SPRING 2015
THE LONG ROAD FROM MADOC TO MAPLE LEAF GARDENS BANCROFT SCHOOLING STUDENTS IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS WILBERFORCE MEDICAL PIONEER REMEMBERED C O V E R I N G T H E A R T S , O U T D O O R S , H I S T O R Y, P E O P L E A N D P L A C E S
Growth requires nurturing. The same applies to your investments. They need regular infusions of fertile thinking and constant care. Are your investments wilting? Why not get a fresh perspective from ScotiaMcLeod, 46 S. Front Street, Belleville
or call Julie Lange at 613 968 6459 or 1 800 810 9378. Get ready now.
Serving Quinte area investors since 1987. 速 Registered trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used by ScotiaMcLeod. ScotiaMcLeod is a division of Scotia Capital Inc. ("SCI"). SCI is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.
V O LU M E 8 , I S S U E 1 , S P R I N G 2 0 1 5
Contents
Birch cLiff Lodge
8
18
24
26
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
8 THE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE
6 EDITORIAL
By Michelle Annette Tremblay
14 ARTISANS AT HAND
6 CONTRIBUTORS
on Baptiste Lake
18 STILL STANDING
By John Hopkins
Pushing the limits
16 JUST SAYING
Making the Cut
17 ADVERTISER INDEX 22 CROSSROADS
24 COMMUNITY SPIRIT
By Michelle Annette Tremblay
27 THE VILLAGE IDIOT
A great place for weddings, conferences and vacation getaways. www.birchclifflodge.ca 613-332-3316
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26 INTO THE WILD
By Nancy Hopkins
A Medical Pioneer No time to save
28 COUNTRY CALENDAR 29 MARKETPLACE 30 BACK ROADS
Log Drive on Scootamatta River
Country Roads
celebrating life in hastings county
Country Roads
celebrating life in hastings county
CR Country
CO-PUBLISHER & EDITOR Nancy Hopkins 613 968-0499 CO-PUBLISHER & EDITOR John Hopkins 613 968-0499
Roads
SALES DEPARTMENT
SOUTH & CENTRAL HASTINGS & AREA celebrating life in hastings county Nancy Hopkins nancy@countryroadshastings.ca 613.968.0499 NORTH HASTINGS & AREA Hope McFall hope@countryroadshastings.ca 613.202.1541 ART DIRECTOR Jozef VanVeenen CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Orland French Angela Hawn Sharon Henderson Barry Penhale Anne Elspeth Rector Michelle Annette Tremblay Sarah Vance Shelley Wildgen CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Sharon Henderson Dorinda Murray Jozef VanVeenen INTERN Maddie Budding
“Caring for your family’s dental health”
h t i m S g u o D . r D ssociates and A
Dentistry
Family & Cosmetic Dentistry • Comprehensive examinations • Periodontal assessment • Routine restorative fillings • Cosmetic veneers • Crowns and bridges • Full dentures, partial dentures • Oral surgery • Implants
New PatieNts & emergeNcies welcome
COUNTRY ROADS, Celebrating Life in Hastings County is published four times a year by PenWord Communications Inc. Copies are distributed to select locations throughout Hastings County including the c ommunities of Bancroft, Belleville, Madoc, Marmora, Stirling and Tweed. Copies are also delivered to select homes within southern Ontario. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 1 year: $17.85 2 years: $33.90 3 years: $47.46 All prices include H.S.T. The contents of this publication are protected by copyright. Reproduction of this p ublication in whole or in part without prior written permission of PenWord C ommunications Inc. is prohibited. The advertising deadline for the Summer issue is May 8, 2015. COVER PHOTO: ROBERT FERGUSON Made possible with the support of the Ontario Media Development Corporation
HOW TO CONTACT US Telephone: 613-968-0499 E-mail: info@countryroadshastings.ca Website: www.countryroadshastings.ca For written enquiries you can reach us at: PenWord Communications Inc. P.O. Box 423, Stirling, ON K0K 3E0
At either of our two locations you will enjoy friendly people and gentle dentistry for your whole family. Belleville
208 Bridge Street east (613) 966-2777
Stirling
9B tuftsville road (613) 395-2800
Spring 2015 • Country Roads
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e d i t o r i a l
shop, dine, rest, seek adventure...
Travelling the information highway
Photo: Haley Ashford
The digital world is undeniably the new kid on the information block. Way back, as in the beginning of time, information was conveyed orally and recorded in pictographs. Then along came that fellow Gutenberg and the printing press was invented and more and more people had access to more and more information. Then radio reached into our lives providing real time news and entertainment. TV did that and then some. Today we have access to information on anything, from anywhere in the world at our fingertips 24/7. We literally can read, listen and watch whatever we want whenever we choose on a variety of digital devices. And the splendid news is we are reading more than ever! This relatively recent explosion on the information highway created an interesting time for print magazines. It necessitated that magazine publishers look long and hard at their audience to identify fundamentally what their readership truly wanted from them. Many magazines embraced new technology, creating vibrant websites with added content, social media extensions and that famous tablet application in addition to the traditional print version. Many flourished but for some this wasn’t enough and they ceased publishing. Others chose to move to a digital only platform. Interestingly, according to the Magazines Canada website www.magazinescanada.ca, “Canada boasts over 2,000 Canadian consumer and business media magazines. Never before has this country produced so many outstanding magazines. Their content spans the unique cultural needs of Canadian readers and feeds the most closely held personal passions that readers possess.” And herein lies the key. Regional lifestyle publications such as Country Roads fall into the category known as niche publishing. The purpose of a niche magazine is to entertain and educate a readership on a subject they are deeply interested in. In our case that subject is Hastings County. Numerous studies have shown that the print version of magazines provide a unique and desirable experience for the reader. One key point is the rather rare opportunity to ‘unplug’ from the wired world. When reading a paper magazine the individual is experiencing ‘me’ time. They relax, focus and for a valuable period of time are able to suspend the multi-tasking habit. And if they want more information there is most likely the opportunity to find that within the publishers’ digital footprint. This is the case with Country Roads magazine. Our FB, Twitter and website are there for you. So in closing we want to confirm that Country Roads’ primary focus is the quarterly creation of a print magazine that gives you content regarding Hastings County in a visually captivating, entertaining readable format that we hope becomes a keepsake. And to the digital world – we say welcome to the party!
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Nancy & John Hopkins contributors Sharon Henderson lives on an archetypal back-wood homestead in the bush-land north of Highway 7. She spends her time reading children’s literature with her daughter, tending vegetables and flowers, writing, and catching the odd forest moment with her camera. Last year she studied sustainable local food and is now enjoying documenting the local rural scene. She loves Hastings County’s clean air, exposed shield, and tucked away talent. M i c h e l l e A n n e t t e Tr e m b l a y writes because she’s interested in everything. Interviewing fascinating people and sharing their wisdom and ideas is one of her favorite things and has led her to writing features for newspapers and magazines. After completing a Creative Writing degree from the University of British Columbia she spent many years teaching and writing on the west coast of Canada
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and internationally. But, a country girl at heart, she gave up the city life to return to her roots in Paudash, where she freelances for multiple publications and is the Creative Director of WordBird Media. When she’s not picking remarkable brains, writing or photographing the wonders of rural Ontario, she’s usually in her garden, running after her kids or cooking up something yummy with her husband. A child of the big city, Hope McFall has recently made the move to living in Hastings County full time. Retiring from a very successful career as owner and manager of Toronto’s first green venue, which hosted events big and small for the past nine years, she moved to L’Amable and is keen to dive into a life surrounded by natural beauty. A lover of the arts, British crime dramas and almost always wearing something green, she will always take the time to stop for a chat, or share a laugh. She’s looking forward to exploring the region in her new role as North Hastings Sales Representative for Country Roads.
