{savour} SUMMER 2017
Just down the Road & around the bend in Beautiful Southwestern Ontario.
top-notch Attractions, Art, entertainment, FOOD, DRINK, history and Outdoor Adventures. All Closer to home THAN YOU THINK!
Live it for a day... Live it for a lifetime!
Your FREE Guide to Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk, Brantford, NEW CREDIT, six nations of the grand river + wet and wild getaways / An Irish inspired 1920’s castle / Rethinking Rural and Fresh Air Farming / Noteworthy festivals / Legends of yesterday and today.
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The perfecT pairing of STyle, relaxaTion, local flavour & aTTainabiliTy
Whether you’ve come for a day of relaxation at our spa, to dine at our beautiful lake front restaurant that specializes in local cuisine or to golf on our expansive greens you’ll know you’ve come home! We’ve created an inviting playground for the young at heart and you are all welcome to join in.
davidsportdover.com // golfatdovercoast.ca // elementsdayspa.ca 2 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
What’s inside
COVER PHOTO COURTESY Ontario Tourism, CONTENTS PHOTO BY Nancy Domsic Kings - olliandella.com
Live Small Town / SUMMER 2017
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Small Town Change Makers Meet some of the people, places and businesses making a difference in your community and learn how you can help.
Fresh Air Farmer Dairy farmer Andrew Campbell has become a social media sensation by giving Canadians a glimpse into the people and places that grow their food.
The Shore Make the most of your summer and keep cool by travelling the shore of the beautiful Grand River and the expansive coast of Lake Erie.
Small Town Sunday Jay Perry’s Ultimate Insider’s Guide that highlights what to eat, buy, explore and indulge in around Norfolk County.
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 3
What’s inside
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Team Magic Every dream begins with a plan, and our summer magazine would like to introduce you to the team of talented folks who helped to make Live Small Town possible.
Deep Roots We help bring local history back to life, and tell you where to look for heritage, knowledge and wonderment in your community. Let’s get out and explore!
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Food for Thought Whether you’ve got a sweet tooth, a rich palette, or simply enjoy a night out on the town or quiet afternoon to relax, we’ve got the place for you.
Arts & Culture From world-class artists and live theatre to intimate concerts, get introduced to local talent and discover the best places to soak up and enjoy the culture.
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Earth to Table We roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty, bringing you new farming techniques, local heroes, and creative food/drink options in these entertaining and delicious pages.
Nature Calls When the weather is nice and your agenda is open, there’s nothing like exploring the great outdoors and we want to get you pointed in the right direction.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY Nancy Domsic Kings - olliandella.com
Live Small Town / SUMMER 2017
ADVE RTI S I N G F EATU R E
Adventure Awaits!
They say if you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life. Now, Fanshawe College can help turn your love of the outdoors into the career you’ve always wanted. Adventure Expeditions & Interpretive Leadership is an accelerated co-op diploma program combining academic courses and field expeditions. Offered exclusively at Fanshawe College’s Simcoe/Norfolk Regional Campus, this exciting program will prepare students to be leaders in the growing fields of eco and adventure tourism and interpretive guiding. This program provides the training, practical skills and eco-tourism industry experience to prepare graduates for work locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally. This unique program embodies 3 equally important goals – developing world-class naturalists; training skilled adventure/outdoor leaders; and preparing talented and savvy business people. Students graduate with a passion for sharing with others the wonder and beauty of nature. Students develop knowledge and skills in a variety of areas including: marketing, business, communication strategies and media, ecological practices and principles, ethical engagement of wildlife photography, flora and fauna, geology, group assistance and guiding, environmental interpretation and education, professional ethics, management of national and heritage of natural areas, interpretive techniques and wilderness first aid. Nestled in the heart of Norfolk County, it is offered in a unique and beautiful environmental area, right in our own backyards. Through this program, our students have the rare and amazing opportunity to learn about this renowned conservation region. Students will also experience 3 Adventure
Expeditions (The North Shore, Winter Camping Techniques, and Canoeing and Kayaking) and a 4-month co-op work term in addition to their classroom studies. They also now have the opportunity to earn 16 industry certifications upon graduation, ensuring they have the skills and qualifications to be successful in a variety of relevant disciplines. The Program Co-Coordinator, Robin Tapley, has been called “Father Nature” a nickname that he’s earned through years of interacting with the natural world on an increasingly profound level. Driven by curiosity, a passion for adventure and enough energy for ten, Robin seeks to explore the diversity of the natural world to create unique ways to share this with others. He has led expeditions around the world including Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands, and Mount Everest. Robin has worked to meld his experiences with the many opportunities for adventure found right in our backyard. Are you interested in becoming a student of this incredible program? Come by to tour the campus, or call us today to talk about any questions you might have, and start your adventure, right here in Norfolk County! Let us help to turn your passions into the perfect career, and you’ll never work a day in your life.
634 Ireland Road, Simcoe, ON 519-426-8260 fanshawec.ca/simcoe Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 5
You’re more than a policyholder. SUMMER 2017 VOL. 1 NO. 2 Art Director Kate Sharrow ILLUSTRATOR Louise Jessup PhotographERS
Georgia Atkinson, Nancy Domsic Kings, Marc Douglas, David Hou, Nancy Howden-Cowell, David Moses, Jay Perry, Tiffany I. Smith, Erika Strada Writers
Michael Barber, Debb Davies, Carol Goar, Lisa Haldane, Kerri Kelly-Parkinson, Andrea Legacey, Jace Martin, Kerstein Mallon, Joanne McDonald, Adrianna Michell, Shana Narciso, Emmalee Nother, Holly.O., Jay Perry, Phil Poss, Karen Richardson, Melissa Schooley, Kate Sharrow, Catherine Stidsen, Erika Strada, Jennifer Villamere, Kerry Walford, Tim Zwart
SOCIAL MEDIA
HOME
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Georgia Atkinson, Nancy Howden-Cowell, Patricia Howden, Kerri Kelly-Parkinson, Kate Sharrow, Erica Strada Small town Gal/Owner/ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Kerri Kelly-Parkinson kerri@livesmalltownmag.ca Small town Gal/Owner/ PUBLISHER Kate Sharrow kate@livesmalltownmag.ca
1400 Northumberland Street, Ayr 519-632-7413 or 1-800-265-8792
ayrmutual.com
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Live Small Town Magazine is printed four times a year and distributed throughout Southern Ontario within various tourist associations, related services, retail locations and home distribution. Copyright 2017 Live Small Town Magazine. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. Opinions and comments reflect those of the writers and are not necessarily those of the editorial and staff. At the time of publication, we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible. Please feel free to contact us with any concerns or corrections you may have.
Your local experienced builder of quality homes. Innovative designs. Neighbourhoods of distinction. pinevesthomes.com
Please let us share our restaurant with it’s unique coastal cuisine and tropical trend in one of Ontario’s best small towns, Port Dover. 2 Walker St. Port Dover 519-583-0880
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 7
Team Magic
We sure have been busy these last few months exploring!
Authentic people, engaging stories and a sense of community and fellowship are what make small towns what they are, so it should come as no surprise that these are the pillars upon which the Live Small Town concept are built. We’ve started our own “town” within these very pages, and we’d love to introduce ourselves and invite you inside! 8 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
KERRI KELLY-PARKINSON
livesmalltownmag.ca Shout outs galore! A big thank you to all the people that support us and have helped in making this magazine a reality. Your positive response to Live Small Town Magazine is overwhelming and I love that you are reaching out to tell us that you love Live! Another shout out to my brilliantly talented business partner Kate. Your artistic dedication has helped our magazine come alive! Thanks for being you and helping make my days, working on our mag, more exhilarating! I wish laughter and love to all of you and please keep reading, enjoying and sharing Live!
J.C. VILLAMERE
villamere.com Besides shining a light on folks doing pretty amazing, change the world stuff in this mag, I also write for ET Canada, Villamere: The Lowbrow Magazine of High-End CanLit and I’ve just released a book: Is Canada Even Real? How a Nation Built on Hobos, Beavers, Weirdos, and Hip-Hop Convinced the World to Beliebe.
MARC DOUGLAS
marcdouglas.ca I wouldn’t change a thing about growing up in the small town of Paris where I discovered a love for photography. My goal is to show the beauty, strength and enthusiasm of my subjects. As a husband and father of two children, I am a proud supporter of all things involving childhood cancer. Emmalee Nother
I’m a local lady with a love for all things country, hockey and small town. Born and raised in beautiful Haldimand County, my passion for where I grew up runs deep. My adventures have taken me from coast to coast in the entertainment biz but I always return home to my rescue dog, Duke and my cats on the farm.
KATE SHARROW
livesmalltownmag.ca I can’t say I was surprised of the response we got from our first issue of Live Small Town Magazine. I might be exaggerating, but only by a smidge, when I say that delivering the magazine was akin to being swarmed by the paparazzi. I am sure it helped that our mums were incesently stopping traffic to boast but I also feel that our positive response was because we are not alone in our desire to connect, support and be supported in community. So together let’s rally the hood, come out and introduce ourselves, share our insights and shine a light on all of our fellow changemakers.
NANCY DOMSIC KINGS
olliandella.com I was born with a wild imagination. My mother was naturally creative, so I grew up painting, planting, sewing, baking and creating. The second I picked up my first camera I became obsessed with capturing the small wonders around me. To date, my permanent creative status allows me to be an art director by trade, photographer by fate and remain imaginative by nature. I spend most days in the middle of a creative mess or treading lightly while adventuring with my husband, two funny kids and our little westie pup at our side.
NANCY HOWDEN-COWELL
I live in a beautiful small village on the shores of Lake Erie and am surrounded by family, friends, art, local beauty, goodness and of course my sweet dog Mia. I will explore all the hidden gems that our lovely wee towns offer and share those experiences with you on social media and in the pages of Live Small Town Magazine.
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 9
SHANA NARCISO
Be FearLeSS B e B r av e Be BoLD Love yoUrSeLF!
realfoodmkt.ca I am a sustainable food advocate, small food business owner, mum to a brood of children and a partner to a local organic farmer. Food is part of everything I do. I believe that the foundation of a healthy community is the quality of the food we eat and how it gets to our plate. Adrianna Michell
The summers spent on my grandparent’s farm taught me about the importance of maintaining rural economies and supporting local farmers, businesses, and creators. Now as a university student living in a city, I still am connected to these values through my art, scholarship, veganism, and environmentalism. I know that as I grow I should always remember where I was planted. Jay Perry
jayperry.ca Over the last five years, besides working as a photographer being heavily involved in growing my charity, Friends With Heart, I have been spending my Sundays travelling to small pockets of Ontario and documenting my day trips online. Whether it be stories of unique individuals, #delicious #food, or #historic #landmarks, I’ve been detailing every event through photo, video and words. Look for this regular feature in Live Small Town Mag but also please like us on our Facebookpage as well follow my adventures on Instragram. I have some exciting ideas coming up and I can’t wait to show everyone the beauty that resides in our small towns.
339a Main St, Port Dover 519-583-0015 1014 Bay St, Port rowan 519-586-8577
Discover a wonderful selection of antiques & collectibles located in C-Squared Menswear
Fashions, accessories, home décor, gifts, food & more. Smart casual, great quality... something for everyone. Open year-round with new items arriving daily. 334 Main St. Port Dover 519-583-9493
334 Main St. Port Dover 519-583-9493
1021 Bay St. Port rowan 519-586-8181
1021 Bay St. Port rowan 519-586-8181
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Erika Strada
Writing and photography has been a hobby that I have enjoyed for years. It is a tool I use to understand the past, connect with my community and explore my creative curiosities. Unlike my name sake, I do not live a star studded life, ridging around on a hog in tight pants as a crime fighting, super cop. I am a small town gal, living a simple life stopping often to smell the flowers.
