILY DICKSON

Spotlight: Plant.ed Café

Fans of whole foods rejoiced at the opening of the new Plant.ed Café this spring in Orangeville.

Adaptogenic lattes, fresh salads, bowls, and housemade hummus are all made fresh. Nosh on savoury toasts made with organic sourdough bread baked in-house with toppings such as avocado, ricotta cheese and edamame. Or grab a spoon for a hearty bowl of Plant.ed Poke with kale Caesar salad or sweet potatoes. Smoothies here are chock-full of fruits, vegetables and superfoods such as spirulina, sea moss and collagen. For a healthy boost, wellness shots are made with ingredients such as turmeric, ginger and mint chlorophyll.

“We aren’t labelling it as vegan or vegetarian, but we won’t have any meat. Most of the menu is plant-based, but we want it to be approachable,” says owner and Caledon native Alex Kiru, who along with her partner, also from Caledon, Blair Forsyth, opened the café in April after moving back from British Columbia, where they lived for five years.

“Ultimately what we really want is to create a community space where everyone feels welcome and feels nourished!”

WE ALL SCREAM

Bite a homemade ice cream sandwich from Mulmur’s Rosemont General Store, where freshly baked cookies are paired with soft or hard scoops of flavours such as English Toffee, Green Apple, Blue Buried Treasure or Raspberry Lemon-Lime Sherbet.

A plant-based poke bowl is packed with colour and crunch at Orangeville’s new Plant.ed Café.

MARK YOUR CULINARY CALENDAR

Downtown Orangeville’s beloved back-to-back foodie events have returned, under a big white tent on Mill Street. Quench your thirst with locally made craft beverages at In Good Spirits on August 16, then savour sampling plates served by local chefs at Taste

Pop into downtown Creemore’s new wine shop, Chin Chin, to stock up on well-selected wines, carefully curated by sommelier Kieran Coyne and his partner, Tammy Yiu. Better yet, sit and sip at their rustic wine barrel tables, or do a deep dive into the world of wines at one of their tasting events.

Fields of dreams

Dining outdoors with the warm sun on your shoulders, playful pollinators buzzing around, and the open sky above is made even better when someone else is making the food –and there are several tables ready all summer.

Maple Grove Farm and Market in Mulmur revives a traditional rural Strawberry Supper on June 22 with all the fixings, including ham, coleslaw, salad and lots of strawberries, all to raise funds for local churches. The Summer Festival at Purple Hill Lavender Farm near Creemore on June 22 features food trucks, a makers market, live music and more. The annual Field to Fork Farm Tour and Dinner Experience series takes place on June 22, August 17, September 14 and October 5 at Lennox Farm in Melancthon – expect a hands-on harvesting experience, followed by a four-course meal prepared by a chef in the open air. At Mono’s Avalon Lavender Farm, indulge in Italian sweet and savoury treats with the High Tea Lavender Garden Picnic held on Saturdays from June 22 to August 10. Rock Garden Farms in Caledon hosts its Strawberry Festival and Vendor Market June 23.

Grab a spot at the family-style social seating at Mansfield Outdoor Centre’s Pine River Café on July 13 for live music, paired wines and a four-course table d’hôte dinner. Or visit Hereward Farms’ five-day Sip, Savour + Stroll event from July 24 to 28, where you can enjoy a gourmet charcuterie board amid 6,000 lavender plants and 200,000 sunflowers on their East Garafraxa property.

Later in the season, partake in Luxury Picnics in the Sunflowers on Fridays and weekends from August 2 to 18 at Campbell’s Cross Farm in Caledon.

HAVE YOUR CAKE

Caledon East’s Emily Clipperton is the baker behind Crumb & Berry ’s cake masterpieces. Her wedding and special occasion offerings often feature edible flowers real or handcrafted. She sources her foodsafe pressed florals – pansies, apple blossoms, lilacs, cornflower and rose petals – from local florists such as Snowberry Botanicals in Erin and Cedar & Stone in Alton, or crafts blossoms by hand from buttercream or fondant, making them a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds.

PINT-SIZED PLEASURES

It’s patio season, which means good brews and good views. Mono Centre Brewing has partnered with Orangeville’s The Craft Pizza Bar & Italian Kitchen for occasional pizza days this summer.

In Caledon, GoodLot Farm & Farmstead Brewing Co. features a Caribbean-flecked menu by Phil DeWar, music and community events. Check out the converted church at Caledon Hills Brewing Company, or visit the beer garden at Sonnen Hill Brewing. Toast Badlands Brewing’s 7th anniversary party on August 17. And don’t miss Creemore’s Copper Kettle Festival, centred on Creemore Springs on August 24.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT : A Field to Fork dinner at Lennox Farm, charcuterie amid the lavender at Hereward Farms and high tea at Avalon Lavender Farm.

SOMETHING TO TACO ‘BOUT

As summer heats up, appease your cravings for authentic tacos and quesadillas at the cute yellow Mexican Street Tacos food truck, usually at Airport Road and Olde Base Line in Caledon. Or for a fusion update, the recently opened Mexcellent Burritos in Shelburne offers a butter chicken burrito and other mashups.

A NEW SUMMER SIP

Pommies’ newest offering, Wine & Soda, contains just three ingredients – Ontario white wine, carbonated water and raspberry juice – with no added sugar. And it’s just 4% alcohol. Cheers!

SPIRIT TREE NEWS

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

After a brief hiatus, the Ciderhouse Bistro at Spirit Tree Estate Cidery in Caledon is back with crowd pleasers such as their signature burger, featuring a tender Limousin beef patty from Caledon’s Robert Nimmo Farms, topped with bacon, roasted tomatoes, pickles, Cows Creamery Appletree Smoked white cheddar, apple mustard and a balsamic reduction, served with a house salad or frites. New for dessert is the OMG Carrot Cake Cookie with a cream cheese filling. Open from Thursdays to Sundays, the Bistro fills up quickly, so reservations are a must.

Make mine

a mocktail

As non-alcoholic drinks surge in popularity, mocktails and other zero-proof libations are finally graduating from the kids menu to take their rightful place as a drink of choice.

BY EMILY DICKSON • PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELAINE LI

Brittany Pierson of Mono Cliffs Inn shares her Blueberry Garden mocktail.

Behind the bar at Greystones Restaurant & Lounge in Orangeville, a bartender pours an ice-cold, citrusy concoction from his shaker with a flourish and garnishes the lowball glass with a generous mound of sprouts. Until recently, there would be no doubt that gin, vodka, rum or tequila was one of the liquids in that shaker. Today, in the era of the mocktail, all bets are off. That drink is called Garden of Steve and features a non-alcoholic spirit, called Seedlip Garden, made from green peas and garden herbs. With patio season upon us, expect to see similar refreshing booze-free options on more cocktail menus and in backyard barbecue coolers.

Where there was once a choice of a kid-friendly, but saccharine Shirley Temple or an uninspired soda with a sad wedge of lime, now designated drivers and other non-drinkers are fuelling a booming demand for complex, layered drinks with the flavour and panache of “real” cocktails. That depth comes courtesy of savoury syrups, citrus peel, tart juices, flavoured sodas, fragrant herbs and non-alcoholic versions of gin, rum and other spirits distilled with just as much care as their inspirations.

“Bars and restaurants are fast realizing that we need to offer patrons something sophisticated that isn’t just juice or soda,” says Brittany Pierson, the front-of-house manager at Mono Cliffs Inn in Mono Centre. “Earlier this year we noticed a lot of our guests were doing Dry January and Dry February, so we had a lot of fun coming up with new and interesting drinks without using any alcohol.”

The Cliffs’ new mainstay is the Blueberry Garden (see recipe on page 84), says Brittany, a certified sommelier who curates the restaurant’s wine list and quarterly tasting dinners. “We take fresh rosemary, muddle it with fresh blueberries and lemon syrup made in-house, and top it with sparkling water. And of course, when it’s served in a beautiful glass it tastes even better.”

Getting in the spirit

At Orangeville’s Revival 1863, a speakeasy-style lounge with a “secret” entrance through the Barley Vine Rail Co., mixologist Karolina Wojcik offers libations such as the Cucumber Green Tea Collins made with zero-proof “gin” and the lavender, hibiscus and butterfly pea flower-infused When in Rome – as

well as non-alcoholic beers and sparkling wine.

“We take our drinks very seriously here, whether alcoholic or not,” owner Angela Ward says. “When someone says they ‘just want a pop,’ we discreetly pass them our mocktail menu and they’re excited to see so many options. We’re a cocktail bar, so we don’t want to have that one person sitting there feeling left out. It’s important to ensure people who don’t drink also have something gorgeous in a glass to enjoy.”

Karolina serves her creations in snazzy glassware, unique goblets and British teacups, garnished with eye-catching edible flowers, boba (tapioca pearls more commonly used in bubble tea), candied bacon or bruléed orange. A similar ethos reigns at Babbo Wine Bar & Patio at Hockley Valley Resort, where fresh herbs such as basil, mint or rosemary are accompanied by “citrus twists and edible flowers like hibiscus or pansies to transform a mocktail into a visual masterpiece,” says spokesperson Shannon Smith. She shared with us the bar’s recipe for their Blackberry Mule, which gets its fizz from ginger beer. And back at Greystones, restaurant partner Benn Froggett says the bar team takes their mocktails very seriously. “It’s all about balancing the flavours and

At Greystones Restaurant & Lounge, the cocktail list includes sophisticated non-alcoholic drinks, including, from left, Guava Mule, Sober Caesar, Garden of Steve and Faux Spritz.

creating an experience that celebrates the drink’s ingredients without the need for alcohol. We want our mocktails to be just as enjoyable as our cocktails.” (See their recipe for the Aperol Spritz dupe the Faux Spritz below.)

Local libations

Several local entrepreneurs are making it easy to replicate this experience at home too. Former brewer Dave Hennig, of Orangeville’s Headwaters Beverage Company, offers non-alcoholic concoctions teeming with flavours such as herbes de Provence, teas, lemongrass, sea salt, mango and goldenberry. His Burst drink is made with sparkling hop water. “People ask if I want to go back to traditional brewing, but to be honest, I’m having a lot of fun doing this. The world is my oyster in terms of flavours. I’m not trying to copy a beer or a cocktail. These drinks are completely original.”

At GoodLot Farm & Farmstead Brewing Co. in Caledon, owners Phil and Gail Winters are launching a new non-alcoholic option this summer featuring spicy organic Jamaican ginger. It complements their popular Trellis Hop Fizz, a zero-alcohol, zero-sugar,

Faux Spritz

Courtesy Greystones Restaurant & Lounge, Orangeville

This easy-to-make golden summer sunset in a glass (near left) combines flavours of sweet citrus and hints of infused herbs and bitter roots.

INGREDIENTS

2 oz Bella Glamour non-alcoholic Aperitif for Spritz

3 oz Bella Glamour non-alcoholic sparkling wine

1 oz soda water slice of orange

INSTRUCTIONS

Pour ice into your favourite wine glass and add all ingredients. Garnish with an orange wheel and enjoy.

dry-hopped sparkling water made with hops grown on the farm. Their growing zero-proof lineup both meets the demand in the market and keeps their on-farm service safe. “Because we’re in a remote location in the countryside, almost everyone has to drive here to hang in our beer gardens or barn,” explains Phil. “We started the Trellis Hop Fizz project because we wanted to offer drinks made with 100 per cent on-farm ingredients that could be enjoyed by everyone, and not just beer drinkers. We carry nonalcoholic offerings to ensure everyone can wet their whistle and have a good time.”

Also in Caledon, Spirit Tree Estate Cidery serves three kinds of sparkling “soft” cider – Sparkling Apple, Sparkling Crabapple and Sparkling Pear – all pressed on-site. Heartwood Farm & Cidery in Erin sells artisanal, farm-crafted strong ciders, but three years ago Kieran Klassen, whose family runs the business, says the trend toward sober challenges spurred them to create a non-alcoholic sparkling cider, Sparkle Organic Apple. Kieran says their tart new flavour, Sparkle Sour Cherry, will “remind people that the wonderful world of craft drinks isn’t limited to products containing alcohol.”