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“Kid’s Workshop for Mother’s Day” May 2, 10 – Noon, Cost is $25.00
What says “I love you mom” better than a handcrafted gift? At this workshop we will be making a very special gift for all of the moms out there! Sorry, it’s a secret what we are making mom!
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Stencilled Table Workshop April 11, 10 – 4 Cost is $95.00
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Come check out our increased space!
Paint a Chair Workshop May 9, 10 - 4 Cost is $95.00
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Anniversary Celebrations • 1st the weekend of May 1. Join us for Cake and Savings.
Stencilled Sign Workshop June 27, 10 – 2 Cost is $65.00
Open until 7 pm • Thursday and Friday starting in May
Check us out on Facebook for upcoming paint workshops.
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Please call 613-472-2555 to register for any or all workshops. 29 Forsyth Street, Marmora • 613-472-2555
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Service is exceptional! Will definitely be back. Spring 2015 • Country Roads
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The outdoor experience OPP Instructors teaching shelter building. All aspects of wilderness rescue and survival are a part of the NOS program. Photo courtesy Barb Gillis
Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse 101 By Michelle Annette Tremblay
J
ohn Thibadeau exudes an easy confidence when he enters the room. His smile is warm, and his handshake is solid. He makes eye contact and holds it. He does not abandon our conversation to check his phone for texts or new Instagram posts. He is invested and seems happy and well adjusted. “I got suspended three times,” says the Grade 11 student, candidly, with no trace of embarrassment. “And I knew I was going to keep getting in trouble.” I don’t know whether he’s good at video games or downloading pirated movies like a lot of people his age, but I do know he can operate a chain-
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saw, hunt, build a fire, safely operate a rifle, and administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if he needs to. We’re sitting in the principal’s office at North Hastings High School (NHHS), in Bancroft. Thibadeau has popped in briefly, to chat about his personal experience in the Northern Outdoor Studies (NOS) program. He and the principal, Ken Dostaler, are relaxed and jovial with each other. Obviously any problems Thibadeau was having in school are far behind him now. “There are no other programs in the province like our experiential learning courses,” explains Dostaler. “Our students are taught to be safe in
our outdoor culture by these fantastic teachers who are extremely well accredited. The skills our students leave with can be applied to post secondary pursuits, but there’s also a lot of realworld application. It opens up so many doors for the students. We definitely see the difference in them when they go through the program. It’s life changing.” Thibadeau nods his head in agreement. He and his father actually relocated to Bancroft so Thibadeau could enrol in the NOS program. He had been struggling within a traditional classroom environment, but was never short on ambition.
John Thibadeau (r) and a friend show off some of their handiwork at the Northern Outdoor Studies course at North Hastings High School. Thibadeau’s family made a point of moving into the area to give him the opportunity to enrol in the program after previous school struggles. Photo by Michelle Annette Tremblay While the NOS program is generally male-dominated, as many as six or seven girls have been enrolled in a given year. And according to Madison-Montana Gates, the boys often find the girls can sometimes outperform their male counterparts in certain tasks! Photo courtesy Barb Gillis
“I was just getting through, and trying my best to pass,” says the 17-year-old, who hopes to one day work for Hydro One. “I heard about the program and I couldn’t believe everything it offers. I decided I wanted to take a program that’s going to help me for the rest of my life.” With his family’s support, Thibadeau reinvented his academic career in Bancroft. “Since being here in this program, I’ve had no problems, and I’m going to keep it that way,” he says with conviction. The NOS program takes a full semester to complete. During that time students don’t attend typical classes like math or science. Instead, they complete up to 15 professional certifications in a hands-on environment. By the time they finish they’re certified to administer First Aid and CPR, operate a motor-boat, chainsaw, skidder, and rifle, are trained in wilderness survival, search and rescue, canoeing and kayaking, trapping, fur harvesting, and much more. Thibadeau says he’s confident that he could survive out in the bush if he had to. He has the skills and knowledge to build a structure, start and maintain a fire, set traps and hunt food, find a water source, and generally take care of himself. We find ourselves chatting about the hit TV show, ‘The Walking Dead.’ “That should be our mission statement or marketing slogan,” chuckles Principal Dostaler. “We
teach kids how to survive the zombie apocalypse.” He’s joking around, but in all seriousness the skills learned in the NOS program can literally save lives. And they have. Glen Pomeroy, one of NHHS’ two NOS instructors, says that when he runs into past students he sometimes hears stories about how they’ve used their skills to save a life, either by rescuing someone from drowning, or administering First Aid or CPR. More often though, he hears about how the program has kick-started their careers. “They beat out some college kids for jobs,” Pomeroy explains. That’s partly because one of the final assignments of the program is to put together a resume and portfolio. And an impressive portfolio it is. “If I were to get all these certifications on my own it would probably cost me $2000,” says Madison-Montana Gates, a Grade 12 student and accomplished gymnast who just completed NOS. “Instead it cost me $350.” Gates was one of only two girls in the program this year, which needs at least 18 students signed up in order to run. “Some years we’ve had as many as six or seven girls,” says Pomeroy. “But it is generally a male-dominated program.” Gates admits that she was a bit intimidated in the beginning, and that the boys in the class underestimated her.
Miranda Wilkinson stands ready to answer questions at the NOS Open House. In addition to informing potential students about the outdoor education program, the Open House plays a role in keeping Bancroft area residents abreast of environmental issues in the community. Photo by Michelle Annette Tremblay
Spring 2015 • Country Roads
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Madison-Montana Gates moved into the Northern Outdoors Studies (NOS) program after previously completing the Northern Environmental Research and Development Studies (NERDS) curriculum. While admitting to being intimidated early on, she says she has grown in confidence and feels she has greatly expanded her career choices. Photo by Michelle Annette Tremblay Instructor Glen Pomeroy supervises a student’s work with a chainsaw. Pomeroy and fellow instructor Barb Gillis had to complete instructor certification programs for all courses they teach, a significant investment in time. Photo courtesy Barb Gillis
In addition to receiving practical training in the field, NOS students are also taught resume writing and portfolio preparation skills, giving them all the tools necessary to tackle a competitive job market. Photo courtesy Barb Gillis
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“For the first while the guys didn’t want to work with us because they thought we didn’t know what we were doing. But as the semester went on they changed their minds,” says Gates. “They realized that we can do anything they can. And we were better at some things, like writing reports.” Gates says the program has given her more confidence in her own abilities, and she now has no hesitation pursuing a career in a typically male-dominated industry. In fact, she might even prefer it. The Northern Environmental Research and Development Studies (NERDS) program is another experiential learning opportunity offered at NHHS, which is similar in many ways to NOS. While NOS prepares students for college or the workforce by providing hands-on learning and professional certifications, NERDS is more academic, and is popular with students who are planning on attending university. Some students, like Gates, complete both programs. “I’ve got a definite advantage,” Gates says proudly. “My resume is really good because I’ve done both NOS and NERDS.” After completing the NERDS program when she was in Grade 11, Gates was hired by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) as a stewardship youth ranger for a summer.