Tim Zwart
timjzwart.com I embrace being a round peg in a square hole. A walking contradiction, I am a single dad of two small children, an American void of ignorance, love poutine but not maple syrup, and love sports but not hockey. A publishing veteran, magazine editor and author. My first book, Reload, is available on Amazon. Kerstein Mallon
Growing up, in the land of fairies and leprechauns; twixt twilight and morning dew, I learned there’s more to life, than meets the eye. Exploring ancient ruins, offered an understanding of the past, present and future and how they intertwine. Now living in Ontario’s Garden, enables me to meet wonderful people and visit truly remarkable places. It’s my absolute pleasure to be able to share these unique stories with you. Louise Jessup
etsy.com/shop/AllOverTheMapStudios I am a small town, artist gal based in Kitchener and I love the life we have “crafted”. When I am not creating, I am running madly after my four boys... sons William and Clark and a Portuguese Water Dog named Winston and of course my wonderful husband. Patricia HOWDEN
After running away with the carnival for several years, I returned to Norfolk County to my beautiful piece of paradise in Port Ryerse. Thankfully surrounded by my family, friends and my puppy Ekko. One of the many things I enjoy is discovering the talented artist, crafters and traditions of the Six Nations people then sharing it with the followers of Live Small Town Magazine. If you have ideas for the mag or would like to join our team, please feel free to reach out. Kerri and I running madly in all directions, soliciting help from friends, family and strangers on the street... we need all the help we can get! kate@livesmalltownmag.ca. Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 11
LET’S GET SOCIAL!!! With over 6350+ followers on twitter and 1100+ on Facebook, there was no shortage of praise for our first issue of Live Small Town Magazine. Here are just a few of our Faves! @WhamMuseum @LiveSmallTown looking forward to a beautiful digital friendship! @aTigercubby Best of luck! What you are doing is fabulous and necessary. Blessings... @Contact_Brant Excited for the first issue of your magazine to come out in May! We love the concept of featuring Brant, Haldimand & Norfolk. @Dustyzam Honoured to be a part of the flagship edition of @LiveSmallTown Magazine! #EZGrowFarms @HTBCbeer #welcomehome @investnorfolk @Contact_Brant Congrats on your first edition @LiveSmallTown Magazine! It’s great to see some of the things #Brant #Haldimand #Norfolk have to offer. @scorregion Fantastic! @LiveSmallTown @brantourism @HaldimandCounty @NorfolkTour @mattyboy5150 Thanks so much for your support regarding this important cause! @DaireeDelite Delited to be included! @AndysDriveIn Where can we get a copy of your magazine. We are absolutely thrilled to be included @LakeErieLady @LiveSmallTown such a fantastic magazine! Great premise and I am thrilled to help you promote it. #SMALLTOWN #ontariosmalltown @EriAderso Great reads in @LiveSmallTown #norfolk #famous Hilarious & Inspirational read about Dusty & EZ Grow @HTBCbeer & Beauty pic @CarrieWoolley1 @jayperry Look for my full write up in the first issue of @LiveSmallTown Magazine hitting shelves next month! #smalltownsundays @parislectures @LiveSmallTown It looks great, congrats!!! @marcdouglasfoto Pretty excited to get my copy of @LiveSmallTown Magazine!! So happy to be a part of 5 pages! @NorfolkBeer Watch for the next edition of @LiveSmallTown Magazine. It’s a super cool publication highlighting rural areas & all they have to offer @thesecondmouse_ Visit from @LiveSmallTown Magazine this morning seriously does it get any better than that woo hoo #norfolk #Delhipride #supportlocal 12 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
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1 Paris Ontario artist Holly Ounapuu hollyo.ca 2 Julie Marchese, restaurant owner at Julia’s Bistro & Catering in Dunnville juliasbistroandcatering.com 3 Custom jewellery and handbags designer, Sam Simmons, based in Port Dover LokaStudio.etsy.com 4 The lovely Georgia and Priscilla roving around and digging for small town stories with Nancy 5 Charlie and Hazel enjoy a great read at Live Right Pet Supplies in Simcoe 6 Alesha Smith and Jeremy De Koning of Hank De Koning in Port Dover! 7 Graham Ferguson is the owner and captain at Long Point Island Hugger Tours and an avid reader of Live Small Town Mag. Be sure to reach out for a tour of Lake Erie 519-718-9608 8 Why did Louise the chicken cross the road? To check out our delivery of mags to Whistling Gardens whistlinggardens.ca 9 Artist, manager and owner of Noisemaker, Tim Des Islets noisemakermanagement.com with Brant Tourism’s Russell Press brant.ca 10 The diligent and talented Nikki Campbell Schram artwithheartstudio.ca
Kindness and caring is contagious!... It is the “bug” we should all hope to catch. I am a huge believer in paying it forward... hence my desire to showcase all of these “earth angels” and shine a light on the meaningful ways they help the people in our small town communities. Talk about it, get excited about it and most of all act on it! I will be showcasing acts of kindness in each issue of Live Small Town Magazine. If you have a special story, person or place that you would like me to showcase please reach out. Wishing you all smiles, happiness and love. Kerri
Community Addiction and Mental Health Services Townsend & Simcoe camhs.ca Live Small Town Magazine is proud to showcase this important organization! So many in our communities struggle alone but with help from others and the awareness of life saving programs like CAMHS, a non-profit, health care agency based in Haldimand and Norfolk, that offer mental health and addiction services while supporting wellness and recovery, everyone can have a fighting chance of a full and happy life!
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Change Makers, Having an Impact in a Community Near You! Sometimes it’s the little day-to-day things that go unrecognized in our lives which end up having the biggest impact BY Kerri Kelly-Parkinson
kerri@livesmalltownmag.ca
So Kool Tattoo’s – Jacqueline Sokol Paris sokooltattoos.com Funky, cool and trendy! As well as being a talented tattoo artist, Jacqueline Sokol specializes in tattooing nipples on women who have survived breast cancer, matching skin tones, mirroring existing nipples or creating two new three dimensional tattoos working with scars left behind. Jacqueline is truly honoured to be a part of their survival journey and we thank her for her heart warming acts of kindness.! 14 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Ralphy’s Retreat Animal Sanctuary St Williams ralphysretreat.ca I never thought I would say this but I am in love with a pig! A Pot Bellied pig that is! Ralphy’s Retreat is a sanctuary for these adorable little (or sometimes large) animals. Founded in 2004 this nonfor-profit animal sanctuary has been refuge for a wide variety of animals including horses, donkeys and ponies. In 2010 Ralphy’s accepted it’s first Pot Bellied pig and so it began. This sanctuary is dedicated to educating families, school children, summer camps, and community groups about animal care and compassion, keeping the belief that children who learn to be compassionate will grow up to be compassionate adults. Animals are also non-judgemental and provide the perfect environment for us to be ourselves. Hugs to all the four legged friends that my family and I bonded with at the sanctuary!
Documentary Lifestyle Photography
inspired by a wild imagination and documenting the intricacies that define daily life; celebrating the in-betweens, knowing that every moment counts Limited availability for Documentary Lifestyle Photo Sessions in 2017. Email info@olliandella.com to book your session today! olliandella.com Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 15
Home Grown
Behind every good person, there has usually been some good food. At Live Small Town, we’d like to celebrate both: highlighting the best local foods and recipes around, while introducing you to the creative and talented people who make them possible. From innovative techniques and ingredients to updated twists on some of our old favorites, this is your one-stop-shop for everything food, family, and fellowship related. After all, every food journey starts with a single bite!
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY Nancy Domsic Kings - olliandella.com
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Juniper Dining Co.
Debb’s Cuisine
211 Main
Paris juniperdiningco.ca Andrea Legacey Nestled in the heart of awe-inspiring Paris Ontario, Juniper is a French Lyonnaise inspired bistro whose goal is to bring us the fusion of modern dining, locally sourced, quality ingredients and marry it with a casual undercurrent that leaves guests wishing that they never had to leave and they have most certainly accomplished their goal!
Dunnville debbs.ca Debb Davies Exposed brick walls, hardwood floors, and a rustic chic atmosphere are host to this joints amazing food. The smell alone leaves you reeling!
Port Dover 211mainportdover.com Lisa Haldane Welcome to 211 Main! A gastropub that focuses on classic favourites with unique twists. They have an extensive wine and cocktail menu as well as live musical entertainment every Saturday night and a three tier outdoor patio that features a great view.
Gin Frescas 5 sprigs of cilantro 1 ounce of lime juice 2 ounces of Gin 1/2 ounce of simple syrup 2 dashes of the hot sauce of your choice. We prefer Frank’s RedHot sauce. Shake all of the above ingredients on ice then finely strain and serve. We present ours in a rocks glass with a king cube. Garnish with cilantro.
Bourbon Street Caesar It is pretty simple. Rim the glass with a lime and dip it into equal parts Cajun spice and Celery Salt. Fill the glass with ice, a dash of Tabasco and a dash of Worcestershire Sauce and 1.5 ounce of your favourite bourbon. Add Clamato juice then garnish with all the fixings. 2 jumbo shrimp sautéed and dusted with Cajun spice, jalapeño stuffed with cheese, 3 pieces of Cajun dusted pork rinds, 2 extreme beans and spicy banderilla (a hot pepper and pickled onion gherkins) and finish with a celery stalk, a lemon and a lime slice.
Rhubarb Mojito To make syrup cook 4 cups of chopped rhubarb Zest of two limes 2 cups of sugar 2 cups of water Bring to a boil stirring occasionally for half hour Let cool and strain Shake an ounce of white rum with an ounce of rhubarb syrup, 3 basil leaves and 3 mint leaves. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice and soda water. Garnish with a lime and mint leaves.
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 17
The Spirit of the Fire Traditional Native foods like Navajo tacos, corn soup, wild rice with berries and traditional strawberry juice are just some of the must try First Nations cuisine available to nosh on during the Three Fires Homecoming Pow Wow
Gettin’ all hopped up!
What began as a small group of local beer-lovers at Port Dover’s Crepe House has now brewed into a party in the park honouring local beer, cider and wine. Beerstock is Norfolk County’s yearly celebration of brewing. Now in its third year, the event showcases the many outstanding breweries in the area. Some of the companies on tap will be Hometown Brew Co. from Langton and Simcoe’s Charlotteville Brewing Company, along with Beau’s All Natural and Collective Arts. While you’re there, grab some grub from the local food vendors who will be serving a beer-inspired menu. Then head over to the gazebo to groove to live music from a number of great bands. Tickets are available for $25 at eventbrite.ca or from The Crepe House. Get your tickets early, as they will be $35 at the door. Beerstock also has limited VIP packages with a number of exclusives like Ride the Bine, a guided tour of some of the area’s best wineries and breweries. What makes this event even more of a feel-good affair? All proceeds go to a local charity. Now that’s something to cheers over! EN 18 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
BY Emmalee Nother An annual tradition for over thirty years, the Three Fires Homecoming Pow Wow is a cultural gathering celebrating the rich and beautiful heritage of the Anishinabe people. This year, the Pow Wow is honouring 170 years since their ancestors embarked on their journey, mostly by foot, from the shores of the Credit River in Mississauga to their home today in New Credit. The first Three Fires Homecoming Pow Wow started with only a few dancers on a sandy baseball diamond. Today the Pow Wow takes place in a lush, sacred grove with over 250 dancers, 20 drums and attracting over 3,000 visitors. Pow Wows are a social gathering for First Nations people to share their unique customs and cultural identity through the heartbeat of the drum, song and way of life. For the Mississaugas, the Three Fires are symbolic of the traditional and political alliance with the other Ojibway, Odawa, and Potowatomi Nations. With the introduction of an entertainment night showcasing local New Credit talent and a variety of traditional vendors including handmade, authentic First Nations crafts and foods, the Three Fires Pow Wow is a not-to-be-missed showcase of the brilliant culture of First Nations people.
Our Compliments From Vintage Wines to Microbreweries and unique IPAs and Lagers, let us lend a hand with suggestions to accompany your meal or gathering
Burning Kiln Winery St Williams burningkilnwinery.ca Rich in heritage and situated in one of the most striking areas of Norfolk County, Burning Kiln Winery was uniquely built upon a repurposed tobacco farm. Honouring the historic charm of years gone by, they offer a wide range of wines including red, white, rosé and sparkling.
POW WOW PHOTOgraphy BY David Moses
CanaDIAN EH!!!! Brantford-born Ian Milmine is making a saucy edition to the local BBQ scene. It started when Milmine’s wife was pregnant and her taste buds changed. No longer liking the taste of the sauce she used to love, Ian decided to make a few tweaks to his third generation family BBQ sauce. Soon after, friends and family started asking him if he could bottle the sauce for them. Just like that, a business was born. Looking to return to his roots, Ian and his family moved to Simcoe. Generations of his family have worked in various areas of the food industry in Norfolk County and it just felt right to start his culinary journey where it all started. His sauce now comes in four finger-licking flavours, each with a distinctly Canadian flair. Alongside the original recipe, there’s Angry Beaver; a medium heat level blend, Raging Moose – a classic hot flavour and Jack Frost – a suicide hot you’ll be sure to remember. A number of dry rubs and a few new sauce additions are also in the works. Looking towards the future, he hopes the success of his sauces will allow him to give back something more than just tickled taste buds. One day he hopes his kids will continue his legacy to help promote small town startups and their products. EN canadiangradeeh.ca
“The residents in Norfolk support local businesses more than most larger cities. Local residents have a passion to grow their economy. I knew if they liked my Canadian Grade EH BBQ sauce, they would support me as well.” Ian Milmine
Bains Road Cider Company Dunnville bainsroadcider.ca There’s something brewing in Haldimand County! Bains Road Cider Company is the county’s first and only licensed winery and cider producer. Specializing in heritage apples that they use on their brews, they also carry a unique selection of alcoholic gems like their Pumpkin Pie Liquor and Apple Cider Ice wine.
Mash Paddle Brewing Company Brantford mashpaddlebrewing.com This brewery has certainly made a splash in the craft brewery scene. Their focus on local, natural ingredients has created some of best beers this side of the Grand River. Created in small batches, their brews come with cheeky names like “New Girlfriend Tangerine IPA” and “Citranatti Bengals”. EN
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 19
Breakfast Hot Spots
Looking for a breakfast or brunch spot? We have a bazillion places to suit every taste and budget and here are just a few delicious options BY erikA strada
What’s the diff between brown and white eggs? The difference between brown and white eggs is the hen! It may seem a bit obvious, but simply put, brown eggs come from brown hens and white eggs come from white hens. Nutritionally and taste wise, brown eggs are exactly the same as white eggs, so it’s really a matter of personal choice which eggs you choose.