Blueberry Garden

Courtesy Mono Cliffs Inn, Mono Centre

The blueberries give this summery concoction (below) a deep purple hue and the rosemary adds a sophisticated depth.

INGREDIENTS

8 blueberries

1 sprig of rosemary, stripped

1 oz lemon simple syrup (instructions at right)

1 oz lemon juice

sparkling water

1 spring rosemary, not stripped, and blueberries to garnish (optional)

INGREDIENTS FOR THE SYRUP

½ cup sugar

½ cup lemon juice (about 3 lemons)

lemon zest

In Mulmur, Ontario Honey Creations now sells a lip-smacking Honey Soda alongside their popular mead. Bolton’s The Tipsy Neighbour Beverages offers mocktail-adjacent “spirit infusion jars” in flavours such as Canadian Rum Punch, Pineapple Orange Mojito and Tropical Sunrise. Packed with loose dried fruits, spices and herbs, the blends are used to infuse juice or soda in the fridge for three days. (And, yes, they can also be spiked with alcohol after the fact.)

One Ontario-based must-try is Sobrii 0-Gin, made nearby in Stratford and sold locally at Scandi-chic shop Lagom 172 in Creemore, where they mix slender gin and tonic highballs for openings in their gallery space north of the main shop. Sobrii is also available at Maple Grove Farm in Mulmur, where earlier this year market manager Sarah Cameron set up a tasting table for customers to sample.

“When I first heard about non-alcoholic spirits, I was really sceptical,” Sarah said that day as she poured tiny cups of pretty pink Palomas made with a spicy zero-proof Sobrii tequila and grapefruit juice. “I wondered if you were going to stop drinking, why spend money on fake alcohol when you can just have a soda? But now I get it. People are really surprised

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE SYRUP

Combine the sugar, lemon juice and zest into a small pot over medium heat until the mixture comes to a soft boil. Reduce the heat until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture thickens slightly. Strain the mixture and it’s ready to use.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE COCKTAIL

In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, muddle together blueberries, rosemary and lemon syrup. Add lemon juice and ice and shake until cold. Strain into a glass with ice and top with sparkling water. Garnish with a small sprig of rosemary and extra blueberries, if desired.

when they taste this. It’s like having a real drink, but without the calories, the hangover or the Uber drive!”

Sarah says the zero-proof gin continues to be a hit, along with new offerings from other Canadian brands.

Even the owners of the new Creemore wine shop and bar Chin Chin, Kieran Coyne and Tammy Yiu, opted to focus on non-alcoholic wines for their very first event in late May. They served six zero-proof options from Italian label Prima Pavé and Australia’s NON.

“Whether it’s got alcohol or not, it should really be about enjoying the taste of your drink and how it goes with your food,” says Tammy. “Even if you don’t drink, you still want the shared experience of sitting at a nice table, with the glow of candlelight, the flowers, eating good food, listening to music, holding a beautiful glass, having a toast with friends – that’s what’s actually important. It’s not about the drink. It’s about giving people options so they can still be part of the fun.”

The decline of drinking

So who exactly is not drinking and why? According to Statistics Canada almost a quarter of adult Canadians don’t drink at all, and the percentage of Canadians who do drink is declining. Despite a spike during the early

A new breed of mocktails includes, from left, Blueberry Garden, Strawberry Rhubarb Soda and Vanilla Sage Paloma, all at Mono Cliffs Inn.

Anniversary Bands

Wedding Bands Stacking Bands

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

days of the pandemic, in 2021–2022 Canada saw its largest drop in volume of alcohol sales in more than a decade. Experts believe this is because of an increased awareness about the risks of alcohol, a more conscious attitude toward consumption, and a general movement towards focusing on health and wellness. A 2023 survey by market research company Ipsos found younger Canadians are the ones behind the decline, with more and more generation Z and millennials choosing to drink less or not at all.

But the trend is also ageless. This year Karen, a 59-year-old resident of Caledon, took on a Dry February challenge for the first time. Her goal was to get healthier, lose a few pounds before a big vacation, and sleep better at night.

“My husband said he’d do it with me, and then my grown kids wanted to join in and a friend got on board too,” says Karen, who asked to omit her surname for privacy. “We stocked up on a bunch of zero-proof wines, spiced rum, gin and tonics, Aperol Spritzes and coolers. There’s so many choices these days, it makes things easier, so you don’t feel like you’re missing out.”

Julie Elsdon-Height, a recovery coach who helps people struggling with sobriety and addiction, considers the boom in booze-free drinking “a breath of fresh air.” Julie has spent most of her life living in Orangeville, and when she stopped drinking in 2010 there were no non-alcoholic options, she says.

“And quitting was not easy,” she adds. “I remember my first sober Christmas, when one evening I was wrapping gifts and suddenly just burst into tears. My husband asked what was wrong, and I told him that usually at this time I’d be relaxing, wrapping gifts and having a glass of wine. Then he went into the kitchen and mixed me a really pretty drink in a beautiful glass to help fill that gap for me.”

The lack of alternatives led Julie to start researching mocktail recipes and drink alternatives, and self-publish her recipe book, Mocktails & More, in 2012. More than a decade later, she’s thrilled to see so many new products and the attention mixologists are giving mocktail menus. “It’s been a

long time coming. It’s a sign of change that we are getting over the stigma of not drinking,” she says. “There is a pressure to drink whether we want to admit it or not. And it relieves that pressure if you already have a beautiful drink in your hand.”

Daniel La Cute has likewise transformed a personal triumph into a beacon for others. Two years ago, while working at a brewery, he began to re-evaluate his relationship with alcohol and got interested in the world of zero-proof beverages.

“There are tons of drinks out there, but the biggest challenge is that people don’t know where to look,” explains Daniel, an Orangeville native now based in Hamilton. “I missed the experience of simply going to the LCBO or a craft beer pub and discovering a great new drink. So I decided to offer premium craft experiences through an online subscription service that could be delivered across Canada.”

Daniel launched Free Bar in 2022 and stocks a wide range of non-alcoholic drinks from Canada – including those from Headwaters Beverage Co. and Heartwood Farm & Cidery – as well as the United States and Europe. In the two years he’s been at it, he’s seen interest from consumers who are sober, sober curious, or just interested in cutting back. He described an increasingly popular practice called “zebra striping,” where you control your alcohol intake by alternating between a “real” drink and a nonalcoholic one.

“People’s preferences are changing, and we always refer to it as a movement rather than a trend. Trends come and go, and this one is here to stay,” Daniel says. “For us, it’s not about dissuading people from drinking. What we’re preaching is that there are other alternatives so you can find something new, and find something that you love to drink.”

Want to try some others? See recipes for Revival 1863‘s Cucumber Green Tea Collins, Hockley Resort’s Babbo Wine Bar & Patio’s Blackberry Mule, and Barley Vine Rail Co.’s Berry Un-spiked Lemonade with this story online at inthehills.ca.

Emily Dickson is a

BUILDING CHARACTER

Orangeville native Branson Giles designs and crafts his wood furniture pieces both to honour the designs of the past and to ensure they live long into the future.

BY JANICE QUIRT

CUSTOM FURNITURE MAKER BRANSON GILES is Orangeville to the core. The 28-year-old is a fifthgeneration resident and can revisit most of the key milestones in his life without going farther than a kilometre or two.

His childhood home and workshop are one and the same: the shop is in the garage of the century house his mom, Pam, still lives in. Branson’s late dad, Mike, was Dufferin County’s chief building official for 30-plus years. “He was very handy and the main inspiration for my work ethic. He taught me how to work with my hands,” says Branson.

A stone’s throw away is Pia’s on Broadway, where Branson’s fiancée, Jaclyn, works. “I built the Pia’s sign last summer, and I love seeing my work in the community that I walk through every day,” he says. The couple also lives in downtown Orangeville.

A few more blocks away is Orangeville District Secondary School, where Branson took his first woodworking class with Ian Budgell, who still teaches there. “I took to woodworking naturally and really enjoyed it,” says Branson.

After building an acoustic guitar for his capstone project in the Conestoga College woodworking technician program, he was hooked on woodworking as a career. “I had the confidence to go for it, thanks to some great mentors along the way.”

That was in 2019. Branson worked for a custom kitchen shop for six months and then Covid hit. He quit and started his own business, Giles Fine Furniture. Commissions from friends and family helped him build a portfolio – and a tool collection. “Every time I made money, I invested it into a new tool or machine that would increase my workflow, efficiency and accuracy.” He is content with his current setup. “It has everything I need or have room for.”

Branson Giles crafts custom furniture in his Orangeville studio. At left, one of the stylish chairs Branson takes a minimum of 25 to 30 hours to make.

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Branson’s style influences have evolved from midcentury modern to Scandinavian and Japanese furniture and architecture. “I love old furniture, buildings and architecture that stands the test of time,” he says. “I always have an eye out for these examples, inspecting techniques. There’s always something to learn.”

Commissions range from media units to tables, but his current favourites are chairs, which each take a minimum of 25 to 30 hours. After learning where and how a client will use the chair, he sketches it by hand. Once he and the client settle on the final design, he produces a 3D rendering on his iPad.

Domestic hardwoods such as oak, maple, cherry and walnut, locally sourced and grown – and dried to reduce their moisture content to 6 to 9 per cent – are the stars of the show. Luckily for Branson, his retired woodworker neighbour also shares leftover lumber that has been cut, milled and properly kiln-dried.

Starting with a rough board, Branson uses a planer and table saw to break it down into a squared slab of workable lumber from which he’ll cut pieces using a table saw, drill press, bandsaw, hand saws or chisels. “There is always more than one way to perform the same cut,” he explains. Still, he favours the age-old, tried-andtrue mortise-and-tenon technique to join two pieces of wood at 90 degrees.

After he assembles the pieces and glues them in place, he applies clamps for up to an hour. The chair then rests for a full day for curing.

Final sanding or shaping is next, using an orbital sander and hand sanding. After Branson uses an air compressor to remove dust, he wipes the chair with water in a technique called “water popping,” which drives the moisture into the grain and causes the wood fibres to pop up. Branson sands again with high grit sandpaper to remove the fibres.

Brush-on shellac or a natural hardwax oil seals the wood. For bigger projects or those bound to see some wear and tear, Branson uses a sprayon water-based lacquer. He builds up five to six coats or more, sanding out imperfections or hidden glue spots in between coats. “Sanding is half of what I do,” he laughs.

Branson’s quiet wisdom belies his age. “When working with wood, there’s no hiding or lying to yourself,” he says. If a joint doesn’t align, he revisits the process to create a functional, snug fit. “My dad always told me, ‘If you’re going to do something, do it right the first time.’ I aim for perfection, although it is hard to achieve, so that my work can be around another 100 years.”

Find Branson on Instagram at @gilesfinefurniture

Janice Quirt is a freelance writer who lives in Orangeville.

Branson sits outside his studio on one of the chairs he recently made.

FINGERPRINT JEWELRY, LOCAL LEATHER AND GARDEN GEMS

BY JANICE QUIRT

ONE-OF-A-KIND JEWELRY

Amid the birthday party fun Tanya Frew oversees at her Pottery Parties Studio in Orangeville, the ceramics pro also offers the Tanya Louise Collection, a bespoke jewelry line featuring silver clay fingerprint charms. “During your appointment, you press your finger into our silver clay to create the charm,” explains Tanya, who then fires the imprint in a special kiln and carefully attaches it to a sterling silver bracelet or necklace. “This beautiful experience is not just creating jewelry, it is crafting cherished memories to last a lifetime.” (Bracelets from $162. Necklaces from $132, Tanya Louise Collection)

A LIFETIME OF LEATHER

At Hides in Hand on Erin’s Main Street, Teresa Paul will tell you crafting leather products has been her passion for nearly three decades. At a facility in Rockwood, Teresa and her team use soft deerskin and moose hide leathers collected from local hunters to create deerskin ballet slippers, handbags and a range of intricately handcrafted moccasins. The bags feature classic shapes with added touches that are decidedly of the moment, including fringe for a rodeo-chic feel. (Ballet slippers from $99. Moccasins from $125. Handbags from $50, Hides in Hand)

SOURCES

JEWELS FOR THE GARDEN

Kelly Williams of Hockley Designs fashions sparkly suncatchers with Egyptian crystal and semiprecious stones that act as jewelry for your garden. The Hockley village resident was first inspired by a friend from Arizona who shares her passion for stones and crystal suncatchers. Believing they would thrive in Canada, Kelly staged a pop-up shop at Caledon’s Spirit Tree Estate Cidery in July 2020. The pop-up popped off and Hockley Designs is now Kelly’s fulltime business. (Suncatchers from $31, Hockley Designs)

Hides in Hand, 132 Main St, Erin. 519-856-4505 hidesinhand.com

Hockley Designs, Hockley. hockleydesigns.com

Tanya Louise Collection, Pottery Parties Studio, 121 First St, Orangeville. 519-942-9022 tanyalouiseart.ca

BOLTON LOOP

This hike combines three separate stretches along gorgeous sections of the Humber River with passage through Bolton’s historic past and a chance to stop for a latte, ice cream, pint or a full meal in downtown Bolton. Of all the routes I’ve followed in Caledon, I think this one packs more into just under 10 km than any other. And with the Toronto Region Conservation Authority’s rehabilitation of the old Bolton Camp, it will only get better. Lucky Boltonites, I learned about this loop from former longtime residents, Angus Doughty and his wife Sian.

