{cherish} FALL 2019
Giving Thanks It has been four years since County of Brant’s bravest resident Desiray was officially in remission.
top-notch Attractions, Art, entertainment, FOOD, DRINK, history and Outdoor Adventures. It is Just down the Road AND around the bend in Beautiful Southwestern Ontario.
Live it for a day... Live it for a lifetime!
Your FREE Guide to Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk, Brantford, Oxford, NEW CREDIT, six nations of the grand river + Southwest’s Bucket list must do! / Super Foodies / Living History, Outdoors, Arts & Culture GALORE + A mag Chock-a-block full of local lovelies!
Study in your own backyard and enjoy the benefitS of a Small campuS!
Small class sizes • State-of-the-art facilities • Easy access to faculty and support Adventure Expeditions and Interpretive Leadership Agri-Business Management Developmental Services Worker (Finish in only 1 year!) Starts every 6 weeks
Early Childhood Education (Finish in only 1 year!) Starts every 6 weeks Esthetics Food Service Worker Starts every 6 weeks Health Care Office Assistant Starts every 6 weeks
Office Administration – Executive (New) Personal Support Worker Professional Office Essentials Social Service Worker (Fast track also available) Welding Techniques
Stop by to see the campus, meet our student services team, learn the advantages (and cost savings) to studying locally, and get help applying! 634 ireland road, Simcoe, on n3y 4k8 | 519-426-8260 simcoe@fanshawec.ca | fanshawec.ca/simcoe @fanshawesimcoe 2 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 3
Offering state Of the art technOlOgy and treatment sOlutiOns in Brant cOunty’s largest spOrts medicine and cOncussiOn clinic. fOcused On Bringing tOgether an elite team Of prOfessiOnals whO are ready tO serve all yOur healthcare needs! We offer 24-48 hour care for all athletes Who are hurt in a game! Chiropractic Physiotherapy Massage Therapy Naturopathic Medicine Osteopath Counselling
Orthotics Advanced Footcare Family Medicine Extremity Bracing Nutritional Supplements
Laser Therapy Acupuncture Athletic Therapy Concussion testing Neurotracker Software
Injection Clinic Rehab Gym facility Vision Therapy Vestibular Therapy
it is VerY important to get into the clinic as soon as possible after a concussion.
Our start to finish Concussion management team will get your athlete back to sport and school as soon and as safely as possible! Despite prevention strategies, head injuries will still occur. Regardless of when the injury occurred, and how long you have been dealing with the injury, we can help! Our clinic specializes in all types of Concussion and Post Concussion Care. We focus on the team approach to healthcare and determine precisely where we need to focus with each and every patient that enters the clinic. If you have ANY questions or concerns about your athlete, please call us as soon as possible, we are here to help! We offer COMPLIMENTARY consultations with all healthcare providers!
Chiropractic 519-442-2237 Physiotherapy 519-302-2000 Concussion and TBI Clinic 519-442-2237 Naturopathic Medicine 519-442-2237 Counselling and Psychotherapy 519-442-2237 1084 Rest Acres Rd. Units 7 & 8, Paris cobblestonemedicineandrehab.com 4 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
What’s inside
COVER PHOTO BY Marc Douglas - marcdouglas.ca CONTENTS PHOTO BY Nancy Domsic Kings - olliandella.com
Live Small Town / FALL 2019
18
22
42
48
Small Town Changemakers Meet some of the people, places and businesses making a difference in your community and learn how you can help.
Let’s Get Social There is never a shortage of praise for Live Small Town magazine with so many local loving folks reaching out via social media. Here are just a few of our faves!
Super Foodies Have you ever stopped to think about where your food comes from and how healthy it is? These folks have and they are looking at life differently.
Small Town Sunday Jay Perry’s Ultimate Insider’s Guide highlights what to eat, buy, explore and indulge in around Ontario Southwest.
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 5
What’s inside
10
62
Team Magic Every dream begins with a plan, and our current magazine would like to introduce you to the team of talented folks who helped to make Live Small Town possible.
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.
20
76
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.
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.
54
82
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!
Our Town Yet again, another inspired small town fella tells an up-close and personal story of how he followed his dreams and accomplished goals through the love and support of a small town
6 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Nancy Domsic Kings - olliandella.com
Live Small Town / FALL 2019
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 Limitedavailability availabilityfor for Documentary Documentary Lifestyle Lifestyle Photo Limited Photo Sessions Sessionsinin2017. 2019. Email Email info@olliandella.com info@olliandella.comto tobook bookyour yoursession sessiontoday! today!olliandella.com olliandella.com Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 7
FALL VOL. 3 NO. 3 PhotographERS
Tara Carpenter, Nancy Domsic Kings, Marc Douglas, Tim Goodale, jonoandlaynie.com, Jay Perry, Jack Salole, Spicy Jan, Erika Strada, Nicole VanQuaethem, Writers
Prominent Homes is family owned and oPerated. eacH of our Projects is built on tHe foundation of trust and our customers know tHat tHeir new Home,
Tara Carpenter, Donna Ferrawey, Nancy Howden-Cowell, JR Gallarza, Tim Goodale, Spicy Jan, Kerri Kelly-Parkinson, Kerstein Mallon, Sandy Marincic, Adrianna Michell, Emmalee Nother, Jay Perry, Kari Raymer Bishop, Tara Shannon, Kate Sharrow, Erika Strada, Barbara Sutherland Rusnak, Jules Torti, Lacie Williamson, Nicole VanQuaethem, Sara Moody Veldhuis, Jennifer Villamere, Tim Zwart PROOFREADER
Jennifer Villamere
cottage or office is built witH quality and care. SOCIAL MEDIA
Nancy Howden-Cowell, Donna Ferrawey, Sarah Gurney, Patricia Howden, Kerstein Mallon, Kerri Kelly-Parkinson, Tara Shannon, Kate Sharrow, Erika Strada Small town Gal/Owner/ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Kerri Kelly-Parkinson kerri@livesmalltownmag.ca SALES TEAM
Sarah Gurney sarah@livesmalltownmag.ca Rhonda Arnott rhonda@livesmalltownmag.ca Tara Shannon tara@livesmalltownmag.ca
This award winning townhouse condo development is located in Waterford’s prestigious Yin Subdivision. Our 1475-sq-ft bungalow designs offer a spacious layout while enjoying the perks of condo living with the luxuries found in a single-family home.
Over the next three years we will be building 37 estate homes on Newport Lane in Somerset Subdivision, one of the most desired areas of Port Dover. Many of these lots back on to the wooded area of the Black Creek Conservation and other lots have walk-out options with seasonal creek views.
Development has continued in this Simcoe subdivision behind Holy Trinity High School. Prominent has purchased 10 of the most opportune lots to build on starting in 2019. Contact us today to design and build your custom home.
prominenthomesont.com 519-426-9186 8 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Small town Gal/Owner/ Art Director/Editor/ PUBLISHER
Kate Sharrow kate@livesmalltownmag.ca Live Small Town Magazine is printed four times a year and distributed throughout Southern Ontario via various tourist associations, related services, retail locations and home distribution. Copyright 2019 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.
A YeAr round Club
Feel the comraderie in our curling leagues during the winter and the friendly sportsmanship on the golf course in the summer! Our rocks will hit the button when it comes to your curling needs! Competitive, Recreational, Mixed and Little Rock leagues available.
DINING • CURLING • GOLF
It’s Where You Really Belong... 60 Ava Road, Brantford, Ontario 519-752-3731 matt@brantfordgolf-cc.com
brantfordgolfandcountryclub.com Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 9
Team Magic
Authentic people, engaging stories and a sense of community 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! 10 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Emmalee Nother
KERRI KELLY-PARKINSON
livesmalltownmag.ca Ohhhh September! The summer heat wave is subsiding, the leaves are changing colour, there is a chill in the air and come on, we all know the kids are back at school... quiet cheers! The fast pace is winding down and I must say, being back on a schedule is kind of nice. I can park the Mom Uber now and focus on the next issue of Live without hearing “Hey Mom” constantly ringing in my ear! (Secretly I miss it). Cheers to fall and all it will bring you and your loved ones. I wish you all love, happiness and laughter.
Rhonda Arnott
Born and raised in Hamilton, I often visited my grandparents in Selkirk. Who knew that Jarvis would one day be my ‘home sweet home’? I live here with my handsome and lovable husband and our sweet dog Kobe. For 20 years, I worked in executive sales and always had an entrepreneurial heart so five years ago I took a leap and opened Ty-Kobee Tea & Coffee Co in Port Dover. I am super excited to join the sales team of Live Small Town Magazine while focusing on Norfolk area. Being in business myself, I know how important the right advertising is. You never want to be a ‘hidden gem’! If you want to take your brand to the next level, send me an email at rhonda@livesmalltownmag.ca. Can’t wait to help you shine!!
KATE SHARROW
livesmalltownmag.ca Yet again, summer seems to have passed us by so quickly! Thank God! Yes, I enjoyed the flowers, and chatting with neighbours as they passed my veranda-based office but what I struggled with was building a publication jam-packed with mouthwatering food, while bound and determined to “release” the unwanted cushioning off my rump. I don’t think you realize how much I contend with to bring this publication to you. I am constantly defending my waistline from bakers, chocolatiers, chefs, brewers and winemakers! It is not easy but I gladly do it for community!
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.
J.C. VILLAMERE
villamere.com I live in Hamilton where there’s a guy who has fashioned a dog sled out of a shopping cart and he mushes his team through the GO Station parking lot after dark. This magazine helps people like me get out of Hamilton to encounter nature in a more rural setting. Buy my national best-seller, Is Canada Even Real?
Sandy Marincic
sandy@ubenefit.ca I’m an avid motorcyclist, world traveller, cook, artist, woodworker and thinker, and I am slowly learning that all opinions needn’t be shared. The way we humans mesh with one another (or not), and how we mess with nature (or not) is a fascinating jigsaw puzzle. I am on the floor looking for the missing pieces – they must be somewhere, no? I also own Benefact Benefit Consultants, where I encourage my employer/employee clients to work as a team; when people enjoy shared goals and work towards them together, success follows. All of the above is based on the ability to care.
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 my two sweet dogs Bella and 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. FALL 2019 11
Spicy Jan
YOuR FuTuRe iS JuST aROunD THe CORneR!
From small business loans to business planning and coaching, we can help your business in Southwestern Ontario get on the fast track to success!
BuSineSS LOanS up to $250,000 to start, expand, or reposition your business. Equipment purchases, renovations, inventory and working capital can all be financed. BuSineSS COunSeLLing helps business operators combine knowledge and experience with sound business management principles and free one-on-one consulting is available.
Let’s Talk Business
tastyroadtrips.com I raised my kids to appreciate cuisine and give food flavours a chance. They were always keen to try, given no preconceived idea of what dishes should taste like and why they might not enjoy it. Now as adults I smile as they share their cooking and dining experiences both at home and abroad. As I as I grew up with a very bland and inexperienced palate, I find even still that food brings out a curiosity in me. I enjoy how food brings people together and inspires a creative side, from preparing ingredients to plating a dish. I find it soothing to listen to recipes being read, ingredients being shared and increments detailed. More and more I am using my Google Assistant in the kitchen, asking for recipes ideas on the go, listening to the options given, how to prepare details and having my personal assistant guide me through each dish preparation step by step. NANCY DOMSIC KINGS
olliandella.com I was born with a wild imagination. My mother was naturally very creative, so I grew up painting, planting, sewing, baking and creating so many creative things. The second I picked up my first camera I became obsessed with capturing all 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. Erika Strada
Colleen Cardiff
Serving Brant County 519-752-4636
enterprisebrant.com
Robert Manning
Bert Krikke
Serving West Lincoln and Haldimand County 905-765-5005
Serving Norfolk County 519-428-2323
granderie.com
venturenorfolk.ca
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, riding around on a hog in tight pants as a crime fighting, super cop. I am a small town gal, living a simple life and stopping often to smell the flowers.
Adrianna Michell
The summers spent on my grandparents’ 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. Nicole VanQuaethem
simplynicnutrition.com As a registered holistic nutritionist, culinary nutrition expert and owner of Simply Nic Nutrition, I focus on empowering people to make healthy choices. I have my masters of science in rural planning and development where I focused most of my research on local food systems, agri tourism, culinary tourism and food access. Combining my passion for nutrition and local food, I teach people to eat within the seasons and to become connected to food. In my free time, when not in the kitchen testing recipes, I love getting outside, and cuddling and exploring with my little dog Chloe. Kari Raymer Bishop
A born nurturer, I love to help make anything grow and am happiest when I am investing in the growth of my child, garden, students or community. I am a teacher, beekeeper, writer, activist, and general nuisance. After traveling all over the world, I have found my home in Paris, where I live with a kind professor, a wild child and a sweet dog. Tim Zwart
timjzwart.com I have always embraced 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, I love poutine but not maple syrup, and love sports but not hockey. I am a publishing veteran, magazine editor and author. My first book, Reload: Changing the Way We View Guns in America, is available on Amazon.
Everything Under One Roof
We offer AIR MILES® Reward Miles ®™ Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Co., Bell City Carpet One Floor & Home.
106 COPERNICUS BLVD • BRANTFORD • CARPETONE.CA
Serving the Brantford Area for 50 Years Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 13
A family owned business that offers
A Complete pACkAge
Sara Moody Veldhuis
I’m a classically-trained trombonist and singer, a photographer, and in my daily life, I teach music to teenagers-and love it! I’ve been a JUNOS judge, floated an orchestra on a barge, and have secrets about Celine Dion that I will take to my grave. From a young age I’ve lived life on “max”: at 12 I went solo to Japan, toured Europe with a band in high school, and met my husband in an orchestra when we were 17. Together we’ve made a great life with our two kids and a bunch of kitties (want one!?), on our little patch of paradise: a farm in Haldimand County. Sarah Gurney
I was born and raised big city, but am now a self-made small townee. I live for weekends wandering shops, parks, and pretty places with my funny husband and son duo. When I have a spare moment not chasing my twoyear-old, you can find me picking at my guitar, baking something yummy, or tackling a messy reno project around the house! I am also one of the newest teammates at Live Small Town magazine! If you are in the Brantford/Paris area and have an interest in becoming one of our beloved and valued advertising partners, please give me a call at 226-220-7340 or email me at sarah@ livesmalltownmag.ca For over 35 years, Antler Services Inc. has been providing exceptional service and knowledgeable insight to home owners, businesses and larger industries. Starting as a small pest control business run by brothers Syd and Dan Antler, it wasn’t long before they expanded into other areas, such as landscaping, lawn maintenance, and small engine repairs. Our customers and quality workmanship has remained our main focus over the years, and our entire team works tirelessly to ensure complete satisfaction. No matter what your needs, our ongoing mission is to provide the best service possible. • LANDSCAPING • LAWN CARE • LAWN CUTTING • SNOW REMOVAL • ALL SEASON MAINTENANCE • SMALL ENGINE SALES & REPAIRS • PEST CONTROL • GARDEN CENTRE
40 Roy Blvd, Brantford 519-753-6433
antlerservices.com
14 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Donna Ferrawey
I’m an excursionist! Since I was young, I loved to explore all of the areas around me. My husband Jim and I go for “Drive Abouts.” That means jumping in the car, set to wander aimlessly. We find some of the most interesting places when we don’t know our destination, sometimes getting lost. Small towns, big towns, country lanes, and everything in between is where we wander. It’s fun finding new and interesting places to share with you. At home on the shore of Lake Erie, I love spending time with my husband, my armload of kids, grandchildren, my cat Murri, and my BFFs.
Tara Shannon
I moved from Burlington to small-town life several years ago. It was a bit of an adjustment and when I say small town, I actually mean rural Hagersville. My closest neighbours are cows and buffalo. No longer could I pop out my front door and find all of the latest conveniences at my finger tips. But, you know what!? I love it now. There are so many wonderful businesses out here offering everything I could want. I’m a cook by trade and I love to write too, and out here where the buffalo do in fact roam, I have inspiration galore! From rolling farm landscapes, to Lake Erie, the Grand River, and hiking trails. The fresh produce, cheese, honey, grass fed and organic meats. Not to mention the locally produced wine, beer, and cider. Everything within minutes of my home. I am in heaven. As one of the newest sales gals to join the Live Small Town magazine crew, I look forward to meeting you! If you are in Haldimand County and want to become one of our advertising partners, please send me an email at tara@livesmalltownmag.ca
BRANTFORD
Mohawk Park
Jules Torti
Jules Torti is the author of Free to a Good Home: With Room For Improvement (Caitlin Press). She is the editorin-chief of Harrowsmith magazine and writes about the best things in life (birds, burgers, beaches, beer: in no particular order) for Cottage Life, FASHION, realtor.ca’s Living Room and Grand magazine. Torti has been published in The Vancouver Sun, The Globe and Mail, Massage Therapy Canada and Coast Mountain Culture magazine. In other lives she has made breakfast for 26 chimpanzees in the Congo and illustrated colouring books for the Jane Goodall Institute and the Dian Fossey Foundation. Her next book is under construction and will retrace Torti’s experience walking the Camino de Santiago from St. JeanPied-de-Port, France to Finisterre (“The End of the World”), Spain.
Bell Homestead National Historic Site
Brantford Symphony Orchestra
Whether you want cultural experiences, outdoor adventure, fantastic family fun, sporting events, or culinary delights, you’ll find it all in Brantford - the big city with a small town feel. Visit us in person or online to plan your trip.
discoverbrantford.com BRANTFORD VISITOR & TOURISM CENTRE 399 WAYNE GRETZKY PARKWAY • BRANTFORD 1-800-265-6299 Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 15
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 father of two children, I am a proud supporter of all things involving childhood cancer. I believe in enjoying all the little moments, because you never know what tomorrow brings. Jay Perry
jayperry.ca Over the last eight years, besides working as a photographer, 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 and my adventures on Instagram. I have some exciting ideas coming up and I can’t wait to show everyone the beauty that resides in our small towns. I also started a charity called Friends With Heart, that has raised $148,146.22 and provided 2100+ children with positive memories in an attempt to restore the magic of Christmas to them and their families.