“We did work with the parks related to invasive plants, and worked with a biologist to track turtles, which was awesome.” She says the position paid better than the average student job, and was way more fun than flipping burgers or scooping ice cream. Plus, she was learning and improving her resume the whole time. “I’m pretty sure the MNR will hire me again this summer,” she says with a confident grin, “especially now that I’ve done NOS. My portfolio is overflowing.” “NOS gives our students a real edge on the competition,” agrees Barb Gillis, who began teaching the program in 2003. She and Pomeroy are a solid team, and sing each other’s praises. It’s no accident that the program has one male and one female instructor. According to Pomeroy, who has been teaching NOS for 15 years, the school purposely wanted to recruit a talented female instructor for the NOS program to help empower female students. But having a female instructor has been good for the boys, too. “Students are often surprised to see a woman in that role,” admits Gillis. “It’s good for the boys to have a female instructor teaching a chainsaw course.” She laughs as she remembers the alarmed look on the face of one of her male students when she led a chainsaw course while ‘very pregnant’
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1.877.565.0551 Barb Gillis and Connor Freeman aging a deer jaw. While the presence of a female instructor helps empower the female students, it has also had a positive effect on the boys who go through the NOS program. Photo courtesy Barb Gillis Thank you Quinte, Thank youBelleville, Belleville, Quinte “TheCountry” County” & & Eastern Ontario “The Eastern Ontario
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day canoe trip to Algonquin Park was cancelled last minute due to liability concerns around water safety. “The school board takes safety very seriously, and so do we,” emphasizes Pomeroy. He admits it can be tricky sometimes to get all the approvals necessary to run the courses as planned in such a tight timeframe. In the case of last year’s canoe trip they just weren’t able to get all their ducks in a row quickly enough to proceed, because multiple departments are involved, curriculums need to be met, adequate insurance needs to be in place, and policies get updated and require
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with her son. It was funny in so many ways she says, adding, “you know, they don’t sell chain saw pants in the maternity department. I had to constantly readjust and pull my safety pants up over my belly.” In order to teach the program, Gillis and Pomeroy both had to complete instructor certifications for all of the trades included in the program. It was a significant time investment. “We couldn’t do this without the support of the school and the school board,” says Pomeroy. Keeping a unique program like NOS running does have some challenges. Last year the multi-
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Spring 2015 • Country Roads
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North Hastings High School teacher and noted outdoor education advocate Colleen Drew-Baehre poses with bear cubs. Photo courtesy Barb Gillis
new considerations yearly. Everyone was disappointed at first that the canoe trip was cancelled, but Pomeroy says it turned out okay because everyone worked together as a team to adjust the plans and arrange an alternate activity. And it’s not just the school and the board that supports the NOS program, the whole community is engaged. “Local trappers help by providing co-op placement opportunities, businesses donate items for our fundraising raffle, there’s a lot of back and forth with the MNR...without all these dedicat-
ed individuals, the program wouldn’t exist,” says Gillis. “The community at large is very involved.” E a c h y e a r, a t t h e conclusion of the program, the students hold an open house at the school. It’s a chance for them to showcase their skills and knowledge, and for the public to stay informed about environmental issues in the area. The event is always well attended. At this year’s open house Thibadeau demonstrated his trapping and skinning skills, and Gates welcomed visitors and answered their questions about the program. Both students highly recommend NOS to others. “My little sister is already signed up for NERDS next year,” says Gates, who plans to go to university, and is considering environmental biology as a major. “I hope she does NOS, too. She watched me skin a beaver once, and she was like, no, that’s not happening...” Gates giggles. But she thinks her sister might come out of NERDS feeling more empowered and willing to challenge her own perceived limitations, just like she did. Thibadeau agrees. “Anyone who is willing to take this program seriously, should take it,” he says. “It’s amazing.” For more information about the Northern Outdoor Studies program, check out the experiential learning section of the North Hastings High School website at www.nhhs.hpedsb.on.ca or call the school at (613) 332-1220.
•
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Country Roads • Spring 2015
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Spring 2015 • Country Roads
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ARTISANS AT HAND
Pushing the limits Alexander Ferri takes criticism to heart STORY AND PHOTOS BY SHARON HENDERSON
Wood carver Alexander Ferri isn’t afraid of a little criticism. In fact, he has used it to continually push his boundaries and develop his craft. “You get nowhere by just hearing compliments,” Ferri cautions. “Find someone who is truly great and not afraid to criticize your work.” In his case, it has led to a growing confidence and success that he hopes to turn into a full time career..
Who are you and what is your craft?
later -- I got the idea to carve a mold in cherry wood. I was only able to get 12 castings out of it, but this was successful. I wouldn’t say I know more than the basics, but I do have an interest in it. Pushing my limits...
I was raised by very artistic parents. My mom runs an art and craft business (Down-To-Earth Creations) and my dad was an artist and crafter since before I was born. My craft is scroll work and carving.
What are the essential tools of your trade?
How did you learn to carve so skillfully? I started with scroll work when I was 12. I bought a cheap scroll saw and taught myself. By the time I was 17 I had upgraded my scroll saw twice. At 18 I started to combine scroll work with carving to give it more dimension. I got to the quality I produce now by taking my work to my dad’s friend, Bear, who is a master wood carver and master artist. He always critiqued my work in stages that I could handle. I learned through him that to be good you needed to hear what you are doing wrong and listen to where something could be improved. Through his advice and by knowing my limits and then pushing them, my work is where it is now.
What was the first thing you ever carved? My first real carving was a pentagram. That’s where I started with spiritual symbols and found a large part of my calling. I had cut out a pentagram on the scroll saw but found it to lack dimension. By doming it and carving simple lines I made the design stand out. It was simple
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Country Roads • Spring 2015
The most essential tools of my trade are my simple carving knife and an imagination. Every other tool I use only serves to make the process smoother.
Many of your pieces are inspired by worldly, classical myths. What draws you to these stories and keeps you captivated? and effective. I’ve been using this technique ever since.
What sparked your interest in working with pewter? How did you learn to work with it? My interest in pewter began when I was a teenager. I had traded a piece of scroll work for a piece of soapstone and pewter, along with a write-up on soapstone molds that were used by the Vikings (which have been my greatest source of fascination and inspiration). I carved a few molds in the soapstone but never had any luck, so gave up on it. Just recently – about 12 years
I think a lot of what draws me to these worldly myths is the spiritualism that goes along with them. When I started carving I was looking for something that would make sense to me. I would develop an interest in a culture but within a year I would move on to another. I learned a great deal along the way. A lot of symbols I picked up on I still carve because I was really drawn to them.
Did you always know you would be an artist? I think by the age of 12 I figured I would be an artist. I never knew (and still don’t know) whether I would be a full time artist or not.
Either way, being creative is, and will be, a big part of my life.
Regarding your art, what do you hope the future holds for you? I do hope that in the future I will be able to make a living with my art, to be able to get away from a full time job and really put in the time to bring it to the next level.
How do you measure your own success as an artist? Right now my measure has to be in the quality of my work. The last time I took work to show Bear, he only had one small suggestion. That makes me feel I’m getting somewhere. The real measure will be when I don’t have to work full time for someone else.
What work are you most proud of? The work I am most proud of is the pieces I let flow. When I find a piece of wood at work (as a tree climber) or on a walk, and can let my imagination go and bring out a character from the piece, this is the most pure work I do.