Eastern hemlocks abound.

COLUMBIAWAY

View over the Humber River valley.

Black willows line the Humber River. They are Ontario’s most common willow.

HIGHWAY50 QUEENSTN

Urban ponds attract ducks, especially mallards.

KINGSVIEWDR

BOLTON MILL PARK

BOLTON RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRACT (BRMT) The BRMT occupies 973 hectares on the Oak Ridges Moraine. Located within the BRMT, the BOLTON CAMP project involves re-establishing the historic camp in a modern style. JOHN WILLIAMS BENCH SNEATHRD

SUNKIST WOODS

SITE OF OLD DAM

BLACK WILLOW

HIKING ETIQUETTE

Hike only on marked trails. Obey all signs. Carry out all litter, including dog poo. Keep dogs leashed. Don’t disturb people, animals, plants or trees.

A moderate 9.6km, 3+ hour hike

Humber Valley Heritage Trail

Municipal Trail BRMT Trail

NICOLA ROSS IS THE AUTHOR OF THE BESTSELLING LOOPS & LATTES HIKING GUIDE SERIES

BEYOND BOOKS

Lauren Tilly’s role as a librarian at the Orangeville Public Library is as much about connecting community members with one another as about connecting them with good reads.

BY JANICE QUIRT

ON A RECENT SATURDAY afternoon at the Orangeville Public Library’s Mill Street location, librarian Lauren Tilly greets visitors at a workshop called Get the Dirt on Climate-Friendly Gardening. Fittingly, the event is set to take place just steps from the branch’s living wall of pothos plants, installed during the historic building’s recent extensive renovation.

Although a book lover, the Grand Valley resident does not spend her days shelving tomes. As a program and research librarian, Lauren fills her workdays by connecting the community with the real currency of the library: information. As in today’s case, this often means engaging with

library-goers outside of her regular workweek.

“We’re about much more than books,” she says. “Librarianship is a very exciting career and there’s something for everyone. From cataloguing books to running STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs for children, you are helping people of all ages find and navigate information, and that’s a wonderfully important role to fulfill.”

Today’s celebration of sustainable practices and green thumbery features regenerative farming expert Mark Eastman of Weathered Rock Farm in Milton, and aims to inspire home gardeners to create climate-friendly

gardens. To organize the event, Lauren worked closely with Kylie-Anne Grube, a climate engagement specialist with Dufferin County.

Before the gardening gloves came on today, Lauren had already put in a productive workweek of community programming. Here’s a look at how the day unfolds.

11:30 A.M. Lauren arrives at the library with her husband and fiveyear-old son in tow. They’ve come to help her set up the presentation table and chairs in the room where the workshop will take place. Lauren also greets guest speaker Mark and event co-lead Kylie-Anne, who have

brought gifts for the attendees. The group sets up a table by the main doors and stacks bags of compost courtesy of Climate Action in Dufferin. Mark tucks a cooler of eggs, fresh from his farm, under the table. At the table upstairs where he will speak, Mark has more goodies: bunches of tulips, one of Weathered Rock Farm’s main crops, and a bin holding a cover crop and soil sample for use in his demonstration.

12 P.M. With setup complete, Lauren, Kylie-Anne and Mark gather upstairs to discuss the final details of the event, including introductions, microphone and the all-important audiovisual check. Lauren waves goodbye to her

Librarian Lauren Tilly prepares for a Saturday gardening talk at the Orangeville Public Library on Mill Street.

husband and son, who will find other activities to occupy themselves during the event.

12:45 P.M. Lauren heads downstairs to greet visitors. She notices some compost has spilled onto the carpet and finds a vacuum cleaner to clean it up. She finishes just in time to meet the first attendee. “It’s a good day for a gardening event,” Lauren says to the visitor. “It’s raining, so all the gardeners can actually attend!”

1 P.M. Lauren kicks off the proceedings with a brief overview and introduces Kylie-Anne. Public speaking is a significant aspect of Lauren’s role. In addition to being a librarian, she’s also a library manager, community liaison and member of the internal leadership team.

1:50 P.M. Lauren has been keeping time during the event and begins the Q&A. When it concludes, she and Kylie-Anne thank Mark and remind the guests they can take home compost, eggs and tulips.

2 P.M. Mark has been a knowledgeable and engaging speaker, so amid a buzz of curiosity and information sharing, Lauren chats with attendees and helps give out the goodies.

2:30 P.M. As the last guest wanders away, Lauren cleans up and puts away the table and chairs. It has been a busy week for events. This gardening talk was sandwiched between competitions for Battle of the Books, a longstanding annual tournament for teams of junior and intermediate students from local elementary schools.

Every fall, Lauren reaches out to her school contacts to encourage participation, and confer on the books students will read and be quizzed on. The round-robin competition culminates in the spring with the crowning of the grand champion teams. “I have a soft spot for Battle of the Books,” says Lauren. “My first day on the job was May 1, 2014 – ten years ago – and it happened to be on competition day. That was a wonderful, if hectic, start to my career here.”

Lauren’s tenure began right after she finished the coursework for her master of information degree in library and information sciences at the University of Toronto. Her graduation ceremony hadn’t even taken place, but the timing was right. During her summers, Lauren had helped with the reading program at the Shelburne Public Library, and decided the field was where she wanted to be, though she might not have envisioned hosting library board members at Battle of the Books and helping develop the questions put to the teams.

Other Battle of the Books duties include co-ordinating library staff, as well as volunteers from Friends of the Orangeville Public Library, to work the events. Once Battle of the Books wraps for the year, Lauren receives feedback from the teachers – and starts the next year’s process in August.

Working with community partners in this way is the part of her job Lauren enjoys most. “Whether it is executing a program or just starting out in the planning stages, I love the hands-on nature of this role.”

3:30 P.M. As Lauren drives home to Grand Valley, she mentally scans the other events on her calendar. One of them is Coffee, Conversation and Books, coffee chats co-ordinated in partnership with the Grand Valley and Shelburne libraries. These outings feature local authors in coffee shops such as the Perked Pierogi. “We try to band together to advertise our various programs and we also attend each other’s events.” On the coming Monday, she will spend the day at the Southgate Public Library in Dundalk, where librarians will discuss services and programming for teens. It will be a chance to network and garner new ideas.

6 P.M. After taking the dog for a walk, it’s dinner at home and putting her son to bed. After that, Lauren might indulge in her passion for baking or –surprise, surprise! – reading. Yes, this librarian has a varied day that doesn’t involve sitting at a desk perusing books, so bedtime is often her first opportunity to sink into a story.

THE DELIBERATE LUXURY OF DINNER OUT

BY BETHANY LEE • ILLUSTRATION BY SHELAGH ARMSTRONG

WHEN THE KIDS ARE COMPLAINING THERE is nothing to eat, and the sizzling summer days make the kitchen too hot even to enter, heading out for a meal at a restaurant can be just the trick. The snap decision to go out for dinner feels like a mini-celebration. There are multiple joys in not having to decide what to cook, ensure you have the ingredients, run to the store if not (forgetting your reusable shopping bags, again), do the cooking itself, then get everyone on board and to the table with hands clean, the baby clicked into the high chair without pinching fingers, and prayers said by those who say them … only to be exasperated by grumbling about the evening’s menu and food pushed peevishly around the plate, or worse, thrown from the height of said high chair, landing who knows where. No need for any of that! Off everyone goes to get

in the car, unless you are lucky enough to walk to a neighbourhood joint. All in attendance have different opinions about where to go, but eventually a choice is made. Here goes…

Arriving at a family restaurant with little ones in tow is undeniably a treat, but not without some anxieties of its own. The interminable waiting for a table makes for space-time continuum equations you didn’t expect for such a simple outing. Delicious smells waft your way, but you wonder what takes so long when you can see empty tables and menus stacked and waiting.

Finally your host arrives and you make your way to your spot. If you’re at the right kind of joint, lucky kids get a small pack of crayons, a puzzle book or table game. Usually the kids get their own menu, with price points that don’t make the paying adult

cringe, knowing half will go to the scraps bin. Some restaurants know how to serve smiles and keep the kids happy with a fancy drink, a little bit of bread or chips and some extra attention. It’s a blessing when you land in a welcoming environment, and your shoulders can drop an inch as you happily sip on your fizzy water or ice-cold beer. What a pleasure to have a team look after you, if only for an hour or two. Some kids are naturals. They have the special chromosome baked in, seemingly born with manners that make them a delight to take out. They’re at ease not only in the din of a family-style restaurant, but with the savoir faire of more formal dining establishments. They are welcomed at swanky and modern Greystones, they have a favourite pizza at the Bluebird, go to lovely Mrs. Mitchell’s for a summer evening birthday party, or The Globe for brunch with

Social Justice Club for youth Youth aged 7 to 14 who are looking for an opportunity to discuss and understand social change and become engaged citizens now have a place to land. The Social Justice Club is up and running at the Orangeville Public Library. The group is led by local volunteer Farzaneh Peterson, who will help youth

become better citizens by understanding our world through the lens of empathy, social responsibility and lived experiences. Registration is required, and weekly meeting details are on the website. orangevillelibrary.ca

Green leaders in the making Credit Valley Conservation invites high school students age

14-plus to take part in Frontline, a volunteer environmental leadership program. Participants take part in workshops once a month from September to May, commit to environmental action in the community and lead outreach activities. The program focuses on different themes from year to year to support laddering up leadership skills. Along with

connecting youth to nature, the work counts toward their required volunteer hours. cvc.ca/for-teens/frontline

Sweet opportunity

Are you up for a sweet challenge? Amateur bakers can enter the Best Cupcake Contest hosted by Alliston’s Gibson Centre during their 15th annual Taste of the Town.

Could this be a contest for you and your up-and-coming chef? Drop off your cupcakes for a chance to win bragging rights and recognition. Judging takes place on June 20, with your tiny cake dropoff required between 10 a.m. and noon. gibsoncentre.com

Museum adventures Visit the charming and wide-

family friends. They’ve done the circuit!

Nevertheless, the indulgence of even a modest dinner out seems to be a rapidly retreating pleasure. As food prices dramatically rise in Canada, concerns about how to feed our families are growing. Even at home, shrinkflation makes it harder to feed multiple mouths, and those who don’t have the time or ability to cook from scratch (which should be a more affordable option) find their dollar doesn’t go as far when it comes to even simple home meals or stocking the staples.

As I write this, a month-long boycott of Loblaw-owned stores has begun in response to the news that Canada’s largest grocer reported nearly a 10 per cent increase in profits over its last quarter. Reddit groups that info share on social issues are encouraging the more than 70,000 members of the subreddit “Loblaws is out of control” to lobby the federal government to establish price caps on essential items and to petition for antitrust laws that address price fixing, monopolization and collusion, and that promote pricing transparency.

The lovely memories of special meals, joyous sounds of clinking glasses and the percussion of knives and forks over laden tables during summer months, followed by leftovers from barbecue dinners, are so special to me. And equally I love that my son, Adrian, husband, Derrick, and I have engrained memories from over the years of going out for easy dinners. Our Orangeville faves were Angel’s Diner and Soulyve, where Chef Phil specially prepared a roti of just chicken and rice for Adrian when he was little. We’ve enjoyed the best local burgers and picked up pizza to go when the craving hit.