DIG - SLEEP - WAKE - REPEAT Groundhog Daylighting is a family owned and operated, full service Hydrovac company, based in Brantford Ontario. Our non-destructive hydro-excavation is essential to provide safe and efficient underground construction and has quickly become the preferred method in urban areas with excessive infrastructure. Our goal is to provide every customer with a worry free excavation experience by safely locating and protecting
any buried lines on the job site such as water, gas, hydro, fibre optic and communications cables. Contact us for a quote from our team of professionals who are committed to competitive pricing, while delivering safe and effective excavation services! We make light of heavy work! Email us at info@groundhogdaylighting.com or give us a call at 519-759-4430
groundhogdaylighting.com
16 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
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. If you have ideas for the mag or would like to join our team, please feel free to reach out kate@livesmalltownmag.ca.
LET’S GET SOCIAL!!! With over 6260+ followers on twitter, 4100+ on Facebook, AND 1500+ On Instagram, there was no shortage of praise for our LAST issue of Live Small Town Magazine. Here are just a few of our Faves! @JulieMarchese Everyone is so excited and looks forward to next edition. Love this magizine so much! @BeckyAnn I love this magazine!!! So many wonderful articles and photos that show just how wonderful small towns are! I have learned so much about different non-profit organizations, local activities and places to visit. @CathyBarzo A beautiful glossy magazine showcasing rural and small town living and the talent of its residents. A great resource if you want to set off on a day trip. @KellyBulbeck Ahem... browsing though your Facebook page has led me to more lovely places to visit! Thanks so much! Love it!!! @DaleVecero This magazine gives you all you need to know to experience what we have to offer in Haldimand-Norfolk. Lots of great articles on local eateries and things to do. We always look forward to each issue. It’s great to showcase what we have locally. Great job to everyone involved. @JennyEmary-Charron Just wanted to reach out!! Keep doing what your doing, love reading your posts. @lindadinga I totally love your magazine. It confirms to me that I live in God’s country. I wish I had raised my kids here, there is so much for them. I see most of you are young people and can do a lot of the hiking, eating and traveling without aching, LOL. @LisaBurdett Good morning, I am a tourism counsellor at the Brantford Visitor Centre. Your magazine is very popular with our residents and visitors to the area. We had someone in today looking for the new magazine that was published this month. Could you please drop off some copies of the newest magazine at your convenience. @pamelahussey Hello! Enjoyed your magazine. Picked it up while visting friends in Brantford. I love to day trip! @earthlydelightsmp Good morning all and happy Saturday afternoon! SO.... I have some pretty big news to share on here, and I have been waiting for the right time to share. So since it’s a cloudy/rainy/dreary/cold not so kinda great Saturday in June, here goes; EARTHLY DELIGHTS IS OFFICIALLY IN LIVE SMALL TOWN MAGAZINE!!
Stone for the heart of your home
Brantford Granite & Quartz is a local family-owned and operated business in lovely Paris, Ontario, which carries an impressive array of natural stone in our 5,000-sq.-ft. showroom. We are committed to providing products and services that are competitively priced and of superior quality. Let our experienced staff guide you through designing your dream. From start to finish, we take pride in ensuring that your final product is perfectly crafted and will last the test of time and add value to not only your home but also your life! 535 Paris Rd, Paris 519-442-1400
bgq.ca
We would like to thank all of our advertising partners who have made Live Small Town magazine possible! If you would like to join this amazing team, please contact Kerri Kelly-Parkinson at kerri@livesmalltownmag.ca
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 17
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 smalltown 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.
Maximus Marino aka “Moosy” I believe that angels come in all forms and fashions. I wanted to pay tribute to a very special furry angel, Maximus Marino, who blessed this world for almost 18 years and left us on August 23. Max was an amazing fur baby to my best friends Jody and John. He gave unconditional love in the highest form. He touched the lives of everyone he met. Jody, I am proud of you for putting your life on hold to care for Max in his time of need. What an amazing gift of love for all of you to share for so many years. Big hugs and run with the bunnies Max! KKP
3
Changemakers 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 Donna Ferrawey
Sensitive Santa Brantford & County of Brant sensitivesanta.org Not all children are able to handle the lights, noise, and crowds at the local mall. Here is a brilliant solution. Sensitive Santa offers a sensory-friendly way for children to have a Santa experience without fear and extreme anxiety. Brant County and Brantford will offer time with Sensitive Santa in December. They require early pre-registration. Email fairbrant@brant.ca or contact County of Brant for information.
Nancy Howden-Cowell Port Ryerse Sometimes you notice there are changemakers right under your nose. That’s the case with Live Small Town mag’s very own Nancy Howden-Cowell. She goes about her busy life, writing articles, delivering mags, helping her grand daughter Nikki at Art With Heart and loving everything local. She also bakes pies! This year was the first year in a long time that Nancy did not volunteer to feed musicians at the annual Fred Eaglesmith Charity Picnic (she was too swamped) but she still made her pie and it was auctioned for hundreds of dollars alongside her sister Pat’s pie. The money goes to Operation Smile to help children and adults in developing countries who need facial surgeries or repair of a cleft pallet. We really don’t need to do something big to be a changemaker. Just look at your own talents and share them with others!
marcdouglas.ca
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Home Grown
Behind every good person, there has usually been some good food. At Live Small Town, we’d like to celebrate both by 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!
PHOTO BY Marc Douglas - marcdouglas.ca
Heart’s Content Farm Brantford heartscontentfarm.nationbuilder.com Started in 2007, Heart’s Content Farm in Brant County became certified organic in 2014. Owner and naturopathic doctor Richard Tunstall works with new farmers to grow a bountiful variety of heirloom vegetables, fruit and medicinal herbs. Along with the plentiful produce, you’ll often see their Belgian work horses, several sheep and a donkey on the grounds helping with various chores. Reducing their use of tractors and fossil fuels, keeping their carbon footprint as minimal as possible. This helps keep the farm off the grid and sustainable, something everyone on the farm takes to heart. Heart’s Content also provides weekly produce boxes filled to the brim with their delicious, organic vegetables. For over a decade, these boxes have been delivered all over Ontario to families for a weekly fee. Imagine beautiful local, organic vegetables, fruits and herbs delivered to your door once a week!
Jan’s Tasty Road Trips
Our ever-growing food scene just keeps expanding. This has foodies in larger cities pretty envious, making this their choice dining destination! BY Spicy Jan As photos of everyday dishes inspire followers, it was exciting to road trip and taste our way through food deemed ‘too pretty to eat.’ At every visit, I love that breathtaking moment when a plate arrives and you gasp
at its beauty. I found myself questioning, “can I really eat this masterpiece?” No, not yet! First, savour the moment. Explore the colours and fragrances simmering from layers of flavour. Create an image of
the anticipated sensation in your mind and on your phone. The beauty of the dish is what seals that ‘love at first sight’ connection. Then, the first taste on the tongue of crunch, sweet, sour, or salty... that first mouthful is what takes the dish to the next level of pleasing the palate and creating a memory. With all this culinary talent, I had the desire to witness the curation of these delish dishes before diving in for that first beautiful bite.
Jan loves curating tour experiences to tempt the senses with local food and beverages. Email info@ tastyroadtrips.com or visit tastyroadtrips.com.
A TASTE DESTINATION Spicy Jan did the gut-busting work for you and distilled
PHOTOs by Spicy Jan
it down to four absolute must-eats locations this issue!
Ferrera Simcoe Arriving at Ferrera towards the end of lunch hour offered a glimpse of its popularity, with folks enjoying beautiful food in every corner of the restaurant. My curiosity was peaked with a delicious first impression of how Ferrera... Food with Attitude, does lunch. A stunning lunch board arrived with a distinct Black Bun ‘Sangwich’ as the focal point, accompanied with a colourful cranberry nut salad. The squid ink bun was seared with a bold garlic aoli for that perfect crunch and topped with smoked salmon, spicy cream cheese and a tower of pickled ribbon zucchini.
Juniper Dining Co Paris juniperdiningco.ca Juniper has created a comfortable ambiance for enjoying fine dining, featuring small plates to main course dishes. Ready for tasting at their live edge bar was a flawlessly plated lobster melon salad. Chef Andrea began with power packed purslane and watermelon radishes as the backdrop for this dish. Fresh cantaloupe and melon balls were tossed in a dressing of red wine vinegar, cream and dill then precision placed on the greens. A succulent Canadian lobster tail co-mingled amongst the fresh fruit, creating a new flavour profile to complement their French inspired menu.
Our Kitchen Brantford ourkitchenbrantford.ca Chef Jeulz has a flare for one-of-a-kind catering and culinary experiences. I had a front-row seat in the creative process of assembling the fourgy cheesecake. Chef began with a quick brush stroke of chocolate and plated four simple triangles of her famous brownie cheesecake. With 20 ingredients, she created the delicate toppings for this portrait-ready dessert. From a tri-fruit coulée to a dense chocolate ganache to red wine soaked cherries and fresh lemon curd, it was clear this cheesecake was ready for a photoshoot.
Twisted Lemon Cayuga twistedlemon.ca Experience Twisted Lemon and discover beautiful creations created by Chef Dan Megna. Delicately-plated was a masterpiece caprese salad featuring four layers of garden picked organic heirloom tomatoes with fresh mozzarella, Japanese purple long beans, three types of basil and garden lettuce. This beauty was drizzled with a fragrant in-house balsamic syrup. Crowning this dish were mini pansies and with the Twisted Lemon garden 33 steps from the kitchen, fresh is always on the menu. The TL flavour junkies always offer plant based and vegan dining options.
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 21
MORE THAN A MAG!
Let’s get social too!
Theirs no sibling rivalry between Live’s printed & social media pages. They both bask in all the attention each gets! It is easy to get excited about the arrival of the latest and greatest Live Small Town magazine! The paper is shiny, the photography is beautiful and the anticipation of who we shone a light on is mind-numbing! Many folks tell us they have kept every copy since we stated the mag almost three years ago. The content is evergreen and is a 100 percent
local smorgasburg of community building! Our team of advertising partners and creative folks are proud of this and we look forward just as much as you do to discovering all that is uniquely fabulous in Ontario’s Southwest! Some readers have questioned if we are afraid of running out of content. Not even possible!
Rumour has it that our mag is growing into small towns around Hamilton!
There are so many people doing amazing things here! The biggest problem we find is that most local lovelies are modest and don’t blow their own horns. Good Lord, blow away! People are chomping at the bit to support you. Additionally, our magazine may be popular but our social media communities are constantly buzzing with readers who just can’t seem to get enough! One thing that always stands out to be a favourite is food posts, with many reaching thousands of avid foodies! Here are just a few posts we thought we would share!
One thing guaranteed to put a huge silly grin on my husbands face is sweet cherries! They’re in at Jonny K’s Fresh Produce at the corner of Front Rd. and Hwy. 59, in Port Rowan. I dropped some Live Small Town magazines off and met Jon and Alex organizing the fruits, vegetables and a variety of baked goods. Everything looked so fresh it was hard to decide what to buy. They will be open seven days of the week for the summer. We wish them good luck and we’ll be back to sample some more of their fresh produce. Ok maybe a pie or two.
You may remember The Olde Bakery Cafe from our breakfast feature in the spring issue, I think I put on 10 pounds doing that story! It is one of Ingersol’s most popular places to get great food and wonderful service. I remembered seeing the rhueben sandwich on their menu so I planned my day perfectly to end up right here at lunch time!
5,310 People Reached, 2,587 Engagements, 95, 2 Comments, 27 Shares
2,984 People Reached, 540 Engagements, 32, 4 Comments, 5 Shares
PHOTO 1BY Marc Douglas - marcdouglas.ca
Discover good times in Brant with Brant Blue Canoe as local merchants want to enhance your visit with amazing discounts at many of the restaurants, shops and attractions. Book an experience with an area outfitter to paddle the Grand River, cycle Brant or hike the trails and collect your wooden Blue Canoe Nickles at the end of your adventure. Visit merchants displaying the Blue Canoe logo and receive amazing discounts. Tokens are valid until April 30, 2020 so feel free to save them up and keep coming back for a visit! Midtown Kitchen & Coffee Co. in Paris has some tasty deals lined up for you!
While traveling through Haldimand County I came across this young entrepreneur just outside of Selkirk on Rainham Road. Wyatt Wilson is 12 years old and wanted to have a job like his siblings this summer so he and his dad built this roadside stand. The next step was to find a farm to supply all his fresh produce and he was off! I predict that with his great personality and drive this young man is going to go places! If you are looking for corn, fruit and other fresh produce in the area be sure to stop at Wyatt’s Produce. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. as long as he is not sold out! 11,171 People Reached, 3,070 Engagements, 240, 23 Comments, 96 Shares
4,532 People Reached, 648 Engagements, 22, 1 Comments, 18 Shares
Off the beaten track in Nanicoke you will find The Hen House Eatery serving up breakfasts, lunches and even a Friday night dinner special made from fresh local products. Enjoy the picnic-like atmosphere surrounded by pastures and farm life as you chow down on a hen house poutine, fresh cut fries topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, homemade ranch dressing and fresh green onions. 8,870 People Reached, 2,715 Engagements, 83, 25 Comments, 69 Shares Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 23
Please let us share our restaurant with its unique coastal cuisine and tropical trend in one of Ontario’s best small towns, Port Dover. 2 Walker St. Port Dover 519-583-0880
24 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
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
Sweet Dreams A Plenty! Carrie Joy of Grand Corbel B&B decided to search out happiness by following her dreams and now she sets the scene for everyone else too! BY Tim Zwart
There’s an old saying which states that to truly love what you do is to never work a day in your life. To most people this is only a fantasy, a pipe dream to power us through the boredom of our daily, mundane grind. The truth of the matter is, most of us work doing things we have to do... not things we want to do. For those fortunate few among us these two things align, quite literally enabling them to live out their dreams. And one such person to have Lady Luck smile upon them is Carrie Joy of The Grand Corbel B&B. From the second you pull up to 54 Dunrobin Drive in Caledonia, you feel like you’re home.
Situated in a picturesque and residential cul-desac, the signage and décor greet you like fond childhood memories, conjuring up images of family reunions and special occasions spent among loved ones. Carrie opens the door and welcomes you in personally, with a genuine enthusiasm matched only by her last name. Touring the interior is akin to that of walking through Martha Stewart’s estate, and the décor and attention to detail work together to create a seamless design of both history and functionality. Downstairs in the rooms themselves, you have your choice of a beautiful single bedroom or a plush decked out suite...complete with pool table, walkout entrance to the back pool and firepit area, and even a fully functional kitchen! Carrie leaves no detail unattended,
from the customized and homemade soap/ washroom options to the multiple pillow material options to choose from. And the food... oh the food. A three-course gourmet breakfast awaits you after your evening of blissful sleep, with enough flavor and freshness to make even the most professional of chefs jealous. A stay at the Grand Corbel is more than just a wonderful B&B experience; it provides you the opportunity to witness Carrie’s heart and soul come to life. She genuinely loves what she does, and that sense of care is apparent in each and every aspect of your stay, proving once again that following your dreams and pursuing your passions is really what our lives are truly about. Book your stay now at thegrandcorbel.ca, or via booking.com.
Upper Thames Brewing Company Woodstock upperthamesbrewing.ca The term Upper Thames sounds like it was pulled straight out of a James Bond film, a reference to the beautiful and historic waterway famous for splitting the centre of the UK’s most iconic city. It instinctively conjures up images of river cruises, the Tower of London, London Bridge, Traitor’s Gate, the London Eye, and a variety of other well-known British sights. The river has served as a constant and relied upon part of daily life for the local population for generations, and its uses continue to expand even as the water itself recedes. It’s no wonder then that the good people at Upper James Brewing Company chose that name to break the dam—water pun intended—on craft breweries in Woodstock and Oxford counties. This dynamo has it all, from their seven core brands to their selection of ever-expanding special releases... even their very own (non-alcoholic) root beer! Want to try them all, as well as some as the best bar and pub food around? Stop by their second location, known simply as the Brickhouse Brewpub, home to 12 dedicated varieties of Upper Thames beer, as well as a rotating selection of 12 additional craft beers from across Ontario. With brewery tours, cheese trails and much more, Upper Thames Brewing Co. is a great place to spend your last remaining patio-weather months. TZ
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 25
Four uniquely unForgettable dining experiences in downtown paris!
59 grand river st n, paris 519-302-3001 midtownparis.com
Casual Italian Riverside Dining
59 grand river st n, paris 519-302-3001 trattoriaparis.com
26 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
61 grand river st n, paris 519-302-3000 stillwatersplateandpour.ca
Casual Dining the way it was meant to be!
Burger Mondays • Kids Eat Free Tuesdays • Wing Night Wednesdays Mill St. Thirsty Thursdays • Fisherman Fridays • Rib Fest Saturdays 10 Perch For 7 Sundays • Half Prices Apps Every Night After 9 pm
111 grand river st n, paris 519-442-1820 cobblestonepub.ca LiveLive it foritafor day. a day. LiveLive it foritafor lifetime. a lifetime. SUMMER FALL 2019 27
28 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Photography by Nicole VanQuaethem
Simply Delicious Dishes
times it will even have the farm name but not always. 2. Go to your county website and see if they have a list of local farm markets. Many of them do and this can be a great place to stop at once a week for fresh produce and even meats and preserves.