What is the most memorable compliment you have received for your art? The most memorable compliments don’t come in words. I feel most complimented in other ways. A friend cherishing work I did a long time ago. Seeing a total stranger wearing a necklace I’ve created.
How much of your carving is work and how much is play? A lot of my carving is work but it is work that feeds the soul, builds a world around me that feels right, and feels that it has a purpose. It is work that is for a lot more than a wage. It’s from the soul and it’s put out there for others to enjoy, experience, learn, or feel.
What wisdom might you offer to someone who is seeking a vocation in quality craftsmanship?
truly great and not afraid to criticize your work. You get nowhere by just hearing compliments. Keep pushing your limits after you find that person, and remember you can always be better.
Where can you and your work be found? I can be found on Facebook (Mystic Wood) and my work will be at the Trenton Farmers’ Market with my wife’s business, Dahlia May Flower Farm.
•
My biggest advice to anyone looking to become an artist or craftsman is to find someone who is Spring 2015 • Country Roads
I 15
JUST SAYING
BY SHELLEY WILDGEN
Making the Cut
A
ccumulation. One of those onomatopoeia words that sounds like what it means. Starts with a small ‘a’ sound, then fills up into an uncomfortable mess of vowels and consonants. Unless we’re talking about wealth, accumulation isn’t a nice word. From the vats of snow received this past winter to closets full of hibernating treasures, we usually feel smothered by things that start small and grow out of control. Too much stuff. George Carlin made sense of it when he unfolded the meaning of life as just “trying to find a place for your stuff.” He was right, of course. Boxes of stuff. Rooms full of stuff. Houses full of stuff. We move from our parents’ house to our first apartment to our first home. After that it’s bigger, bigger, and bigger…then smaller. On average we move about 12 times in our life, and most of our moving time is spent trying to decide what stuff to give away or pitch with each move. Most of the throwaways are predictable. The Grade 3 spelling books are tossed into mom’s trash before the first big move. The side table that never had its leg repaired – gone by house two, which is customarily filled with new items. House three may be bigger but there’s no room for lingerie, painting easels, or 47 throw pillows. These things are easy to part with. If inclined, more can be purchased later. It feels like we throw out so much, but still we grow. When I lived in Winnipeg in my twenties, I moved to seven different high rise apartments – some in the same building. Not much stuff in low storage apartments and most of it travelled easily. The internal moves were by far the easiest, done with three friends and borrowed shopping carts from across the road. The bed, the corduroy couch, wicker tables, kitchenwares and my pretty porcelain piggy bank always perched atop the last load. Smiling pig. Happy, self-satisfied little pig wearing that perpetual congratulatory smile. One more successful move completed. House moving is when things got out of hand. Houses with basements and room to spread out. Babies were born. Toys and accessories arrived
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Country Roads • Spring 2015
and arrived and arrived. The predictable things got tossed. Old couches and art prints in light blue frames; eventually Aunt Irene’s soup tureens, and Mabel’s platters. The dishes were tough because I knew my mom had loved them, but there’s no room for cherishing by proxy when accumulation kicks into suffocation gear. During each move, the pig got a second glance but every time she managed to ride atop that last load and she always found lodging at the next house. I was looking at her the other day while I was laying on the bed in the guest bedroom. I’m a sneeze past middleaged, and she’s been with me since 1962. She’s on a dresser now, still looking like her enthusiastic
House moving is when things got out of hand. Houses with basements and room to spread out. Babies were born. Toys and accessories arrived and arrived and arrived. The predictable things got tossed. self. How did she make 20 moves perfectly intact? I didn’t. It made me wonder, how do we decide? In the lather of moving, over and over again, what makes us keep certain things; benignly cherish them, in fact. The pig was never a favourite item; at least not at first. She was an empty bank. Not a walking doll or a flashy pair of shoes. Just a pig without a rubber plug, who served no real purpose at all.
Maybe she survived because she was round and a little special, being porcelain and all. She was fairly easy to wrap in a towel and tuck into a corner on the way out. What else had survived 20 moves? ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas storybook with our family name emblazoned in clunky child print on the first page. The book and the pig. That’s about it. I’m not sure what that says about my priorities but I do know that those two things both make me happy. That said, what didn’t stick around? Upon searching online, I found there is a master toss list that’s supposed to keep us organized, even between moves. It includes: clothing and shoes over a year old, old paint and paint cans, junk drawer contents, dated receipts, bills, unread books, expired vitamins and medicines, excess cups and mugs, plastic containers mismatched ‘what if?’ linens, power cords, unfixed fixit projects. Under ‘old’ you’ll find: makeup, underwear, socks and bras, cell phones, coat hangers, toys, stuffed animals, magazines, stale spices, old greeting cards, DVDs, VHS, CDs, audio tapes and video games, cribs, car seats, perfumes, colognes, jewelry, rugs and food. No piggy banks anywhere in that list. I got a little nervous between toys and stuffed animals, but really she fits into neither category. Books are the hardest to discard, and yet many have disappeared into the ether. Perhaps the storybook can attribute its longevity to being skinny and shiny and easily transported, like the Duchess of Windsor. When it all shakes out, what do we learn about ourselves as the years and the moves tumble dry our possessions? What survives the miles, the breakages and the melodramas must reveal something huge about us. Like Citizen Kane’s ‘Rosebud’. A lifetime of challenges and successes just boiled down to his attachment to a favourite sled. Then again…maybe not. Our people and our stories and our pets – they are truly important. But when the clouds roll in, I’ve got to say, creature comforts can be found in a pig and a book.
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Advertiser Index Agnews General Store.............................. 1
Trent Hills (Chamber of Commerce)......... 40
Art Gallery of Bancroft.............................. 2
Village Green............................................ 41
Artisans Junction...................................... 3
Weeds B Gone......................................... 42
Bancroft Century Shoppe......................... 4
Welcome Wagon...................................... 43
Bancroft Just Wine & Beer....................... 5
Wells Ford................................................ 44
Barley Pub & Eatery.................................. 6
Zihua Clothing Boutique.......................... 45
Birchcliff Lodge......................................... 7 Boutique Inspiration................................. 8
4
Cottage Docks.......................................... 9
2
3
Cottagerentals247.com............................ 10
9
10 21 24 25
Discovery Dream Homes.......................... 11
5
7
27 29 45
Dr. Doug Smith & Assoc........................... 12 Farmgate Gardens.................................... 13 Farmtown Park.......................................... 14 Flowers by Sue......................................... 15
1
Glanmore National Historic Site............... 16 Golden Bough Tree Farm......................... 17
26
Joe VanVeenen Map
Hearts to God Christian Books & Gifts..... 18 Hosking Motorsports................................ 19 Jillian’s Antiques....................................... 20 Kathy Tripp, Broker, Royal LePage Frank Real Estate............... 21 Kawartha Dairy......................................... 22 Leon James Home Renovations............... 23 Mixin’ Mommas Cafe................................ 24
8 15 20
North Hastings Family Pharmacy............. 25 Old Hastings Mercantile & Gallery........... 26 Old Tin Shed............................................ 27 Outdoor Awareness Landscaping............ 28
30 35
11
12 14 18
Quinte West Home Show......................... 31
22 28 32
Remax Quinte........................................... 32
37 42 43
Ruttle Bros. Furniture................................ 33
HASTINGS COUNTY SHOPS & SERVICES
Steinberg Dental Centres......................... 36 Steven Switzer Construction..................... 37
37 17
Possibilities............................................... 30
Shop Sandra’s Closet................................ 35
36
PETERBOROUGH
Posies Flowers & Fashions........................ 29
Scotia McLeod.......................................... 34
6
38 44 40
13 41 36 39 31
12 16 19 23 33 34
Stirling Manor........................................... 38 Town of Deseronto................................... 39
hastings county Spring 2015 • Country Roads
I 17
still standing Madoc’s Dillon Carman turned to boxing after his hockey prospects dried up, and quickly found he had a talent for the ‘sweet science.’ Photo by Danielle Graham
Madoc boxer battles his way to the top By John Hopkins
ast October 25, Madoc boxer Dillon “Big Country” Carman joined a very exclusive Canadian club. With a seventh round knockout of Eric MartelBahoeli the 29-year-old became the 29th holder of the Canadian Heavyweight Boxing title, joining such illustrious pugilists as George Chuvalo and Donovan “Razor” Ruddock.