Adrian recently completed his second year of college and we celebrated with a steak dinner in Brampton. It was delicious and made for a special few hours together. As I looked at the prices on the menu and Derrick paid the total, I silently reminded myself that we are the lucky ones. We have food and we have choices. But for us too, dinner out is becoming more of a milestone event than an impromptu treat. And I reflect that with growing financial disparity, many find even such occasional celebrations out of reach. Those thoughts lead me into a complexity of political musings, so I take a minute to shake them off for another time, and return my attention to the job at hand –chopping up peppers and onions to grill and add to our fish tacos tonight. Dinner, per usual, is at home.

Bethany Lee is a freelance writer who lives in Mono.

open spaces of the Museum of Dufferin this summer. Haven’t been before? It’s a short drive to the corner of Highway 89 and Airport Road, where you’ll see the majestic, purposebuilt barn and silo that house the museum and await your arrival. Programming and fun run constantly for the whole family, including summer day camps for kids aged 7 to 12.

Each camp has a theme, and the tantalizing topics include archeology, CSI techniques, art mania and superhero science. For toddlers, age 1 to 4, there’s MoD-Tots: Summer Fun, featuring tot-friendly crafts and sensory activities for a reasonable $7 fee per hour-long session. Visit the website to register. dufferinmuseum.com

SUMMER ONLINE

The great outdoors

Summertime is made for adventures – will you choose trail running, hiking, kayaking, cricket or another fresh air pursuit? Don’t forget the sunscreen!

Celebrate craftsmanship

Our Made in the Hills column is a handy guide to some of the best jewelry, wood products, textiles, soaps and other local products to buy right here in Headwaters.

Wild things

Learn more about the migrating butterflies, snapping turtles, salamanders and other intrepid critters you may encounter this season as they make their presence felt around these hills.

LIFE IN THE BLUE ZONE

BY GAIL GRANT

COULD I HAVE LUCKED IN AND FOUND myself living in an almost Blue Zone? Oh, you ask, “What is a Blue Zone?” In the popular four-part Netflix documentary series called Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, National Geographic reporter Dan Buettner explores the Blue Zones of the world through local interviews, joining conversations, and looking carefully at food, both its production and preparation.

Briefly, the original five identified Blue Zones are Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Loma Linda, California; Ikaria, Greece; and Nicoya, Costa Rica. In each of these locations, a noteworthy number of citizens live to the age of 100 and beyond, still mostly in control of their lives and happily interacting with family and community.

Following years of studying these unique communities, Buettner boiled down their commonalities into four major categories: natural movement, connections, wise eating, and general outlook.

As I watched each episode, I was struck time and again by how many actions and attitudes are similar to the planned community in northeast Caledon where I live. Granted, we can’t yet claim a centenarian, but there are a few happy and generally healthy residents well in their 90s, and many others closing in behind.

The community’s first multi-unit structure was completed in 1994, with additional buildings

following in fits and starts. Designated a seniors community, people in their 50s and 60s were excited about the minimal maintenance required compared to the country properties many of them had moved from, the turnkey virtue of the units, which made winter getaways simpler, and the clean, newness of their space. The final construction phase, for a total of 188 units, was completed in 2023.

Our community is surrounded by 306 hectares of Toronto and Region Conservation Authority lands, which are criss-crossed by well-maintained hiking and biking trails. Dog walkers are numerous in our community, and the nearby village of Palgrave

boasts a charming brew pub located in a former church, a new pharmacy run by a knowledgeable and accommodating pharmacist, plus our go-to variety store, complete with liquor and wine section. Walking into the village to meet a friend at the pub, or pick up everyday necessities, is easily doable. So, natural movement: check.

But we shine in the connections department. I believe a good deal of that can be attributed to the fact that in the fall of 2021, the community was offered the opportunity to purchase the ninehole golf course adjoining our community. With protecting the surrounding green space from development top of mind, more than 50 per cent of the residents stepped up with the necessary down payment to collectively purchase the land, anticipating that golf course revenues would pay off the remaining amount in a timely fashion.

That’s what happened, financially, but the primary benefit from the purchase, as I see it, was that the community pulled together, pooling talents and learning on the fly how to run a public golf course. That created unexpected and invaluable personal connections, as people with disparate knowledge and experience worked together with a common purpose. Connections: check.

The wise-eating characteristic (natural, plantbased, heavy on beans, according to Buettner) is a bit tougher to qualify, but there are a number

MEET A COMMUNITY ELDER: WENDY KULHAY

HER KIDS CALL HER TRIPLE A , “ANCIENT artistic adventurer.” At 91 years old, she prefers simply “ancient.” Okay, but I’d go more with “spirited exuberant dynamo.”

When I arrived for a visit, Wendy Kulhay parked the ATV that allows her to revel in the beauty of the rolling 50-acre Caledon property she shares with her son, Jan Frank, and his family, and then graciously showed me through her comfortable bungalow. I was introduced to the rest of her family through photographs covering every wall, each surface, and of course, the entire fridge door.

Growing up in Kirkland Lake as the eldest of three children born to Polish mountain immigrants, Wendy watched her parents adjust to the Canadian way of life. “Dad dynamited rock in the gold mines, while Mum augmented the coffers by picking blueberries,” she says.

Wendy met and married Frank Kulhay in 1951

when they were both working on Canada’s ill-fated Avro Arrow project in Malton. Three children followed, Katrina, Janina and Jan Frank. During this time, both Wendy and Frank completed B.Ed. degrees, primarily through night school and summer courses, a seven-year process for each of them.

Wendy’s teaching career included placements at Scarlett Heights Collegiate Institute and Port Credit and Erindale secondary schools before she settled in for 25 years at Mayfield Secondary School in Caledon. She was a counsellor and taught business subjects, including switchboard, shorthand, penmanship and law.

Wendy Kulhay, 91, and the ATV she uses to tour her 50-acre property.

PETE PATERSON / STOCK

of individually owned and maintained raised-bed vegetable gardens in our community, and there’s talk of establishing a community garden.

One question that popped up on a Blue Zone link: Do Blue Zone centenarians drink coffee? The answer: “Yes, Blue Zones centenarians typically drink coffee at breakfast, tea in the afternoon, wine at 5 o’clock, and water all day. To live to be 100, keep your beverages simple and avoid sugary drinks like soda and packaged fruit juices.”

Neighbours here frequently share healthy meals, and at clubhouse events the salad table is always popular. Wise eating: as far as I can tell, check.

The final common thread weaving through the Blue Zones is “general outlook.” Spiritual faith seems to play a prominent role through the studied areas, as does fun. One of Buettner’s quotes that sticks with me: “Laughter brings longevity.”

The feeling that everyone counts, and belongs, kept coming up.

Activities in and around our clubhouse are numerous and varied, from euchre afternoons, to book exchanges, yoga and art classes, pickle ball, tennis and bocce, along with golf and general social events. There’s something for everyone; all you have to do is show up. Positive stuff, creating a positive general outlook: check.

So, have I landed in a Blue Zone? I think maybe I have. Now, about this living to 100 …

“I loved my job, and applied to stay three years past the usual 65-year retirement age,” she says. During her time at Mayfield, Wendy also taught teachers how to teach through the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Education. And post-career? “Over the years I’ve delighted in giving Katrina administrative help with her Erin integrated medical clinic,” says Wendy.

Her beloved Frank died in 2009, but “I’m grateful that two of my three grandchildren were born before that time.”

Wendy and Frank began wintering in Playas del Coco, Costa Rica, about 20 years ago, and Wendy has kept up the tradition, hosting winter getaways for her children and grandchildren. It’s also the place, she says, “where I become inspired to unpack my painting supplies.” Wendy took up painting when she was 75, and her acrylic portraits of family and landscapes of the natural world she loves are now displayed throughout her home.

“There’s more to life than simply seeking more,” she says.

COUNTRY WHIMSY

A Caledon country home reflects the lighthearted spirit of its owners with art, collectibles and a couple of amusing sight gags.

ALBERT IS SEATED AT THE BABY grand piano, his fingers resting gently on the keys. With wire-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, he’s nattily dressed in a black suit, black turtleneck sweater and jazzy multicoloured shoes. He has longish white curly hair and a dignified demeanour, and he is the first thing I see as I cross the threshold of Tom and Bonnie Wenn’s Caledon home. No, I have not arrived at a private concert. Albert is a life-sized mannequin, and

BY GAIL GRANT • PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN FITZGIBBON

this is his permanent perch.

Fun and whimsical, he sets the tone for the home the Wenns bought in 1979 when they moved north from Bramalea. At the time, their two children, Kyle and Joslyn, were nine and seven years old. “If I remember rightly, the promise of a pony was involved in order to make the move more palatable for the kids,” says Tom. One of the first changes the Wenns made when they bought the three-level

sidesplit was to upgrade its brown siding and stucco exterior to grey board and batten, giving the home a look more in keeping with its country surroundings. A bank of windows was added to the dining area, letting light filter into what had at one time been a rather gloomy corner.

“This house is continually evolving,” says Bonnie. “While its original footprint remains virtually unchanged from when we bought it

45 years ago, every inch of the interior has been altered in some way, and some areas of the house have been changed multiple times.”

My favourite room in the house is the sunroom, which perfectly harnesses the magical feel of a treehouse. This room began its life as an extended deck with a hot tub, a quiet place to relax with a glass of wine after a long day.

To increase the room’s usefulness,

MAIN: Tom and Bonnie Wenn sit with Stella, their Great Dane, in the treehouse-like sunroom of their Caledon home.

TOP: A pair of garden statues are among the many artful pieces the couple has collected over the years.

ABOVE: A clay pond and enormous garden pots can be seen through a pane of stained glass made by Tom. the Wenns added a canvas roof, creating a so-called portable room. But the canvas didn’t weather well, and in a few years, the screened-in space was roofed with a higher peak and aesthetically pleasing porcelain floors. Surrounded by beautiful mature trees, predominantly maples, and alive with the soundtrack of passing birds, this room takes full advantage of the landscape. Elsewhere in the home, birds

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and other nature motifs appear in impressive framed stained-glass pieces, many of them hanging in windows – and all created by Tom.

“I spent my entire career in flat glass, (i.e., windows, shower doors, tabletops), but my interest in the artistic side of the glass world was piqued at a craft show quite early in my career, and I jumped into it.”

His best-known work is a lifesized, backlit glass image of Marlene

Dietrich, which was featured in the decor of a downtown Toronto restaurant. For many years, he also taught glass art out of his office, which was then in Toronto. Tom has generously donated artworks to charities such as the Palgrave Rotary Club and Bethell Hospice to help with fundraising events.

Nowhere is the Wenns’ current lifestyle as empty nesters and on-the-go retirees as clear as when I tour the home’s four bedrooms. Kyle’s former room is now the designated bedroom of Stella, their eight-year-old

reverse brindle Great Dane, when she is in residence. (Stella lives with Joslyn when the Wenns travel.) Another bedroom has been converted into an enormous walk-in closet, and Joslyn’s former bedroom is now a comfy and inviting guest room.

The Wenns have just completed the fourth kitchen renovation of their tenure, but this one came with a troubling hitch. “Our new plan called for the removal of a wall, but when we began to tear down drywall, we quickly discovered that it was a bearing wall, which caused an

LEFT : Tucked under a canopy of mature trees, the home’s back patio is a favourite gathering spot.

BOTTOM LEFT : The home’s living room has a contemporary feel.