Healthy living isn’t as hard as you may think! The region has so much to offer to support healthy living and eating.
3. You can also use online databases such as FoodLand Ontario, Ontario Fresh Farm Marketing Association, Ontario’s Farmers’ Market.
BY Nicole VanQuaethem
4. Lastly, you can join a local CSA/food box program that will deliver fresh local produce to your door or to a location within your town. This is a great way to save time, eat healthy and support local producers.
As the seasons change so do the foods we eat. It is not uncommon to crave more raw fruits and vegetables, salads, smoothies and other colder foods during the hot summer months and transition into more warming and hearty dishes into the fall and winter. I encourage clients and individuals to listen to their bodies and eat intuitively. This means eating when you are hungry and eating foods you think will fuel your body but it also means eating with the seasons if that is what your body is craving. Grounding foods are also associated with feelings of balance and centeredness. Leading up to the fall this may mean having warm oats in the morning, soups and stews, pasta dishes, more protein, grain bowls and so on. Comfort foods do not
have to be unhealthy though. Sticking to whole grains, root vegetables and warming spices is a great way to make sure you are getting the nutrients you need while also enjoying a warming and comforting dish. One of the ways to incorporate more grounding foods into your diet during the fall is eating what’s in season in your area. In Ontario for example, you will be able to find beets, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, leeks, pumpkin, stone fruits, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squashes and more. It can be overwhelming to try and source local food throughout the year but here are my top tips 1. Look for locally grown signs in your supermarket and look on the actual packages and stickers to see where it is grown. Some-
Cauliflower Rice Two-Ways Cauliflower rice is a great gluten-free and grain-free option for grain based dishes. All you need is a head of cauliflower and some oil! Cauliflower rice is super simple to make and can be flavoured any way you want. Below are a Moroccan themed and peanut themed dishes. Enjoy! Base ingredients (makes enough for a serving of each flavour) 1 can of cooked chickpeas, rinsed 1 head of cauliflower minced (use a cheese grater or food processor)
1 red onion, diced 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced 1/2 yellow bell pepper, sliced 1/2 orange bell pepper, sliced 2 cups of green beans 3 tbsp of avocado oil Directions 1. Divide half of cauliflower and chickpeas into two different frying pans with 1 tbsp of avocado oil in each frying pan. Cover on medium heat. 2. In another frying pan combine all veggies with 1 tbsp of avocado oil and cook on medium heat (covered). 3. Once veggies are cooked, divide into other two pans. Moroccan Dish Ingredients 1 tsp turmeric 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp coriander 1 tsp chilli powder 1 tsp paprika 1/2 chili flakes (or more depending on preference) Directions Combine all ingredients in one of the frying pans. Peanut Dish Ingredients 1 tbsp sesame oil 1 tbsp peanut butter or almond butter 1 tbsp tamari Directions Combine all ingredients and drizzle on other batch of cauliflower rice. Add water to sauce to thin if needed.
Nicole VanQuaethem is a registered holistic nutritionist, culinary nutrition expert and owner of Simply Nic Nutrition, where she focuses on educating and empowering people to make healthy choices for themselves. She also has her masters of science in rural planning and development where she focused most of her research on local food systems, agri tourism, culinary tourism and food access. Nicole grew up on a farm, which inspired her studies and work in rural development in southern Ontario. Combining her passion for nutrition and local food, she teaches people to eat within the seasons and to become connected to the food they eat. In her free time, she likes to spend time in the kitchen testing recipes, getting outside, and cuddling with her little dog Chloe. simplynicnutrition.com Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 29
A recipe for change
A community wholeheartedly comes together to share and be mindful of those still struggling to feed families. BY kari raymer bishop Food. It is literally the stuff that nurtures us and sustains us and brings us together. I love food - especially the glorious bounty that is available locally. Paris is known as the Prettiest Little Town in Canada and I tend to assume that we are all living the dream here. But the truth is that not everyone here has enough. And that’s where the Little Free Pantry comes in. Our free food cupboard was inspired by the Little Free Library movement and an awareness that there were moms in our community who were struggling to feed their children. It seemed ludicrous that anyone should be hungry in our neighbourhood, so I decided to set up our Little Free Pantry in Paris.
For the first while, the pantry was a small wooden cupboard secured to the fence beside our centrally located home - which made it easy for all to access. The goal was simply to provide food for anyone, anytime. Although there are sources such as the food bank in town, they cannot possibly be open all the time. I would hear from local moms who were looking for help to feed their families until the day the food bank would be open. We weren’t seeking to replace the food bank or other programs; we just wanted to make emergency food available at any time. Word spread and members of the community bought in wholeheartedly, stocking that pantry to overflowing. It became a beautiful community carousel with people stopping by to put things in or take things out. Some folks did both. It made my heart smile to see how our community came together to share with one another, like it was the obvious thing to do. Recently our family moved away from that fence but the community rallied yet again and the Optimist Club agreed to host our Little Free Pantry while a friend sourced a big metal cabinet for us. You can now find our bigger, better pantry at the side of the blue Optimist Club building behind Syl Apps Arena. The cupboard is full of non-perishable food items, as well as toiletries etc. We are so excited to see it up and running and serving its crucial purpose again. Because, as it says on the door of our Little Free Pantry, no one should be hungry in this community. We are all in this together.
JUST A FEW LOCAL (and larger) FOOD BANKS! 1 Brantford Food Bank, crs-help.ca/foodbank 2 Burford Community Food Bank 3 Friendship House, Brantford friendship-house-of-brant.org 4 Kindness Centre at Freedom House, Brantford freedomhouse.ca 5 Helping Hand Food Bank, Tillsonburg 6 Salvation Army, Ingersoll, Woodstock , Dunnville, Tillsonburg+ salvationarmy.ca 7 Six Nations Community Food Bank, sixnationsfoodbank.com 8 Caledonia and District Food Bank 9 Hagersville Food Bank, hagersvillefoodbank.org 10 Cayuga Food Bank 11 Caring Hands Food Cupboard, Dunnville 12 St Vincent de Paul Society, Brantford, Dunnville, Caledonia, Simcoe + ssvp.ca 13 Agape’s Door Soup Kitchen, Dunnville 14 Simcoe Caring Cupboard Food 1 30 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Experience
SOMETHING DIFFERENT! Local & Imported Cheese Unique Gifts | Cheese Trays | Catering
519.718.1201
INFO@DOVERCHEESE.COM VISIT US @ 307 MAIN ST., PORT DOVER
DOVERCHEESE.COM
We invite you to experience our spectacular winery which honours our agricultural heritage and celebrates the culinary and cultural bounty of Norfolk County. Be sure to check out our special events all year! Open 7 days a week. NeW Head WiNemakeR Nik aNtuNovicH, We’d like to introduce you to Nik Antunovich, the newest member of the Burning Kiln team. Hailing from New Zealand, Nik has worked internationally in the USA, Austria, Germany, France and in Niagara during the last
seven harvests. His belief that wine should be easy to drink, enjoyable, and accessible to everyone, along with his respect for the environment and working with the elements that nature provides, aligns fully with Burning Kiln’s philosophy. Welcome to the team, Nik! Cheers!
NeW ReLeaSeS Quitting Time Pinot Grigio 2018 Dry, with a refreshing tart flavour, this wine tastes of lemon and lime and displays hints of honeysuckle and kiwi fruit. Broken Needle Rosé 2018 This dry rosé has tastes of green strawberry, honeydew and apricot. On the nose are scents of watermelon candy, elderflower, and ripe plums.
1709 Front Rd, Saint Williams 519-586-9858 burningkilnwinery.ca Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 31
It is every couples dream to create a wedding celebration that family and friends will remember. With new trends replacing old ones year after year it is hard to know where to start. That said, the charm of rural weddings never seem to go out of style and we are spoilt for choice when it comes to finding the perfect locale and team to help create a memorable day!
Jenny Ball from The Dover Cheese Shop has some amazing ideas to make your day uniquely special.
Here are a few LOCAL folks who can help 1 The Dover Cheese Shop, Port Dover dovercheese.com 2 Ruthven Park National Historic Site, Cayuga ruthvenpark.ca 3 Bird & Bee Vintage Rental Co., Paris birdandbeevintage.com 4 Cranberry Creek Gardens, Delhi lynedochgardens.ca 5 The Lavender Farm , Ayr thelavenderfarm.ca 6 Brantford Golf & Country Club, Brantford brantfordgolfandcountryclub.com 7 Burning Kiln Winery, St. Williams burningkilnwinery.ca 8 Le Chocolat du Savoie, Brantford lechocolatdusavoie.com 9 Marc Douglas Photography, marcdouglas.ca 32 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Local flavour, sip & savour. Come with us, again and again, as we explore the wonder of being a tourist in our own backyard! BY Sandy Marincic
Do you crave, look-into-my-eyes, real, live, human interaction? Do you like learning new things about the world, or yourself (was that grey hair there yesterday)? Do enthusiastic, sparkling personalities charm you? If you said “Yes!” more than once, you’re an experiential-tourist-in-waiting, so, all aboard and buckle-up for another fantastic adventure: Spicy Jan’s Tasty Road Trips - curated southwest Ontario “gastro-social tours,” with Brantford as a hub. Who could resist a woman called Spicy Jan? But does she live up to her name? Absolutely, and here’s why – she smartly balances enthusiasm and curiosity with genuine care for those around her. Spicy Jan eats and drinks at great places, learns the stories of the best of them, then
knits them into curated tours for us to enjoy. And here’s the kicker - she builds relationships with the chefs and artisans in advance, so we Tasty Road Trippers feel we’re part of an inner circle. It’s like having your 16 year-old big sister inviting your 12 year-old self to a party. We started in a plaza parking lot with Spicy Jan and Larry, our luxury van pilot, and included Marty and Nancy (London), Bert and Marilyn (Alviston), food/travel bloggers Olivia and Lindsay (Kitchener-Waterloo), and me (Grimsby). Over the course of our afternoon together, we visited eight (!) different places, with each experience vying for supremacy. We ate spectacular pizza, appetizers, chocolate, pastries, and drank beers, wines, ciders, and teas. I can happily report that it was an eight-way tie! Experiential tourism puts strangers together to share an experience they know little about, guided by experts (Spicy Jan, and the business owners) that ultimately brings everyone together. The common thread? The priority for every business owner wasn’t the success of their business it was their commitment to exploring their passion, then sharing their joy with their patrons and experiential tourists like us. The horse was in front of the cart, if you get what I’m sayin’. I can promise you, dear reader, that you will be enchanted and charmed by the open-hearted love each of these chefs, artisans, or artists radiate. You will feel their care as they lead you down the rabbit holes of their passions. And our skilled hostess, Spicy Jan, shares a similar trait – she has that ever-so-rare combination of inner softness and loudness, knowing when to let people coast and when to twist the throttle. I highly recommend the ride.
PHOTOs by Spicy Jan
EXPERIENTIAL TRAVEL REVISITED 1 Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese - Affinage 101, Woodstock gunnshillcheese.ca 2 Grand River Dinner Cruises, Caledonia grandrivercruises.ca 3 Red Apple Rides - Foodie Tours+, Port Dover redapplerides.com 4 Chocolatea - Truffle Making Camp, Ingersoll chocolatea.ca 5 Ride the Bine - Wine and Beer Tours ridethebine.com 6 Tasty Road Trips Food Tours, Brant, Oxford+ tastyroadtrips.com 7 Six Nations Tourism - Educational Tours, Ohsweken sixnationstourism.ca 8 Le Chocolat du Savoie - Tasting Excursions, Brantford lechocolatdusavoie.com Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 33
TASTY ROAD TRIPS TOURS unforgettable food+Drink experiences At Brantwood Farms, we grow a variety of fruits and vegetables - beginning with rhubarb and asparagus in the spring and picking continually through the summer season to apples and pumpkins in the fall. Be sure to come visit us for our Fall Festival. Every weekend in September and October, including holiday Monday. 11am-5pm daily Enjoy hayrides, pumpkin picking, a straw castle, corn maze, pony rides, train ride, face painting, corn box, plenty of snacks and so much more!
HALDIMAND COUNTY CALEDONIA Argyle St. Grill
345 Argyle St S, theargylestreetgrill.com Upscale eatery at family-friendly prices. Mainly fresh and local products makes the Argyle a must-try. Oasis Drive-In
Escape for the weekend, enjoy an afternoon with friends, celebrate a special occasion while exploring a local, behind the scenes experience in food, drink, farms, art, boutique shops & community with Southwestern Ontario’s leading food tour company!
tastyroadtrips.com
GET FRESH!
The perfecT pairing of STyle, relaxaTion, local flavour & aTTainabiliTy in porT Dover!
Be sure to visit David’s on Tour at The links at Dover coast during the golf season + Dover cab will bring it right to your port Dover doorstep! Check out our website for more details.
519-759-4383
34 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
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. While there, visit the Haldimand House. 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 its patrons. The home-style fare is also heavenly. DUNNVILLE Julia’s Bistro
Open 7 days a week 251 Powerline Rd, Brantford
brantwoodfarms.com
Culinary Arts
davidsportdover.com golfatdovercoast.ca elementsdayspa.ca
217 Niagara St, juliasbistroandcatering.com Julia satisfies anyone’s craving for homemade Italian cooking while adding her unique style! The Minga
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! FISHERVILLE Fisherville Hotel & Tavern
2 Erie Ave S, thetav.ca Built as a hotel for travelling salesmen in 1853, the Fisherville Hotel & Tavern remains the destination for tourists and travellers alike. Explore an amazing local craft beer selection and honest food, or stay overnight to experience history and a small-town pace on your country getaway.
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 large flat screens it is the perfect place to watch the game. JARVIS 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. NORFOLK COUNTY Normandale The Normandale Century Inn and Restaurant
2326 Front Rd, normandaleinn.com Stay for a few nights or a single meal and enjoy their licensed outdoor patio featuring delicious country cuisine.
Woodstock, tillsonburg, ingersoll, norWich, tavistock, drumbo, embro
519-539-9800 1-866-801-7368 x3355 tourism@oxfordcounty.ca
tourismoxford.ca
the freshest food with the friendliest service 131 Queensway W, Simcoe
519-426-0068
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 beachfront destination for over 50 years serving Lake Erie Perch and Pickerel, burgers, foot-long hot dogs and ice cream cones.
Patio • Dine-In • Delivery • Catering • Take-Out
www.barrelrestaurant.ca
The Beach House
2 Walker St, Great food, great staff, great prices, and a stunning view right on Lake Erie! Sunday brunch eggs benny is a must! The Crepe House
2012 Park St, crepehouse.ca A quaint eatery set in an 1880s house features sweet and savoury crepes along with espresso drinks. Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 35
SAINT WILLIAMS Burning Kiln Winery
1709 Front Rd, burningkilnwinery.ca A spectacular winery that honours the agricultural heritage, and the culinary and cultural bounty of Norfolk County. SIMCOE Barrel Restaurant
131 Queensway W, barrelrestaurant.ca A warm inviting atmosphere with fresh homemade 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. The Combine
352 Norfolk St S, thecombine.ca Fun, honest food built on local bounty. Brick oven, patio and wine menu.
IT’S A lIfeSTyle ChoICe Peak Alliance Realty Inc. is located in the downtown core of the “Prettiest Town in Canada”. We are a full service brokerage serving the County of Brant (Paris, St.George, Glen Morris, Burford), the city of Brantford and surrounding area. Owners Jim Stonham and Mike Manes take pride in their Customer-First and Community/Family Involvement. They continue to strive towards their vision to achieve world-class service by being the top realty resource. If you are nearby, please stop by for a visit!
Jim and Mike were named 2018’s #1 & #2 top sellers of resale homes in Paris!
Joy Bakery Café
126 Robinson St, joyofnorfolk.ca What an excellent place to visit with friends to drink good coffee, eat fabulous baked goods and simply relax! Locally sourced deliciousness at its best. TURKEY POINT Sandbar On The Beach
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. The Jetty Bar & Grill
236 Ordnance Dr, thejetty.ca The Jetty is a casual eatery with a picturesque view of Lake Erie and a 150seat patio. The restaurant is open yearround with a great weekend breakfast that residents and cottagers love! 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
36 Grand rIver ST n 519-442-3100 peakrealestate.com 36 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
20 Alice St, robinsritzycakes.com A spectacular small-town 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
BRANT COUNTY BURFORD Cravin a Burger
121 King St A burger place with a ‘50s and ‘60s rock and roll atmosphere that brags that their food is not fast food; it’s just served fast. Mount Pleasant Devlin’s Country 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.
Field To Table Country Dining 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
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. 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.
THINK LOCAL. THINK FRESH!
PRemium eSPReSSo, Single SouRced coffee, dAilY BAked TReATS, lunch & locAllY SouRced ingRedienTS!
Satisfy your cravings for local passion at Kristi’s Market Kitchen! Fruits, veggies, baked goods and much more! Enjoy a fresh coffee or lunch on the run!
Midtown Kitchen & Coffee Co.
59 Grand River St N, midtownparis.com An artisanal New York deli and coffee house with fresh ingredients, chefinspired soups, sandwiches, pizzas and desserts.
joyofnorfolk.ca 126 Robinson St. Simcoe 519-420-9999 226 Middle Townline Rd. Harley Brant County 519-732-9843
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 37
Stillwaters Plate & Pour
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 to be desired. The Cobblestone Pub
A HeAling AlternAtive tHAt sootHes tHe soul tHrougH Hypnosis, reiki treAtments.
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. Trattoria at Midtown
59 Grand River St N, trattoriaparis.com Set in a cellar-like atmosphere, Trattoria at Midtown is opened at 4pm, 7 days a week and focuses on casual Italian fare and wines. BRANTFORD Cafe Andreou
184 Caithness St. W. Caledonia 289-284-0114 willowglenclinic.com
Selkirk
Elements Casino Brantford
Village with a history by the lake
Simply Nic Nutrition is dedicated to helping empower people to make healthy choices for themselves and create long-term and sustainable goals and changes.