WINDMILL County Market & Restaurant Burger Barn Knowles Restaurant
Dunnville For 65 years, this charming and old-fashioned diner has been filling bellies on the cheap side in a delicious kind of way! If you are a late riser, enjoy a variety of lunch choices and homemade desserts along side one of their old-fashioned milkshakes.
Ohsweken burgerbarn.ca There is a lot more to this place than just burgers! A menu that features everything from Rib Eye Dinner to Spaghetti and Meatballs and somewhere in between is one of the best breakfasts around! What else could you ask for when the food is generous and the java is brewing hot!
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Mount Pleasant thewindmill.ca This cozy place is a bit of a madhouse due to their market’s bounty, but no one seems to mind as they know everything on the menu is fresh and homemade. Don’t forget to visit the market after breakfast for sweet treats, deli meats or for their amazing mix of locally produced and imported unique products.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Nancy Domsic Kings - olliandella.com
The Crepe House
Port Dover crepehouse.ca Indecisive types might have difficulty at this Dover hot spot. The menu is extensive, and so are the portions. From sweet or savoury crepes to gravity defying Griddle Cakes. Big believers in sourcing food locally, you will be spoilt for choice with products from Southern Pride Poultry, Berry Tyme, Jensen Cheese, Hewitts Dairy, Hank Dekoning Meats, Townsend Butcher, Matz Fruit Barn, Kool Man Ice, among others!
Culinary Arts NORFOLK COUNTY Normandale The Normandale Century Inn and Restaurant
2326 Front Rd, normandaleinn.com Stay for few nights or for a single meal and enjoy their licensed outdoor patio featuring delicious country cuisine. PORT DOVER David’s Restaurant
168 New Lake Shore Rd, davidsportdover.com This refined Canadian restaurant with lake view, offers an upstairs lounge with live weekend music. Knechtel’s
15 Walker St, knechtelfoods.ca A Port Dover signature beach front destination for over 50 years, serving Lake Erie Perch and Pickerel, burgers, foot-long hot dogs and ice cream cones. Lago Trattoria
301 Main St, lagoportdover.ca A menu that features freshly made Italian fare with seasonal twists. Come and enjoy their fresh pasta, sauce, gelato and so much more. The Beach House
2 Walker St, Can’t help but feel transported to a tropical island when dining at this delicious, waterfront hot spot! The Crepe House
2012 Park St, crepehouse.ca Quaint eatery set in an 1880s house features sweet and savoury crepes along with espresso drinks. Urban Parisian Patisserie & Boulangerie
401 Main St, urbanparisian.com A magnificent French bakery that offers delectable pastries, rich bold coffee, exquisite teas and of course bread baked in-house, every day. Erie Beach Hotel
19 Walker St, eriebeachhotel.com Established in 1946, this family-run hotel and restaurant is located just a block from Lake Erie. Enjoy a relaxed pub-style grill, or a refined restaurant with linen-covered tables. Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 21
SAINT WILLIAMS Burning Kiln Winery
1709 Front Rd, burningkilnwinery.ca A spectacular winery that honours our agricultural heritage and celebrates the culinary and cultural bounty of Norfolk County. SIMCOE Barrel Restaurant
131 Queensway W, barrelrestaurant.ca A warm inviting atmosphere with fresh home-made Italian food, gourmet pizza, chicken, veal, seafood, and gluten free items. A casual Italian restaurant at its best. Celebrating 30 years of great food. Dine in, patio, takeout, and delivery available. Blue Elephant Inspired by French Bistros and Lyonnaise Bouchon cuisine, Juniper Dining Co. is a modern fine dining restaurant with a comfortable and casual environment, located in Paris, Ontario. We marry quality local and seasonal ingredients with inventive cocktails, local beers and carefully chosen wines to create memorable experiences, time and time again.
96 Norfolk St S, blueelephant.ca Craft brewpub serving ales, lagers and pilsners, with eclectic grub in a comfy setup, complete with patio seating. The Combine
3 Elm St, PariS 519-302-2200
juniperdiningco.ca
352 Norfolk St S, thecombine.ca Fun, honest food built on local bounty. Handmade brick oven, garden patio and wine menu. Joy Bakery CafĂŠ
126 Robinson St, joyofnorfolk.ca What an excellent place to visit with friends, drink good coffee, eat fabulous baked goods and simply relax! Locally sourced deliciousness at its best. TURKEY POINT Sandbar On The Beach
Featuring local food, groceries & prepared meals Fresh from local farmers, bakers & chefs; organic produce, eggs, coffee, dressings, meals, treats & more Visit the market or order online for pick-up
1008 King Street West Unit A, Hamilton 289-396-2392
realfoodmkt.ca
22 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
45 Cedar Dr, sandbaronthebeach.com Come for the breathtaking view of Lake Erie from their incredible patio, then stay and enjoy a meal with an assortment of craft beers and a tasteful wine selection to pair. WATERFORD Kerry’s St. James St. Eatery
10 St James St S, A relaxing and nostalgically retro atmosphere with an amazing cup of joe and tantalizing homemade fare! Ritzy Cakes & Eatery
20 Alice St, robinsritzycakes.com A spectacular small family-run bakery also serving coffees, teas, paninis, soups, Belgian waffles, breakfast and so much more. Did I mention their treats?
NE IG
Vittoria The Catherwood and The Kiln
1560 Old Brock St, The Catherwood and The Kiln is a family style restaurant famous for homemade pizza, wings, and the Nitehawk sub! Dine in, or take their flavourful feasts to go.
OURHOO D HB
HALDIMAND COUNTY CALEDONIA Argyle St. Grill
345 Argyle St S, theargylestreetgrill.com Upscale eatery at family friendly prices using mainly fresh and local products makes the Argyle a must try. Oasis Drive-In
22 Argyle St S, Opened in 1927, Oasis is Canada’s oldest drive-in restaurant. Pop in for their tasty foot-long hot dogs, golden fresh cut fries or a big scoop ice cream cone. Victor’s Cornerstone
40 Argyle St N, victorscornerstone.ca Offering a range of fine cuisine, including steaks, pasta to burgers all in a casual and classy setting.
Stop by to watch the game, grab a pint, hunker down and prepare to never want to leave until you’ve eaten your way through our menu. Whether it’s our sinful pizza, our stop-your-heart sandwiches, or our lick-your-figures-clean wings, we take pride in everything we make.
88 Main St S, HaGERSViLLE 905-768-4040
Cayuga Shelly’s Family Dining Restaurant
1192 Kohler Rd, shellyscatering.wixsite.com/ shellysrestaurant This unique restaurant is set in a remodelled old church, and quite often has live music serenading it’s patrons. The home-style fare is also heavenly. Twisted Lemon
3 Norton St W, twistedlemon.ca Always expect a fine dining experience but make a reservation because this place is a hot spot for flavour junkies. Be prepared for gourmet surprises. DUNNVILLE Debb’s Cuisine on Queen
109 Queen St, debbs.ca Boasting a creative approach to flavour and presentation, the setting is hip with a rustic elegance! Julia’s Bistro
217 Niagara St, juliasbistroandcatering.com Julia’s satisfies anyone’s craving for homemade Italian cooking while adding her unique style!
Sunday auguSt 13th, 2017, 1-4 pm Come share a delicious summer afternoon at Burlington’s Spencer Smith Park, sampling from the best local wine, spirits, craft beer and dining venues. All in support of community programs and many other Rotary charities. Tickets are $100 dollars per person. Tax receipt available. Reserved tables of 8 are available.
Tickets: lak eSid ealac arte.c om
Rotary Club of Burlington Central
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 23
Knowles Restaurant
174 Queen St, This charming and homey eatery transports you back in time... not because it is retro, but because its literally never changed since opening in1952! Worth a visit. The Minga
POI N NG T
Long Point Eco-Adventures provides you with a unique experience. From the moment you arrive on-site, you will feel the relaxing effects of nature, and the warm welcome of our staff. We are a fun-loving, outdoor adventure company, here to provide amazing experiences with our world-class guides, zipline and canopy tours, accommodations and observatory.
LO
Adventure AwAits!
146 Queen St, Serious coffees and sweets, many of their ingredients are organic, and most are sourced locally. You can’t beat their organic, fair-trade coffee for $1.80!
-ADVENTURES ECO BOOK ONLINE
lpfun.ca
CALL 877-743-8687
HAGERSVILLE Hewitt’s Dairy Bar
4210 Highway 6, hewittsdairy.com/dairy-bar Featuring an old-time lunch counter feel that looks right out of the 1950’s, a great selection of ice-cream treats and simple diner fare. A reminder that not everything has to change. Main 88 Pizza Pub
88 Main St S, This place offers the best pizza around, with lots of flavourful toppings on a thin crust. The bar is well stocked with beer and spirits, and with three large flat screens, it is the perfect place to watch the game. JARVIS D&D’s Family Dining
We invite you to experience our spectacular winery which honours our agricultural heritage and celebrates the culinary and cultural bounty of Norfolk County.
2017 LIVE SUMMER MUSIC PATIO SERIES Every Sunday from now until the end of September 1-4pm
2091 Main St, dndsfamilydining.com A restaurant that radiates a family atmosphere with great food and personable patrons. Make a reservation! Devine’s Country Restaurant
116 Talbot St E, devinesrestaurant.ca Famous for their all-day breakfast, savoury lunches and homemade desserts that are nothing short of divine. BRANT COUNTY BRANTFORD Al Dente Fresh Pasta
250 King George Rd, aldentebrantford.ca Enjoy a variety of amazing pasta dishes or opt for two local favourites, Mediterranean Chicken and Shrimp Creole. 1709 Front Rd, Saint Williams 519-586-9858 burningkilnwinery.ca
24 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Cafe Andreou
104 West St, Fine dining in a 1865 home with Italian
and continental cuisine. Enjoy exquisite food with hospitality at its finest. On the Lam
106 Queen st, onthelamrestaurant.com What a unique restaurant. Gourmet and RAW menus, fine wines, craft beers, old school cocktails all in a really cool location. Check them out!
159th Paris Fair August 31 - September 4
3 nights of Demolition Derby and Sunday’s concert James Barker Band, Freestyle Motocross, Crazy Crew BMX show, livestock shows, craft and hobby exhibits, Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo, and so much more!
Strodes BBQ & Deli
403 Fairview Drive, strodes.ca Open since 1937, Strodes not only carries a variety of select cuts of chicken, beef, poultry, lamb and other specialty meats, but also serves up homestyle lunch options. BURFORD Cravin a Burger
121 King St, A burger place with a 50s 60s rock and roll atmosphere that brags that their food; is not fast food, it’s just served fast.
Visit Scotiabank to purchase discounted 1 day adult passes between July 15 – August 26. See our website for applicable locations.
The Log House
131 King St, theloghouserestaurant.ca With their family, sports bar geared atmosphere this eatery certainly is a small town gem.
parisfair.com
Mount Pleasant Devlin’s County Bistro & Catering
704 Mt. Pleasant Rd. devlinscountrybistro.com This former combined general store, post office and residence, has been an enduring fixture in the community for over 125 years, adding Devlin’s Country Bistro in 1990. Offering contemporary Italian cuisine with a unique and delicious Californian flair. St George Abigail’s Tea House
2 Main St, abigailsteahouse.com Located in an old bank in a picturesque village, they offer an exquisite dining experience in a calm and beautifully antique-inspired environment. Reservations are always recommended. Chef In A Box
181 Brant Rd, chefinabox.com This gas station turned gourmet food truck (of sorts), sure is something to see, and the food is not bad either; especially the lobster mac and cheese. Worth the trip and sure to fill you up!
Dine-In • Delivery • Catering • Take-Out
Today I choose joy! 126 Robinson st. simcoe 519-420-9999 joyofnorfolk.ca
barrelrestaurant.ca Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 25
PARIS Juniper Dining Co.
3 Elm St, juniperdiningco.ca Inspired by French Bistros and Lyonnaise Bouchon cuisine, this modern restaurant marries quality local and seasonal ingredients with inventive cocktails, local beers and carefully chosen wines to create memorable experiences, time and time again.
Call 1-888-442-2266 for your FREE catalogue
Stillwaters Plate & Pour
not just your Mother’s yarn shop anyMore
61 Grand River St N, stillwatersplateandpour.ca A globally inspired menu created by Chef William Thompson of Food Network’s Top Chef Canada, coupled with a breathtaking rooftop patio, leaves nothing left to the imagination. The Cobblestone Pub
111 Grand River St N, cobblestonepub.ca This laid-back, old-time watering hole features a menu of gourmet versions of pub favourites, and is a mainstay for neighbours and visitors alike.
marymaxim.ca 75 scott ave, paris & 1025 Wellington rd, London
SIX NATIONS of the grand river TERRITORY Ohsweken Burger Barn
It’s even
MORE FUN
when you know where the fish are
3000 4th Line, burgerbarn.ca Known for their amazing gourmet burgers that are always served with a surprising twist. Their southern style comfort food is sure to satisfy any appetite. Offering daily specials and all day breakfast. If you bring the whole family there will be something for all! Village Cafe 1875 Fourth Line, If you are near Oshweken be sure to go to the Village Cafe. The food is reasonably priced, delicious and the atmosphere is relaxing and welcoming. If you are looking for something traditional, the corn soup is a must! Erlind’s Restaurant
WE ARE HERE
For more things to see and do visit TourismHaldimand.ca 26 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
1721 Chiefswood Rd, erlindsrestaurant.ca One of the most diverse and indecisive menus I have ever seen. Is Erlind the leader of a Chinese dynasty or the king of the hoagie? We may never be able to decide, but it is also affectionately called, “The best restaurant on the planet by locals. Sooooo enough said!