BELOW: Albert, the Wenns’ whimsical lifesized mannequin, sits at the piano just inside the home’s entrance.

immediate shift in our plans,” says Tom. The renovations eventually came together, and beautifully. Heated porcelain floors, handmade creamy white cabinets by Grant Peterson of Shelburne Kitchens & Custom Woodworking, new appliances, and new glass doors to the sunroom all open the space. Bonnie admits to having a fetish for change. “It seems we just finish one project and I’m thinking about the next.” And she takes on a good deal of that change herself. She can often be found with paint brush in hand, changing the

colour of an end table or a set of chairs. Compromises are always part of the evolution of a family home. The Wenns use a wood-burning fireplace in the family room and a propane one in the living room. “Tom loves the crackle and the smell of a real fireplace; I’m partial to the ease of operation and cleanliness of propane,” says Bonnie. The double-arched, wood-burning fireplace dominates one wall of the

family room. “This was originally a traditional brick fireplace,” says Tom. “But we wanted a more calming feel, so we went with a sandstone finish. The second recessed arch adds to its efficiency, allowing for wood storage close at hand.” There was a time when the other half of the fireplace wall housed an enormous fish tank, but that became difficult to sustain when the Wenns began to travel more frequently.

And there’s an elephant in the room. Literally. Taller than Stella by half, and much chunkier, the elephant, intricately carved from monkeypod, a South Asian hardwood, commands a corner of the room. It was acquired during a trip to Thailand in 2007, when the Wenns admit they got a bit carried away. A buying spree resulted in their shipping home a 40-foot container filled with garden statues, pots, ball fountains – and the elephant.

The clay pots, the biggest of which stands more than four feet tall and two and a half feet wide, are placed

TOP: A graceful sandstone fireplace with two arched openings anchors the family room.

BOTTOM: The newly renovated kitchen features handmade cabinets by Grant Peterson of Shelburne Kitchens & Custom Woodworking.

www.velvetalcorn.com

TOP: An elephant carved from monkeypod, a South Asian hardwood, commands a corner of the family room.

TOP RIGHT : In Tom’s woodworking shop are three pieces he turned on his lathe from old fenceposts.

ABOVE: Two Muskoka chairs make for a peaceful perch overlooking the pond on the Wenns’ 10-acre property.

ABOVE RIGHT : A windswept pine is centre stage in a work of stained glass crafted by Tom.

outside. A large spinning ball fountain, which creates a tranquil background murmur, sits near the deck and is home to a large live frog. Tom is kind enough to drive me around the 10-acre property in his Gator, with Stella hard on our heels. First stop is the “he” shed, a building used to store bikes and equipment and, more important, Tom’s stainedglass art studio. Bonnie’s “she” shed is closer to the house. It gives her space for her gardening tools and smaller

gardening equipment. The barn has been converted into a woodworking shop and houses Tom’s tools and lathe. “I will tune my speaker to Spotify, and enjoy some creative time and solitude here,” he says.

Today Tom will fire up the aeration system on the pond at the far end of the property. “When the kids were in their teens, we built a volleyball court down here, trucking in load after load of sand, where they could entertain friends and let off steam,” he says. An extensive plot of cheerful sunflowers now flanks the path to the pond.

What became of those volleyballplaying kids? Joslyn turned her pony-riding skills into a career; she is now a member of the Toronto Police Service Mounted Unit. Kyle is an entrepreneur, splitting his time between his Collingwood home and Toronto’s financial district. And Albert? Well, he has yet to break into a Mozart sonata, but his presence continues to startle and delight visitors to the Wenns’ charming home.

in film

Ann Shanahan sum24_Layout

Sue Collis vertical

Moffat Dunlap*, John Dunlap**, Nik Bonellos, Elizabeth Campbell, Courtney Murgatroyd, Sean Wynn, Mark Campbell***, David Warren**** *Founder, **Broker of Record, ***Sales

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A CALENDAR OF SUMMER HAPPENINGS

COMPILED BY JANET KERR • ILLUSTRATIONS BY JIM STEWART

ARTS & LETTERS

NOW – JUL 1 : WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE Member artists unleash their wild side in various mediums. Wed-Sun 10am-5pm. Free. Alton Mill Arts Centre, 1402 Queen St, Alton. Headwaters Arts Gallery, 519943-1149; headwatersarts.org

NOW – AUG 31 : UNITY IN DIVERSITY Juried show reflecting artists’ own culture. Tue-Sat 11am4pm. Dufferin County Multicultural Foundation, Museum of Dufferin, Airport Rd & Hwy 89, Mulmur. 1-877941-7787; dufferinmuseum.com

NOW – SEP 3 : OH MY DOG! Showcase of works by diverse artists focused on dogs. PAMA, 9 Wellington St E, Brampton. 905-791-4055; pama.peelregion.ca

JUN 15 : STORIES OF HOME: EMBROIDERY ON PAPER Discover the art of needlework with artist Meltem Unal. 2-4pm. PAMA, 9 Wellington St E, Brampton. 905791-4055; pama.peelregion.ca

JUN 15 & SEP 7 : MOD MASTERCLASS: CYANOTYPES Learn a 170-year-old photographic printing process producing prints in a distinctive blue using the sun’s rays. 10am. $85. Museum of Dufferin, Airport Rd & Hwy 89, Mulmur. 1-877-941-7787; dufferinmuseum.com

JUN 18 – SEP 30 (TUESDAYS) : GET CRAFTY CLUB Bring your crochet, knitting, sketching or any project you’re working on! 1-3:30pm. Free. Shelburne Library, 201 Owen Sound St. 519-925-2168; shelburnelibrary.ca

JUN 22 : MARY SCATTERGOOD OPEN HOUSE & SALE Join this local folk artist at her studio and gallery. Noon5pm. Mary Scattergood Studio and Gallery, 20451 Porterfield Rd, Caledon. 416-998-2008; maryscattergood.com

JUN 25, JUL 23, AUG 27 & SEP 30 : ROSE’S BOOK CLUB No required reading! Discuss books and share recommendations. 2-3pm. Free. Shelburne Library, 201 Owen Sound St. 519-925-2168; shelburnelibrary.ca

JUL 3 – AUG 5 : TRILOGY Marnie Cooke, Lawrence Kristan and Kathryn Thomson present works capturing light, colour and technique in three mediums. Wed-Sun 10am-5pm. Free. Alton Mill Arts Centre, 1402 Queen St, Alton. Headwaters Arts Gallery, 519-943-1149; headwatersarts.org

JUL 4 : STORIES OF HOME:

MADHUBANI ART Learn the ancient Indian tradition of painting vibrant birds with Ritika Kochhar. 7-8:30pm. PAMA, 9 Wellington St E, Brampton. 905-791-4055; pama.peelregion.ca

AUG 7 – SEP 15 : BEYOND THE FRAME See 40+ works depicting perspectives without confines in various mediums. Wed-Sun 10am-5pm. Free. Alton Mill Arts Centre, 1402 Queen St, Alton. Headwaters Arts Gallery, 519-943-1149; headwatersarts.org

COMMUNITY

FARMERS MARKETS

ORANGEVILLE : Saturdays, 8am-1pm, to Oct 19. Second St & Broadway. orangevillefarmersmarket.ca

CREEMORE : Saturdays, 9am-1pm, to Oct 26. Station on the Green Parking Lot, 10 Caroline St E. creemorefarmersmarket.ca

GRAND VALLEY: Wednesdays, Jun 26, Jul 24, Aug 28, Sep 25 & Oct 9. 3-7pm. Elizabeth Taylor Pavilion, 32 Water St. grandvalleyfarmersmarket@gmail.com

ERIN WEEKLY: Thursdays, 3-6:30pm, to Sep 26. Erin Fairgrounds, 184 Main St. erinfarmersmarket.ca

ERIN WEEKEND: Sundays, Jun 23, Jul 21, Aug 18 & Sep 22. Noon-4pm. Erin Fairgrounds, 184 Main St. erinfarmersmarket.ca

NOW – AUG 24 : COMMUNITY

HARVEST DAYS Help harvest fresh food for community members in need. Please bring weather-appropriate clothing, water bottle. All ages, no experience needed. Work gloves, hot drinks and light snacks provided. Email gavin@ everdale.org for info on sponsorship. 1pm. Emerald Foundation, Dufferin County Community Fund, Everdale, 5812 Sixth Ln, Erin. 519-855-4859; everdale.org

www.bramptononstage.ca

JUN 14 : TECH CLASS & SUPPORT FOR SENIORS Drop in, bring your device(s) and questions. Apple: 1pm. Android: 2:30pm. Free, register. Classes resume in Sept. Free, 1-4pm. 346255 15 Sdrd, Mono. 519-941-0972; highcountryunited.weebly.com

JUN 14 : FRIDAYS IN THE PARK

SHELBURNE Music by The Campfire Poets, children’s activities. 6-9pm. Free. Jack Downing Park, 140 Main St E. Town of Shelburne, 519925-2600 x239; shelburne.ca

JUN 15 : CELEBRATE YOUR AWESOME

Celebrate pride and diversity with familyfriendly entertainment, education, food trucks and fun! 1-10pm. Free. Alexandra Park, 11 Second St behind Town Hall, Orangeville. celebrateyourawesome.ca

JUN 15 : CALEDON SENIORS’ CENTRE FUNDRAISING TRUNK SALE Books, odds ‘n’ ends and more. Book your space (two parking spots) for $30, sell goods and make money. Also available: baked goods, preserves, BBQ and more. 8am-1pm. 7 Rotarian Way, Bolton. 905-951-6114; caledonseniors.ca

JUN 15 : MONO POLLINATOR GARDEN

FESTIVAL Stroll five acres of lavender gardens. Sean James, master gardener, speaks on Blooms (and More) for Bees and Butterflies. Don Scallen, regular contributor to In The Hills, speaks on A Celebration of Trees. On-site parking. 2pm. Free, register. Avalon Lavender Farm, 347036 Mono Centre Rd, Mono. Town of Mono Pollinator Garden Committee, townofmono.com

JUN 15 : LONGRUN THOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT SOCIETY OPEN HOUSE Guided walking tours and riding demonstrations. 10am-2pm. Suggested donation of $20, register. 5674 Fifth Ln, Erin. 416-675-3993 x1-3440; longrunretirement.com

JUN 15 : CALEDON DAY Family fun, fireworks and music by the Sam Roberts Band. 2-10pm. Free. Caledon East Community Complex. Town of Caledon, 905-584-2272 x4376; caledon.ca,

JUN 16 : CREEMORE INDIGENOUS MARKET Artisans, performances and demos. 10am-2pm. Creemore Station on the Green, 10 Caroline St E, Creemore. Creemore BIA, Purple Hills Arts, Indigenous Tourism Ontario. creemorefarmersmarket.ca

ABBREVIATIONS

CCS

Caledon Community Services

CPCC

Caledon Parent-Child Centre

CVC

Credit Valley Conservation

CPL

Caledon Public Library

DCAFS

Dufferin Child and Family Services

DPSN

Dufferin Parent Support Network

EWCS East Wellington Community Services

MOD Museum of Dufferin

NVCA

Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority

PAMA Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives

SBEC

Orangeville & District Small Business Enterprise Centre

JUN 18 – 23 : BIG HEART DANCE

CAMP An intergenerational camp for up to a week of embodied play. Unicamp of Ontario, 638159 Prince of Wales Rd, Mulmur. bigheartdancecamp.ca

JUN 19 : DREAMERS UNITE: ENVIRON -

MENT Discuss ways we can help the environment. All ages. Free, register. 7-8:30pm. 346255 15 Sdrd, Mono. 519-9410972; highcountryunited.weebly.com

JUN 19 & JUL 20 : CREEMORE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY MEETINGS

Jun 19: Spring Flower Show. Joanne Rachfalowski speaks on Flower Show Tips & Tricks. 7-9pm. Jul 20: Summer Flower and Vegetable Show. 8am-1pm. Creemore Station on the Green, 10 Caroline St E, 705-466-3170; creemorehort.com

JUN 20 : TASTE OF THE TOWN BEST CUPCAKE CONTEST – AMATEURS

ONLY Register and receive your cupcake boxes at the front desk during opening hours. 10am-noon. The Gibson Centre for Community, Arts and Culture, 63 Tupper St W, Alliston. 705-435-2828; gibsoncentre.com

JUN 20 : CALEDON SENIORS’ CENTRE AFTERNOON STRAWBERRY SOCIAL Enjoy homemade cake with strawberries and cream, live entertainment. Pickup 1:30-2pm. Dine-in 2-4pm. Free, local delivery $2, call to register. 1:30-4pm. 7 Rotarian Way, Bolton. 905-951-6114, caledonseniors.ca