Museums
Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum Cottonwood Mansion Canadian Drilling Rig Museum
Shops
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! 45 King George Rd, sociabletavern.ca A hip hangout with globally-inspired pub fare including brunch and craft beers and cocktails in a funky and fun environment.
Restaurants
Fisherville Tavern • The Hen House Hoover’s Marina • Rainham Centre Dairy Bar Shelly’s Family Dining • Sunflower Cafe
Events
Jan. - Robbie Burns • Feb. - Heritage Day Jun. - Car Show, Super Sat. Aug. - Gas Fest, Fish Fry & Dance Sep. - Drilling Rig Open House Dec. - Illuminated Tractor Parade
38 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
40 Icomm Dr, elementscasinobrantford.com Table games, slots, a poker room and great shows draw people to this venue and the great breakfast, lunch and dinner menu keeps them coming back!
Sociable Kitchen & Tavern
Barnwood Wine • Erie Collectables Muirheads Variety (Gas) • Town & Country Foods (LCBO & Beer Store)
Selkirk Chamber of Commerce selkirkchamberofcommerce@gmail.com www.selkirk-ontario.com View historical and drone videos... Historical Tour... Read National Magazine Article on Selkirk and Haldimand County
104 West St Fine dining in an 1865 home with Italian and continental cuisine. Enjoy exquisite food with hospitality at its finest.
Strodes BBQ & Deli
For information on coaching, workshops, or menu plans please visit simplynicnutrition.com or email info@simplynicnutrition.com
403 Fairview Drive, strodes.ca Open since 1937, Strodes not only carries a variety of select cuts of chicken, beef, poultry, lamb and specialty meats, but also serves up homestyle lunch options.
SIX NATIONS of the grand river TERRITORY Ohsweken Burger Barn
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. Village Cafe 1875 4th Line, If you are near Ohsweken 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! Oxford County ingersoll The Olde Bakery Cafe
cinq á sept Monday to Friday 5-7pM 1/2 price raw oysters, buy one get get one 1/2 price starters & small plates + $5 house wine.
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. 3 Elm St, PariS 519-302-2200
juniperdiningco.ca
120 Thames St S, theoldebakerycafe.com Offering healthy breakfast and lunch options with an array of tasty and yummy “(not so healthy)” pastries. Just like grandma used to make! Tillsonburg d’Lish Kitchen Cafe
518 Broadway #1 dlishkitchencafe.ca A hearty diner creating tasty food for health-concious bodies. From chickpeas to kombucha, your belly will thank you.
private party Bookings availaBle + 1/2 price prime riB sundays
The Cup And Cake
38 Ridout St W Delicious food from scratch, soups, sandwiches, salads, frittata, gourmet cupcakes and baked goods all located in a beautiful century home.
12 Broadway St w, PariS 519-442-5555
cedarhouseparis.ca
Woodstock Sixthirtynine
639 Peel St, sixthirtynine.com Dedicated to fresh and refined farm-totable cuisine with a tasteful dining space that provides a comfortable and unpretentious dining experience. Tandoori Knight
511 Dundas St, tandooriknight.ca If you love Indian food this is a muststop place to eat. Everything is flavourful and fresh and the portions are always generous.
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.
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 39
THE Southwest’s
Bucket list must do!
Our go-to-guide of destinations that we feel you should experience before you leave! BY JC Villamere From Switzerland to Aruba, from Ireland to Bermuda, from Disneyworld to the Olympic Village, I’ve been around the world as a travel writer visiting local tourist spots and I can tell you that international attractions have nothing on the experiences you can have in this very area. I’ve always maintained that the fun and frivolity of travel and leisure should
be met with a pathological countermeasure of the lurid and macabre so I was delighted when this bucket list format was suggested. A bucket list is something everyone should consider. It’s a list of experiences you hope to have before you kick the bucket and die. Think of these ideas as a reverse will that we’re impressing upon you. In death, you get to determine
the destiny of your earthly belongings through your last will but while you’re here above ground, we’re going to take care of your time and determine where you should spend it because, frankly, left to your own devices you do a pretty miserable job of that. This list is as serious as life or death — why else would I have tracked out to see if a nude beach did, in fact, exist (it does) and then find myself ill-prepared to do anything but take photos like a pervert? I assure you, I would not have undertaken that adventure unless the destination was bucket list-worthy. But there was no coercion required for me
to hop in a hoppy beer bath, float down a lazy river, and dine on the freshest possible food. These bucket list mustdos range from luxurious and exhilarating to relaxing and rejuvenating to delightfully rare and racy. Before you cross the Jordan, be sure to cross these off your bucket list.
7 Bucket list TOP PICKS While visiting, you will find yourself spoilt for
choice when deciding what explore next. Here are a few must-dos!
Norfolk Thrive In The Garden
Langton Experience the shortest possible route from farm to table with a six-course meal of bounty harvested from just one acre and served in the middle of the garden. Thrive In The Garden strives to showcase the local food of Norfolk County, otherwise known as Ontario’s Garden, and their own farm in particular. Look for exciting upcoming collaborations from this ongoing dining series.
NUDE BEACH
Port Burwell Port Burwell Provincial Park is a lovely, family-friendly facility where folks are fully-clothed. The nude beach is west of the wellmarked park boundary. To find it, park in lot five and walk west along the beach for about 10 minutes. There was a ‘no swimming’ advisory the day I trekked out there and some of these rebels were even in the water. Bucket-list worthy rebellion.
40 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Norfolk County Roller Derby
Simcoe Do you really want to shuffle off this mortal coil without becoming a graceful but lethal roller skater? Roller derby isn’t just a full-blown contact sport on wheels, it’s also twice-weekly practices with your team where you bond and learn new skills. Not up for the contact part? Join as a ref! Gain new friends while learning a groovy skill. Roller derby is for you. Get it done.
Ask how you can earn amazing discounts with the Brant Blue Canoe!
GRAND RIVER RAFTING
Paris grandriverrafting.ca The gods at Grand River Rafting have invented a miraculous system: They provide quick instructions, a life preserver, a tube, a waterproof bag for your stuff, and a map. Then you float your cares away down the Grand River for a few hours. At the end (which is well marked on the map provided), there is a van waiting to drive you back to your car. I do it every year and you should, too.
Toronto Motorsports Park
Cayuga cul-de-sac torontomotorsportspark.com You’ve no doubt been in a car. You might even own a car. But would you categorize your ride as an exotic dream car? Further, do you really want to meet your maker before you experience an exotic dream car? Remedy this by booking the Exotic Dream Car Experience at this dragway and road course racing facility near Cayuga. You can take a Lamborghini, a Ferrari, a Porche, or a Nissan GT-R out for a lap or two (or more). Anyone with a driver’s license can register but we suggest practicing your swagger beforehand.
Leaping Deer Adventure Farm and Market
Ingersoll leapingdeer.com Before you buy the farm, visit this one. Not only does their 12-acre corn maze have a space theme with trivia questions to help you along the way, there’s an area of the maze designed just for you and your dog. With dog sitting available, fresh water, vast green spaces, and a rest area for your pet, this place is definitely on your good boy’s bucket list. You haven’t lived until you’ve split a farm-fresh maple butter tart with your furry best friend here.
Grand Wellness Centre
Brantford grandwellness.ca When attentive staff asked if I wanted to enjoy a glass of beer while I soaked in the warm, hoppy tub of rejuvenating beer, I thought I might have died and gone to heaven. The Grand Wellness Centre is your divine new hangout. This place has everything: massage therapy, aesthetics, skin and body treatments, and a healing salt cave in a beautifully restored historic building. And did I mention beer on tap? Pro tip: the beer bath makes your hair unbelievably soft. Follow it up with a salt cave session for natural beachy waves. You’ll look (and feel) heavenly. Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 41
Super Foodies
It’s the season where we all give thanks and we have a lot to be grateful for, From rekindling traditional ways of living to foraging the foods in our own backyard. We all embrace community and share the gifts of an ample crop. Our small towns are filled with extraordinary people who make the autumn harvest the most wonderful and hearty time of the year.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Marc Douglas - marcdouglas.ca
Written by Emmalee Nother
s the cool breeze rustles the rustic jewel toned leaves beneath our feet, a warmth travels through our bodies. Instantly we start to crave hearty veggies, wear cozy knits and pumpkin spice makes everything nice. It’s fall, y’all! Welcoming in the autumn season are farmers, makers, movers and shakers alike who celebrate their hard work by sharing the bounty of the land and homemade goods with their communities, ready to tickle our tummies and comfort our souls. This season is about gratitude and sharing in the comforts of our traditions, our talents and our harvests. Matchbox Garden & Seed Co. - Hanna Jacobs Caledonia matchboxgarden.ca Nestled upon a grassy hill across from the rich banks of the Grand River in Haldimand County sit row after row of bountiful green gardens brimming with produce ready to go from farm to table. Founded in 2006, Matchbox Garden and Seed Co. is a little haven of harvest that offers those from near and far a place to buy some of the freshest and most unique produce and seeds the area has to offer. Carefully handpicked by owner Hanna Jacobs herself, every plant is cared for with a level of love that can be savoured in every single one of the lush garden’s approximately 140 varieties of open pollinated, heirloom and rare vegetables, herbs, flowers, seeds and seedlings. One of the most special elements of Matchbox Garden and Seed Co. is right in the name. Juicy heirloom tomatoes to crisp cucumbers and whimsical moon and stars watermelon, every plant on the farm starts as a wee seed, grows into a seedling and is planted by hand into one of the many gardens on the property. From there, Hanna chooses which plants she will use for produce and which plants will be used to continue the cycle and be turned into seed to sell to customers.
Every spring Matchbox Garden and Seed Co. sells seedlings of the plants that Hanna starts in the greenhouse. A community favourite, she puts many of the seedlings roadside for locals and visitors from the area to purchase and add to their very own garden oasis. If you have a particular plant you are looking for, Matchbox Garden and Seed Co. has a full listing of available seedlings online seasonally and in her lovely seed and seedling catalogue filled with delicious inspiration from hearty hot peppers to luscious, leafy greens. Each variety will bring its own flavour to your growing gardens and to your plate. While seedlings are a roadside hit in the spring, a newly added little garden shed just off the road offers passersby a chance to grab a taste of what’s in season all year round. With a collection of available seed for sale and little offerings of what’s seasonally ripe, it’s easy to add some colour to your everyday meals. You will find perfect little snacks to munch on road trips or pack into lunches for the little ones. or maybe just a quick healthy treat that tastes more like an indulgence. The cherry tomatoes are so sweet, you could pass them as candy! Through thoughtful stewardship of the land and a desire to contribute to a more environmentally sustainable future, Matchbox Garden and Seed Co. is proud to be certified organic and give its customers some of the highest quality fresh produce in the area - produce that they also make available through Community Supported Agriculture boxes, or CSA for short. The Matchbox Garden CSA program offers members a wide selection of fresh vegetables, fruit, and herbs each week from June through October. It is a wonderful way to ensure the freshest fruits and veggies are on your table every day. If you’re exploring the countryside in the Caledonia area, take a quick swing by Matchbox Garden and Seed Co. Don’t be shy, say hi to Hanna who you will probably find in the glorious gardens, and pick up some delicious seasonal inspiration for your next meal. Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 43
44 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Marc Douglas - marcdouglas.ca
The Village Maker - Johnny Suderman instagram.com/thevillagemaker We all know the popular saying “it takes a village…” meaning that an entire community must come together for the greater good to support each other. It’s that sense of embracing community and helping others that fuels a talented, soulful man known as The Village Maker. The Village Maker, or simply Johnny to those who have met him, was born and raised in Brant County. He grew up in a hardworking family and worked closely with his dad, learning the tools of the trade on how to build and fix almost anything with his own two hands. Once he was immersed in the working world, he felt a shift in what he felt was his purpose. As comfortable as it was living a conventional life, he started to feel the universe pull him in another direction, away from a lifestyle that society had normalized, towards a more simple, traditional way of life where very little was wasted and simple things were honoured. In years past, communities were filled with makers. Wonderfully talented people who held the knowledge of how to make things that townspeople needed. These were trades people like tailors, potters, weavers, and blacksmiths who could take materials and make them into brand new wares, with a new lease on life. Johnny found himself inspired by this way of creating and giving back. From there, The Village Maker was born. Johnny began with forging, the traditional process of making and shaping a metal objects by heating and hammering. His creations range from garden tools, like robust trowels to turn the densest of soils, to straight razors, delicate yet beautifully rustic to tame wild whiskers. He adorns
these beautiful pieces with repurposed findings, like wood from railroad ties or foraged trees and twigs. His creations are not perfect, often rugged and unpolished, but they hold a power and beauty you cannot explain with words. The way you can taste love in a homemade apple pie, you can feel his energy in every tool he creates and forges. The energy each piece emits is pure and simple, and Johnny is careful to offer gratitude to the found materials that come his way that enable him to continue creating with his favourite tools, his own two hands. He often hand forges knives, which he uses to carve some of the most stunning wooden spoons imaginable. He very carefully chooses the wood to carve these splendid spoons. More accurately, the wood often chooses him, as he uses the native ritual of asking plants if they are willing to be used or given a new life. He lives a “waste not want not” lifestyle, trying to understand how he can make a positive impact on society while conserving the Earth. His creations find new homes through friends and neighbours, who he offers his talents to. He helps them with anything they may need, from fixing fences to offering some simple veggies from his garden. His calling is to embrace a life that’s as off the grid as possible and foster more meaningful relationships within his community. For Johnny, The Village Maker isn’t just being a curator of creations, it has a much more profound meaning, one that may not have been intentional at first, but that has given him a stronger connection to himself and to his community. The Village Maker is about creating the village, embracing human connection, sharing talents and helping others from the power of your heart. It’s about doing what fills your soul with joy and bringing folks together though humble traditions and mindfulness of the world around us.
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 45
46 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Marc Douglas - marcdouglas.ca
Aaron the Forager - Aaron Elyk Simcoe instagram.com/aaron_the_forager A lovely little jaunt down the roads of Norfolk County make it easy to see that it truly is nature’s playground. With abundant fields where farmers grow bumper batches of corn and wheat alongside countless other crops, it might not be surprising that it also holds a bounty of native plants that can be found and foraged as close as your front door. Looking for wild flora that’s edible might seem like a daunting task, but Aaron Elyk will tell you that not only is it easier than you think, but it’s remarkably rewarding in so many ways. Lovingly referred to as Aaron the Forager, you can hear the passion and delight in his voice as he takes you on a journey of what delicious and abundant wild plants we have access to that grow naturally where we live. With a particular fondness for magnificent mushrooms, he finds some of the most stunning and scrumptious wild varieties that we pay a pretty penny for at the grocer and yet they are found commonly in our forests, we just have to know what we’re looking for! Aaron, who is self-taught, forages as a passion project. He forages whenever he can to connect back with nature, grow his love for gastronomy and bond with his son who is learning the ways of foraging. The art of foraging teaches important survival skills with a side of adventure and it’s always tasty treasure hunt! Aaron came to Norfolk County in 2006 from a remote area in Northern Ontario. Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, it didn’t take him long to fall in love with what Norfolk had to offer. The rich Carolinian forests were enough for both his wife and himself to plant roots here. It’s an added bonus that
the forest that surrounds his house is also home to some of the mightiest morel mushrooms, flame chanterelles and a variety of other wild edibles, ripe for the picking. Foraging became a part of his life through his love of food. At one point he thought of becoming a chef but found that foraging allowed him to do something he loves while still working with chefs and brewers in the area. As he became more experienced in foraging, his hauls of fresh fungi became something he could easily share. Once a week he takes a trip into the Guelph and Kitchener areas to drop off his weekly wilds for the chefs to hand pick and use in gastronomic masterpieces and hearty, healthy grub that’s seasonal and unique. The key to successful foraging comes down to knowing your habitat. We are lucky to live in an area with so many natural wild wonders. In the spring you can discover spicy garlic ramps, wild leeks and fresh fiddleheads hanging out on forest floors and in shallow ditches. Continuing into the summer season you will find many mushrooms including the morel, chicken of the woods, maitake, flame chanterelles and even a classic porcini. Heading into fall you can find wild apples, wild pears and crabapples that can be made into outof-this-world jams and jellies. This is just the tip of the natural nutritious nuggets we have right in the heart of Southern Ontario. Our forests, fields, and backyards are filled with wild edibles that nature graciously offers to us free of charge. We just have to find them! For more information on foraging and to share in Aaron’s foraging adventures you can find him at Foraged Farmed Fresh on Facebook.