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Country Roads • Spring 2015
There were times that reaching such sporting heights may have seemed a very unlikely proposition for Carman and his life has been full of a wide range of highs and lows that seem to have only stiffened his resolve to excel. “They can never take that [the Canadian title] away from me. I’m in the history books in Canada,” reflects Carman, back home in Madoc for
a weekend break from his regular training regimen in Mississauga. “I want to leave a legacy. I want people to remember me. “I’ve been dedicated to boxing since I was 17 or 18 years old,” he points out. “I’ve been scrapping since I was a little kid. [Winning the Canadian belt] is the only thing I’ve ever thought of for a long time.”
What it’s all about. Only 29 men have held the Canadian Heavyweight title belt, with Carman the latest in the illustrious line. Photo courtesy bigcountrycarman.com
Sitting over lunch with Carman at Madoc’s Barley Pub & Eatery it is easy to forget the violent nature of his chosen profession. While he is an imposing figure at six-foot-four and 245 lbs., he has a broad smile and a friendly and engaging nature. He speaks honestly and openly about his craft and his challenges growing up. “Boxing is a brutal sport and it is rough,” he acknowledges. “It’s not a mainstream sport and there are people who find it hard to watch. But it has a lot of tradition. Boxing has been around for 200 years.” But there is also no disguising his passion and drive, which have only intensified through some bitter life experiences. Carman grew up in Madoc, a kid with seemingly boundless energy and a penchant for getting into mischief. Athletics was a means to channel that exuberance, however, and provide some discipline. While Carman has always had the boxing bloodlines – his great, great uncle was a New York State champion and Dillon describes his family as being “all scrappers with heart” – his first passion was hockey. Through his grandfather he got to know the late Roger Neilson and he attended the legendary pro coach’s hockey school in Lindsay. Neilson eventually helped put Carman in line for a scholarship with a high school in Naples, Fla., and at 15 years old Carman’s future seemed set. “My whole family moved down to Florida and everything seemed pretty settled,” he recalls. But 10 months into his stay, Carman found himself uprooted when all non-U.S. citizens were ruled ineligible for the scholarship program. Suddenly Carman was stuck in Florida with no prospects for the future. “I literally became a beach bum,” he admits. “Each morning I headed down to the beach. But I
Carman battles Sylvera Louis. The Madoc fighter has modeled his technique after former World Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes, especially in terms of his footwork and jab. Photo by Danielle Graham
always passed this gym with these big bay windows and I saw the guys boxing in there. I drove by it every day for a year, and then it was like a light bulb went off. “I started going in there and three weeks into training they asked me to spar with the club pro, to help him get ready for a fight, and I knocked him out. Up to that point I hadn’t really known what I was capable of, but after that the owner of the club called me ‘The Great White Hope’ and told me I had to go to Texas.” New York, California or Texas provided the greatest Carman takes a breather between rounds. He has an experienced team behind pool of talent for Carman him, which includes former Canadian boxing champ Steve Molitor and noted trainer Billy Martin. to test himself against, so Photo by Danielle Graham he headed to the Lone Star State, where he quickly distinguished himself by claiming the Texas Amateur boxing title at the age of 21. learned that boxing has a much different profile in “I had to lie about my record to get in,” he admits. Canada compared to the United States. “You were supposed to have 20 fights but I only had “In Texas I was an Amateur, but I had all my seven under my belt. And the competition is tough. expenses paid to get to fights, I had medical covIn Ontario I only had to fight three guys to get the erage, my rent was paid for, a car,” he remembers. Golden Gloves Championship, but in Texas I had “I came to Canada expecting the same thing. But to go through eight fights.” when I won All-Ontario they sent me a plane ticket Carman actually boxed his way onto the U.S. to Halifax and told me I had to pay my way there.” national team, but there was more disappointment Despite suffering from H1N1 flu Carman won in store. Not being a U.S. citizen, he was ineligible his bout in Halifax which set up a showdown in for the national squad, and so packed up his things Quebec for the Canadian Amateur title and a place and headed back home to Canada. on the 2012 Olympic team. But Carman lost in It didn’t take long for Carman to make his mark what he describes as a controversial outcome, and on the Canadian amateur scene, but he quickly decided to try his luck as a professional. Spring 2015 • Country Roads
I 19
With a Canadian Heavyweight title to his name, Carman’s next goal is to snatch the Commonwealth belt and improve his international ranking. Photo courtesy bigcountrycarman.com
“It’s a tough business and my experience with amateur boxing left a sour taste in my mouth,” he says. Fortunately, with his background as a Texas amateur champion, Carman was able to pick up fights as a pro. Not all boxers are so fortunate. Even so, he worked delivering drywall as a 9-5 job to make ends meet while he tried to scrape together enough money to make it as a boxer. “I would run before work and I would run after work,” he says. “There were a couple of fights I was unable to train for because I just couldn’t afford to take the time off work. It’s frustrating because there’s millions of dollars spent in Canada on other sports, where a lot of the athletes aren’t going to get anywhere, and here I was stuck working full time and trying to stay in shape for my fights.” Despite the setbacks Carman was able to grow his reputation and establish an impressive Pro record of 6-2, with five knockouts heading into his pivotal fight with Martel-Bahoeli. In a way the fight was a microcosm of Carman’s life. He took up the opportunity on short notice after the regularly scheduled contender and Heavyweight title holder Neven Pajkic retired. Pre-fight media hype bemoaned the absence of Pajkic and Carman’s lack of profile. “I took it on only four weeks ahead of time and usually you get 10-12 weeks of preparation,” Carman explains. “He was in the best shape possible and I definitely could’ve been in better shape.” The venue was the storied Maple Leaf Gardens, now renamed the Mattamy Athletic Centre, in downtown Toronto. In addition to its long history as home of hockey’s Toronto Maple Leafs, the venue has also hosted some boxing classics, including Chuvalo’s fight with then World Heavyweight Championship Muhammad Ali on March 29, 1966. Carman’s bout with Martel-Bahoeli may not have
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Country Roads • Spring 2015
been a classic by the standards of boxing purists, but it was nevertheless a dramatic and entertaining bout, with both fighters going down on at least three occasions before Carman scored his knockout in the waning moments of the seventh round. “It was the first fight in Maple Leaf Gardens in over 40 years and that was I all thought about leading up to the bout,” Carman remembers. “At first I wasn’t so sure about taking it on, but my Dad said, ‘you’re going to stand where only a handful of people have stood’ and that stuck with me. Win or lose I was going to have no regrets. To fight for the Canadian title in Maple Leaf Gardens was a big deal. When you come from a small town like Madoc, that place is a mecca. How many times did I see the Toronto Maple Leafs playing there on TV on a Saturday night?” While Carman prides himself on his athleticism and strategy in the ring, he admits he got caught up in Martel-Bahoeli’s more aggressive style in the Canadian Heavyweight title fight. “I train like a lightweight,” he explains. “One of my attributes is my speed and I have great handeye co-ordination. “The psychological element means a lot in boxing,” he adds. “In the lead-up to a fight, I would say the emphasis is 95 percent physical and five percent mental. But at fight time that switches, and it becomes 95 percent mental and five percent physical. You want to take him [your opponent] out of his game. You play with his mind, tell him he’s great, give him a wink. And it’s very important you never show any emotion. It’s a chess match and I love it. The smart fighters are the ones who win.” Carman’s boxing idol is Larry Holmes, the American fighter who held the World Heavyweight crown in the late 1970s and early 1980s but tended to be overshadowed by his rivals Ali and Joe Frazier.