JUN 20 : AN EVENING UNDER THE STARS Cocktail reception, live entertainment, fabulous buffet dinner and live auction. Proceeds to Dufferin Community Foundation. 5:30-10pm. $225. Private country property in Mono. 519-938-0780; dufferincommunityfoundation.ca

JUN 20 : TASTE OF THE TOWN Proceeds to supporting arts and culture in the community. 5:30pm: Stroll while enjoying delicious food and drinks $130. 8pm: Meal in the Mercer Pub $65. The Gibson Centre for Community, Arts and Culture, 63 Tupper St W, Alliston. 705-435-2828; gibsoncentre.com

JUN 21 : SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION Music by The Sadies, line dancing, activities and cash bar. 5-10pm. Free. Creemore Village Green, 181 Mill St, Creemore. Creemore BIA, instagram.com

JUN 21 : FRIDAYS IN THE PARK SHELBURNE Music by Clerel, fitness and children’s activities. 6-9pm. Free. Jack Downing Park, 140 Main St E. 519-925-2600 x239; shelburne.ca

JUN 21 & JUL 1: SHELBURNE BLOOD DONOR CLINIC Same day and open appointment spots available. Book now online, use the GiveBlood app or call 1 888 2 DONATE. Jun 21: 3-7pm. Jul 1: 9am-1pm. Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex. Canadian Blood Services, 1-888-236-6283; blood.ca

JUN 21 & AUG 23 : CALEDON SENIORS’ CENTRE MONTHLY DINNERS Jun 21: Pulled pork. Aug 23: Chicken kebab. Call two days prior to order. Pick-up 5:15 pm. Dine-in 5:30 pm. $16, local delivery $2. 5-6:30pm. 7 Rotarian Way, Bolton. 905-951-6114; caledonseniors.ca

JUN 21 – 23 : 2024 CANADA CUP EAST NATIONAL ARCHERY TOURNAMENT

Over 120 archers of all ages from eastern Canada and the U.S. 15595 Shaws Creek Rd, Terra Cotta. archersofcaledon.org

JUN 22 : ERIN PRIDE Our first Pride festival! Disney drag, family-friendly events, cake-decorating competition, local vendors and more! 11am-8pm. McMillan Park, 109 Main St, Erin. erinpride.com

JUN 22 : MAPLE GROVE FARM & MARKET STRAWBERRY SUPPER Cold bone-in ham and all the trimmings, strawberry shortcake. Proceeds to St. Luke’s Anglican and St. David’s Anglican churches. 4-7pm. $30; children $18, in-store or online; some tickets available on the day if space permits. 936576 Airport Rd, Mulmur. 705-435-5386; maplegrovefarm.ca

JUN 22 : WINES OF THE WORLD

Featuring 40+ wines, local food and music by Jessica Sole. Home James on-site. All proceeds to local and international Rotary initiatives. 6-9pm. $100; $40 alcohol-free. Caledon Equestrian Park, 200 Pine Ave, Palgrave. Rotary Club of Palgrave, rotarywow.com

JUN 22, AUG 17, SEP 14 & OCT 5 : FIELD TO FORK FARM TOUR & DINNER EXPERIENCE Guided farm tour, handson harvesting experience, four-course meal by a local chef. Proceeds to HFFA. Dress for weather and location, rain or shine. 5pm. $130, online. Lennox Farm, 518024 Cty Rd 124, Melancthon. hffa.ca

JUN 23 : CAREGIVERS IN THE HILLS APPRECIATION DAY Activities, lunch, entertainment, speakers and an expert panel. Minding services available. 10:30am-3:30pm. Free, register at caregiversinthehills@ dafht.ca or call 519-216-6671. Caledon East Community Complex. Hills of Headwaters Collaborative Ontario Health Team, 519-278-5219; hillsofheadwaterscollaborative.ca

JUN 23 : AN AFTERNOON AFFAIR

Great entertainment, wine and food, and an illuminating peek behind the curtain. Proceeds to I LOVE MY Theatre Orangeville fundraising campaign. 12:30-4pm. $165. Adamo Estate Winery, 793366 3rd Ln EHS, Mono. 519-942-3423; theatreorangeville.ca

JUN 23 : RELESSEY MEMORIAL SERVICE Dan Needles is guest speaker and musical guest is award-winning violinist Anne Lindsay. 2:30pm. Relessey Church, 874615 Dufferin Cty Rd 8 and 5th line, Mono. Relessey Cemetery Board, 519-941-1100; facebook.com

JUN 23, JUL 28, AUG 25 & SEP 22 : HUNTER/JUMPER SHOWS

Professional courses and divisions for first-time competitors to those schooling before their A Shows. 8am. $100. 20682 Hurontario St, Caledon. 519-941-4501; teenranch.com

JUN 24 : SENIORS’ LUNCH SPEAKER

SERIES Presentation by Caledon Victim Services on Services for Seniors. Catered lunch. All welcome. Free, register. 11am1pm. 346255 15 Sdrd, Mono. 519-9410972; highcountryunited.weebly.com

JUN 26 : HIGH COUNTRY HAM & STRAWBERRY SUPPER Delicious cold ham dinner, strawberry shortcake, strawberries and homemade tarts. $20; children 6-10 $5; preschool free. 5-7pm. High Country United Church, 346255 15 Sdrd, Mono. highcountryunited.weebly.com

JUN 26 & 29 : ASK THE ARCHIVIST

We all need research assistance at times. 9am. $20. Museum of Dufferin, Airport Rd & Hwy 89, Mulmur. 1-877941-7787; dufferinmuseum.com

JUN 28 : BOLTON TRUCK & TRACTOR

PULL Fun for the whole family! Online: $20; children 12 & under $10. Tickets at the gate will be higher. 6-11pm. Albion & Bolton Fairgrounds, 150 Queen St S, Bolton. Albion & Bolton Agricultural Society, 905-880-0369; boltonfair.ca

JUL 1 : CALEDON CANADA DAY

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL Strawberry pancake breakfast, BBQ, balloons and birthday cake at noon. 8am4pm. Caledon Fairgrounds, 18297 Hurontario St, Caledon Village. 519-925-3461; caledonfair.ca

JUL 1 : ORTON CANADA DAY Chicken barbecue with sittings at 4:30, 5:30 and 6:30pm. Choice of chicken dinners, $10-$13. 7:30pm: bike-decorating contest, pet show and dog agility demo. Fireworks at dusk. Fireworks only: $4; children 4-12 $2; 3 & under free. 4:3010:30pm. Orton Community Park, 4 John St, Orton. eastgarafraxa.ca

JUL 4 : HIDDEN GEMS VI GARDEN

TOUR & TEA OF PURPLE HILL Please join us. $10, at BookLore, or Dufferin Piecemakers Quilt Guild and ODHS Tuesday night meetings. 6-9pm. Orangeville and District Horticultural Society, orangevillehort.com

JUL 5 : FRIDAYS IN THE PARK SHELBURNE Music by The Wanted and Dragoon Summit Station, children’s activities. Free. 6-9pm. Jack Downing Park, 140 Main St E. Town of Shelburne, 519-925-2600 x239; shelburne.ca

JUL 6 : CHELTENHAM DAY Bike

parade, children’s games, street sale, duck and tube races, beer garden, Firefighters’ BBQ, band and more. 10:30am-5pm. Free. Cheltenham General Store, 14386 Creditview Rd. Cheltenham Area Residents’ Association, 416-605-3865; facebook.com

JUL 7 : SUNDAYS IN THE PARK CREEMORE Music by Lucca Mae, yoga class. Inclusive, family-friendly. Free. 10am-2:30pm. 181 Mill St. 705-466-6555; creemorecommunityfoundation.ca

JUL 13 : TRANSITIONS & VARIATIONS OF DOWN DOG & UP DOG IN YOGA

Explore the origins of these yoga poses with Tere Lopez. 10:30am-11:45am. PAMA, 9 Wellington St E, Brampton. 905-791-4055; pama.peelregion.ca

JUL 13 – AUG 24 (SATURDAYS)

: SATURDAY NIGHT MOVIES

Enjoy great movies outside. 6-8pm. Free. Garden Square, 12 Main St, Brampton. Brampton On Stage, 905874-2800; tickets.brampton.ca

JUL 13, AUG 11 & SEP 14 : WHOLE VILLAGE ORIENTATION Tour the farm and eco-residence. 1pm. $10. 20725 Shaws Creek Rd, Caledon. 519-941-1099; wholevillage.org

JUL 14 : SUNDAYS IN THE PARK CREEMORE Music by Tamar Ilana & Ventanas, pilates class. Inclusive, family-friendly. Free. 10am-2:30pm. 181 Mill St, Creemore. 705-466-6555; creemorecommunityfoundation.ca

JUL 19 : FRIDAYS IN THE PARK

SHELBURNE Community Garage Sale (4-7pm). Music by Naomi Bristow and Tim Ronan, children’s activities. 4-9pm. Free. Jack Downing Park, 140 Main St E. 519-925-2600 x239; shelburne.ca

JUL 19 : CALEDON SENIORS’ CENTRE SUMMER BBQ STEAK DINNER BBQ steak, potatoes, salads and dessert. Calypso music by Joe Cullen. 6:30-9:30pm. $40, call to register. 7 Rotarian Way, Bolton. 905-951-6114; caledonseniors.ca

JUL 19 – 21 : ORANGEVILLE ROTARY RIBFEST! Mouthwatering BBQ ribs, beer tent, car show, Kidsfest, continuous live entertainment. Proceeds to the town’s Rotary Park Redevelopment project. Fri: 4-10pm. Sat: 11am-10pm. Sun: 11am-7pm. Free, donations accepted. Alder Street Recreation Centre. The Rotary Club of Orangeville, 519-939-1298; orangevilleribfest.com

JUL 20 : SHELBURNE CRICKET CLUB HI-TEA An elegant afternoon steeped in tradition. Dress code: Ladies – tea dress with fascinator; smart casual for gentlemen. 4-7pm. $30. KTH Park, 197 Homestead Dr, Shelburne. 416-8236846; shelburnecricketclub.com

JUL 21 : SUNDAYS IN THE PARK CREEMORE Music by the Sherri Jackson Band, tai chi class. Inclusive, family-friendly. Free. 10am2:30pm. 181 Mill St. 705-466-6555; creemorecommunityfoundation.ca

JUL 24 & AUG 14 : CALEDON SENIORS’ CENTRE SPECIAL LUNCHES Jul 24: Cold plate. Aug 14: Peameal bacon on a bun. Pick-up 11:30am-noon. Dine-in noon. Call two days prior to register. $11; local delivery $2. 11:30am-1pm. 7 Rotarian Way, Bolton. 905-951-6114; caledonseniors.ca

JUL 28 : SUNDAYS IN THE PARK CREEMORE Music by the Baytowne Big Band, stretching class. Inclusive, family-friendly. Free. 10am-2:30pm. 181 Mill St, Creemore. 705-466-6555; creemorecommunityfoundation.ca

AUG 4 : SUNDAYS IN THE PARK CREEMORE Kids Day! Music by The Relative Minors, family yoga class, children’s activities, and ice cream truck. Inclusive, family-friendly. Free. 10am-2:30pm. 181 Mill St. 705-466-6555; creemorecommunityfoundation.ca

AUG 9 : BOLTON MIDNIGHT MADNESS Great night of food, music, outdoor marketplace and so much more! 6-11pm. Downtown Bolton BIA, downtownbolton.ca

AUG 9 – 11 : THE FERGUS SCOTTISH FESTIVAL & HIGHLAND GAMES Worldrenowned talent and entertainment, heritage village and vendors. Fri 5pm-midnight. Sat 8am-midnight. Sun 8am-7:30pm. Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex, Fergus. 519787-0099; fergusscottishfestival.com

AUG 10 : MONARCH AND POLLINATOR FESTIVAL Interact with monarchs, bees and pollinators while you tour the farm, gardens and farm stand. 10am2pm. Free. 16555 Humber Station Rd, Caledon. albionhillscommunityfarm.org

AUG 11 : SUNDAYS IN THE PARK CREEMORE Music by The Mudmen, Pilates class. Inclusive, familyfriendly. Free. 10am-2:30pm. 181 Mill St, Creemore. 705-466-6555; creemorecommunityfoundation.ca