DOWNTOWN PARIS
Summer Sale 22nd AnnuAl 1/2 PRICE SAlE PARIS JEwEllERS AuguSt 12-16
Whether it be for beer and wings, steak and wine or a night out with the family, come experience casual dining the way it was meant to be.
CuStom deSiGnS at
cobblestonepub.ca
111 Grand River St N, Paris 519-442-1820
54 Grand river St. n. 519-442-2176
BARRISTERS, SOLICITORS & NOTARIES REAL ESTATE, WILLS, ESTATES, CORpORATE & GENERAL
31 Mechanic St. Paris Paris, Ontario. Wincey Mills 519-757-7617
unforGettable food unforGettable atmoSPhere!
Casual dining with a breathtaking panoramic view of the grand river.
Broker
Mike Manes
1 Grand River St. N, Paris 519-761-3591 mikmon.manes@sympatico.c RemaxTwinCity.com
19 WILLIAm ST, pARIS 519-442-2287 ghunter@tarrisonandhunter.com
tarrisonandhunter.ca
stillwatersplateandpour.ca 61 Grand river St n, PariS
519-302-3000
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 27
EARTH TO TABLE
Fresh Air Farmer
“When it comes to the food we buy, most of us don’t think a lot about where it came from. We want it to taste good. We usually want it to be good for us. We want it to be on sale. But, there is more to food than simply checking off a grocery list or testing a recipe from Pinterest.” Andrew Campbell
roadcasters are storytellers. They tell us the stories in the news, they tell us the stories of our lives. Despite being born into a family who had forever farmed, Andrew Campbell was born to be a broadcaster. “My genealogy says it’s farmer all the way back, as far as the books go back,” says Campbell of Bellson Farms, near Strathroy, Ontario. “The farm we’re on now, we’re third generation dairy farmers.” And yet, Campbell left the farm to pursue an education in broadcast journalism at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario. It led to a job at CKNX, Wingham,
Ontario’s country music station, as a news anchor and reporter. “Then I found myself taking on the farm director job,” Campbell explains. “I was responsible for the farm news, farm markets, basically all of their content that was going out to their quite large agriculture audience. That was where I reconnected with the agriculture world.” Campbell had become a broadcaster, but it seemed he just couldn’t leave the farm world behind. Before long, he and his wife and two children were back on the farm that Campbell (and his mother) had grown up on. The broadcaster was back to farming. But his drive to broadcast stories
hadn’t wavered. Throughout 2015, Campbell shared the story of Bellson Farms through a daily micro photo essay, broadcast on Twitter. Each day, he shared a snap from his day on the farm and a caption with the hashtag #farm365 from an account with the handle @FreshAirFarmer. The Twitterverse loved Campbell’s approach to capturing and sharing the mild and wild wonders of daily farm life. “It was a challenge to myself to be more regular at posting and creating conversations that way,” says Campbell. “After I did that, I joked that my cows got tired of me taking a picture
J.C. Villamere knew how to drive a Ski-Doo by age 8, her body is 90 per cent maple syrup, and among her prized possessions is a signed 8x10 glossy of Shelagh Rogers. She is the most Canadian woman in the world. Her new book, Is Canada Even Real? How a Nation Built on Hobos, Beavers, Weirdos, and Hip-Hop Convinced the World to Beliebe, is a fun history lesson, a blast from-the-past, and a quirky ode to a quirky land. She’s an alumna of the Banff Centre for the Arts who earned two National Magazine Awards for her work as a senior editor at Canadian Living. Villamere’s writing has appeared in The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, Style at Home, Elle, and more. 28 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Marc Douglas - marcdouglas.ca
Agriculture advocate Andrew Campbell—the savvy story telling farmer behind the popular social media handle @Fresh Air Farmer, that highlights the people behind your food JC Villamere
of them so I decided I better go visit other farms.” Cue Campbell’s 2017 project: 52 farms in 52 weeks. Our local farmer broadcaster (farmcaster?) has been traveling around the region and across the country to take us behind the barn doors in real farms across our nation right now. From dairy farming in Alberta to tapping sugar maples in Ontario, he’s sharing the
story of Canada’s farms through quick video documentaries broadcast on YouTube. “When I started, I wasn’t like, Oh I have this great journalism background, I will tell stories on behalf of farmers,” he says of how his latest journalism project took shape. “It was more by accident. The background and training in journalism have certainly helped in being able to
As a Canadian farmer, Andrew is proud to hold the same personal commitment to quality and integrity that tens of thousands of other farmers do and he is spreading the word!
find those stories that connect with audiences.” Campbell works to tell you the story of where your food comes from and you can tell his time on the farm influences his storytelling style. His farm videos deliver stories in the most non-salacious, least-click bait, most honest way possible. The videos don’t rely on a slick soundtrack or fast editing to make the subjects sexy, they just show a farmer talking about his or her work, whether he’s a strawberry farmer east of London, or she’s a sheep farmer in Norfolk County, or a he’s a tulip farmer in St. Catharines. It’s simple and honest in a way that viewers find refreshing — you can tell by the thousands of views his work has earned and the encouraging comments his videos receive. The feedback’s been overwhelmingly positive. “Specifically when we get into things like veal production, the ones I actually worried about — I kept hitting refresh waiting for the negative comments to come up because you know they’re going to happen — but then people would comment and say, “That’s actually much different, much better than I thought it was,” Campbell says. “You see there are people behind these farms, people who commit all they have to the land and the animals that they have and that commitment seems to come through in their stories. I just like sharing the stories from our farm and from other people’s farms and showing that the business of farming is a really positive business to be in. People are committed to it, they love what they do.” It’s a story worth broadcasting.
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 29
30 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
RETHINK RURAL City gal turns country gal and finds happiness & a dash of rural chaos BY SHANA NARCISO Three years ago, I made the decision to move to my partner’s organic farm, start a small food business and take our blended family of six kids to the next level. Many thought I had lost my mind, and I really felt like I had, but I trusted my instincts - that it would be good for all of us, but it would be tricky. We began our adventure together packed into the original farmhouse. Our home was not typical of what I was accustomed to. Growing up in the city and being raised by a hard-working, successful entrepreneurial father who expected an orderly and quiet house. Ours was well-worn, bustling with action, full of people from different countries and upbringings. All coming together for the shared desire to make the world a healthier and more just place. It felt like home. Everywhere on the farm, someone was working with their hands. Seeding and weeding in the fields, preparing a meal in the kitchen or taking apart a tractor motor while the farm kids were busy working on totally disorganized art projects. The bountiful harvests would be proof of the farmer’s labours and I loved that they had created this all with respect for the soil and the people toiling alongside them. This may all sound utopian, but I had lived differently in the city and the flow of daily life here was more patient which made my pace seem frantic. In the city I shopped and cooked alone from recipes, worked in an organized office
setting and did art projects with my kids at the table while I provided very clear direction. On the farm, communal cooking was a daily norm and I was excited to be part of it since I had spent many years cooking for my children alone and being exhausted and uninspired at mealtime. The prospect of cooking with others and harvesting our own food completely lured me. This was a wild place, stocked with passionate, driven and environmentally conscious folks and although it was an adjustment for us, I wanted my children to experience a different definition of success. In this non-typical North American farm, people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds can be employed and contribute to the production of our food. Where the value of a person has everything to do with their hard work, participation and attitude. Where ambition is not a selfish goal of acquiring things you want, but rather a goal of being part of something that is larger than each of you. A goal that is bigger than the immediate family and includes the community, the health of our food system and the earth. This approach to life changed my entire understanding of family, success, business and parenting. Logistically, it added a half hour drive to my daily acrobatics of coordinating family activities, school, sports and friendships. I am still adjusting, but the value out shines the struggle. A few years have passed, my children are all growing strong and I am wilfully still navigating change. The chaos of our daily lives is downright comical and often dramatic, but I have a great partner, healthy kids, a little market shop in town and at the end of each day, we all meet in the kitchen (often to heat up Real Food Market & Kitchen meals:) and we are happy to be together on the farm.
I live at Plan B Organic Farms in Flamborough. Established by first generation farmers Rodrigo, Alvaro and Melanie. It is a 50 acre Certified Organic farm that produces a variety of vegetables and fruit and distributes a weekly box of food in partnership with other small organic farmers and food makers.
Shana Narciso is a sustainable food advocate, a co-owner of Real Food Market & Kitchens based in Westdale Village, Hamilton, a founding members of The Kitchen Collective, mum to a brood of children and a partner to an organic farming musician. So like most gals, she wears many hats! Food is part of everything she does, in part because kids eat a lot but also because she believes the foundation of a healthy community is the quality of the food they eat and how it got to their plate. She advocates that healthy, sustainable, whole foods should be a core value of communities and that farmers and small food producers need to be able to make a living wage so that our food can be purchased locally. Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 31
On the Map
Farm Fresh
Getting back to our roots greatly benefits our environment, health and minds. Fresh and local is the way to go! BY NANCY HOWDEN-COWELL
Little Brown Cow Brantford From our farm to your table. That is the conviction behind Little Brown Cow. They believe that you should always know where your food comes from and they invite you to stop and visit their farm based grocery, where they offer beef, milk, pork, honey, eggs and the best squeaky cheese curds. Petting the calves is a bonus.
Six Nations Ohsweken sndevcorp.ca The Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation is leading the country in renewable power projects with 17 different green energy initiatives. In 2015 nearly half a million solar panels started sprouted up south of Cayuga. Add that to the 16 other projects and the community will see revenues of well over $100 million in the next 20 years.
H
D AL
IMA
ND COUN
TY
LAKE ERIE
Norton Farms Hagersville nortonfarms.com Give a former chef a kitchen and he creates amazing culinary delights, add a farm to that and he creates a lifestyle. A farm that produces healthy organic sustainable foods...all the catch phrases that mean growing good, healthy food the way nature meant it to be grown. Supplying fresh locally raised livestock as well as fruits and vegetables to the community.
32 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Maricann Langton maricann.com Operating since 2013 near Langton in Norfolk County this publicly traded company is passionate about the power of medical cannabis and its ability to help people in all walks of life. With a team of scientists, doctors, horticulturists and biologists they are on the cutting edge of medical marijuana innovations, staying true to the plant by not using chemicals or solvents.
Matz Fruit Barn Port Dover Three generations, since 1962 have been operating this farm and offering pesticide free fruit and vegetables, handpicked, tree and vine ripened to offer the best flavour and nutrients possible. Homemade yogurt, Park Street Pops and local honey are some of the products you will find at their fruit barn. Their motto speaks volumes “Bringing quality from the ground up�
Brant County Garlic Company Scotland brantcountygarliccompany.com Happily sharing the experience and techniques that they have accumulated since the first bulb of garlic was grown on their Brant County farm in 1978 with the hope that more garlic will be grown here. Harvesting up to half pound bulbs of Music garlic! Its musky rich flavour and high levels of antioxidants makes it the star of the show.
MARC DOUGLAS PHOTOGRAPHY
marcdouglas.ca
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 33
The villages and towns of southwestern Ontario are filled with the lavishness of summer. Come with us on an enchanting journey, along the paths woven through time, where the air is dreamy and the landscape holds all the freshness of childhood.
THE SHORE Written by Kerstein Mallon
The Grand River Conservation Authority preserves 18,935 hectares (46,894 acres) of land including water control reservoirs, floodplains, wildlife and wetland habitat, forests and conservation areas for outdoor recreation.
We’ve raced the rapids; we’re far ahead. The river slips through its silent bed. Sway, sway, as the bubbles spray and fall in tinkling tunes away.” EXCERPT from The song my paddle sings, Pauline Johnson.
The Grand River is a Canadian Heritage River. She has played an integral part in the development of all the towns and villages that surround her now, including Brant County, Six Nations and New Credit communities and Haldimand and Norfolk Counties. The river valley is rich in history and steeped in stories and traditions of yesterday. In 1784, Captain Joseph Thayendanegea Brant, a Mohawk
34 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Chief, led the Six Nations people from upper New York State to the Grand River basin, a shallow crossing spot. Here, they made their village, which is now known as Brantford. Due to the prosperity of the 19th and early 20th centuries, there is a grandeur reflected in the architecture of the Victorian homes, churches and buildings nestled throughout the town. Today the town of Brantford echoes the luxurious lifestyles and culture of that time. There is an elegance when walking along the banks of Lady Grand. This very basic outdoor activity is paramount to Brantford’s many tourist attractions.
Visitors can always enjoy a walk down memory lane while strolling down the old rail paths that are stretching alongside the River, including a section of the old Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway (TH&B) route, which is entirely surfaced with stone dust. These rail trails are all that remain of the bygone railroads. They have generated a number of superb walks for visitors seeking the serenity and sublime beauty of the Carolinian forests that stretch across South Western Ontario.