Dillon Carman poses with Chris Egan (l), owner of The Barley Pub & Eatery in Madoc. Egan has become a backer of Carman’s efforts and an enthusiastic crowd watched on TV screens at the restaurant as their hometown boy went for the Canadian Heavyweight title last October. Photo by John Hopkins
“I think he’s the most underrated heavyweight champ,” Carman says, “but to me he’s the best heavyweight fighter of all-time. I watch his fights non-stop and I try to emulate his jab and his footwork.” While Carman is now the proud owner of the Canadian Heavyweight belt, his title did not come with a financial windfall. The victory was worth $8,000, and Dillon estimates that he came away with about $3,000 after his expenses were factored in. He maintains a frantic schedule, spending the week in Etobicoke, on Toronto’s west end, where he works as a personal trainer at Xtreme Couture Toronto gym. He mixes that with his own training routine, which includes three runs of about 45 minutes each three times a week, sparring three times a week, and strength conditioning. “I spend about four hours each day on my own training and then six hours training other boxers,” he says. “On Saturdays I have a two-hour workout, then I head home and go back to Toronto on Sunday night.” Carman is backed by a strong coaching staff, which includes former International Boxing Federation (IBF) Junior featherweight champion Steve Molitor of Sarnia and veteran trainer Billy Martin. A selection of sponsors also helps keep Carman in the fight game. Thomas Phoenix – NJ, CandE Mechanical, Foley’s Bus Lines, The Barley Pub & Eatery and Quinte Roofing all provide varying levels of support, and an enthusiastic crowd filled the Barley last October 25 to watch Carman fight for the Heavyweight belt. There are also smaller, almost anonymous contributors that pop up from
Dillon prides himself on his country roots and enjoys visiting family and friends in the Madoc area, as well as pursuing some less physical pastimes. Photo courtesy bigcountrycarman.com
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time to time, such as the supporter who sent a cheque for $500. His mother has been a constant source of support through Carman’s shifting fortunes. She currently lives in Belleville and joined him in the ring after his Canadian Heavyweight title triumph.
The goal now for Carman is to improve on his international ranking, he is currently number 52 in the world, and build up to a challenge for the Commonwealth and ultimately World Heavyweight title. He is currently scheduled for a bout in Montreal on March 27, and a bid for the Commonwealth belt could come before the end of 2015, and may even be held at the Mattamy Centre. The current holder is Australian Lucas Brown, who in fact defeated Martel-Bahoeli for the title. The Commonwealth title would automatically lift Carman up to 15th in the world heavyweight rankings. Not bad for a kid from Madoc who has dodged his share of roadblocks on the path to boxing glory. That is a message Carman likes to share when he speaks in schools in the area or volunteers at various functions or events in the community. “I believe that Madoc, and the Centre Hastings area, produces strong people,” he points out. “But it’s not an easy place to grow up. Kids face tough choices around here. But the point I try to make is you don’t have to be a welfare bum. You can make something of yourself. And the community will support you. It’s because of the people of the community that I’ve gotten to where I am today. And I can’t thank Madoc enough.”
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I 21
C r o s s r o a d s
Ontario’s first Red Cross Outpost Hospital, which opened in Wilberforce in 1922, is now a National Historic Site.
A medical pioneer When healing and home remedies co-existed By Barry Penhale • Photos courtesy Wilberforce Heritage Guild collection
T
here is no hiding the fact that dawdling over an early morning coffee in one of my favourite mugs is for me a treasured experience. Morning coffee in my Agnew General Store mug always reminds me of the delightful community of Wilberforce, a great destination for day-tripping. The Agnew store has been around since 1921 and now is a busy retail colossus which, as my mug reminds me, offers up “everything from soup to nuts.” Today, more times than not store visitors are greeted by the always affable Cathy Agnew. Without hesitation, she can pinpoint most anything customers may be looking for. Wilberforce is a wonderful example of a rural community pulling together to preserve a treasured part of their past. It was here in 1922 that this thenremote Haliburton Highlands village became home to the first Red Cross Outpost Hospital in Ontario — a landmark that has since been recognized as one of Canada’s National Historic Sites. By far the best-remembered Outpost nurse is Gertrude LeRoy Miller (1902–1983), who graduated as a public health nurse from Toronto Western Hospital in 1929. As destiny would have it, September, 1930 found her as nurse-in-charge of
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Country Roads • Spring 2015
that tiny but very active establishment. One can only wonder what her thoughts must have been as she travelled the distance from Toronto by train to assume her new career and take up residence in the Outpost, in what must have seemed to the city girl a very faraway destination. With her was a trunk that, along with books and notebooks, contained a mint-condition spanking-new diploma. LeRoy would be in charge of the Outpost Hospital until the end of August, 1939. Over the years she became steadily better-known for her countless errands of mercy, and often was the only one on the scene when remote homesteads coupled with violent storms and almost impassable roads combined to hold off the arrival of doctors from Haliburton or Bancroft. She soon discovered that isolation and the meagre existence associated with bush life were almost the norm for the area as she made her rounds. Not only were many people unable to pay for health-related services, but a suspicion of any-
Nurse Gertrude LeRoy during her first winter in Wilberforce, 1930–1931. Gertrude LeRoy Miller’s experiences are chronicled in the book Mustard Plasters and Handcars, which languished in the local library as an unpublished manuscript before its rescue by members of the Wilberforce Heritage Guild.
thing modern among those whose home-doctoring methods often had their roots in rural folklore, meant she had to exercise considerable tact. Some of these same people in need proved, in the beginning, to be less than hospitable. To her credit, Nurse LeRoy won over many such individuals, much to everyone’s benefit. One individual who didn’t require any winning over was a very eligible area bachelor by the name of Delbert Miller. Not the least unwell, this expert outdoorsman began to show up at the Outpost supposedly to borrow books that had been collected and donated by volunteer Red Cross groups in Toronto. The ruse worked and Nurse LeRoy quickly found herself paddling local waters in the company of an experienced canoeist. Miller not only became Gertrude’s regular partner at the always popular local dances, but the liaison ultimately led to their marriage on September 8, 1934. Nurse Miller’s early transportation needs were partly met by a new Model-A Ford Coupe, complete with rumble seat, which she purchased on April 21, 1931, for the grand sum of $678, licence and insurance included. But any memories of the roads of the time quickly serve as a reminder of the significant role of the early trains and, in particular,
C r o s s r o a d s
Cathy Agnew, Virginia Luckock (Gertrude Miller’s sister), and Hilda Clark, with Barry Penhale, publisher, on the day of the launch of Mustard Plasters and Handcars.