AUG 16 : IN GOOD SPIRITS Over 14 beverage purveyors sample their drinks, mocktails available. Music, mixology and light appetizers. 6-10pm. Age 19+. Mill St, Orangeville. Soulyve Catering & Events, Orangeville BIA, 519-9420087; downtownorangeville.ca

www.theatreorangeville.ca

AUG 16 : THEATRE ORANGEVILLE

SUMMER ARTS FEST – NORTH (519) BEST OF TORONTO FRINGE –SHOWS A & B Live music, drinks and ambiance, before either Show A or B. VIP Early Bird package (book by Jun 28). Fringe A: 7-8pm. Fringe B: 8:30-9:30pm. Mount Alverno Luxury Resorts, 20706 Heart Lake Rd, Caledon. 519-942-3423; theatreorangeville.ca

AUG 17 : TASTE OF ORANGEVILLE

Celebrate mouthwatering local food from 14+ different restaurants. Live music. Tasting tickets $1; tastes are one to five tickets depending on the dish. 11am4pm. Mill St, Orangeville. Orangeville BIA, 519-942-0087; downtownorangeville.ca

AUG 17 & 18: SUMMER ARTS FEST –DRAG MUSIC BINGO & PATIO MUSIC

PERFORMANCES – AGES 19+ Aug 17: An evening of great entertainment. Free live patio music 6:30-8pm. Tickets required for Drag Music Bingo. 6:3011pm. Aug 18: TBA. Mount Alverno Luxury Resorts, 20706 Heart Lake Rd, Caledon. 519-942-3423; theatreorangeville.ca

AUG 18 : SUNDAYS IN THE PARK CREEMORE Music by Moonriver, tai chi class. Inclusive, family-friendly. Free. 10am-2:30pm. 181 Mill St. 705-466-6555; creemorecommunityfoundation.ca

AUG 24 : COPPER KETTLE FESTIVAL

Classic cars, local makers, live music and fresh beer! 10am-10pm. 139 Mill St, Creemore. 705-4662240; creemoresprings.com

AUG 25 : SUNDAYS IN THE PARK CREEMORE Music by Jesse Corrigan & The Neustadt Sound, guided meditation class. Inclusive, family-friendly. Free. 10am-2:30pm. 181 Mill St. 705-466-6555; creemorecommunityfoundation.ca

AUG 30 : FRIDAYS IN THE PARK SHELBURNE Music by Terra Lightfoot, Charlie Edward, The Matlockes, children’s activities. 6-9pm. Free. Jack Downing Park, 140 Main St E. 519-925-2600 x239; shelburne.ca

SEP 8 : CARDINAL WOODS SOCIAL –END OF THE SUMMER PARTY

Community Family Fun Day with bouncy castles, pony rides, petting zoo, vendors, entertainment, celebrity designer, beer garden, food trucks, swag bags for first 100 visitors. 11am-5pm. $10. Mono College Park, Hwy 10 & Hockley Rd, Mono. Facebook:CardinalWoodsSocial

FALL FAIRS

AUG 30 – SEP 1: ORANGEVILLE

FALL FAIR Orangeville Agricultural Centre, 247090 5 Sdrd, Mono. Orangeville Agricultural Society, 519-942-9597; oaseventcentre.ca

SEP 12 – 15: BRAMPTON FALL

FAIR Brampton Fairgrounds, 12942 Heart Lake Rd, Caledon. 905843-0210; bramptonfair.com

SEP 13 – 15: SHELBURNE FALL FAIR

Shelburne & District Fairgrounds, 200 Fiddlepark Lane, Shelburne. facebook.com/shelburnefallfair

SEP 20 – 22: BOLTON FALL FAIR & RODEO Albion & Bolton Fairgrounds, 150 Queen St S, Bolton. boltonfair.ca

SEP 20 – 22: GRAND VALLEY FALL

FAIR Grand Valley Agricultural Society Fairgrounds, 60 Main St N, Grand Valley. 226-979-3724; grandvalleyfallfair.ca

OCT 11 – 14: ERIN FALL FAIR Erin Agricultural Society Fairgrounds, 190 Main St, Erin. erinfair.com

KIDS

NOW – JUN 30 (SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS) : DIY STUDIO TIME –AGES 5+ Discover the new exhibition Stories of Home and create art based on your story. 1-4:30pm. Free. PAMA, 9 Wellington St E, Brampton. 905791-4055; pama.peelregion.ca

JUN 19 & 26 : SOCIAL JUSTICE CLUB – AGES 7 TO 14 Like-minded youth connect by examining experiences, common goals and challenges. Ages 7-10: 4-5pm. Ages 11-14: 5-6pm. 4-6pm.

Free, register. Puslinch Assembly of Bahai’s, Orangeville Library, 1 Mill St. 519-941-0610; orangevillelibrary.ca

JUN 25 : BOOKS & LOOSE PARTS –AGES 2.5 TO 6 Explore the amazing world of loose parts inspired by children’s stories. All children with an adult. 1pm. Orangeville Library, 1 Mill St. 519-9410610 x5230; orangevillelibrary.ca

JUN 26 : MOD-TOTS: SUMMER FUN! AGES 1 TO 4 Enjoy all things summer with tot-friendly crafts and sensory play! 9am-noon. $7. Museum of Dufferin, Airport Rd & Hwy 89, Mulmur. 1-877941-7787; dufferinmuseum.com

JUL 1 : TD SUMMER READING CLUB LAUNCH – AGES 12 & UNDER Register at the Town of Orangeville Canada Day celebrations. Noon-5pm. Alder Street Recreation Centre. Orangeville Library 519-941-0610 x5230; orangevillelibrary.ca

JUL 3 – AUG 21 (WEDNESDAYS) EVERY CHILD READY TO READ STORYTIME FOR BABIES – BIRTH TO 18 MONTHS Drop in for fun, interactive activities with your baby. 1-1:30pm. Orangeville Library, 1 Mill St. 519-9410610 x5230; orangevillelibrary.ca

JUL 5 : TDSRC SUMMER READING KICK-OFF @ YOUR LIBRARY Challenges, events and prizes to keep kids engaged all summer. 10am-5pm. Free. Shelburne Library, 201 Owen Sound St. 519-925-2168; shelburnelibrary.ca

JUL 6 – 28 (SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS) : DIY STUDIO TIME Discover the exhibition Oh My Dog! and enjoy a unique activity. 1-4:30pm. PAMA, 9 Wellington St E, Brampton. 905791-4055; pama.peelregion.ca

JUL 10 : FIRESIDE MUNSCH Live, high-energy performance featuring four of Robert Munsch’s classic stories. 10:30am-noon. Free. Albion Bolton Community Centre, Bolton. 905-8571400 x228; caledon.library.on.ca

JUL 26 – 28 : MEAN GIRLS – HIGH SCHOOL VERSION You can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung. Fri 7:30pm. Sat 2 & 7:30pm. Sun 2pm. Town Hall Opera House, 87 Broadway, Orangeville. 519-9423423; theatreorangeville.ca

AUG 17 : THEATRE ORANGEVILLE SUMMER ARTS FEST – KIDSFEST! Artsploration crafts, storytime with Fay & Fluffy, The Great Steverino’s magic, DuffleBag Theatre’s Peter Pan and the Baby Rave. Early Bird VIP package (by Jun 28). $5; children 2 & under free. 11am-3pm. Mount Alverno Luxury Resorts, 20706 Heart Lake Rd, Caledon. 519-423-3423; theatreorangeville.ca

AUG 20 : RAPTORS: BIRDS OF PREY LIVE DEMONSTRATION Watch free-flying raptors (hawks, eagles, falcons and owls). 3-4:30pm. Free. Caledon Village Place, 18313 Hurontario St, Caledon Village. 905857-1400 x228; caledon.library.on.ca

AUG 23 : TD SRC FINALE PARTY @ YOUR LIBRARY Award winners will be recognized and prizes awarded! Shelburne Library, 201 Owen Sound St. 519-925-2168; shelburnelibrary.ca

AUG 23 – 25 : THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE C.S. Lewis’ classic story of love, faith, courage and giving. Fri 7:30pm. Sat 2 & 7:30pm. Sun 2pm. Town Hall Opera House, 87 Broadway, Orangeville. 519-942-3423; theatreorangeville.ca

OUTDOOR

JUN 13 : GOLF FOR KIDS’ SAKE Registration includes 18 holes, power cart, customized boxed lunch. Prizes, games and a trophy for the top team. 9am-5pm. Shelburne Golf & Country Club, 516423 Cty Rd 124, Melancthon. Big Brothers Big Sisters, 519-9416431; bigbrothersbigsisters.ca

road trip!

JUN 15 : DUFFERIN HI-LAND BRUCE TRAIL CLUB SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION HIKES Choose one or more of our five hikes, including Forest Bathing, iNaturalist and a Geo-hike in picturesque Mono and/or Mulmur. Free, register. Dufferin Hi-Land Bruce Trail Club, dufferinbrucetrailclub.org

JUN 15 : VELOCITY – RIDE YOUR BIKE TO SUPPORT CALEDON SENIORS

Enjoy lunch and nourishing rest stops, prizes, swag, T-shirt and more. Proceeds to local seniors’ programs. 7am-1pm. $25. Caledon East Park, 6101 Old Church Rd, Caledon East. Caledon Community Services, 905-584-2300 x230; ccs4u.org

JUN 21 & 22 : DILL CUP TOURNAMENT

Fun pickleball fundraiser for resurfacing Belfountain tennis courts. Jun 21Mixed event. 6:30-7:30pm: Intro to Pickleball. 7:30-10:30pm: Mixed Doubles Tournament. Jun 22 – Ladies’ Doubles and Men’s Doubles. 1-5pm. All levels welcome. Rain date Jun 23. Register: johnczebe@alumni.utoronto. ca. 593 Bush St. belfountaintennis.ca

JUL 6 : CALEDON PIT RUN Scenic 5k trail run and walk for all ages and experience. Activities include rock truck rides, kids’ bouncy castles, crafts and music by Campfire Poets. Proceeds to Headwaters Hospital Foundation for an MRI machine. 9am-noon. Aecon, Lafarge Canada Caledon Pit, 18000 Willoughby Rd, Caledon. caledonpitrun.ca

JUL 8 & 9 : FRIENDS OF BETHELL HOSPICE GOLF DAYS AT GLEN EAGLE

Book your tee time at gleneaglegolf. com two weeks prior. A portion of each green fee to Bethell Hospice. Tee times, first come/first served. 7am. Glen Eagle Golf Club, 15731 RR #50, Caledon. Bethell Hospice Foundation, 905-8383534; foundation.bethellhospice.org

JUL 13 & 14 : BASS FISHING DERBY AT ISLAND LAKE Big catch prizes available for the top 10 bass. Prizes for other categories. Youth welcome. 7am3pm. Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville. Friends of Island Lake, CVC Foundation, 1-800-668-5557; cvc.ca

JUL 25 : EWCS GOLF TOURNAMENT

Shotgun start at noon. Includes 18 holes of golf, power cart, lunch and dinner. Prizes, silent auction.

Submit your event

To submit your community, arts or nonprofit event:

Select “What’s On” from the menu bar at inthehills.ca.

That will take you to the listings page. Select “Add Your Community Event” and complete the easy form.

Submit by Friday, August 2, 2024 for the autumn (September) issue.

For up-to-date listings between issues, go to inthehills.ca/events.