Lead Photo BY Marc Douglas - marcdouglas.ca
Brantford
Norfolk County
Earl Haig Fun Park Photo courtesy the City of Brantford, Turtle and Port Dover Beach photos courtesy Southwest Ontario Tourism
Brantford’s Earl Haig Family Fun Park boasts a water slide, the Lazy River Ride, leisure pool, splash pad, mini-golf, batting cages, playground, snack shack and more!
Like most long nature walks, the rail trail will ensure you fully immerse yourself in your surroundings, as you reminisce of the days when manners were important and promises of a better tomorrow clung to the dreams of the settlers seeking their fortunes in the new world. Take a moment to ponder the very first conversation held over the telephone, as you stroll past the residence of Alexander Graham Bell. If time should permit, why not climb up the hill, to tour his home and have a bite to eat at the quaint dining room on site. As you caress the long grasses of the river bank though your fingers, consider the lives of those who built the town that Wayne Gretzky fondly calls home. After a satisfying hike, why not seek out a craft beer from local breweries, such as Bell City Brewery or the Grand River Brewing Company. Or, do as the locals would and pick up a hot cup of coffee at Tim Hortons and watch the sun set over the majestic river.
Voyagers from all walks of life will be making pilgrimage to various locales, across the country, in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday this year. Many will be dropping anchor in Norfolk, because this captivating and diverse county, with all the charms of the quintessential Canadian small town, has so much to offer. With over 1.5 km of sandy beaches and warm waters, there is excellent fishing and boating. Bird lovers can find their niche. The exquisite coast-
line boasts one of the largest bird and waterfowl migration in North America and it is located within a designated World Biosphere Reserve. Thrill seekers can visit Long Point Eco Adventures to arrange a fun filled day gliding through the tree tops and canoeing and kayaking on Big Creek. Located on the bluffs overlooking the marshes of Lake Erie, Long Point Eco-Adventures offer unique, learning adventures, zip lining, rappelling, and suspension bridges and for the astrologically inclined, a star gazing dome where a 1000 wishes can come true! When you can pull your eyes away from the sky, you’ll find the local towns of Port Dover, Turkey Point and Port Rowan. Each are dazzling in their own right. The villages are bursting with artists and entrepreneurs and these olden day settlements have evolved into funky, artisan hamlets. Each summer, holiday makers, folks seeking beaches
Every year on the second Sunday of July, over 2,000 boats and 10,000 people head out to Canada’s biggest boat party the Pottahawk Pissup on Pottahawk Point which is located on Lake Erie near Long Point. You’ve missed it for this year, but be sure not to miss next!
Mobility Mats have been newly installed on the beach at the end of Walker Street in Port Dover. They provide a firm, stable path for wheelchairs, scooters, strollers, walkers and anyone who has difficulty walking across sand. Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 35
and antiques, car cruises and ice-cream, descend upon these quaint little villages and spend hours just being themselves. The overall essence is compelling. You just don’t want to leave! Long Point, one of our gems is also shrouded in myths and legends. Tales of shipwrecks, bootleggers, bottomless bogs and buried treasure, reports of heroes and villains, of bravery and cowardice, make this his-
toric area attractive to anyone with imagination. One legend tells of the ‘Black Dog of Erie’. Although, some fisherman have claimed sighting of the vile, red eyed hound, most have never returned to tell the tale. Whatever the activity of choice, once you’ve worked up an appetite head over to one of the many great restaurants. Visit David’s Restaurant in Port Dover, Sandbar on the beach in
Every year around May 24, innovative businessman Peter Knechtel dispatches his “palm squad” and plants a row of palm trees outside his popular Port Dover restaurant,The Beach House. The birds and sun tanners alike just love this touch of the tropics.
Join Long Point Eco-Adventures on a four hour tour that will give seasoned paddlers and novices alike a taste of Big Creek’s distinctive beauty through the Carolinian forests of Norfolk County or join them and pedal your Hobie Mirrage Drive kayak along the shores of Long Point Bay. A scenic tour on the waters of this World Biosphere reserve that will leave you relaxed, awe inspired and exhilarated all at the same time. lpfun.ca 36 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Turkey Point or The Barrel in Simcoe. Each has a mission to make hungry customers eager for their next visit. The chefs also boast some of the finest locally grown ingredients to create their signature dishes. Whether digging up the past or discovering a new favourite past time, there is much to do. In fact, the entire area is surrounded by storybook beauty. Plan to spend the day or decide to spend the rest of your days. It’s truly a magical place!
photos courtesy Southwest Ontario Tourism
Haldimand County
Rock Point Provincial Park is located on the north shore of Lake Erie near the mouth of the Grand River in the Carolinian zone of southwestern Ontario. Limestone shelves along the lake shore contain the fossils of marine animals from the Devonian period, some 419.2 million years ago!
Interested in history, arts, poetry, rare ecosystems or water sports? Then Haldimand County is the place to be. Here the waters of the Grand River meet Lake Erie. This premiere cycling and motorcycling destination offers exceptional scenery and endless, winding country roads. The waterfront trail that runs along Lake Erie’s coast with beautiful countryside and picturesque lake views is second to none. With 87 kilometres of Lake Erie waterfront, the area offers numerous water adventures including fishing, waterside camping, kayaking, boating and swimming. Start your day by experiencing the Grand River by kayak, canoe or stand up paddle board. Visit the folks at Grand River Rafting Company (Paris), Grand River Kayak or Grand River Paddle Sport for guided tours or go solo. There are plenty of options. There is an annual celebration where paddlers, hikers and cyclists, gather at the Caledonia
Fairgrounds before embarking on a journey down the Grand River to Cayuga. The annual Day of 1000 Canoes draws people from far and wide to participate in this colorful and unique event. Haldimand has many towns and hamlets for you to explore. Each having their own unique attractions, quaint shops, cultural and historic sites, accommodations and restaurants. While in Cayuga visit Ruthven Historic National Park. Boasting over 1500 acres of stunning forest and a meticulously preserved, historic Greek revival mansion. Ruthven is a place to enjoy the natural landscapes and perhaps enjoy a family picnic. Why not gather the items you need for the outing by visiting the farmer markets? Everything your pallet desires including fruits, vegetables, meats, maple syrup, honey and specialty items are all available for your culinary pleasure. If hiking is your thing, take
a trip to Rock Point, home to 1000’s of Monarch butterflies in the fall. There is a trail that will lead you to the water’s edge and a viewing platform, where you can absorb the majesty of the lake and observe ancient fossils embedded in the limestone shelves surrounding the area. If you plan on staying try “Glamping” at Oakwood Escape. Relax on a beautiful farm before heading to bed in a luxurious pioneer style tent. Alternatively there are many camp sites scattered throughout the county including Selkirk Conservation
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Six Nations
Knight’s Beach Resort on Lake Erie offers ½ mile of manicured sandy beach, nature trails and amazing fishing with boat launch, 450+ campsites for tents and trailers, picnic area and a 10,000 square foot recreation complex with game room, arcade, Surf Shack, and so much more!
Area, Byng Conservation Area and Knights Beach Resort. Continue along the road towards Niagara and stop awhile in the rustic town of Dunnville. In June the annual Mudcat Festival is held to celebrate one of the Grand River’s most well-known inhabitants. Dunnville is also the site of one of the largest expanses of provincially significant wetlands in Ontario and is perfect for bird watching and nature photography. No matter the expedition you choose, you will find small town charm, rural friendliness, and a more authentic way of life when you experience beautiful Haldimand County.
Did you know that Onkwehon:we (meaning Real People) women are the first true feminists? The women of the Six Nations are also revered as the life-givers. Through the women, children receive their nation and clan. Clans include three animals from the water, the land, and the sky. They are turtle, eel, and beaver; bear, wolf, and deer; and heron, hawk, and snipe. The Six Nations territory located south of Brantford has much to offer. Comprised of Six Nations of the Grand River territory, including the Onondaga, Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Seneca, and Tuscarora. There is much to see and do while visiting the area on the water or otherwise. If you are seeking a wet adventure with a different perspective that helps you connect with the sounds of the night and awaken your senses, Whisper to the Moon, is a unique paddling experience that promises an evening unlike any other. Reserve a spot on a river raft and navigate the waterways of the Grand by moonlight. Enjoy a tour of the area, including Chiefswood Mansion by candle light and listen to legends and folklore of the Six Nations territory that is shared by local guides. Chiefswood Mansion is the birthplace of Pauline Johnson, famed Mohawk-English poet and Canada’s first performance artist who was loyal to her Indigenous roots. She composed extraordinary ballads about First Nations history. Chiefswood was constructed in 1856 with two front doors that symbolized mixing of cultures. Today it is a museum
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and a gathering place for the Champion of Champion’s Pow Wow in late July. Just around the river bend at the Two Turtle Gallery, visitors can contemplate legends, clans, and Haudenosaunee culture. Local artist, Arnold Jacobs uses symbols of the earth, sky, water, wind, thunder, moon and sun to tell the story of traditional ways and his people’s teachings of life. Visit the Wapum shop where everything is made in the traditional Iroquoian style. At Iroqrafts you will find traditional and contemporary Iroquois crafts and art. Stop by Talking Earth Pottery, founded by Steve and Leigh Smith in 1975 and who train under Steve’s mother Elda Smith before she passed. Known for reviving the lost art of pottery making on Six Nations, Elda was an artist who strove to re-cover and un-earth her connections to Onkwehon:we and
Located within the boundaries of the Six Nations of the Grand River also reside the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. A thriving and strong community, teeming with people reaching for their cultural roots as well as their future success. This community has survived hundreds of years through change and near extinction while remaining a resilient First Nation community.
Hosting over 30,000 people yearly Grand River Rafting offers a variety of adventures from rafting, edible plant hikes, Native Studies, fishing trips, and so much more. grandriverrafting.ca
Perfectly nestled where the Grand and Nith Rivers meet, Paris was voted “the Prettiest Little Town in Canada” by Harrowsmith Magazine, so it comes as no surprise that thousands of visitors flock to this beautifully picturesque, town year round.
the ancient practices that helps shape the present and future. If high powered racing is your thing, from May to September Ohsweken is home to Friday night racing with Sprint Cars, Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Bomber. It is an annual stop on the prestigious World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series schedule since 2007. For sports fans, the ILA (Iroquois Lacrosse Arena) is home to the Six Nations Chiefs, a Canadian senior box lacrosse team. The arena’s home games are open to all lacrosse fans. Come for a visit and discover all that is life giving under the sky! Tekwanonwerá:tons - welcome. Niá:wen - thank you.
Nights Beach photo courtesy Southwest Ontario Tourism, Grand River Rafting photo courtesy Ontario Tourism, PARIS Photo BY Marc Douglas - marcdouglas.ca
Brant County Have you ever walked into a place and known that this is exactly where you need to be? It’s said that, while on horseback, looking upon the area, where the Nith and Grand Rivers meet in what was to be Brant County, Hiram Capron, the founder of Paris, declared, “I do believe, I would like to own this lovely vale.” The whole of the county, with all it’s small town rural charm, seems to be painted in a similar vain. One that entices a simpler
lifestyle. A life where people can stop for a time and enjoy their senses. One of those towns is Paris, who received its name from the product Plaster of Paris, made from mined gypsum that is found along the Grand River bed of her banks It is one of the largest urban centres in Brant County. Against the backdrop of the two rivers, downtown Paris is home to many artisan shops, cafes, bakeries, cheese shops and candy shops, as well as, fine restaurants, with chefs, proud to serve their own locally grown, savoury recipes. Paris now boasts a unique, blend of history and modern specialties that can accommodate every taste! Every night at dusk, the town becomes just a little brighter with the ‘Lighting of the Paris Falls’ at the historic Penman’s Dam. Paris which is known as “Canada’s Prettiest Little Town” offers a colourful lighting display worthy of your next outing. Another way to see the magnificent landscape is by paddling on the Grand. Local companies like Dragonfly Paddling, Grand Experiences Canoe and Kayak Outfitter, Grand River Rafting Company and Paris Luna Adventures are all ready and eager to show you the secrets of navigating this ma-
jestically rich waterway. These unique trips will take you to the Three Sisters Stone Bridge, built with columns from the 1850s, and on to downtown Paris and then to Forks of the Grand where the Nith and Grand River meet. Paddlers can see bald eagles nesting along the shores, and visit Chiefswood National Historic Site, the only remaining pre-Confederation Indian mansion in Ontario. Paris is home to Penman’s Dam, a place where you can drink from a natural spring, try body surfing and fish till your heart and soul are in perfect symmetry. Down the road you can visit St George, which has been nominated as “Canada’s Friendliest town,” and indulge in their plentiful roadside fruit and veggies stands scattered along the way. While driving through Mount Pleasant, stop in and experience a meal fit for a king at Devlin’s Country Bistro. Chris Devlin and his magnificent entourage offer an exquisite culinary experience. It is dining out as it was meant to be! Brant is home grown, hearth fed, and being sprinkled with love and locally grown produce. The quaint village and low country surroundings are the perfect afternoon getaway. It’s simply the right place to be and is a most satisfying experience!