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 47
Our totally insider, Town-by-town, hidden-gem-by-hidden-gem, guide to what’s new, hot, and legendary in BRANTFORD. 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
As a child, I spent a tonne of time in Brantford playing hockey but I never realized what a diverse community it was with so many top-rated, must-see attractions. My latest trip to Brantford was — by design — very sweet instead of sweaty and I had a great time rediscovering! I started my tour at Le Chocolat du Savoie. They certainly have 48 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
everything you need to satisfy your craving for premium chocolate. You’ll find hand-crafted Belgian chocolates of only the finest ingredients and the most delightful aromas that linger throughout the store. A wide array of indulgences are on offer, from the creamy smoothness of milk and white chocolate to the rich depth of dark chocolate. I was literally a kid in a candy store! Everywhere I turned, there were different types of chocolate and it was all made in-house. But let’s get to the good stuff: the
part where I get to eat! My heart was set on a peanut butter cup and they happen to make three different kinds. I sampled the white chocolate peanut butter cup and the milk chocolate peanut butter cup. I could not possibly pick a favourite as I loved them equally for different reasons. Next, the pretzel rod caught my eye. It’s a long pretzel dipped in milk chocolate and covered in Reese’s Pieces. So simple yet so perfect. I also heard they were famous for their milk chocolate torte so I tried
Le Chocolat du Savoie
Sweet Bakery
that, too. It was heavenly goodness filled with pecans and caramel. Everywhere I looked, everything was dipped in chocolate: cookies, dried mango, licorice, even sour keys. If you like chocolate (and who doesn’t?) Le Chocolat du Savoie is a must-do destination next time you visit Brantford. I licked my lips and onward I went to my next stop for more sweets. Tough life, eh? I headed over to Sweet Bakery and met up with the owner, Stacey Farrant. She makes everything in-house with real butter. She has been baking for as long as she can remem-
ber, starting as a little girl making tiny cakes in her Easy Bake Oven with a 40-watt lightbulb. She knew then that she loved baking and entertaining. Now, not only does she run her own business, but she also has a TV show called SWEET Occasions which airs on the Rogers TV network. You can find full episodes on YouTube as well. While Stacey was telling me about the tasty cakes, cupcakes, cookies, squares, custom cakes, edible cookie dough and more that she and her staff make, I could hardly concentrate with all the visual distraction. Let’s start with the monster cookie. It’s a vanilla
sprinkle cookie sandwiched with signature buttercream then topped with sprinkles. Delectable! My next distraction was the pecan squares, featuring a buttery shortbread crust masterfully paired with homemade caramel and topped with a mountain of pecans. I had not even taken the last bite before I noticed the sweetza. Ready for this one? It’s their unique take on pizza and it’s a chocolate chip cookie base topped with marshmallows, chopped peanut butter cups, and Reese’s Pieces and bathed in flavourful peanut butter or Nutella brilliance. Definitely my birthday cake for next... well forever!
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 49
Moving on to their marshmallow treats and their not-so-classic Rice Krispie squares. Their twist is that instead of using Rice Krispies, they use Fruit Loops, Cookie Crisp, Cheetos, and even potato chips! Needless to say, I devoured them but decided that they need to rename them ‘stupendous marshmallow bricks’ for the sheer size of them plus they were so, so good! I love when people experiment with different foods and I was thankful to Sweet Bakery for making my day. Side note: They also make the best donuts! I couldn’t possibly eat another bite so I went home with a box to enjoy with my family. I highly recommend the vanilla dip or key lime. In an attempt to walk off some of the sugary fuel that my body had just ingested, I asked a local gal for her
favourite, most scenic location in Brantford and without hesitation, she recommended Glenhyrst Art Gallery and Gardens. As a tourist, I love when the locals are dead-on with their suggestions. On 16 acres of parkland along the beautiful shore of the Grand River, the Glenhyrst Gardens play host to some of the most magical floral displays, reminiscent of being in a fairytale. The Glenhyrst Art Gallery is housed in a beautiful brick building at the centre of the park and it offers fascinating exhibits spilling into the gardens. There were picket fences that looked like they were decorated by children and it was beautiful to see their artwork on display. With my limited exposure to Brantford, I always viewed it as an urban,
industrial, sports-centred community, but seeing this open greenspace made me realize that the city is filled with hidden gems and I was thankful that it was recommended. It truly was the perfect location for an afternoon stroll. Still digesting sweets, I thought I would pay my respects to the city and drop off my donation to Elements Casino. Ugh. I lost my money again but the atmosphere in there was full of energy and excitement. Definitely a great place to with a group of friends for a fun night out. Elements, I’m coming back for ya! But next time I’m leaving with my money. After losing my cash, I headed over to Good Friends Sandwich Company for dinner. I was pleasantly greeted by co-owner Janie who took my order. I was hankering for the pastrami on rye Glenhyrst Art Gallery and Gardens
50 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Good Friends Sandwich Company
but Janie told me they were famous for their beef dip so I ordered both. While waiting for my sandwiches I chatted up owners Janie and Ray Dungey, a husband and wife team who have been doing incredible things for the community. Besides offering homemade goodness with shopped-locally ingredients, they offer $5 jerk chicken meals on Friday so folks on tight budgets can afford the luxury of a homecooked meal. They also allow local artists a venue to sell their work and take zero commission. This was just another example of why I love traveling to small towns. Folks also take the time to chat oneon-one and connect. These are the mo-
ments I cherish most about being a part of the Live Small Town magazine team. I always love meeting people who think with their heart first. And then, oh yeah, it was food time! I started with the pastrami on rye — a New York pastrami with old-fashioned grainy mustard, pickles, and provolone cheese on a pressed light rye bread. Enough said, right? It was phenomenal. Next, I devoured the beef dip sandwich — a ciabatta bun filled with provolone cheese, roast beef, with drippings from beef cooked fresh every morning serving as the dip. I certainly get why they are famous for this sandwich. The tender beef melted in my mouth.
Next time you are in Brantford, visit Janie and Ray’s restaurant for the homey feel, go for the great food, introduce yourself and stick around long enough to enjoy the sweet and soulful singing voice of Janie as she quietly serenades the guests of her restaurant as she works. Filled with chocolate, baked goods and sandwiches, I decided it was time to call it a night and head to my hotel. I was staying at the brand-new Homes2 Suites by Hilton located just off the highway in Brantford. It’s an all-suite hotel where rooms feature a fully-equipped kitchen including a fridge and microwave. The facility includes a fitness centre and an indoor heated
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 51
Homes2 Suites by Hilton
Kel’s Family Restaurant
pool. There was even a sitting area in my room with a full-sized couch and a curtain that could be pulled out to create some privacy from those sleeping. The hotel staff was very accommodating and it was spotless. There must have been a baseball tournament in town as I spotted multiple teams staying in the hotel. What a perfect place for teams to spend a weekend. I’m sure they got a little rowdy that night but I couldn’t hear a thing from my room. After a good night’s sleep, I felt recharged and ready to eat. Homes2 Suites offers a complimentary breakfast with your stay but I didn’t get to partake because I had already made arrangements to dine at Kel’s Family Restaurant for breakfast. On my way out of the hotel, I cruised by the dining area quickly and took note of their sweet-smelling waffles, breakfast sandwiches and a plethora of other items that looked pretty good. Immediately as I entered my breakfast destination, I had the honour of 52 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
meeting Kelly. Yes, the Kelly of Kel’s Family Restaurant. She was busy serving a packed room of customers but stopped to greet me. The menu had a mouth-watering variety of options but to keep with the theme of my trip, I ordered the chocolate chip and bacon pancakes. I mean, why not, right? Promptly a plate with three large pancakes was placed in front of me and I dug right in. It was basically dessert for breakfast. I might normally feel guilty for eating so many indulgences but everyone should have a cheat meal once in a while... or a cheat weekend. Right? The restaurant was filled with happy people enjoying each others company.
How do I know? Because nobody was on their phones and people were actually having conversations with each other. It was a nice atmosphere. Kel’s had a community feel to it and was packed with both small and large family-friendly groups. If you read this and it entices you to go, suggest someone in your group order the scrambled benny. I almost chose it myself and would really love to hear how amazing it is. Or I should just go back? I headed home after breakfast for a rest up but I returned to Brantford a few days later with my favourite little travel buddy, my lovely niece Lauren. She is pretty much a regular on my small town adventures. We were
Canadian Military Heritage Museum
invited to check out the Canadian Military Heritage Museum. My grandfather was a member of the Canadian Army and Air Force so my limited knowledge of Canadian military history comes from him. Bob Ion met us and toured us through the museum, offering tonnes of knowledge and insight. The entire museum is laid out in chronological order, showing where events started and technology advancements over the years. Their purpose is to collect, preserve and display artifacts pertaining to the military history of Canada. They also work to make sure military artifacts are available for display at community events on a non-profit basis for
educational purposes, and to honour and remember the fallen while showing appreciation to all veterans and military service personnel who have served and are still serving. The museum also shines a light on local heroes. Most notably, we found a large portrait on the museum wall of Anton Gretzky. Anton was Wayne Gretzky’s grandfather. He immigrated to Canada with his family from Ukraine and served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. I am a huge fan of Wayne Gretzky as I grew up playing hockey, but to me, these are the real heroes in our fine country. I am truly thankful to Anton and others who have helped make us feel safe to live in Canada.
And so we come to the end of another amazing adventure in Brantford and I feel like I have not scraped the surface of the people, places, and things to discover and eat! One thing I am sure of is that the advice and suggestions from locals will always trump any Google results. Thank you to everyone I met on my visit. Your generosity and hospitality was astounding. Now I am wondering, where should I go next?
If you enjoyed this piece and wish to see live videos while I’m adventuring into these small towns, then follow me on Instagram at @jayperry for a behind-the-scenes look at what is going on. But more importantly, where should I head to next?
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 53
Deep Roots
Prime Minister Arthur Meighan was once a teacher at the Caledonia High School before becoming the ninth prime minister of Canada in July, 1920. Not sure if he is doing any local haunting but he was not very popular after implementing mandatory conscription during the war and his zest for farm tariffs... so he might not be welcome!
Johnny Winger ran the Tin Smith shop in Selkirk between 1909 and 1946. He made a variety of items such as bread pans, kettles, jugs and piping. In the early days, 90 percent of the items sold in the shop were made in-house and in peak winter months the shop would employ up to nine tinners! Eventually, the shop carried more and more mass-produced items before it was sold and changed its name to L & H Hardware. Since changing hands and locations again a few times, the business is now known as Lindsay Home Hardware and Johnny’s tools hold a place of pride in a local Selkirk collection.
Living History
With the fast pace of our lives seeming to accelerate at every turn, we should all take a moment to reflect on the numerous stories, places, memories and people that have truly made Southwestern Ontario one of the greatest places on Earth. 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 honour the past.
On the Map
Hauntings
As the days grow shorter and the shadows closer, a curtain draws back and the spirit world joins us for some fun and trickery. Creepy Caledonia Caledonia caledoniahistory.org/creepycaledonia The old lantern light swings and sways as you walk the streets with Ian Thompson as your guide through the past. You will encounter ghosts and ghouls that haunt the shadows as you travel through the historic downtown and learn of its history and folklore. Every town has its secrets, venture out through the month of October and learn what went on behind the closed doors of Caledonia.
SNIPE Six Nations snipehq.ca Join SNIPE (Six Nations Investigates Paranormal Experiences) for a moonlit paddle down the Grand River. With your senses awakened by the energy from the full moon and the sounds of nature around you, listen to the ghost stories and legends of the Six Nations People and then experience a paranormal tour of Chiefswood National Historic Site, the home of the famous poetess Pauline Johnson.
BY NANCY HOWDEN-COWELL
BRANTFORD
H
AL
DI
MAN
D COUN
TY
LAKE ERIE
Jailhouse Haunting Woodstock They say his headless ghost still walks the halls of Oxford County’s former gaol (jail) in Woodstock. Thomas Cooke, sentenced to hang in 1862 for the murder of his second wife, was the first public hanging to take place here and 3,400 people travelled to witness what turned out to be a botched hanging that left the accused without a head. His death mask still hangs on the side of the building.
Indiana Ghost Town (Ruthven Park) Cayuga Until its fate was sealed with the coming of the railroad to Haldimand County, Indiana was a large, thriving industrial town along the Grand River. This ghost town is now home to The Ruthven Park National Historic Site, open to the public and offering tours and events. Take The Ghost Walk and you might just meet Bessie, a little girl from the past, in her favourite spot on the stairs.
Waterford Pumpkinfest October 18-20 pumpkinfest.com Days before this festival takes place, ghosts and goblins begin to appear on the lawns of townfolk in Waterford. This gathering of all that is spooky marks the beginning of a weekend of great family fun. Goosebumps and racing hearts awaits you as you make your way through Creepsville Spookhouse. For the faint of heart there is a parade, soapbox derby and so much more.
Psychic Medium Heather Carlson Brantford 226-450-1541 As a child, Heather Carlson always knew she had a special gift. As she grew into an adult, her gift grew with her but she was never confident enough to really use it. In the last few years, with increasing signs from the universe that she is on the right tract, she has opened her doors to help people find the clarity they need through her work as a psychic and a medium.
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 55
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 Tim Zwart
Please feel free to reach out and let us know about other special folks, businesses, and organizations that are aging gracefully within your community!
History is all around us and sometimes it pops up in some of the most unlikely of places. Have you ever been in your favourite local spot, looked around at the charming atmosphere surrounding you and thought to yourself: I wonder how long they’ve been here? As a writer and history buff, stumbling across a great story can be exhilarating. But sharing that story, conveying the emotions I felt and invoking them in others, is where the real excitement and sense of satisfaction lies. The following are three of my favourite examples for the latest instalment of our Aging Gracefully series. Turkeys on the comeback
One of the most iconic meals in North America revolves around our friend the turkey. Though not known as an overly majestic or iconic bird, a nice, big turkey dinner with all the fixin’s symbolizes a great meal, no matter what the occasion. Everyone has their favorite cut of meat, favorite side dishes and particular ways of preparation. But
56 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
what is consistent throughout is the ability of this plump, juicy fellow to feed a large group of people... sometimes for weeks on end (we all know how creative we can get with any leftovers!). But like many things in the human species, we tend to overdo it, and in much of southern Ontario, the wild turkey had all but disappeared from its natural habitat by around 1909 due to mass deforestation and habitat loss. And for many decades, all seemed lost for the local turkey population. That was until the early 1980s, when groups such as the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH), and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), stepped in. Their commitment to restoring the native turkey population took the form of transferring scores of birds from all over the United States back to their once-native Ontario landscapes. And now, 35 years later, these once displaced animals are alive and thriving again, all with the help, passion and dedication of a group of people who wouldn’t take no for an answer.
World War I – 100 Years Later
In these modern-day times of ever-polarizing politics and opinions, it’s hard to imagine a world in which we can all get along, where we could put aside our differences and instead concentrate on the collective and greater good. But believe it or not, such a time did exist in the history of humanity, and it is perhaps fitting that those who came of age during it are often referred to as the “greatest generation”. From 1914 to 1918 the entire world went to war for the first time, and the results have largely shaped where we are as a species today. Millions from around the globe lost their lives, and from the ashes, a phoenix of human rights, democracy, gender equality, innovation and cooperation opened its wings and began to fly. We’ve come a long way from those dark times, and it’s important not only to recognize our progress, but also to never lose sight of where we have come from. They do after all say that those who forget history are bound to repeat it. And so this year, on the 101st anniversary of one of the harshest times of humanity, it is important not so much to celebrate the bravery and sacrifice of those of home we owe a great deal of gratitude and thanks, but also to keep their memory alive in hopes of never again repeating these same mistakes on a global scale.
Memorial Gates in Selkirk
War Memorial Carillon Tower in Simcoe
Brant County War Memorial in Brantford
Women Are Persons - October 18, 1929
Imagine being told that equality does not apply to you, that no matter how hard you try or what you may accomplish, you’ll never be truly accepted as an equal. We’ve all heard the famous stories surrounding African-Americans on this topic, how Rosa Parks had to defy a bus driver for her right to sit where she chooses, or how water fountains were labeled according to one’s skin color, or how children in Africa were sold to rampaging warlords and forced to do unspeakable things to others simply because they happened to be born into the wrong tribe. No doubt these are all horrible and heartbreaking occurrences, but there is something equally as disturbing going on throughout the world, and it’s been happening for far longer: the issue of gender rights and women’s equality. Consider that, according to Canadian law, women were not allowed to even be appointed to the Senate until 90 years ago, under the somehow acceptable excuse that they were not considered persons. The group of women responsible for turning this around? A trailblazing bunch of Albertans known as The Famous Five: Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney, Nellie McClung, Emily Murphy and Henrietta Muir Edwards. Immortalized now in a pair of iconic statues (and featured on the back of the $50 bill), these women forever changed the landscape for Canadian women everywhere. Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 57
Fake it till you make it! The Incredible True Story of Oxford County’s Con Artist Elizabeth Bigley AND HOW SHE SWINDLED ONE OF North America’s wealthiest MEN BY Tara Shannon
Andrew Carnegie was a Scots-American steel tycoon, business mogul and philanthropist of the late 19th century. He is known for building the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York City and for his generous donations to education, libraries, science and toward world peace. In his day, Andrew Carnegie was one of the wealthiest men in America, equal to the likes of Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates. Carnegie also had a connection to Oxford County. Elizabeth Bigley, also known as Cassie Chadwick, was born in Eastwood Township. And she was Andrew Carnegie’s illegitimate daughter. Or, so she said.
If you guessed this to be untrue, you would be correct. Elizabeth Bigley had grand designs on leaving her life in Oxford County behind her. She set about fooling many people. Some she fooled out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. That is, until her arrest and imprisonment in an Ohio penitentiary, where she died on her 50th birthday. It seems impossible to think that anyone could get away with posing as the illegitimate child of a billionaire. Not in this high-tech age of social media and mail-order DNA test kits. In the 19th century though, things were different. Communications were slow, photography was new and it required a long time to set-up and develop, and documents could easily be forged. Social status, appearances and the implications of such, were much more rigid meaning someone like
58 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Elizabeth could state that she was the illegitimate child of Carnegie and get away with it. All she needed were a few well-crafted documents and a visit to his house (where she only met the maid) and she was reborn. The con was on. Everyone knew who Carnegie was but they didn’t dare bring up his illegitimate daughter, not in polite society and certainly not in front of the man himself. At least, not immediately. They didn’t want to embarrass Carnegie or his legitimate family. So Elizabeth Bigley of Eastwood, Ontario, became Cassie Chadwick, illegitimate daughter of Andrew Carnegie. Bankers by the dozen granted her large loans based solely on
her lies and the idea that her fathers “hush-money” payouts would cover her debts. There was also the matter of her eventual $400 million inheritance upon Carnegie’s death. As Cassie Chadwick, Elizabeth Bigley soon became known as the Queen of Ohio, living a lavish lifestyle and even purchasing a gold-plated organ. It seemed she was getting away with the perfect con. Until she was caught. She became a little too bold in her constant demands for money and one banker, Herbert B. Newton, became suspicious. He called back his loan of $190,000 and contacted Carnegie himself, who verified his suspicions – it was all a lie. Cassie Chadwick was an impostor. On January 1, 1906, Cassie Chadwick was sentenced to 14 years in prison. She died less than two years later. After years of trying to escape her true self and her home in Oxford County, Elizabeth Bigley finally returned home, in a coffin, which is buried in section A of the Woodstock Anglican Cemetery.