We reserve the right to edit submissions for print and web. inthehills.ca

See Instagram or Facebook links to register, or email communications@ ew-cs.com. Noon-5:30pm. $150. Guelph Lakes Golf and Country Club, 7879 Wellington Rd, Guelph. EWCS, 519-833-9696; www-ew-cs.com

JUL 27 & 28: ONTARIO CUP #3 (OCUP) PROVINCIAL MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE – PRERIDE DAY Preride the OCUP race course before Sunday’s main event. Buy your daily trail pass at our main office. 8am-5pm. Mansfield Outdoor Centre, 937365 Airport Rd, Mulmur. ontariocycling.org

JUL 28 : ONTARIO CUP #3 (OCUP) PROVINCIAL MOUNTAIN BIKE RACE –RACE DAY Immerse yourself in nature. A top-notch racing experience. 8am5pm. Mansfield Outdoor Centre, 937365 Airport Rd, Mulmur. ontariocycling.org

AUG 3 : CANADIAN ORIENTEERING

CHAMPIONSHIPS Experience the knock-out sprint, sprint and sprintrelay, middle and long distances all in one festival! 9am-3pm. Mansfield Outdoor Centre, 937365 Airport Rd, Mulmur. Canadian Orienteering Festival, cocnaoc2024.ca

AUG 17 : MINII ADVENTURES:

RIDE OUT Educational and inspiring opportunities for mountain bikers of all abilities. Portion of funds to the local trail association/club. 10am-12:30pm. Mansfield Outdoor Centre, 937365 Airport Rd, Mulmur. miniiadventures.com

AUG 24 : EAGER BEAVER RACE

WEEKEND – XC MTB MARATHON

Gravel Race, XC Marathon Race and Enduro Stage Race. 15k, half marathon 30k or full marathon 60k! Food truck, beer, camping and live music. 8am-10pm. $60-$100. Mansfield Outdoor Centre, 937365 Airport Rd, Mulmur. substanceprojects.com

AUG 24 : DAWNA HUNT MEMORIAL SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT Eight teams battle for the championship title. All proceeds to Bethell Hospice Foundation. To donate a raffle prize or become a sign sponsor, contact Shirley at 416-561-4082 or email dawnahuntmemorialtournament@ gmail.com. 8am-8pm. Palgrave Park, 17255 Mt Hope Rd, Palgrave.

AUG 25 : EAGER BEAVER RACE

WEEKEND – GRAVEL RACE

Gravel Race, XC Marathon Race and Enduro Stage Race. 100k and 40k epic lap with lots of variety. Food truck, beer, camping and live music. 8am-5pm. $60-$100. Mansfield Outdoor Centre, 937365 Airport Rd, Mulmur. substanceprojects.com

SEP 2 : ISLAND LAKE CLASSIC Lovely 5k and 10k starts and ends in picturesque Island Lake Conservation

Area. Groomed trails and numerous bridge crossings highlight the natural elements of this park. Admission free for participants and volunteers. 8am. Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville. Gotta Run Racing, raceroster.com

SEP 14 : HONEY GARLIC FESTIVAL Farm tours, vendors, food and more. 11am-3pm. Free. 16555 Humber Station Rd, Caledon. albionhillscommunityfarm.org

MUSIC

JUL 12 : THE ROSEBOWL A hip-hop and R&B festival featuring Brampton’s very own emerging artists. Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Ln, Brampton. 905-874-2800; rosetheatre.ca

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE AT GARDEN

SQUARE Free concerts all summer. All performances at 7pm unless noted. Garden Square, 12 Main St, Brampton. Brampton On Stage, 905874-2800; tickets.brampton.ca

JUL 19 : EAST COAST KITCHEN PARTY

Featuring performances by Screeched Inn and the Mainland Kitchen Band.

AUG 16 : STOMP ‘N STAMPEDE Enjoy

DJ Johnny Rivex spinning live the sweet sounds of headliner Kalsey Kulyk and opener Aaron Allen, and line-dancing lessons from Double Trouble!

AUG 30 : THE POETS: A TRAGICALLY

HIP TRIBUTE With a shared passion for The Hip’s music, The Poets bring the energy to every stage! In partnership with The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund.

AUG 31 : CLASSIC ROCK ROYALTY

An electrifying tribute to classic rock legends!

JUN 14 – 16, 21 & 22 : WE WILL ROCK

YOU A fist-pumping, foot-stomping anthem to individuality with songs from Queen. Fri 8pm. Sat Sun 2pm. Jun 15: 2 & 8pm. Town Hall Opera House, 87 Broadway, Orangeville. 519-9423423; orangevillemusictheatre.com

JUN 15 : HOTEL CALIFORNIA Original Eagles tribute band. Father’s day BBQ. 4-8pm. Tickets online. Erin Hill Acres, 5837 3rd Ln, Hillsburgh. facebook.com

Two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour

Longlisted for the Leacock Medal in 2021 and 2022

biochemist and

www.visitcaledon.ca

JUN 15 : CLASSICALLY COMPOSED! Celebrating the classics of Mozart’s Requiem and others with the Brampton Festival Singers and Great Lakes Philharmonic. $30, from members, at door or online via Eventbrite. 1:30-3pm. North Bramalea United Church, 363 Howden Blvd, Brampton. Brampton Festival Singers, 905846-0701; bfschoir.wix.com

JUN 22 : SUMMER SOLSTICE MUSIC FESTIVAL Ten bands, local food and refreshments. Bring your own drinks, food, anything you need. Parking free with festival ticket. Camping passes for Saturday night $5. Proceeds to the Good Food Project, EWCS, Erin Common Ground. McKinnon’s Timbermart, EWCS, Orangeville Food Bank, GoodLot Farm & Farmstead Brewing Company, Erin Common Ground. Noon-11:30pm. 5812 Sixth Ln, Erin. 519-993-0929; everdale.org

JUN 23 : CALEDON CONCERT BAND: ASIAN INSPIRATIONS Music from the anime, video game and folk music genres. 2-5pm. $20; students/seniors $15. Caledon Hills Fellowship Baptist Church, 16595 Airport Rd, Caledon East. 905-951-7979; caledonconcertband.ca

JUN 25 – 27 : LEISA WAY’S OPRY GOLD: HITS OF THE KINGS & QUEENS OF COUNTRY A roof-raisin’ salute to the greatest music in the history of country music. Tue Thu 7:30. Wed 2 & 7:30pm. Town Hall Opera House, 87 Broadway, Orangeville. 519-942-3423; theatreorangeville.ca

JUL 6 : ORANGEVILLE FIDDLE & STEPDANCE CONTEST Entertaining performances for all ages. Tickets at the door, contestant registration now open on website. 10am-5pm. Westminster United Church, 247 Broadway, Orangeville. ovillecontest.weebly.com

JUL 13 : EVERGOOD BLUEGRASS SHINDIG Amazing musicians, local beverages and food offerings. Come for the day or pitch a tent. No dogs. $75; 12 & under free. Day of show: Online and at gate $10. Camping fee per person. 3-11pm. 5812 Sixth Ln, Erin. 519-855-4859; everdale.org, GoodLot Farm and Farmstead Brewing Co, 519-927-5881; goodlot.beer

JUL 20 : SHANIA TWIN – ALL AGES

Donna Huber brings Shania to the stage. 2:30 & 6pm. Tickets online. Erin Hill Acres, 5837 3rd Ln, Hillsburgh. facebook.com

AUG 2 : COLOURS OF CARNIVAL

We’re warming things up with a musical combination of soca, dancehall, calypso. 7pm. Rose Theatre, 1 Theatre Ln, Brampton. 905-874-2800; rosetheatre.ca

AUG 4 - 18 : CALEDON MUSIC FESTI -

VAL Hear some of Canada’s top classical musicians playing in intimate settings around Caledon. Performers include Emily Vondrejsova, Douglas Kwon, Sarah Kim, Ryan Davis, Songhee Lee, Catherine Gray and Daniel Hamin Go. 647-892-8251; caledonmusicfestival.ca

AUG 10 : ELVIS IN CONCERT

WITH SPENCER BRISTOW Bring your “Blue Suede Shoes” and be ready to get “All Shook Up” with the music of these rock ‘n roll favourites. 1:30-3:30pm. $20. Orangeville and District Seniors’ Centre, 26 Bythia St. orangevilleseniorscentre.com

THEATRE & FILM

JUN 14 – 16, 21 – 23 : SEQUENCE By Canadian playwright Arun Lakra. Mindblowing, award-winning, edge-of-yourseat science thriller. Fri Sat 8:15pm. Sun 2:15pm. Tickets online or at door, cash concession. Blackhorse Village Players, 17272 Mt Wolfe Rd & Hwy 9, Caledon. 905-880-5002; blackhorsetheatre.ca

JUL 18 – AUG 3 (THURSDAYS TO SATURDAYS) : BRAMPTON’S OWN SHAKESPEARE SHOW: TAMING OF THE SHREW Grab a chair, blanket, pack a picnic and enjoy this comedic battle of the sexes. Jul 18, 25 & Aug 1: Chinguacousy Park, 9050 Bramalea Rd. Jul 19, 26 & Aug 2: Mount Pleasant Square, Sideford Rd. Jul 20, 27 & Aug 3: Ken Whillans Square, 41 Main St. 7:30pm. Pay what you can. Brampton On Stage, 905-874-2800; tickets.brampton.ca

AUG 9 & 10 : DUFFERIN FILM

FESTIVAL Curated Canadian films, educational opportunities, industry forums and networking events. Town Hall Opera House, 87 Broadway, Orangeville. dufferinfilmfest.com

MARKETPLACE

MARKETPLACE

100 Coldwell Banker Select Realty

Verona Teskey

114 Cornerstone Realty Brokerage

Jason Haist

93 Cornerstone Realty Brokerage

Nancy Urekar

112 Exit Realty Hare (Peel), Brokerage

Stephen Dignum, Eugene Dignum

26 Exp Realty Brokerage

Gary Mackin, Sonya Mackin

109 Moffat Dunlap Real Estate

Moffat Dunlap, John Dunlap, Nik Bonellos, Elizabeth Campbell, Courtney Murgatroyd, Sean Wynn, Mark Campbell, David Warren

115 ReMax In The Hills

Chris Richie, Karen Caulfield, Carmela Gagliese-Scoles, Sean Anderson, Dale Poremba, Jennifer Unger

107 ReMax Real Estate Centre

Ann Shanahan, Brandie

Kirk, Betty Hunziker

19 ReMax Real Estate Centre

Jay Horner

103 ReMax Realty Specialists Inc.

Sigrid Doherty

23 ReMax Realty Specialists Inc.

Maria Britto

114 Royal LePage Credit Valley

Rita Lange

110 Royal LePage Meadowtowne Realty

Denise Dilbey

115 Royal LePage Meadowtowne Realty

Paul Richardson

58 Royal LePage RCR Realty

Doug & Chris Schild

108 Royal LePage RCR Realty

Doug & Chris Schild

110 Royal LePage RCR Realty

Matt Lindsay 107 Royal LePage RCR Realty

Roger Irwin, Dawn Bennett 84 Royal LePage RCR Realty

Suzanne Lawrence

113 Royal LePage RCR Realty

Suzanne Lawrence

114 Royal LePage RCR Realty

Victoria Phillips & Janna Imrie

37 Royal Le Page RCR Realty

Wayne Baguley

113 Royal Le Page RCR Realty

Wayne Baguley

114 Sutton-Headwaters Realty

Dillon Holden

112 Sutton-Headwaters Realty

Jim Wallace SCHOOLS &

7 Brampton Christian School

JOLTING ALONG THE GRAVEL ROAD

When this photo was snapped at Ospringe in about 1908, stagecoaches were already becoming relics of the past. Though motorized vehicles hadn’t yet completely taken over the roads of Headwaters, this was soon to change.

The change was almost certainly welcomed by the passengers who endured being bounced about and covered in dust during the 4½ hours it took the Guelph-Erin stagecoach to negotiate the 30 kilometres or so from Erin village to Guelph along the “Gravel Road,” as the Erin section of Wellington Road 124 was known at the time.

Fortunately, stops along the way, such as the one at the Anglo-American hotel in Ospringe, shown in the photo, gave passengers a chance to nurse their bruises and stretch their legs while mail and goods were loaded and unloaded. The stops also provided a break for the

hardworking horses, who could enjoy a cool drink of water from the trough in front of the hotel.

Despite its flaws, the Gravel Road was considered an improvement over the previous version of the route to Guelph. Labelling that earlier road “villainous,” one account said that it consisted of “almost impassable hills, a long piece of corduroy crossing several cedar swamps, and two or three extensive tamarack swamps.”

The growing popularity of automobiles spelled the end of stagecoaches and the decline of many businesses that had supported them: livery stables, feed suppliers and so on. But the Gravel Road remained just that until the early 1950s, when it was finally paved — and the name gradually fell out of use.

— DYANNE RIVERS