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The Arbor has been catering to appetites of the locals as well as trillions of Norfolk tourists since 1919. Positioned steps from the lake, it is famous for their foot long hot dogs, and amazing variety of ice creams. 40 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Local artist, Louise Jessup uses her love for design and creating to bring local neighbourhoods to life in her typographic neighbourhood, county and country maps. They can be also purchased on etsy.com/shop/AllOverTheMapStudios
Our totally insider, Town-by-town, hidden-gem-by-hidden-gem, guide to what’s new, hot, and legendary in NORFOLK COunty. All the stuff you absolutely must eat, do, buy and indulge in to make the most of your time off the sofa and loving our county! Written & Photographed by Jay Perry
Growing up about an hour away, the only thing Stoney “Creekers” seemed to know about Norfolk County was that is was the home of Port Dover’s amazing beach and foot long hot-dog. It seemed that was all we needed to know. On summer weekends we could drive up and take a dip in the warm waters of Lake Erie.
Something no sane person would do in frigid Lake Ontario. When it came time for me to explore Norfolk’s hidden gems for my Small Town Sunday article, I was excited to venture into uncharted territories. I decided to switch things up a bit from the last issue. Instead of a 24-hour fun filled journey primarily eating my way through the county, I decided to take my time over a few weeks and explore local treasures and
with the weather getting warmer, I thought I might plunge myself into the open water scene. I had always heard of the mysterious Long Point with more shipwrecks than the Bermuda triangle and I knew it was close to Turkey Point, where all the cool kids would go to let loose and drink till the sun came up. Never much of a partier or a cool kid for that matter, and unaware of its less obvious treasures, I’ve nev-
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 41
Port Dover, with a population of approx 6,400 souls, hosts upwards of 100,000 motorcycles every Friday the 13th since 1981. The next day the port town is tidy without a trace of their leather clad guests!
Long Point Peninsula attracts over 390 different species of bird each year. it is the longest freshwater sand spit in the world and a main North American flyway for 1000’s of migrating birds. er made it that far down the coast. A few weeks back, I set out to meet up with Garrett Reid of Long Point Tours who would escort myself, two others, and his first mate and dog, Drake, from Turkey Point, along the shoreline, all the way to the tip of Long Point and back. Long Point is the world’s largest 42 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
freshwater sand-spit consisting of 26,600 hectares and it juts out 42kms into Lake Erie. With more endangered species per-capita than the rest of Canada found there and thankfully is protected federally We anchored at the very tip of the Point and walked 200 feet out on the sandbar. I was literally standing in the middle of Lake Erie. Such a wild and educational tour! One of my fondest childhood memories is of a lazy summer day when my dad spontaneously popped my brother and I into the car, drove an hour to Port Dover’s historic Arbor Restaurant for three of their famous foot-longed hot dogs and an afternoon on the beach so with hunger pains creeping in I decided to relive it first hand and I was not disappointed. Topped with mustard, ketchup, relish, and pickles that frankfurter magically transported me back in time. Satisfied, I headed over to my lodgings for the night. Clonmel Castle. What? A castle in Port Dover? I had no idea either but if you know anything about me, it’s that I love the medieval
era and that I would have a season pass to Medieval Times in Toronto if they offered it. Opened in 1929 Clonmel is one of the most lavish homes in Norfolk County. A Georgian Revival Mansion, spanning over 12,000 square feet. Upon entering the castle, I was greeted by a life size knight statue in full gear, then I was escorted to my room that was originally a bank vault. No joke. They had converted an old vault into a room dubbed as “The 50 Shades Room”. A local group of theatre students had been commissioned to decorate the room with an old film vibe. That night they invited a bluegrass band to perform on the porch and twenty other local residents converged into a party. We enjoyed live music, chatted, and dined on home cooked pulled pork sandwiches and coleslaw. I felt like I was in the deep south and loved every second of it. Truly inspired by seeing how small town communities come together and enjoy each others company. That night, I met local celebrity, Chris Simons, who runs the Norfolk County Musician Swap Meet Facebook Page, but more notably, one of the individuals who started the world
Clonmel Mansion was built in 1929 by local farmer Harry Barrett Sr. after collecting an inheritance from a relative Ireland. Barrett named the Georgian-style home Clonmel after the town in Ireland where his relative amassed his fortune.
famous Friday the 13th Port Dover Bike Rally back in the 80s. It was cool to hear how it started with only 15 bikes. As the night winded down I made my way to the bank vault and closed my eyes for the night. Up bright and early I was royally welcomed by a delicious breakfast in the castles main dining room. I had never eaten at a table that could accommodate 30 people but we started with grapes and mangoes, followed by eggs, bacon, and freshly squeezed orange juice. The place was beautiful, the staff was caring and attentive, the food left nothing to be desired, and I was enveloped with the pure sense of community that I often chase during my Small Town Sunday adventures. On my way out, I spotted a table filled with brochures and one caught
my eye. Long Point Eco Adventures. So the following weekend, I called up my Uncle Bob and we both headed back to Norfolk County to do some axe throwing and zip lining. By far, the manliest activity I have even been a part of, we started with “attempting” to throw a small axe and hit a large wooden target. We were not wearing plaid but we did our best to channel our inner lumberjack and hit a bullseye. Needless to say, Uncle Bob was more successful. Next we made our way over to the zip line staging area and got geared up in our safety harness, helmet and gloves. The child in me likes to dive head first into things and I was expecting this to be a quick thirty minutes, sailing through the forest then on to the next escapade, but it was quite extensive with two and a half hours
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Enjoying the view at the Turkey Point Hotel with a fabulous clubhouse sandwich, a side of crispy onion rings and a cold pint keeping me company. 44 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
across eight different zip lines, two suspension bridges, 14 platforms, and a 40-foot rappel. After sliding down the first line, any fear I felt was quickly gone. Both of our guides were extremely helpful and funny while making us all feel very safe and at no point during the tour were we not securely attached to something. If zip lining isn’t your thing, they also offer kayaking, fishing tours, mountain biking, apiary tours, and a state of the art astronomical observatory for all the star enthusiasts. Well rested, seven days later, I made my final trip into Norfolk to finish this article for Live Small Town Magazine. Stopping for a quick bite at the Turkey Point Hotel that I had spotted a few weeks back when I was here for my boat tour. They have an amazing outdoor patio with a great view right on the beach. I ordered
their clubhouse sandwich, a side of crispy onion rings and a cold pint. Chock-a-block full of flavour and the bacon was thick and crispy. So good. If you’re in the area, definitely make it a point to stop in. A great menu with the friendliest staff. Next I headed southeast to the tiny town of St. Williams and home to Ralphy’s Retreat. A safe haven and rehabilitation centre for abandoned, abused and neglected pot-bellied pigs and farm animals. In retrospect, I probably shouldn’t of dined on bacon right before heading to an animal sanctuary for pigs, (sorry Ralphy) but I did happen to pick the perfect day as it was their second annual open house. A day filled with activities and community out reach and education. Extremely relevant since they are at capacity. I don’t think I have ever been that
close to a pig before but it was super fun. I now understand why people want pigs as pets. They are just as loving as cats or dogs and they are like kids who play in the mud, but don’t get in trouble for it. Ralphy’s also provides a home for a few horses, ponies, and donkeys. The grounds are open for personal tours. Kudos to Kara Burrow and her staff who obviously care deeply for these animals. I’ve always had huge respect for anyone who devotes any part of their lives to others.
Thank you for reading. I had such an great time making my way through Norfolk County and I know I only scratched the surface. Next issue you will find me exploring Brant County. If you have a place that you think I should check out, please feel free to send me a message. Follow me on Instagram at @smalltownsundays to view stories and additional photos that you might not see in the magazine.
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Deep Roots
Living History
As our nation prepares to celebrate its historic 150-year-Anniversary, we should all take a moment to reflect on the numerous stories, places, memories and people that have truly made us one of the greatest places on earth to call home. Each of our communities, counties and towns have contributed their own unique piece to the tapestry that can collectively be called Canada; and there is no better way to chart a course towards the future, than by glancing back to honor the past. 46 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Marc Douglas - marcdouglas.ca
Dez and Landon love living small town because their friends are here and it is not too busy. Out of the mouths of babes!
Annie Broughton Photo Courtesy of The Paris Museum & Historical Society
Clonmel Castle The name Barrett is well recognized in Norfolk County and the legacy of Clonmel reaches beyond the exterior and into the iconic stone wall surrounding the castle. A true community minded Port Dover man named William Henry (Harry) Barrett discovered an inheritance of a castle in the Clonmel region of Ireland in the mid 1920’s. With no use for this castle overseas, it was sold for an approximate amount of $2.5 million and the wealth was brought back to Port Dover. With this money, Clonmel Castle was built. Upon its opening, William invited many people from the town into his home for a grand party that featured 5 different bands playing throughout the home. During the depression, to keep local residents employed, the Barrett’s shipped tonnes of stone over from Ireland, and hired local residents to construct a wall around the estate that spans over 600 metres long. Not only is the wall a site to be seen, but the Castle is still one-of-akind and a very unique spot to visit. Find out more at our Historical Hidden Gems guided bike tour at Red Apple Rides of Port Dover. Phil Poss redapplerides.com
Victorian & Southern Charm
A Wartime Heroine
Selkirk, Ontario is home to the grand Cottonwood Mansion Museum. Erected between 1860-65, it is a 6000 square foot Italianate style building and was built by William J. Holmes, Jr., a local entrepreneur, as a gift for his second wife, Cynthia Anderson Holmes. Holmes had five children during his first marriage to Mennonite Mary Hoover but he decided to settle inheritances on all of them before his and his new wife’s child, Lillian, was born. The family continued to live at Cottonwood long after William’s death until 1911 and only portions of it were occupied after that and the Mansion was left derelict until 1988 when it was purchased by Larry Hamilton of Boston, Massachusetts, who had family that had spent summers at Cottonwood. Six years later the Mansion was completely restored, featuring some furniture and artifacts from the Holmes Family. Contributions from others of Victorian and Edwardian relics also make for an authentic experience of the rural Ontario elegance found during this period in Southern Ontario’s history.
Her neighbours regarded Annie Broughton as an eccentric recluse. The retired school teacher did little to challenge their perception. She described herself as a “homely, permanent, on-the-shelf old maid.” But to thousands of soldiers fighting in World war II, she was Paris’s heroine on the home front. Over the course of the war, she sent 1,032 letters to soldiers, sailors and airmen on the front lines. In return, she received box loads of military-issued thank-you cards and a handful of letters. Annie, not a rich woman, began her war effort by purchasing cigarettes through the Overseas League Tobacco and Hamper Fund to be sent to the troops. Recipients were required to thank the donor. Most sent brief notes on thank-you cards available at the canteen. They told what a pleasure it was to smoke Canadian tobacco and identified themselves by name, rank and location. That gave Annie the information she needed to follow up with chatty three-page letters full of news from home, newspaper clippings, Christmas cards and small mementos.
Catherine Stidsen cottonwoodmansion.ca
Carol Goar theparismuseum.com Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 47
Aging Gracefully
In this fast-paced age of instant gratification, it’s often easy to overlook and under appreciate the value of a hard day’s work. Sometimes the best results come from patience, process and purpose; after all, good things come to those who wait. BY Adrianna Michell
Please feel free to reach out and let us know about other special folks, businesses, and organizations that are aging gracefully within your community!
As communities change and life moves a little bit faster, some businesses have stuck to their roots. In comparison to food makers that turn multinational and forget about their impact back home, fairs that ignore history, or even insurance companies that you can’t put a face to, some still remember where they came from. Long standing businesses that have worked hard to build trusting relationships with their communities should be celebrated. These businesses enrich the places they have grown from, and continue the traditions that came before them. Jensen Cheese
Simcoe jensencheese.ca Founded by Arne Jensen, Jensen Cheese is entirely a family affair. The first Jensen at the helm was a Master Cheese-Maker from Denmark, who set up shop in 1925. Though its been nearly a century of cheese making, Jensen’s has continued its traditional techniques. While mass-produced
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products gained popularity, the family has preserved their old world curing processes and their commitment to craftsmanship. The Jensen brand has maintained integrity as time has changed the food and cheese markets. Now in its second generation of Jensen ownership, their hand-made, artisanal products are accompanied by the friendly services expected from a family business. Each member of their team is like family and is included in decision-making. By manufacturing at their Wilton Cheese Factory in Wilton (Odessa), Ontario, they support the local agri-sector and community as well as local farmers and small businesses. Eric Jensen, the son of founder Arne currently owns the company. Entering the third generation of Cheese-making with Scott Jensen eventually taking control of operations, the quality, full-bodied flavours and carefully crafted varieties will continue into the future. With many companies moving away from their traditional techniques, Jensen Cheese keeps to its roots.
Ayr Farmers Mutual
Caledonia Fair
Caledonia caledoniafair.ca The Caledonia Fair is almost as old as Canada. Founded in 1873, just a few years after Canada became a country, the fair has been run every year in autumn. The first fair was held on October 15, 1873 at Edinburgh Square. The then small fair has grown exponentially, but has still been able to maintain its core values of family and fun. The Caledonia Fair both entertains and offers the activities of a traditional county fair, including crafts, food, and livestock shows. Visitors can expect a family-friendly atmosphere, fun fall activities, and community based vendors. Popular events are the baby show, the pet show, rides, the derby, and entertainment acts such as musical performers. The fair also valiantly pushed on, however modestly, through the Great Depression and during World War Two while the only year that it could not was in 1937 due to an outbreak of polio in the neighbouring communities. The fairgrounds on which the Caledonia fair is currently held were purchased in 1878 and have expanded and changed, like the county it calls home, yet both have maintained the traditions, values, and ideals that make them unique. Now in its 145th year, the Caledonia fair looks to the future while remembering its history.