Heirlooms & Antiques Looking to spend a day antique or vintage hunting? Need to find that perfect period piece to enhance your home or wardrobe? Looking for some retro tunes or previously enjoyed gems? 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...
REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE YOU NEED TO START THE
CAREER YOU WANT. Join us at our FALL OPEN HOUSE events in Hamilton and learn more about programs offered at our three campuses.
Alfred Street Nostalgia
97 Alfred St, Brantford Anderson Auctions
7 Clonmel Ln, Port Dover www.jimandersonauctions.com Artiques Hagersville
23 Main St, N, Hagersville Bird & Bee Vintage Rental Co. at Wincey MIlls
31 Mechanic St, Paris birdandbeevintage.com Caledonia Furniture Finds
127 Argyle St, S, Unit #5 caledoniafurniturefinds.com Caresa Antiques
1182 Windham Rd 9, Windham Centre Cattail Cove Interiors
1012 Bay St #4, Port Rowan Cheap Shabby Chic
148 Queen St, Dunnville Christie Antique and Vintage Show
1000 ON-5, Dundas christieshow.ca CJ’s Antiques & Refinishing
Using Augmented and Virtual Reality technology in the EON AVR Development Lab.
mohawkcollege.ca/openhouse
4080 Hwy. 24, Vanessa cjsantiques.ca Classic Vault Emporium
12 Main St, S, St George
InspIre Create MotIvate
Collectors Centre
46 Colborne St, Brantford collectors-centre.business.site Colonel Mustard Antiques
7014 Hamilton Rd, Putnam
Kids & adult Classes Birthday parties Day camps & art supplies
Country Corner Antiques
3067 ON-3, Simcoe Courtland Treasures Antiques and Emporium
682 James St, Delhi Covey Coin & Supply Centre
92 Simcoe St, Tillsonburg
Slight delay opening new location but we are creatively still open!
33 Norfolk St. N. Simcoe
226-567-5500 Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 59
Crossroads Antique Market
1146 Colborne St E, Brantford Deer Creek Antiques & Creations
1703 Norfolk County Rd 45, Langton Flyers Cafe & Bakery (some antiques)
144 Queen St, Dunnville Forch’s Record Store
59 Dalhousie St, Brantford forchsrecordstore.ca Franni’s Attic
1011 Bay St, Port Rowan Grand River Antiques
1540 East, Hwy 54, Caledonia grandriverantiques.com Grand River Antique Society
Cayuga grandriverantiquesociety. yolasite.com Grand River Flea Market
261 Hespeler Rd, Cambridge grandriverfleamarket.com Green Spot Antiques
49 Cedar St, Cambridge Haldimand House Marketplace
22 Argyle St, S, Caledonia haldimandhouse.com Henry Dobson Antiques Inc
955781 Gibson Ln, Drumbo The Kilted Moose
57 Talbot St, W, Aylmer Main Station Collectables & Pawn Shop
28 Alice St, Waterford Maus Park Antiques
289 Pinehurst Rd, Paris mausparkantiques.ca
UPGRADE YOUR FURNACE
Miller & Miller Auctions
59 Webster St, New Hamburg millerandmillerauctions.com Mizener’s Antiques & More Market
367 ON-5, Dundas antiquesandmoremarket.com Modern Hipster Antiques
SAVE ENERGY THIS WINTER BY INSTALLING A TRANE HIGH EFFICIENCY FURNACE AND RECEIVE:
10
Nice Old Stuff
10
YEAR
YEAR
YEAR
PARTS WARRANTY
LABOUR WARRANTY
PEACE OF MIND WARRANTY
CONTACT FOR DETAILS OFFER VALID UNTIL 11/30/19
519-632-7116
prioritymechanical.ca
60 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Needful Things Pawn shop
75 Broadway, Tillsonburg
FREE 10
70 Thames St S, Ingersoll modernhipster.com
2037 Main St, N, Jarvis niceoldstuff.ca Old Country Store
80 Alice St, Waterford Old Town Hall Auctions
13 Burwell St, Paris oldtownhallauctions.com One of a Kind Antiques & Collectibles
97 Wilson St, Woodstock oneofakindantiquemall.com
Orange Cat Antiques
Receive 10% off of the manufacturer’s cost for each hearing aid purchased. This offer expires Dec. 15, 2019
200 Brant Ave, Brantford Paris Road Antiques
548 Paris Rd, Paris parisroadantiques.blogspot.com Pickers Antiques Warehouse
Inside C- Squared Menswear 334 Main St, Port Dover & 1049 Bay St, Port Rowan (opening June 1st) + Crossroads Trading Post & Flea Market 1146 Colborne St, E, Brantford Queensway Antiques
88 Queensway W, Simcoe Tattered and Torn
903 Haldibrook Rd, Caledonia etsy.com/ca/shop/TatteredanTorn Southworks Antiques
73 Water St, N, Cambridge southworksantiques.com
There are some sounds you wouldn’t miss for the world. So don’t! If you think you or someone you love could hear better, but you are unsure of how to take that first step toward better hearing, Acoustic Hearing Centre can help. We offer free hearing assessments and prescribe hearing aids that promote improved communication. No referral needed. Call for an appointment.
The Back Shed Antiques & Primitive Crafts
2388 Highway 3 E, Jarvis thebackshed.ca The Fox and Fawn Antiques
93 Broadway, Tillsonburg foxandfawnshoppe.com
We listen, you hear 525 COLBORNE ST, BRANTFORD, 519-770-3555
acoustichearing.ca
The Freelton Antique Mall
248 Freelton Rd, Freelton freeltonantiquemall.com The Henhouse Shoppe
163719 Brownsville Rd, Brownsville The Yellow Farmhouse
697 Stoney Creek Rd, Caledonia Tillsonburg Antiques Plus
6 Old Vienna Rd, Tillsonburg
VEN PARK DISCOVER RUTH
Time Capsule Antiques & Retro Nostalgia
168 Queen St, Dunnville timecapsuleretro.blogspot.ca Towpath On The Grand Antiques & Collectibles & The Blacksmith Garden Shop
fun, nature, trails, History, tours, family
14 Talbot St W, Cayuga towpathonthegrand.com Toys ‘n Stock
676888 16 Line, Tavistock Unique Boutique Gifts Antiques
Alice St, Waterford Walpole Antique Farm Machinery Association
rental & so workshops, venue
much more!
5113 Hwy 3, Simcoe
2041 ON-6, Jarvis wafma.ca
blueharvestsalon.ca
Waterford Antique Market
80 B Alice St, Waterford waterfordantiquemarket.com Webster R Antiques
1146 Colborne St, E, Brantford
This fall is the perfect time to make positive changes to your style and Blue Harvest is here to help! Our salon is perfectly located in rural Norfolk County. Surrounded by rolling country fields, you will quickly become nestled in a relaxing and elevated salon experience that promotes quality self-care.
243 Haldimand Hwy 54, Cayuga 905-772-0560 ruthvenparknationalhistoricsite.com Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 61
Arts & CULTURE
Inspiring Minds Arts and culture are an important resource in our path to building stronger connections with the present and the past, serving to document and preserve stories and ensure that history is shared. They beautify public spaces, help forge relationships where there is diversity and become stewards of strength in community. At Live Small Town, we love to promote local participation and bonds. We believe one of the best ways to engage is through the arts.
Jono and Laynie Grime Photography jonoandlaynie.com
Garrett Vandenberg Paris garrettvandenberg.com Growing up in his family’s professional Gospel band gave Garrett Vandenberg the edge he needed to pursue a full-time career in the music industry. “It was a great education. I got a taste for life on the road, touring all over North America from age 10 onwards, and I learned to play many different instruments,” recalled Vandenberg. But the 24-yearold realized touring was not for him. Recently married, he has settled into life in Paris, Ont., focusing his energies closer to his home and studio. Writing and recording his own music, as well as producing and teaching, keep Garrett busy in between his many regional gigs, both as a solo artist and with The Garrett Vandenberg Band. What’s next for Garrett? “Completing my two very different music project CDs is what I am concentrating on now,” he said. ‘Unknow’ is an instrumental ambient-music CD. The track “Exhist” (which stems from the words exist and exhale) can currently be streamed on his website. The yet-to-be-named CD release from his band will offer up songs about life and his journey to reconcile his faith as an adult. “I hope to spark great conversations with people through my music!” You can find all of Garrett’s upcoming show dates and web links through his website.
Noise Makers
she performs and elicits tears of joy every time! The highlighted artists in this issue are just a few of the wonderful people I now have as part of my small town musical community, which may be little, in the geographic sense but it is overflowing with tons of heart! I can’t wait to share more of these amazing artists with you in future issues.
Community. What does this word mean to you? How does one create it? For me, the term community is intrinsically tied to music. When I first moved from my home town of Hamilton to the quiet expanses of Haldi-
mand County, my musical community changed drastically. In the city, I was part of a bustling world of both classical and popular music, and could easily access as much as I wanted at any given moment. Landing in the country
though, I found it harder to find my place, especially after having my first child. So I set about creating a new musical community for my growing family, and began by having house concerts. (This adventure will be unpacked in another issue!) The real foundations of a musical community, are not in its location, but in its people. People like 20-yearold Kolton Stewart who has given of himself over his lifetime of performing and quietly enriched his community through fundraising concerts and service events. Or Lacey Hill, who speaks directly to your soul when
kolton Stewart
Lacey Hill
Oxford Winds
Don Vail
Norfolk County koltonstewart.com Kolton Stewart has done more in his 20 years than most people do in a lifetime! At 8, he landed a role in the Music Man at the Stratford Festival and he hasn’t looked back. He has played Young Simba in Disney’s The Lion King throughout North America, starred for three seasons in Some Assembly Required on YTV, has landed several major motion pictures, and is actively pursuing a successful pop music career. Check out his latest music via his website.
Six Nations laceyhillmusic.com Soulful folk, blues and R&B singer/songwriter Lacey Hill composes her music on the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve. She is Oneida Wolf Clan and she has honed her craft in bands and as a solo artist for the past decade, garnering attention most recently as a distinctive voice worth watching! Her emotive music has been released on two cds, with another in the works for 2020. Upcoming performance dates and music downloads can be found on her website.
Oxford County oxfordwinds.ca Founded in 1996, the Oxford Winds began with 12 musicians who were keen to play concert band music together. Since then, this organization has grown to encompass four separate groups which cater to all levels and abilities. These ensembles perform two to three concerts per year, and anyone in the community can join. They are committed to teaching and encouraging musicians of all stripes and look forward to welcoming new members throughout the year.
Haldimand County donvail.bandcamp.com Indie-rock project Don Vail is the brainchild of Mitch Bowden, who has been a part of the musical landscape of Haldimand County for over two decades. Band members Kori Pop, Victor Malang, Matthew Fleming and Bowden are currently enjoying the attention that their recent release ‘Stand of Tide’ is receiving on college radio and beyond. Check them out on Bandcamp, where you can buy the 12” LP or digital download, and find all of their socials.
Bringing community together by weaving stories and emotions in the spirit of sharing and forging bonds. BY Sara Moody Veldhuis
Do you know someone who should be featured? Contact musician and concert producer Sara Moody Veldhuis at UniversalArtsManagement@gmail.com
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 63
Portrait of an Artist
They help us negotiate connections between ourselves and the world. Making us think more deeply, strive more intently, feel joy more profoundly and bring meaning and purpose to humanity. These are the artists behind the art.
lacie williamson
Dunnville barracksbythegrand.ca Creativity has always been a part of my life and I always sought out community minded jobs. I’ve gone from food service to journalism to managing a community cafe before I decided to give my creativity the focus it needed. I’ve been a full-time professional artist for over five years, and I am now operating my own studio and gallery in Dunnville, LVW Creative Barracks. I spend my days teaching kids, adults and people with differing abilities the things I love to do, which allows my creativity to evolve. My Entomology Collection of beetles started as a site specific exhibition for an eco-punk house concert. Since that night two years ago, I’ve sold almost 300 of these unique beetles, and even had Robert Bateman say they were “fun and decorative pieces of art.” My personal work has since evolved from small works to large scale murals, interactive installations and performance art, allowing me to travel to small towns and big cities all over Canada and around the world. 64 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Barbara Sutherland Rusnak
Tim Goodale
Teeterville I guess you could say I’ve always been an outdoor kind of person. My parents introduced me to gardening at the age of five, which started my lifelong love of plants and trees (we didn’t have computers or video games back then). Growing up in Teeterville, I would spend my days playing in the woods by the old park or out on the Teeterville Pond fishing. A neighbour gave me a homemade row boat which my friends and I called the Teeterville Titanic. This boat weighed a ton probably because of the three coats of tar and four coats of paint
on its outer hull and it took two of us to move it. Despite all the tar, this boat leaked like a sieve and my friends and I had an arrangement: while one person rowed the other would bale. It was like, take a few casts then bale, take a few casts then bale some more. Today I am part of the Teeterville Pond Wetland Stewardship Committee working to save the 165 hectare (408 acre) provinciallysignificant Teeterville Pond Wetland by creating public awareness of its beauty and all the species that live there. I am also trying to promote the Teeterville Pond Wetland as an educa-
Brantford Barbara-Sutherland-art.com If you came along for a day with me, you would be roaming forests, escarpments and farms; following rivers and chasing sandpipers along shorelines in anticipation of an awesome sunset. I am inspired by close encounters with landscape and wildlife, translating my journey to a story on canvas. My motivation comes from the calm of nature; the colour of the seasons and swirling movement of lakes and rivers. Yes, I have even been known to have conversations with elusive creatures who sometimes cross my path, from salamanders to moose. Although my formal education was environmental science and geography, my passion for art began with the study of art history at the University of Ottawa. This led to a lifetime of learning and creating art in watercolour, acrylics, plaster and encaustic media. I moved to Brantford two years ago and embrace all that this beautiful green city offers. tional resource. It is currently being used by the Teeterville Public School and the Fanshawe College Adventure Expedition and Interpretive Leadership program. Whenever I get free time, you can find me down by the wetland photographing and documenting species, some of which I post on our Instagram page @ teeterville.pond.wetland and others I submit to the National Heritage and Information Centre (MNRF). Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 65
On the Map
Makers Market Our local art scene is bursting with talent. Here are just a few, who are sharing resources to enhance community culture. BY NANCY HOWDEN-COWELL Barn Quilt Trail Brant County and beyond Colourful,decorative murals based on quilt block designs have been steadily appearing on the sides of barns throughout our counties thanks to a network of quilt enthusiasts, museums and historians who all have a passion for rural Ontario. Brant County boasts over 30 barn quilts along their country roads telling the history of their communities through this art form of rural graffiti.
John Irvine Selkirk Sometimes the many pieces of our lives just fall into place. John Irvine of Selkirk, with his lifelong passion for photography had a What Have I Done moment when he found he was accepted for his first solo show: Avant Garde at Lighthouse Theatre in Port Dover. Within months of that first show, John’s rag-to-riches story had him flying to France to exhibit at the Louvre.
BRANTFORD
H
AL
DI
MAN
D COUN
TY
LAKE ERIE
Joy Bakery & Cafe Simcoe joyofnorfolk.ca Just about the same time that we were putting our first issue out on the streets Joy’s Bakery and Cafe was serving their first sweet treats along with their delicious coffees. Since that time the food coming out of their small kitchen has not only been works of art but treats for the soul. As with any good business, the time to expand has come and our beloved Joys is getting bigger and better!
66 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
OTG Productions Ingersoll otgproductions.com If you have had it in your mind to make a film and are just not sure how to go about it, or maybe you need a film crew for something else going on in your life, OTG Productions from Ingersoll might be just who you are looking for. Having just finished filming Y2Kameron, written and directed by Adam Glass, they are ready to take on your project with their passion and commitment to detail.
Susan Bennett Port Rowan While sugar plums may dance in the heads of children Susan Bennett goes to sleep thinking of palette knifes and oil paints. Susan has been an artist for as long as she can remember and jokes that oil paint runs through her veins. You can often find her at Capitol Arts Market in Simcoe exhibiting her work or teaching a class while happily wielding a palette knife across a canvas.
The Sanderson Centre Brantford sandersoncentre.ca From the time of silent movies and vaudeville of The Temple Theatre, Sanderson Centre has been showcasing great talent and entertaining us for 100 years. Now the Centre is celebrating a Century of Applause, with everything from circus, performance dance, live music and even a trampoline-flipping guitarist. The line up for the coming year is outstanding!