A photo of an Irondale, Bancroft and Ottawa Railway (I.B.& O.) coach, taken by Marjorie (Cronsberry) Pollock circa 1926. The railway was critical to isolated communities like Wilberforce in the 1930s, especially during winter. Courtesy Aileen (Young) Broughton, Wilberforce Heritage Guild collection
the importance of the local Irondale, Bancroft and Ottawa Railway (I.B. & O.), especially in winter when Wilberforce was virtually isolated. Gertrude must have uttered the words “Thank God for the train” more than once. That certainly had to be the case one winter when a woman in her late thirties was experiencing complications as the birth of her first baby drew near. Nurse Gertrude managed to convince her that a trip to the Outpost Hospital by team and sleigh was paramount under the circumstances. At Gertrude’s request, Delbert Miller used the Agnew store telephone to reach Dr. S.S. Lumb in Bancroft. The doctor caught the train to Wilberforce — just by a whisker. As luck would have it, the train arrived on time and none too soon since the delivery had become a difficult one. Knowing that complications meant more time needed, and fearing that the train on its return might again meet its schedule, Dr. Lumb sent Outpost
housekeeper Aileen Ames to the station to explain the emergency. The conductor agreed to hold the train until the good doctor had safely delivered the baby. February, 1933 was another month of extremely harsh winter weather. Five more patients had been admitted and four new babies had arrived. Throughout Nurse LeRoy slept on a cot having surrendered her bed for a patient — a common happening. Gertrude, Delbert, and indeed all of Wilberforce, being made of good stuff, weathered the difficult Great Depression. People got by on less and less, but the dance parties continued and camaraderie flourished. Health challenges also persisted, and, when needed, pioneer doctors including Charles Frain and John Speck came and went. All the while Nurse Miller made her rounds, sometimes by skis and often via a cold ride on an I.B.& O. jigger (handcar).
Such experiences and many more were chronicled by Gertrude in an unpublished manuscript that languished in the local library until the initiative of the members and directors of the Wilberforce Heritage Guild led to the publication of the book Mustard Plasters and Handcars in 2000. Wilberforce resident Hilda Clark, who wrote both the Preface and About the Author pages as well as sleuthing out the either omitted or camouflaged names embedded in the text, was uniquely qualified to do so through personal experience. By the time her own birth in the Outpost Hospital, the resident Nurse Gertrude had, as Hilda puts it, become an old pro when it came to maternity care. Special thanks to Cathy Agnew. Readers seeking more information regarding the Wilberforce Red Cross Outpost Hospital Museum are encouraged to visit www. redcrossoutpost.org.
•
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Spring 2015 • Country Roads
I 23
Community spirit Bancroft business gains national prestige By Michelle Annette Tremblay
J
anis Whitehead hands me a steaming cup of Kicking Horse coffee, and goes about dusting off the multiple trophies The Old Tin Shed has won over the last few months. The retired teacher is humble about her family’s achievements, but has agreed to let me photograph her and her husband Peter with the awards. The coffee smells fantastic. But then, so does the whole store. Scented soy candles, luxurious lotions, and handmade soaps perfume the air. This isn’t the first time I’ve entered the shop, and it won’t be the last. Every time I walk in I can feel my shoulders relax as my senses are flooded with the shop’s rich warm smells and dreamy music (today it’s Norah Jones). It’s no wonder this eclectic shop with its beautiful art, jewelry, and home decor items has won the very prestigious ‘Canadian Retailer of the Year’ award from the Canadian Gift Association. As far as shops go, it’s a masterpiece. “Gosh, where did he get to now?” asks Janis when we’re ready to take the photo. Peter has disappeared. We find out that he is helping one of the staffers bring in a new delivery. “This will be so much easier once the addition is built,” says Peter, dusting off his blue jeans, as we join him in the crowded storage room at the back of the shop. It’s been a big year for the Whiteheads, and their daughter Dagny Musclow, who run the business together. Not only did they win the Canadian Retailer of the Year award, they were honoured with the ‘Tourism Business of the Year’ award too, at the Hastings County HOTie awards ceremony last fall. They also launched a new website complete with an online shopping feature, and now they’re building a 1600 square foot addition. “We’re gluttons for punishment,” says Peter with a wink and an easy chuckle. “No really, it’s been a whirlwind, but we couldn’t be happier. And once the addition is built we’ll actually have the storage
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(Above Left) Janis and Peter Whitehead show off some of the recent hardware they’ve acquired, which includes a Canadian Retailer Of The Year award and a Hastings County Tourism Business Of The Year honour. Photo by Michelle Annette Tremblay (Above Right) The Old Tin Shed continues to grow, with a 1600 square foot addition the latest development in the works. Photo by Kevin Mills
and office space to accommodate all the things we do around here.” We’re just about to take the photo when Janis gets called away to talk to her Granddaughter, Moryah, on the phone. It really is a family business in every sense of the word. Moryah joined The Old Tin Shed team as a junior partner when she was just six years old, and is now studying business at college. While we wait for Janis to rejoin us, Peter tells me about the addition. “We’re increasing our showroom by 50 percent,” he says. That’s significant considering the showroom is already one of the largest in town at over 1500 square feet. “A lot of that space will be devoted to women’s apparel, but we’re bringing in some men’s fashions, too, to test the market, and we’ll have some larger pieces of primitive-looking replica furniture like armoires and harvest tables.” The shop already has some furniture, but most of the home decor items are things like decorative lighting solutions, country-style linens and curtains, braided rugs, and unique iron hooks and hardware. More space will mean more room for big pieces, as well as one-of-a-kind salvage items that they design in-house. I ask Peter about the signs. They’re all over the walls. “Always kiss me goodnight,” “I love us,” and other sweet sentiments are stencilled on reclaimed lumber. I’m glad I asked because I end up hearing the story of how Peter and Janis met. And it’s a good story. “Honestly, I think it’s part of the reason we’re so loyal to our seasonal customers,” says Janis when
she returns from her phone call with Moryah. Janis and Peter met at Janis’ family cottage, not far from Bancroft, when she was just 14 years old. They were instantly smitten with each other, sneaking off for canoeing dates, and while their families thought it was just puppy love at the beginning, five years later they were married. They spent many happy times together at the lake before deciding cottage country was where they wanted to be year-round and started building the home they still live in today, just a short drive from the shop. “It took a while to really feel like locals,” says Janis, about those cottage years. “Once we started homesteading the community completely embraced us, and we’ve felt right at home ever since, but when we were here for just part of the year we didn’t always feel included in the community. That’s part of the reason we’re so focused on making sure our seasonal residents feel the love at The Old Tin Shed. It’s their community too.” Community is huge to the Whiteheads. They are avid supporters of the Highland Animal Relief Team (HART), which they fundraise for through various in-store promotions, as well as the Home Again Animal Rescue, which holds a fashion show fundraiser at the Village Playhouse each fall. “The fashion show is a hoot!” says Janis. And getting people to model The Old Tin Shed’s apparel is never hard because the clothing lines they carry, including ‘Cut•Loose Clothing,’ are uber popular, and the Shed team tends to spoil their models with swag, gift certificates, lunch, and wine. Last year
The Old Tin Shed story is a love story as well as a business story. Peter and Janis met as teenagers when their families vacationed near Bancroft, and things just blossomed from there. Photo courtesy Peter & Janis Whitehead
The Old Tin Shed team now spans three generations, with Janis Whitehead joined by daughter Dagny Musclow and granddaughter Moryah, who became a junior partner at the age of six! Photo courtesy Janis Whitehead
There is plenty to inspire within the store, be it words, scents or eye-catching decorations. Photo by Michelle Annette Tremblay
the fashion show raised more than $12,000 for the animal rescue organization. But that’s barely the tip of the iceberg in terms of their dedication to the community. Peter has been a town councillor in Bancroft; Janis was President of the Chamber of Commerce; both of them, and Dagny, have been very active in the Bancroft Business Improvement Area (BBIA); and they all volunteer countless hours to various economic development initiatives throughout North Hastings. “Why wouldn’t we?” says Peter, with a nonchalant shrug. “If we’re able to give back to the community in any way, we’re going to. This is our home and it’s dear to us.” He tells me about the early days of their marriage when they realized summers at the cottage weren’t enough, and decided to build a year-round home and start a family away from the city. For a year
and a half they ventured out every weekend looking at real estate. They searched everywhere, from Quebec, to New Liskeard, to Vermont, and everywhere in between. They had a picture in their heads of their forever home, and when they travelled to North Hastings to view a piece of land with an incredible view, a small cabin, and a perfect building site, they knew they’d found it. “There’s nowhere else we’d rather be,” agrees Janis, smiling at Peter. I finally get them to stand still long enough to take the photo. “So will the addition have a basement?” I ask, as I click away with my camera. Peter and Janis give each other a knowing mischievous look. “Yes...” says Peter. I press. They hesitate. But their eyes are sparkling.