Ayr ayrmutual.com Ayr Farmers Mutual has protected their community for almost 125 years. Established by and for the residents of Ayr, the company has provided insurance to those threatened by loss of property and livelihood due to devastating fires. In 1893 neighbours came together to create what has endured to be a respectful, accountable company. Growing from humble beginnings, Ayr Farmers Mutual has not forgotten where they came from. The traditional values of cooperation and participation are still respected, especially the ‘neighbour helping neighbour’ mentality that sparked the company. The pioneer spirit that Ayr Farmers Mutual grew from is not gone, but has been reimagined in a company that has been able to help generations of members over many years and challenges, while providing reliable services and protection. Ayr Farmers Mutual is not only a landmark in the surrounding community, but also one of Canadian history. It is rooted in a time when Ontario was just a dream and neighbours relied on one another, a time that they have preserved. The problems that Ayr Farmer’s Mutual’s members currently face are different than those of their grandparents; regardless, the company has managed to stay relevant and effective for nearly a century and a half, all while keeping tradition alive.
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On the Map
Past & Present Understanding the connection between past & present is essential in our quest to possess direction. BY NANCY HOWDEN-COWELL Chiefswood Museum Ohsweken chiefswood.com Built by Chief George Johnson as a gift for his English bride Susannah Howells the two front doors are symbolic of their lives “Where Cultures Meet”. Whether coming from the road or from the river all guests were welcomed. Of their four children, the youngest was the famous poetess Pauline Johnson who celebrated her mixed ancestry through the performing arts.
Teeterville Pioneer Museum Teeterville teetervillemuseum.ca The Teeterville Museum came into being 50 years ago as a Centennial Project thanks to the work of The Teeterville Woman’s Institute and Windham Township. Enter the log cabin to view the collections of artifacts and take a walk back in time to understand what life was like for the area’s pioneers and how they survived and built this country.
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Walpole Antique Farm Machinery Association Jarvis wafma.ca Get your dancing shoes on and come celebrate the past with a barn dance or a beef barbecue, just two of the many events hosted at this farm equipment museum. Founded in 1994 to preserve the rich agricultural history of the Walpole region and educate future generations about the past farming practises makes this museum in Jarvis a must stop.
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Paris Museum & Historical Society Paris theparismuseum.com Through education, special events and collection of historical artifacts The Paris Museum and Historical Society brings instruction and enjoyment to our community. Best said by a long time member, “By striving to enrich the spirit, engage the mind, and stimulate the senses, we believe that we will inspire participants, including the next generation of museum goers and historical enthusiasts.”
Woodland Cultural Centre Brantford woodland-centre.on.ca Walking through the Woodland Cultural Centre I am struck by the evidence of the strength and perseverance of First Nations people. Opened in 1972 upon the closure of the Mohawk Residential School in 1970 and by supporting the visual and performing arts it promotes and preserves the culture and heritage of indigenous people. This museum is a walk through history.
No. 6 RCAF Dunnville Museum Dunnville rcafmuseum.org Built in 1940, a total of 2436 Air Force pilots from all over the world earned their wings here. Today the site is used as a museum that houses memorabilia, photos and vintage planes as well as a library and a memorial garden. Trying out the flight simulator is the bonus that makes visiting this museum the best idea around.
Let’s be friends! We are not a registered charity; we are a community of friends working together to restore the magic of Christmas for families in need and over the last 7 years we have raised $65,465.57 and provided 786 children with positive Christmas memories!
friendswithhearts.com Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 51
Mindfulness through simplicity
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Heirlooms & Antiques Looking to spend a day antique hunting? Need to find that perfect period piece to enhance your home? Take a drive down our country roads, stopping at flea markets and local shops to search for treasures then pop into one of our quaint eateries for some local fare... From east to west and north to south here are some of our favourite places. So enjoy the thrill of the hunt and shop till you drop! Alfred Street Nostalgia
97 Alfred St, Brantford Caresa Antiques
1182 Windham Rd 9, Windham Centre CJ’s Antiques & Refinishing
4080 Hwy. 24, Vanessa cjsantiques.ca Classic Vault Emporium
12 Main St, S, St George Courtland Antique
Warehouse By appointment courtlandantiquewarehouse.com Courtland Treasures
283 Main St, Courtland John Brant or Ahyonwaeghs 1794 – 1832 was a Mohawk chief and the first Aboriginal to sit in the Upper Canada assembly as a member
Native Son
1146 Colborne St E, Brantford Maus Park Antiques
289 Pinehurst Rd, Paris mausparkantiques.ca Nice Old Stuff
2037 Main St N, Jarvis niceoldstuff.ca
Born leader John Brant captured the loyalty of most only to realize the short lived victory was to become an on going battle BY Karen Richardson In 1830, the constituency of Haldimand was formed, comprising Six Nations’ land located along the Grand River. In the first election, John Brant, son of Chief Joseph Brant, ran against Colonel John Warner of Fort Erie. Brant was successful, taking his seat in January 1831. However, Brant’s victory was short lived, as barely one month later, his election was challenged on a technicality. Most of Brant’s supporters were United Em-
Crossroads Antique Market
pire Loyalists whose land titles consisted of 999 year leases. Although these life leases were generally considered a freehold, a Parliamentary committee declared that those with 999 year leases were not eligible to vote. As a result, Brant was removed from Parliament after only 12 days, and replaced by Warren. Brant died a year later during the cholera epidemic. Ironically, Warren died from cholera a few days after Brant’s demise.
One of a Kind Antiques & Collectibles
97 Wilson St, Woodstock oneofakindantiquemall.com Paris Road Antiques
548 Paris Rd, Paris parisroadantiques.blogspot.com Ryerson Scully
35 Chatham St, Brantford Shadfly Antiques
19 St Andrew St, Port Dover Tillsonburg Antiques Plus
6 Old Vienna Rd, Tillsonburg Waterford Antique Market
80 B Alice St, Waterford waterfordantiquemarket.com Webster R Antiques
1146 Colborne St, E, Brantford
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Arts & CULTURE
Summer Loving
The reaction to summer’s arrival brings forth a joyous celebration, from both humanity and nature alike. Everything is brighter, happier and more fun… and how could it not be! The days are longer, the weather is better, and staying busy is not a difficult task. At Live Small Town, we love to promote community engagement and local connections, and one of the best ways to interact and sample your town’s culture, is by engaging in the Arts. 54 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Photo by David Hou, Artist Santee Smith, Production NeoIndigenA
One of the best ways to experience culture and broaden your horizons is through interpretive/performance dance, and there are a variety of schools and venues through which to get your fix. Santee Smith is one of Canada’s top choreographers and aboriginal dancers, and her new show Kaha:wi is truly a sight to behold. Combining equal parts athleticism, artistry, culture, energy and rhythm, Santee Smith Dance delivers an all-around performance unique to the dance industry. For show dates and information, visit santeesmithdance.com
5 X Country Music Award winners, British Columbia band The Washboard Union will be headlining at the annual music festival Hagersville Rocks July 22, 2017 at Grant Kett Memorial Ball Park in Hagersville
Panacci Pottery Simcoe panaccipottery.com Innovating the pottery game one stunning piece at a time, Joseph Panacci and his son Peter have been transforming the industry for over three decades. They utilize a unique wood-fired kiln, experimenting with different glazes and forms to produce some of the most one-of-a-kind offerings around. Check out their online gallery now!
Work Cabin Creative Simcoe ruralbig.ca Small town brand booster and rural champion Gregg McLachlan is no stranger to the challenges that rural businesses face as he himself, in a village of 150 folks, built a leading national online business by thinking big! Specializing in podcasts, branding, video and social media, ruralbig.ca may just be the place to get your venture kick-started.
Hagersville rocks If you’re looking for the perfect summer soundtrack, look no further than this year’s Hagersville Rocks concert event. Headlined by Canadian country sensations The Washboard Union, this year’s show also features The Redhill Valleys, Mudmen, Meghan Patrick, Freedom Train, and many more. Get your season kickstarted with a local musical celebration like no other! Visit hagersvillerocks.com for more information.
The Small Town Girls Langton If you love a great feel-good story, country music, and are amazed by raw, natural talent, then new sensation The Small Town Girls are definitely for you. Hannah, Haley and Cassie Van Maele are three Norfolk based sisters under the age of 15 (two of which are twins). Make sure to keep an eye out for these lovely ladies at this years summer music festivals.
Brantford Arts Block Brantford On September 9, the Block, along with Brantford, Brant, and Six Nations presents “Day on the Grand”, a 10hour celebration of local art and music along both banks of the river between the Armoury and the Civic Centre featuring circus acrobats, troubadours, musicians and slam poets, a brass quintet, a kayak demo, skateboarders, Lego, and various art.
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Rolling Field, oil on canvas, 24” x 36” 56 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Beach Body, mixed media on plywood, 24”x24”
Ranunculus Love, Acrylic on canvas, 36”x36”
kerry walford
Michael Barber
Melissa Schooley
Holly.O.
Cayuga kerrywalford.com I am an artist inspired by the rural Ontario landscape. I paint landscapes with playful brush strokes, lots of colour, and a focus on bringing beauty to the simple things. My hubby and I moved out to the small town of Cayuga nearly two years ago after falling in love with the 175-yearold English farmhouse that we call home today. We are excitedly planning several renovations to the home which include creating a studio and gallery space which will be open to public for workshops and shows. Can’t wait to see what the future has in store for this hidden gem of a town nestled between the Grand River and pastoral farm fields.
Port Dover thebarbergallery.ca I’ve been creating ever since I can remember. The inspiration for my work has come from my life and the lives of people close to me. Memories are never clear and my paintings reflect the layers that hide or protect our past, the things we cherish and the things we’d love to forget. Gouging and scratching is done with various hand tools, to scrape the work and expose the earlier layers to create a sense of time. The creation of a piece is a very physical activity. I get lost in the painting and struggle between layers, caught in a dilemma of exposure and protection. It’s an exhausting process and yet I find it so satisfying.
Windham Centre ragingbowlpottery.com A nerd at heart, my university career began in science at the University of Guelph. That didn’t exactly go as planned and within a year I switched to social science. This turned out to be another false start so after much soul searching I dropped out and decided to pour my energy and resources into art school to study ceramics - kind of crazy since I hadn’t taken an art class since grade 8. Four years at Emily Carr University and one Bachelor of Fine Arts later I returned to Ontario and set up shop. I have absolutely no regrets about the path I have chosen - though really, it feels more like the path chose me and I have never looked back!
Paris hollyo.ca My art has taken many twists and turns over time. Happily, I now find myself painting with an ever increasing level of artistic freedom (I’m guessing this comes with experience). My style might best be described as “loosely based on reality”. Palette knife painting with acrylic paint suits my style well and encourages a looser less detailed composition. Colour and texture with a dash of wild abandon are the key components of my art. Sometimes it seems like I’m having a little too much fun – but I can live with that! Everyday walks fill my creative reservoir and I am rarely at a loss for subject matter... my art is a celebration of the beauty that surrounds me.
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Arts & Culture THEATRE
As live theater continues to grow in popularity, lovers of the performing arts across Canada have begun noticing an emerging trend: big cities aren’t the only places to find a good show. Small towns and local theatres are churning out quality performances, and their well-known theater companies, and impressive resumes mean a trip to the theatre is even closer than you realize! Backstage Capitol Theatre
93 King St, Delhi backstagecapitol.com Open year round, this unique and historic venue plays host to live performances of Celtic, Folk, Vintage Rock & Roll, and a host of other genres! Lighthouse Festival Theatre Corp
247 Main St, Port Dover lighthousetheatre.com The theatre is open all year round for a variety of events, including concerts, public meetings, community fund raisers, dance recitals, workshops, band rehearsals and classes. The Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts
88 Dalhousie St, Brantford sandersoncentre.ca A vintage, vaudeville and silent movie theatre opened in 1919, this local gem showcases plays, classical music, dance and more. With seating for 1,125 guests, it is also the home to the Brantford Symphony Orchestra. Simcoe Little Theatre
33 Talbot St N, Simcoe simcoelittletheatre.org Open for 71 years, this community theatre offers a grand selection of drama, comedy and classics. Waterford Old Town Hall
76 Main St S, Waterford oldtownhall.org A restored historic building that boasts a 180-seat auditorium, the Waterford provides our communities with cultural diversity as a music, artistic and theatrical production venue. 58 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
GALLERIES
Nothing boosts your own personal creativity more than visiting art galleries. Akin to osmosis, being around art and in the company of creative folks, makes you feel more creative! Our small town communities are rich in this talent, and there is no better way to experience it than to pop into one of these local showcases.