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 8 years we have raised $148,146.22 and provided 2100+ children with positive Christmas memories!
friendswithhearts.com Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 67
Theatre Woodstock
CREATIVE ArtS for Great Lakes Coming together to showcase the importance of the Great Lakes to our people and history. BY Adrianna Michell As climate change threatens the stability of our natural resources, the artistic community has been a surprising but important part of conservation efforts as creators use their unique voices and medium to preserve the diversity of Ontario’s natural spaces. The Great Art for Great Lakes project uses participatory community arts projects to promote ecological and the social importance of the Great Lakes. This past summer for their 2019 run, the project focused on Lake Erie and the surrounding areas, which have faced a variety of environmental threats from litter to destructive algae blooms. Despite
Lake Erie’s fragility, the surrounding communities have relied on the body of water for generations. Indigenous communities of the Six Nations have relied on and sought to protect regional water sources because of their life-supporting and spiritual value, making conservation important as the region becomes increasingly threatened. The Great Art for Great Lakes project calls upon local artists to create projects that use collective creative practices to make work inspired by the Great Lakes. 2019 brought together Ontario musicians Logan Staats & Rob Lamothe and community mem-
68 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
bers to create “Song for the Water,” a melodic and lyrical piece that incorporates participants’ feelings about the lake. Local artists and community organizers Suzanne Earls and Holly Anderson also worked with participants to make a mosaic entitled “Depth and Consequences,” which used reclaimed glass and plastic items found during shore cleanups hosted by the artists. The complete piece represented a sturgeon, a species of fish that dates back to the Triassic period but has been threatened by overfishing and other human activities in the area. Through the Great Arts for Great Lakes project, arts and conservation come together to bring awareness about the ecological importance of the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world. The creative projects of this past summer will help protect the water for the future.
Woodstock theatrewoodstock.com The lasting impact that arts institutions have on local communities cannot be overstated, and no company better understands this than Theatre Woodstock. A part of the community since circa World War II, Theatre Woodstock began humbly but has become a beacon for local theatre lovers and creators for generations. Beginning as the Woodstock Little Theatre, the founders established the company as a place for performance with a focus on youth programming. Theater Woodstock has been housed in the Market Building since the mid 1990s, a 240-seat restored space. Every year the company produces five musicals or plays with a commitment to entertaining and well-produced shows that promote local talent. Their STAGES program has fostered the creative talent of youth seven to 14-year-olds with their summer camps and annual kids production. Theatre Woodstock has been recognized at regional theatre festivals for their engaging productions and will continue to be an artistic hub in the community for years to come. AM
Vintage Back Beats
The nostalgia of vinyl memories might just be the basis of our fine repertoire of local vintage venues. BY Jules Torti Talking about records is a bit of a sore spot in our family. Every Saturday we visited the Brantford Public Library and checked out an armful of books and vinyl for private basement dance-off parties. Our rec room had what my siblings and I interpreted as a stage. The L-shaped step-up platform provided ample room for our choreography, though bits of the popcorn ceiling rained down on us if we were too aggressive in our performances. We also had the obstacle of my brother’s 200-gallon salt water fish tank to contend with if we were doing any exaggerated sock slides across the stage. I’m not sure how we danced to the likes of Foreigner’s “Agent Provocateur,” but we did. We wanted to know what love was, just like Foreigner, and we dropped the needle again and again on the third track. We were so enthusiastic in playing DJ that we left an indelible scratch on Side A. The disappointed librarian asked my mom to pony up $40 for replacement costs. Or that’s what my mom said she had to dole out. Forty bucks seems prohibitive for 1984, but it instilled a necessary fear in each of us. Records were delicate beings. We weren’t allowed to take out records from the library again. I started my own prestigious collection: Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ and Culture Club’s ‘Colour by Numbers.’ My style was fluid—meaning it also included ‘E.T. Extra Terrestrial’ soundtrack album. This was an ‘easy listening’ option until we revved up again with some British glam rock: Doctor and the Medics 45, “Spirit in the Sky.” My favourite aunt’s collection rivalled any record store—I think she had more posters than Sunrise Records did. We’re talking wall-to-wall E.L.O. and KISS posters thumbtacked into the wall—we thought she was an amazing interior designer. For awhile, my aunt wore one of those yellow 45 RPM
SX2 plastic inserts around her neck on a chain. Nothing could be cooler in my 10-year-old mind. My vinyl childhood history comes to the forefront whenever I pass a small-town record store. There’s such a powerful undertow that pulls me inside, eager to find those same albums that were the soundtrack of my youth and Side B, my teens. I think it’s time to drop into a shop soon. I wonder if I could pull off a SX2?
vinyl enthusiast HOTSPOTS 1 Forch’s Record Store, Brantford forchsrecordstore.ca 2 Sunrise Records, Brantford sunriserecords.com 3 The Beat Goes On, Brantford beatgoeson.com 4 Erie Music, Simcoe eriemusic.ca 5 Nith River Records Paris 6 Second Chance Records, Caledonia secondchancerecords.ca 7 The Record Works, Woodstock therecordworks.com
Jules Torti is the author of Free to a Good Home: With Room For Improvement (Caitlin Press). She is the editor-inchief of Harrowsmith magazine and writes about the best things in life (birds, burgers, beaches, beer: in no particular order) for Cottage Life, FASHION, realtor.ca’s Living Room and Grand magazine. Torti has been published in The Vancouver Sun, The Globe and Mail, Massage Therapy Canada and Coast Mountain Culture magazine. In other lives she has made breakfast for 26 chimpanzees in the Congo and illustrated colouring books for the Jane Goodall Institute and the Dian Fossey Foundation. Her next book is under construction and will retrace Torti’s experience walking the Camino de Santiago from St. Jean-Pied-de-Port, France to Finisterre (“The End of the World”), Spain. Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 69
Events & Activities THEATRE
celebrating
25 years in business
The way a flooring store should be FIND YOUR STYLE. AND COMFORT LEVEL. WE MAKE IT EASY.
Park Road 41, Simcoe 519-426-2619
nufloors.ca/simcoe
As live theatre 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 theatre 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 long 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
Unwrap your senses as you step inside our little shop. Enjoy hand crafted natural soaps, bath and body care, local artisans wares, gift giving ideas, home & decor. A vibrant gallery that encourages creativity, learning, and enjoyment of the arts. Resident artist Kerry Walford specializes in oil paintings of rural Ontario, while the gallery also features the work of local artists, hosts curated art shows throughout the year and offers a variety of Children’s Art Classes, Adult Workshops & Corporate Workshops. 24 Winnett St N, Cayuga 905.929.4902 info@wildwoodcayuga.com wildwoodcayuga.com 70 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
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
359 Main St. Port Dover 519-583-3977
cottagenorthsoapworks.com
76 Main St S, Waterford oldtownhall.org A restored historic building that boasts a 180-seat auditorium, the Waterford Old Town Hall provides us with cultural diversity as a music, artistic and theatrical production venue.
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 we are LocaL, FamiLy owneD since pop into one of these local showcases. 1997. speciaLizing in Dog anD cat Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant
nutrition, Fish, reptiLes, BirDs anD smaLL animaLs.
20 Ava Rd, Brantford glenhyrst.ca Located in Glenhyrst Gardens, a beautifully landscaped 16-acre park on the banks of the Grand River, the gallery offers contemporary fine art exhibitions, guided tours, classes, lectures, events, and art rentals.
Local & family owned since 1997, we specialize in dog and cat nutrition, fish, reptiles, birds and small animals.
Holly.O. Gallery
16 Charlotte St. Paris (one street north of the Arlington Hotel) hollyo.ca Paris artist Holly.O. welcomes visitors to her gallery and studio. View Holly’s collection of original artworks and take a behind-the-scenes look at her sunny studio space! Gallery is open by appointment throughout the year.
autumn art Show & Sale november 2-3 16 Charlotte St., PariS hollyo.ca
410 Fairview Dr, Brantford 519-756-7710
paulmacs.com
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. Two Turtles Iroquois Fine Art Gallery
649 Colborne St, W, Brantford 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 can thInk It, we’ve got It! (or can get it!) Grace & Lace Artizan Catherine Lillywhite Parsley & Sage Papillon Jacqueline Kent Ella & Ollie baby line Pinkstix purses GorGEoUS décor!!
A little bit country, a little bit urban, we cater to the backyard farmer and the small town enthusiast. Hardware, bird & animal feeds, odds & ends and so much more!
Wildwood Art Gallery & Studio
24 Winnett St, N, Cayuga WildwoodCayuga.com This new gallery is home to artist Kerry Walford who specializes in oil paintings of rural Ontario. The gallery will also feature the work of local artists, offer art classes for children and adults, and host several art shows throughout the year.
Cozy Autumn Days!
Doerksen Country Store
1086 Bay St, Port Rowan 519-586-3901
doerksencountrystore.com
1407 Hwy 59, Port rowan 519.586.3817
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 71
NATURE CALLS
Out & About
Seasons are ever-changing. The altering weather is a gentle reminder that all things end but can begin anew. 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 sunscreen and dust off your hiking boots - the great outdoors is calling!
PHOTO Courtesy Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Association theheartofontario.com
Beautiful Brant County welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to experience their award-winning culinary delights, specialty boutique shopping and the beauty of nature. As a premier outdoor adventure haven, Brant County Tourism has launched a fun campaign called the Brant Blue Canoe experience that ensures you get the most out of your time here! Look for outfitters across the county that feature the “Blue Canoe” logo, book an experience through them, and collect tokens that will save you money on your next adventure in Brant. These experienced outfitters act as guides throughout the area to lead you to the next best place, making sure you don’t miss anything! Tokens are valid until April 30, 2020 so you have plenty of time to go on multiple adventures and find all their hidden gems. Visit them online by searching for Brant Blue Canoe to see the full list of participants. brant.ca
Right on Course
Once upon a time, there was shepherd watching his flock. His days were long and uneventful. One day,
while minding his sheep, the lonely shepherd accidentally knocked a rock down rabbit hole. He exclaimed
“Oh my, I couldn’t do that again if I tried.” Naturally, that is exactly what he did. He began to seek out round stones to aim down rabbit holes. As his skill became more accurate, and his daily routine less mundane, he wanted to share his new pastime. He invited his friend, to try his arm at aiming the round rock at the rabbit hole. The competition began. And the outcome was a game with rules and scores and challenges. A game for everyone, the
Brantford Golf and Country Club Brantford brantfordgolfandcountryclub.com One of the oldest and best golf courses in Canada, this course has hosted the Canadian Amateur, the CPGA Championship and become the premier training ground for professional golfers. It is a timeless course, well designed and easily walked. Golfers must concentrate on their game while absorbing the majestic views of the Grand River. Fairways meander up slopes to well-guarded greens, while players need a deft touch to avoid wandering creeks. It is an exceptional course where par can be a challenge, but losing a golf ball is difficult as well. By the time you reach the 18th, this course will have tested your game and your imagination. What else can a golfer ask for?
MontHill Golf and Country Club Caledonia monthillgolfcc.com Mont Hill Golf and Country Club, located outside Caledonia, is a 27-hole course boasting some of the best manicured greens in the area. Beautiful pine and hardwood trees, lush fairways and strategic water hazards provide a constantly-evolving landscape. Holes flow seamlessly, making it an easy walk. This course is deigned to be as challenging as desired. Three different nine hole courses allow players to mix and match their game, offering a unique experience each time. This newly-renovated facility includes a steak house, indoor golf simulators, and banquet halls available year round. It is fast becoming one of Ontario’s premier courses, and a sublime meeting place for every occasion.
Sally Creek Golf Club Woodstock sallycreekgolf.com Situated among stunning vistas and natural elegance, Sally Creek Golf Course is one of Ontario’s most beautiful nine-hole facilities with four sets of tees. This course engages all players of every skill level. Sally Creek is a nine-hole golf course with challenging holes and its natural surroundings provide a golf experience leaving you fulfilled. This hidden gem is one of the best-conditioned courses in Southern Ontario and its unique location offers an unforgettable experience. The adult lifestyle community built around the course was designed to foster a strong sense of community. For those who love the game, this exclusive facility is definitely worthy of consideration.
From the aspiring pro to the casual weekender and everyone in between, what better way is there to enjoy nature than to hit the links? BY kerstein mallon
strong, the weak, seasoned and youth, rich and poor. Personal achievement is paramount but it is possible to participate too much in it and destroy your mind. For golfers, nature loses her significance. Flowers are hazards, twigs break clubs, and rain is only relevant in its relation to the green. It’s a game so simple and natural in its principles, it has gradually become accepted in every community across the planet, including right here in our own back yard.
Links at Dover Coast Golf Port Dover golfatdovercoast.com Nestled alongside the winding back roads on Lake Erie, the newly built Links at Dover is both serene and tranquil. Its outstanding location features a backdrop that will ease your soul. It’s a semi-private golf course offering nine and 18 holes. This challenging layout is a top-notch green and is ideal for both novice and expert alike. And golf is not the only amenity available: the Links at Dover Coast incorporates pickle ball courts on the grounds – the first dedicated pickle ball court in Ontario! Links at Dover Coast is not only the perfect location for golf and pickle ball, its scenic location is the perfect place for weddings, anniversary party, or corporate events.
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 73
OF THE
PHOTO By Tara Carpenter
OUT ORDINARY
Connecting with nature offers a wealth of benefits, not to mention the sheer enjoyment of being surrounded by beauty. So go play outside! BY Tara Carpenter Living deep within the Carolinian life zone is an honour that we locals should not take for granted. Southern Ontario has some of the most unique and fragile ecosystems in North America and boasts the most biodiversity in all of Canada. Having a large human population in this same zone creates issues for this fragile landscape. We need to realize and understand that Earth is our only habitat. From the sandy tip of Long Point to the flowing Grand River waters to the vast rural routes of Oxford County there are ecologically beneficial proj-
ects in our communities that you can become involved in. • The LPWBRF Research Conference showcasing vital research and conservation projects being conducted in our region is this fall in Norfolk County. • Garbage pick-up days with Clean Up Norfolk and Grand River Environmental Group. • Wetland and tree planting projects with Haldimand Stewardship Council. • Tourism Oxford is the first Canadian Tourism Office to receive the prestigious Gold Level certificate in Green Tourism.
I have always been a tree-huger and would dream of how I could induce a positive change on this precious Earth. After bringing my daughter into this world I had an epiphany. The biggest impact I could have on this planet was through the children. They are our future. With this I have created The GROWE Outdoor School in hopes that I will impact children’s lives to be stewards of precious Mother Earth. Support your local communities environmental group, garbage clean up crew, tree planting day, conservation area programs, and outdoor schools. You will be surprised by the deep impact it will have on you, your community and our children’s future. We all can make a difference in our own backyard!
Tara Carpenter discovered her love for nature and the outdoors at an early age while growing up on a Norfolk farm. She has always been an avid enthusiast of nature and travel, and for 17 years she roamed all corners of the globe in search of adventure. From sailing Australia’s Great Barrier Reef to hitch-hiking across Canada, Tara has made herself at home in nature’s embrace. Grounded by the unique challenges of motherhood, Tara now encourages other parents and their families to get outdoors and foster their own passion for environmental connectedness. For info on programs connect with Terra Trails or GROWE Grandriverrafting.ca/grand-river-outdoor-wilderness-education 74 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Our Ontario southwest offers a copious quantity of wild edibles just waiting to be gobbled up by anyone who knows where and when to forage. Here are just a few of the delights to be had.
Alternative Land Use Services (ALUS)
Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC)
alus.ca The ALUS program works with farmers to establish valuable ecological services on local farmland. Specifically, ALUS helps landowners restore wetlands, reforest, plant windbreaks, install riparian buffers, manage sustainable drainage systems and create pollinator habitat. They turn marginal farmland into productive ecosystems which in turn provide ecosystem services.
natureconservancy.ca This land conservation organization’s work is led by conservation science professionals who identify, plan and execute the protection of the best local natural spaces. They work to manage and restore them for the long term. This process ensures that conservation actions like buying land, removing invasive species or locating rare species are efficient and effective.
Chicory Cichorium intybus Remember the saying, “Bitter to the tongue is sweet to the belly”. Bitter foods like chicory are beneficial to the endocrine and digestive systems. Roots dried and slow roasted make a healthy alternative to coffee. Leaves can be steamed as greens or made into a tea sweetened with honey. A good source of inulin, a phytochemical that supports the immune system.
Carolinian Canada Coalition
London caroliniancanada.ca Carolinian Canada’s diverse network advances a strategic vision for healthy landscapes and a green future in Canada’s deep south. They aim to advance a collaborative conservation strategy for healthy ecosystems in Ontario’s Carolinian life zone and increase the public’s understanding of the importance of conserving these natural features in southwestern Ontario.
Cat Tails Typha spp All parts of the this plant can be used for food, medicine, bedding or weaving. The shoots can be eaten raw or steamed, the rhizomes boiled or dried and the flower spikes cooked like a cob of corn. The protein-rich pollen was used like flour to make gravies and biscuits. Rhizomes can be used to treat wounds or brewed into tea to relieve digestive disorders.
Long Point World Biosphere Reserve Foundation (LPWBRF)
Port Rowan longpointbiosphere.com One of 16 in Canada, the LPWBRF promotes research, monitoring, community outreach and education, partnerships, and projects that support the goals of biodiversity, conservation and sustainable communities. Biosphere reserves are important ecosystems that are internationally recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO).
Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulos The sweet, fragrant flowers are popular with bees, hence the common name bee balm. Native to North America , the leaves were traditionally used as a refreshing tea to treat coughs, headaches, insomnia and indigestion. The flowers were used as perfume, insect repellent and incense. Garnish your salad, custard, or ice cream with the attractive flower peddles. Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 75
Rural Roooots!
Rural recreation is the cure-all you’re craving and roots are so cool and underground, they’re like the most indie thing in the planet. Put those two things together and you’ve got (yell it!) Rural Rooooots: Your indispensable, unconventional guide to bucolic wonder and countryside cravings. BY J.C. Villamere
Please feel free to reach out and let us know about other farming folks within the community who are doing it different!