Whether you Want cultural experiences, outdoor adventure, fantastic family fun, sporting events, or culinary delights, you’ll find it all When you
discover Brantford
Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant
20 Ava Rd, Brantford glenhyrst.ca Located in Glenhyrst Gardens, a beautifully landscaped sixteen-acre park on the banks of the Grand River, the gallery offers contemporary fine art exhibitions, guided tours, classes, lectures, events, and even an art rental service…not to mention their permanent collection of over 600 pieces!
Use Tourism Brantford’s helpful Trip Planner at discoverbrantford.com to create your perfect visit to Brantford and area.
The Black Wall Art Gallery
3 Elm St, Unit 2, Paris theblackwallgallery.ca This gallery recently opened, and has quickly become the place in the community to shop for one-of-a-kind, Canadian pieces. Artists are featured in a variety of disciplines, including acrylics, oils, water colours, glass, metal, wood, pottery and mixed media. The Oak Gallery
313 Main St, Port Dover theoakgallery.com This new gallery offers the work of both local artists and those from afar, showcasing metal, wax, acrylic, glass, ceramic, wood, watercolour, oil and ink artistic creations.
• Is Everyone Canoeing Without Me? • Why’d they put Drake in a wheelchair? • How do you get #JustinTrudeauHair?
Two Turtles Iroquois Fine Art Gallery
Brant County Hwy 54, Ohsweken twoturtle.ca This modest gallery brings you the best of Iroquois culture and symbolism, celebrating nature in the form of original paintings, soapstone sculptures, limited edition acrylic prints, Giclée prints and lithographs. If you have an artistic idea or passion, let us know! At Live Small Town, community participation is not only welcomed, it is desired. Help us stay in touch with new ventures and old, change makers and folks that help build us up. kate@livesmalltownmag.ca
Available from your favourite bookseller
dundurnpress
@dundurnpress
dundurn.com
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 59
Out & About
Summer means longer days, warmer weather and more excuses to get outside. It is the season to recharge batteries and search out the treasure trove of things to see and activities to do in our communities. The sky’s the limit when it comes to natural beauty and outdoor adventure, so, grab your fishing rod, pack your bathing suit or dust of your hiking boots - the great outdoors are calling! 60 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Nancy Domsic Kings - olliandella.com
NATURE CALLS
Sweet Spot
From the earliest of times, cultures believed that honey was a gift from the gods & We still know it to be true today. A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left inside. Winnie The Pooh
The European honey bee introduced into North America in the early 1600s, is often what people visualize when they think about bees. Many are unaware that 4,000+ different species of bees are residing here and are busy going about their work of pollinating and sipping the nectar from flowers.
VANESSA’S BEES
vanessasbees.com Put on your beekeeping suit and head over to the apiary to have an up-close look at the world of honey bees and what it’s like to be a beekeeper. Learn the inner workings of the beehive and how every bee has an important role to keep the colony thriving. Meet Vanessa and the honey bees of Whistling Gardens in her garden apiary tour, enjoy her tour and workshop at Long Point Eco-Adventures or adopt a hive during one of her Bee School Tours with Grand River Rafting and of course don’t forget to savour a sweet treat!
BAKED APPLE MEAD
The Ontario Beekeepers’ Association
ontariobee.com Established in 1881, the OBA is one of the oldest established farm centred organizations in Ontario and represents more then 3000 beekeepers. The Association works hard to protect bees from the impact of neonicotinoid pesticides, diseases and habitat loss and to support bee-positive public policies, but we all place a role in keeping these little ones flush in nectar.
Operation Pollinator™
brantfordgolfandcountryclub.com Since 2014 Brantford Golf and Country Club has been working with Syngenta Canada Inc. on a pilot project to transform out-ofplay areas into improved habitats for bees and other pollinators. The program, named Operation Pollinator™, is designed to boost the number of pollinating insects on golf courses.
allornothing.beer Trafalgar Ales, Meads & Distillery is a craft brewery based in Oakville that specializing in uniquely brewed small batches of beer. For those who have not tried a mead before, Apple Baked Mead is a wonderful option for something that is sweet but not as thick as a traditional mead. The malt flavour is enhanced with the distinct taste of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and of course, Norfolk County apples and Ontario wildflower honey.
Honeybees are herbivores and not aggressive creatures. They only use their stinger when threatened. Most folks are stung by the nasty yellow jackets or wasps. Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. SUMMER 2017 61
OUT ORDINARY
Just itching to get outside? Before you do, make sure you arm yourself with a sober dose of the wisdom of returning rash free. BY JOANNE McDONALD Leaflets three, let it be� is catchy and sound advice — advice I wish that I had received before I bedded down, one fateful morn a few weeks back, into a mass of Poison Ivy. It was quite innocent as I only wanted to get a better look at a lovely assembly of fungi that I had spotted nestled against a tree along the Grand. Bad move. Two 62 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
weeks latter, I am still itching with both legs wrapped in tensor bandages and maxi pads to absorb the ooze and cushion my torment as I spend most of the day horizontal on the couch moaning. In telling this story, the last thing I want to do is encourage folks to never dawn a pair of short pants or forgo strolling through our bountiful
woodlots. I wanted to shine a light on a brood of rash causing plants that you should avoid - Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac. I also wanted to encourage everyone to educate themselves and to remember what these plants look like so that you can identify and most importantly avoid them. You should also become familiar with the safe and effective ways to treat rashes in case you do come into fortuitous contact with them. Above all enjoy outdoors but look before you squat!
MAIN photo courtesy Ontario Tourism
OF THE
Poison Ivy
Poison ivy is easy to identify if you put aside that it looks like every other leaf around! Congregated in three pointed leaves, typically the centre leaf is longer than the other two and at times they can have smooth edges or be sawtoothed like a knife. As the seasons change leaves can be red, green and even slightly yellow.
Poison Oak
A leafy shrub that can grow up to six feet tall. In shady areas, the plant can climb like a vine. The leaves usually have three separate leaflets, but there can be up to nine leaflets grouped together. Like poison ivy and poison sumac, poison oak releases an oil that causes an allergic when it absorbs into the skin.
Poison Sumac
While poison sumac is rarer in comparison to the other nasty members of its rash causing family, it is often found in wooded, swampy areas and we are spoilt for choice there! With 7 to 13 leaflets on each stem, the leaves have smooth edges and pointed tips. Growing as a shrub or small tree.
What should you do if come in contact with any of these dreaded plants? Wash any areas of skin you think may have come in contact with the plant with soap and cold water. Cold water is used because hot water open the pores, increasing the chances that the resin will be deeply absorbed into your skin. This may not nip a reaction in the bud, but it will most likely prevent the infection from spreading. If a reaction does advance, it is best that you see your doctor for medical care. The skin inflammation (red irritation, itching, blisters and, in serious cases, oozing sores) will normally fade away within one to two weeks.
VIRGINIA CREEPER
Often mistaken for Poison Ivy, this is not a poisonous plant. Even though I always do a double take when I see that it has creeped into my gardens. However it can be distinguished by its compound leaf composed of five leaflets compared to poison ivys three dreaded leaflets.
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Recreation & Adventure
truly magical Lynneee the Chatelaine welcomes you to Clonmel Castle. We specialize in business and corporate retreats, meetings and dinners, high tea and special events. Book for Christmas now. Don’t miss Christmas at the Castle!
GOLF Brant County • Arrowdale Public Golf Course • Brantford Golf & Country Club • Brantford Indoor Golf Club • Brant Valley Golf Club • Burford Golf Links • GolfNorth Properties • Heron Point Golf Links • Northfield Golf Centre • Northridge Public Golf Course • Mystic Golf Club • Paris Grand Golf Course • The Oaks of St George Golf Club
150 ProsPect street Port Dover 519.583.0519 clonmelcastle.ca
Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.
Haldimand County • Cayuga Golf Club • Coral Creek Golf & Country Club • Dunnville Golf & Country Club • Freedom Oaks Golf Club • Highland Mini-Golf • MontHill Golf and Country Club • Sandusk Golf Club • The Dunnville Golf and Country Club Norfolk County • Fescue’s Edge Golf Club • Greens At Renton • Lynn Meadows Golf Club • Norfolk Golf & Country Club • Pine Valley Golf Club • Sandusk Golf Club • Springview Farm Golf Course • The Links at Dover Coast • Woodside Greens Golf Park TRAILS Brant County
Stress does not just go away...it accumulates. Make hot stone massage therapy a regular part of your personal health plan. CONTACT PATRICIA HOWDEN PORT RYERSE 226-206-1372
64 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Brant has a trail system that is envied the world over, and our network of trails and pathways is used by walkers, hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders alike. Check out some of the most popular trails below, as well as some of the lesser-known gems (our personal favorites). For more information, visit brant.ca • Mill Trail (GRCA) • Burford Lion’s Way • Grand Valley Trail (GVTA) • Green Lane Park
• Hamilton to Brantford Trail (GRCA) • LE & N Rail Trail • Mt.Pleasant Walking Tour • Mt.Pleasant Nature Park • Nith River Trail • Paris to Cambridge • S.C. Johnson Trail (GRCA) • TH & B Rail Trail
Brant, Haldimand & norfolk Community information dataBase
info-bhn.ca
Haldimand County
Haldimand is home to some of the most spectacular and scenic hiking trails around, many found along the Grand River and in our local parks and conservation areas. For more information, visit haldimandcounty.on.ca
search for information on • Housing • Health Services • Children & Youth Services • Seniors’ Services • Home Care • Government Programs • Libraries • Recreation • Service Clubs • Mental Health Services • Counselling • Financial & Social Assistance • Disability Support Programs • Newcomer Services • Food Banks • Parenting & Family Programs • Employment Services • Transportation Services
• Blue Heron Way • Chippewa Trail • Kinsmen Park Walkway • Patterson Walkway • Ramsay Walkway • Rotary Riverside Trail • Thistlemoor Park Pathway • Thompson Creek Restoration • Townsend Recreation Trail Norfolk County
Norfolk has a stunning selection of trails that takes you through an array of wetlands, grasslands, forests and farmer’s fields. Come visit us and explore landscapes that you have never been to before, while experiencing all the amazing adventures this county has to offer! For more information, visit norfolktrails.ca • Andy and Helen Spriet Trail • Backus Woods • Big Creek National Wildlife Area • Brook Conservation Area • Delhi Rail Trail • Hay Creek Conservation Area • Lynn Valley Trail • Long Point Eco-Adventures and
InspIre Create MotIvate Kids & adult Classes Birthday parties Day camps
Burning Kiln Winery • Long Point Provincial Park • Norfolk Sunrise Trail • Port Rowan Wetlands • St Williams Conservation Reserve • Sutton Conservation Area • Turkey Point Provincial Park • Woodlots in Norfolk County • Waterford Heritage Trail
518 Main Street, Port Dover
226-567-5500
308 Grand River St N, Paris • petvalu.com
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Where did you grow up? I grew up on Six Nations, which is one of Canada’s largest Indigenous Reservations. I am a Mohawk, and the grandson of Hall of Fame Lacrosse player Ross Powless. My uncle Gaylord Powless was also just inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. What is your community’s best kept secret? Our heritage, and the history on Six Nations. We have the Mohawk Chapel, which is the oldest Chapel in Ontario; we have Pauline Johnson House, which is now a museum; we have many well known artists like Jay Silverheels (who played the original, “Tonto” in the Lone Ranger series), Academy Award Nominee Graham Green, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Musician Robbie Robertson, etc are all from Six Nations. Beyond that, we have the Grand River, which is beautiful. What was the biggest influence in helping you break into the U.S. Top 40 with “Free to Fly”? Ever since I can remember, I have always dreamed big. I have always wanted to hone my talent to the point where I could hit the billboard charts or perform at the Grammy’s one day. But in the back of
jace Martin
The 5-time award winning R&B/Soul artist has come a long way through hard work and skill But knows the key to his success is never to forget where his journey started 66 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
my mind, I was not sure if it was really going to happen. I have been writing music for nearly twenty years, and what it really took was for me to evolve, lyrically and vocally. I went back to what made me happy: Pop/Soul/R&B was what I loved, so I wrote using my love of those sounds, and it took off! How do you think your hometown/community influenced your career? My community allowed me to dream big. I always had support from my family and community organizations; when I needed travel money, or music equipment...someone always stepped up. The local radio station and newspapers always covered and celebrated my career accomplishments, which I am truly grateful for. But the main thing is my Indigenous heritage of storytelling, performance and perspective that shapes my music. Who in your hometown/community influenced your career the most? My family. My mom, who noticed I was a singer from early on, and realized I had no outlet on Six Nations at the time. So she found me a great mentor in Toronto, by the name of Salome Bey, who is known as “The Queen of Jazz & Blues” in Canada. She supported me, while taking care of my other 6 siblings. So she, for sure, deserves a lot of the credit. If you were to describe the current music scene in Canada in one word, what would it be and why? Vibrant. When I look at any genre, they are all flourishing with amazing talent, young and old. There is room for everyone, and many festivals to provide artists a platform. What advice would you give young Canadian musicians? Hone your talent; strive to be the best you can be, without competing with anyone. There is no one like you on the earth, so own it and never give up. Confidence in yourself is key; be prepared, practice and believe! The number one thing to remember is, your talent will make room for you, but your character will keep you there.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Tiffany I. Smith
OUR TOWN
tourism@brant.ca • brant.ca/tourism
@branttourism
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