It’s sweater weather so brew up a gallon of pumpkin spice latte and get your fall on! These destinations are kid-friendly but you know what? They’d also make pretty adorable date ideas. Either way, your Instagram feed is going to be one long string of fire emojis with the snaps you can take at these chill, mellow, local destinations that are perfect for autumn. This is a great time to visit local farms because they feature all the best things you associate with fall: crisp air, hecka leaves, decorative gourds a gogo, and owls all over the place. Wait — owls all over the place? Good catch. I threw that one in to see if you were paying attention. Just like I threw in a little nod to the Canadian Raptor Conservancy below even though it’s not technically a farm — it’s a conservancy for birds of prey like the great horned owl, golden eagle, and red-tailed hawk. I also found you a farm that’s jussst the right amount of haunted and has pickyour-own pumpkins to get you Halloween-ready. If back-to-school season has got you flat-out exhausted and you need a piggyback through the great outdoors, I can’t help you. But if you want to go on horseback, I’ve got your back plus I found an unexpected stable of cover models for you. Giddyup.
76 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
Canadian Raptor Conservancy
Vittoria canadianraptorconservancy.com As a mom, I know my little one loves to go here (she raves about the gift shop) and I also know how the convo might play out in other households when you suggest the Canadian Raptor Conservancy. Kids will be, like: “Is it basketball?” And you’ll be, like: “Nope, it’s eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls.” Kids: “Owls! I’m Harry Potter!” You: (musing to yourself as kids busily choreograph an elaborate imaginary wizard-related stage play around you) “Oh, I didn’t now that we had one of the largest captive breeding projects in the world right here in Norfolk County. Can you believe there are 200 captive-bred birds there?” Kids: “Yeah, I know.” You: “It says they started out in 1997 captive breeding of peregrine falcons and now they breed more than 15 different species each year and some of those endangered species offspring are released into the wild through projects around the world. I bet you didn’t know that!” Kids: (Waving wands, wearing beards and hats fashioned from tea towels) “One can never have enough socks.” You: “What? Do you need more socks? Did you hear what I was saying about the peregrine falcons breeding?” Kids: “Yeah, I know.” You: “And the baby birds? The little wee baby birds?” Kids: “BABY BIRDS? WHERE? LET’S GO.”
Brantwood Farms
Brantford brantwoodfarms.com When you take your fam to a farm for the first time, you don’t know what to expect. Will it be easy to find? How much walking is involved? Is there a store? Is there cell service? Is it haunted? I mean, at the right time of year, you want a “haunted” farm. But you don’t want to pull up to an authenticly creepy farm. You want a well-run, reliable, well-lit farm with good signage and a streamlined Eventbrite ticketing process. You want Brantwood Farms! Their farm store sells lots of farm-grown goodness, but your children will notice only the donuts. There are portapotties set up by the tree fort. Hayrides help keep walking to a minimum. There’s enough cell service to post to Instagram. Brantwood boasts a pick-your-own pumpkin patch and loads of activities for kids including a four-acre corn maze, pumpkin bowling, pumpkin painting, a miniature train, pony rides, apple slingshots (if I ever have to die, I hope this is what fells me), pedal tractors, scavenger hunts, the straw castle, and the Storybook Barn, not to be confused with the Haunted Barn, which the website says is “a very scary place” but, again, I stress, this is intentional. Fox Lair Stables
Canfield foxlairstables.com If you bury the lede it means you’ve buried the most important part of a news story and I hate doing that so I’m telling you upfront that Fox Lair Stables’ horses and ponies have appeared on the covers of Harlequin romance novels such as “Twins for the Bull Rider” and “Remember Me, Cowboy”. Fox Lair houses the Fabios of horses and ponies. Now here’s the lowdown on riding them. Pony-wise, Dory and Cinderella can take kids under 50 pounds for a ride, Callie can take kids up to 70 pounds and then there are two small horses, Tonto and Missy, for kids up to 100 pounds. Fox Lair also offers pony rides onsite if you’re having a party. Rides are by appointment only so don’t just roll up: call 905-774-1373 or email steff@foxlairstables.com first. Fox Lair offers guided trail rides on horseback and kids as young as seven can ride with a handler beside them and an adult on the ride with them. Why not take a lesson or two first? There are lessons for kids as young as five, plus summer camps on beautiful grounds with a dedicated staff. Horse rides are booked by the hour. Check foxlairstables.com for pricing. Cash only. Kids will sing “Old Town Road” the whole time. Enjoy. Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 77
Come Discover Haldimand
Getting out & about! Winter, spring, summer and fall, we have no shortage of activities for outdoor enthusiasts come to play at in beautiful Southwestern Ontario. Backus Heritage Conservation Area
RR 1, Port Rowan Where history meets nature! This beautiful conservation area has so much to offer history buffs, outdoor enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys a day trip surrounded by nature. Just minutes from the lakeside communities of Port Rowan and Long Point. Bell Homestead National Historic Site
Fall/Winter 2019-20 Community Guide Discover community events & programs, municipal information, tourism destinations, business resources and much more.
94 Tutela Heights Rd, Brantford This was the first North American home of professor Alexander Melville Bell and his family, including his son, scientist Alexander Graham Bell. The telephone was invented at this very homestead in July 1874. They offer a variety of activities to enjoy year-round including tours, cafe and museum store, educational trips, day camps, birthday parties, drop-in activities and rentals. Brantford Twin Valley Zoo
84 Langford Church Rd, Brantford twinvalleyzoo.com Lions, tigers, bears—that’s what visitors will encounter at the Brantford Twin Valley Zoo. Built on 25 beautiful acres in Brant County, this zoo is home to 65 different species including exotic animals from around the world as well as animals native to our area. Clovermead Fun Adventure Farm
View it online at HaldimandCounty.ca or pick up your free copy from any County office, library or museum.
78 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
11302 Imperial Rd N, Aylmer clovermead.com/adventure-farm Four generations of beekeepers have inspired the Hiemstra family to open their hearts and farm to educate people on the importance of the almighty bee. Come outside to learn about the workings of a beehive and the value of food pollination the while learning the limits of how much fun can be had down on the farm. Book a class trip or guided tour this fall.
Earl Haig Family Fun Park
101 Market St, S, Brantford When the weather gets warm, we want to get wet! From June to September bring your family and friends here for a wet day in the sun. They have a leisure pool, water slide, splash pad, lazy river ride, mini-putt, batting cages, snack shack, day camps and so much more! It’s not just a day trip, it’s a day destination. Find A Way Flyboarding
239 Ordnance Dr, Turkey Point findawayflyboarding.ca Get your adrenaline pumping with this popular new water sport at one of Norfolk’s finest Lake Erie beaches. This local biz will have you soaring like a bird or swimming like the dolphins on one of their top of the line hydro flight devices. Gopher Dunes Inc.
4385 Hwy 59 RR1, Courtland gopherdunes.com Prepare to be blown away by this 30km off-road facility of one-way wooded trails plus four additional tracks: the Beginner, Pee-Wee, world famous 2km Sand Track, and Arena Cross Tracks Grand River Rafting Company
184 Pottruff Rd, Paris grandriverrafting.ca Offering one of the most unique outdoor experiences in Southwestern Ontario with thrilling options like rafting, canoing, kayaking, turbo-tubing, stand up paddle board, hiking, fishing, camping and so much more. Everything can be customized to create your ideal adventure. While there, be sure to experience more than the Grand River and ask about the Brant Blue Canoe! Great Lakes Farms - PYO & Fun Farm
5111 Union Rd, Port Stanley greatlakesfarms.ca There is no better feeling than being outside with your family enjoying the great outdoors! Great Lakes Farms has built the ultimate fun zone for your family of explorers! Offering a giant pirate ship, sand box + diggers, zip line, Straw Mountain, Happy Hoppers, corn maze, tractor rides (Weekends only), pedal tractors, pumpkin launcher (October), corn sandbox+
AN ARtisAN ColleCtive Quality Flowers. BeautiFully DesigneD. DelivereD on time.
bRiNgiNg the beAuty of smAll bAtCh to you with A foCus iN NoRfolk CouNty
At Upsy Daisy Floral Studio, our names says it all! Creating exceptional floral designs, events or workshops that uplift and tantalize all your senses is our specialty. We love what flowers do for people, how they bring joy. Come in we promise your spirits will be filled with joy! Corporate Services Funerals & Celebrations for life Workshops Flower Bar for Events
2619 Cockshutt Rd Norfolk County 905-537-3936
theshopatsweetwater.ca
339 Main St, Port Dover 226.931.6131
portdoverflowers.com
need Help? Brant, Haldimand & norfolk Community information dataBase
info-bhn.ca
WHeRe pAssIoN meeTs cAReeR. exploRe ouR jobs
search for information on • Children & Youth Services • Counselling • Disability Support Programs • Financial & Social Assistance • Food Banks • Government Programs • Health Services • Housing & Home Care • Libraries & Educational Services • Mental Health Services • Newcomer Services • Parenting & Family Programs • Recreation • Service Clubs • Seniors’ Services • Transportation Services and so much more!
ANDRITZ Hydro group, a leading international supplier of electromechanical equipment and services for hydro power plants.
The core competences of ANDRITZ Hydro Canada’s gate division in the Paris Ontario facility are the design and fabrication of multiple types of water control gates such as vertical lift roller gates, radial gates, slide gates and stoplogs for spillway, intake and tailrace for hydroelectric power, irrigation, navigation and flood control applications. Also among their specialties are embedded parts, trashracks, hoists, hoist super structures, cranes and control houses. All engineering, project management and installation including technical advisory and commissioning are managed within this ANDRITZ Hydro Paris facility. positions in the shop needed most Welder/Fitter Floor Bore Operator Painter/Blaster To Apply vIsIT andritz.com/careers
6 ADAms sTReeT PARIs 519-442-7884
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 79
Her Majesty’s Royal Chapel of The Mohawks
301 Mohawk St, Brantford mohawkchapel.ca Built in 1785, Mohawk Chapel is Ontario’s oldest surviving church. They offer tours, educational programs, weddings and chapel services. Leaping Deer Adventure Farm & Market
544212 Clarke Rd, Ingersoll leapingdeer.com Authentic rural adventure awaits your family with an exciting day at the farm where you will fall in love with the homemade tasty treats, fuzzy critters in the animal shed and the corn-cob express. Take a chance by attempting to make your way through the evergrowing 10 acre corn maze where you run the risk of endless fun while getting lost in the escapade. Killman Zoo
• Is Everyone Canoeing Without Me? • Why’d they put Drake in a wheelchair? • How do you get #JustinTrudeauHair? Available from your favourite bookseller
237 Unity Rd, E, Caledonia killmanzoo.com The Killman family has operated this amazing attraction since 1988. This is not your traditional zoo or safari experience: these big cats are up close and personal and you are within arm’s reach of a tiger, lion, jaguar, leopard or lynx throughout your entire trip. The zoo takes you through serene, quiet, wooded trails and gives you the rare opportunity of experiencing some of the most amazing creatures in nature. Lake Lisgar Waterpark
8 Ross St, Tillsonburg This gem of Oxford County offers wet and wild fun for everyone. With trained lifeguards on duty at all times, this is a perfect place to take the wee ones. There are a boundless number of things to do here thanks to the generous amount of water toys they provide like inflatable rafts, slides and tubes. Lake Lisgar has one of the most epic piratethemed playground areas located just outside the water park facility. Trust me, you’ll be hooked. Long Point Eco-Adventures
dundurnpress
@dundurnpress
80 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
dundurn.com
1730 Front Rd, St. Williams lpfun.ca Uniting conservation, communities,
and sustainable travel seems to be top of mind for many folks these days. Add a bit of adventure and you have a winning combination. That’s exactly what Long Point Eco-Adventure has done! Offering unique and affordable family vacations in picturesque Norfolk County with luxury camping, wine pairings, zip line and canopy tours, mushroom foraging, kayaking, Zodiac boat tours, mountain biking and so much more. Nature’s Calling
P.O. Box 995, Simcoe naturescalling.ca Outdoor environmental education at its finest with a mission to promote conservation and stewardship of our environment through outdoor learning and classroom programming. Be nature-educated by attending a naturethemed program, attend a wilderness camp or even enroll in Forest School. This groundbreaking environmental education is what learning is all about. Ruthven Park National Historic Site
243 Haldimand Hwy 54, Cayuga ruthvenparknationalhistoricsite.com Tucked away in the rural countryside of Cayuga along the beautiful Grand River, sits 1,500 acres of the mixed agricultural and natural lands of Ruthven Park. The park consists of Canada’s rare Carolinian forest life zone, a fertile ecozone and home to many species of plants and animals that are found nowhere else in Canada, making its preservation even more important. Visit their website view the array of tours, trails, classes and unique activities that they offer.
KND
Ltd
automotive Lube + Oil + Filter + Fluid Levels + Tires Computer Scanning Engine Control System MTO Safety Inspections for Cars and Single Axel Pickup Trucks Engine Tuneups & Cooling Systems Tire Repairs & Balancing Durashield Dripless Rustproofing Brakes • Suspension • Air Conditioning
Years Young! 199 King Edward St. PariS 519-442-7110
At Pet Valu we understand that your pet is a part of the family, because we’re pet parents too. At both our Paris and Brantford store, you’ll find a great selection of pet food, treats, toys and accessories, all at competitive prices. We also pride ourselves on being Pet Experts and we want to use our knowledge and experience to help you find the right nutrition and other solutions for your pets!
Whistling Gardens
698 Concession #3, Wilsonville whistlinggardens.ca Visit the national award winning, internationally-acclaimed and one of Canada’s only privately run botanical gardens and see why Whistling Gardens was recently voted as one of Canada’s best botanical gardens. Explore nearly 20 acres where you can view over 4,000 different plants. Contact educator Terra Trails for outdoor themed educational programs in the Gardens.
Visit our website to learn about our amazing selection of children’s art lessons, adult paint workshops & corporate paint workshops! 24 Winnett St N, Cayuga 905.929.4902 info@wildwoodcayuga.com wildwoodcayuga.com
308 Grand River St N, Paris 50 Market St S, Brantford
petvalu.com Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 81
Find your role
My mission is to help people find, accept, and become the best version of themselves that they possibly can be. BY JR Gallarza
I first wanted to thank Live Small Town magazine for the opportunity to be published here. As a local, smalltown, generation-one immigrant, being asked to share a piece of my story is very humbling. I am a Brantfor-raised immigrant from the Philippines, a small island in Asia that surprisingly has a population almost triple that of Canada (104 million vs. 37 million). My parents and I immigrated from the Philippines to Brantford, Ontario, when I was just two years old, and with the exception of going to university for five years on a basketball scholarship and going semi-pro, I have been living here ever since. Growing up, a lot of my peers would always say how much they did not enjoy living in a small city. Admittedly, I formed the same mindset as them, believing that I would eventually “make it out” of Brantford and never look back once I did. But as someone that did actually leave, making Toronto my second home for a year, and who also moved back across the world to the Philippines for five years of university, I am proud to say that I am happily residing in Brantford once again. My fiancé and I are now proudly 82 LIVE SMALL TOWN livesmalltownmag.ca
raising our son here, and we have been taking more and more steps to securing a comfortable future here. Although the Province of Ontario has been giving me a tough time recognizing my diploma from the University of the Philippines, I am very proud to say that the life that we are building in Brantford together is still enabling me to pursue a business where I get to challenge myself each day to positively impact our local athletes. In addition to helping our athletes develop their basketball skill sets and helping them physically develop in the weight room; I also have a personal mission to help influence how the athletes who I work with see the world and how they can manoeuvre in it. “You are only in competition with yourself, so be the best version of yourself,” is a big theme throughout our training sessions, camps, and clinics. I believe that in this world, no matter what cards you have been dealt, it is up to you to make the most of them. Don’t like your cards? Work extremely hard to make sure that you get a new hand dealt to you! No matter what though, to achieve a dream (especially being from a small town), I have learned that you must excel in your current roles on and off the court. From there, with a lot of hard work, you can gradually build yourself up until you find your dream role in life.
For more information please contact JR Gallarza owner and founder of Role: Basketball Skills and Holistic Development at roleplayers.ca, @JR_Gallarza on Instagram or email jr.gallarza@outlook.com
MAIN PHOTO by Jack Salole
OUR TOWN
BANGARRA DANCE
THE ABRAMS
SULTANS OF STRING
ENNIS SISTERS
MEGHAN PATRICK
KIM MITCHELL
SEASON OPENER BRACE YOURSELF
LED ZEPPELIN IV
STORIES & SONGS OF STOMPIN’ TOM
SESAME STREET LIVE
THE MEN OF THE DEEPS
BURTON CUMMINGS
CIRCA HUMANS
HYPROV
FLEETWOOD MAC
BRENT BUTT
MISSION SONGS PROJECT
NATALIE MACMASTER & DONNELL LEAHY
HOWIE MANDEL
CANADA’S BALLET JÖRGEN
THE NUTCRACKER
GALA PERFORMANCE THE TENORS
MARIE BOTTRELL
L O B B Y SER IES MILF LIFE CRISIS
SARAH HAGEN
ADULT CONTENT 18+
TOM PETTY
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SPONSOR
THE DREAMBOATS
SERIES SPONSOR
DAVID BOWIE
A RT I S T S I N C O N V E R S AT IO N
PERFORMANCE SPONSORS
VALDY
WE’VE GOT EACH OTHER
SUSAN AGLUKARK
CONTRIBUTING SPONSOR
MEDIA SPONSORS
Live it for a day. Live it for a lifetime. FALL 2019 83
Proud to be Canada’s 7th Best Place to Live!
Spend the day in one of Canada’s best communities! “The County of Brant is a charming community for people of all ages!” Mayor David Bailey, County of Brant
D Q E @branttourism
goodtimesinbrant.com Maclean’s magazine named the County of Brant as the 7th Best Community in Canada.