Finally, Janis gives me a hint. “Yes, there will be a basement. It will be spacious, and it’s going to be pretty fantastic. But that’s all I can say right now. It’s top secret for a few more months.” Their excitement is un-concealable. But even though I ask again, they won’t tell. Not yet. Janis adds fresh coffee to my cup, and says she’ll spill the beans after the snow melts. I leave with my own shabby-chic sign, to hang in my own home. “And they lived happily ever after,’ it says, in Janis’ cursive script. For more information about the Old Tin Shed, photos, tutorials on how to use ‘Caromal Colours’ and ‘Reclaim Paints,’ or to shop online visit www.TheOldTinShed.com or visit the shop at 25 Sherbourne Street in Bancroft.
•
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Spring 2015 • Country Roads
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Into the Wild
Images reveal splendour of Canada’s north BY NANCY HOPKINS
L
ong time Roslin resident Bill Bickle has travelled near and far to pursue his passion for wildlife photography. Close to home his photo of elk in North Hastings graced our Winter 2008/2009 cover. Since then Bickle’s shots have garnered numerous awards including prestigious Canadian and National Geographic honours. One of his most memorable sojourns was a Spring 2012 trip to the 98,000 acre Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary in Northern B.C. The resulting photographs shown here were deemed amongst the best photography that has appeared in Canadian Geographic magazine and convey the breadth and beauty of Canada’s wildlife. They recently found a home on large screens alongside the permanent displays in the biodiversity centre at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Bickle plans to visit the sanctuary again in May of this year with his camera always at hand. To see more of Bill Bickle’s photography and to learn about future exhibitions visit www.billbickle.com.
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The Khutzeymateen Provincial Park is land protected specifically for grizzly bears and their habitat. Surrounded by rugged peaks that tower up to 2100 metres high lies a valley of wetlands and a large river estuary, with tides as high as 25 feet coming in and out every six hours. The park represents the first undisturbed estuary of its size to be protected along the north coast of B.C. Bickle travelled via zodiac with a park guide. In the top left photo, a female bear has recently come out of hibernation. Ravenous, she will gorge on the plentiful sedge grass, which is high in protein. The bottom right photo shows another female negotiating the wetlands of the valley, with the majestic peaks in the background. These females were among the 30 grizzlies Bickle photographed on this visit. Taken from a distance of approximately 30 feet with a Nikon camera and lens, the bottom left photo shows a male grizzly. Having swum across the waters, he’s seen climbing up a mud bank as he tracks the scent of a female bear. Bickle and his guide were close enough to hear the bear’s
grunts and grumbling sounds. The male could not see the female but could sense her near. At one point, with the motor off and floating with the tide Bickle and the guide kept pace with a male bear for two or three minutes, which provided excellent photo opportunities. Speaking gently to the bear, Bickle explained, the guide was able to comfort him and let him know there was no danger. Trophy hunting of the grizzlies in the park has been banned for over 25 years. The top right image of this eagle was captured approximately five miles offshore from the village of Port Simpson in the Pacific Ocean. The detail is sharp and the eagle’s intense stare, as well as the position of the wings, provide a vivid picture. In December, 2015, Ann, Kate and Bill Bickle will be featured at the John M. Parrott Art Gallery in the Belleville Public Library. The exhibit will feature Ann’s wildlife and equine paintings, Kate’s floral oil paintings and Bill’s wild animal images.
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THE VILLAGE IDIOT BY JOHN HOPKINS
I
Exp
’d like my March mornings back, please. I feel like I should have had them; I think I earned them. I paid my dues through November, December, January and February. I woke up in darkness, I stumbled down the stairs and flicked on lights all over the house to make my coffee and feed the cats. I’m only asking for my payback. I thought I was going to get them and I had the undeniable logic of astronomy on my side. Following the Winter Solstice in December, the days start to get longer, we in the northern hemisphere start to get more sunlight. My March mornings were what I was holding out for. On those -30 January days I constantly reassured myself with the undeniable scientific fact that there was more daylight today than there was yesterday, and there would be still more the next day. And then, on March 8, someone pulled the rug out from under me. We moved our clocks an hour ahead for Daylight Saving Time and all of a sudden my precious morning sunlight had disappeared. I returned to a world of darkness and gloom to begin my day. I know that overall I wasn’t losing any daylight in the grand scheme of things. The hour that was removed from my morning had been tacked on to my evening instead. But somehow it didn’t seem quite the same. I wasn’t really mourning a lack of sunlight to end my day. The evenings were getting longer anyway, so the fact that it was now light until 7:00 rather than 6:00 didn’t thrill me. But losing that hour of daylight in the morning – that stung.
n erie ce
No time to save Apparently I was not alone in this feeling. According to the website timeanddate.com, people have trouble sleeping after the switch to DST, children are more tired and cranky, and there is even an increase in heart attacks, this latter point borne out in a 2008 Swedish study. I find there are some very practical problems with this early March switch to Daylight Saving Time. It worries me that kids going to school are suddenly once again standing waiting for buses on country roads in very poor light, creating a legitimate safety hazard. In fact, there are many people who travel to work in the early morning hours, by car or on foot, who suddenly have the dangerous and unsettling risk of poor light to contend with once again. It’s not as if we are removing those risks at the end of the day by adding an extra hour of sunlight. By early March we have enough sunlight at the end of the day to allow schoolchildren and office workers to return home in safety without the additional hour of sunlight. A further problem for me is that I’m not sure what we’re expected to do with this extra hour of sunlight at the end of our day. It’s March, after all. It’s still cold; there’s still snow and ice on the ground. So it’s not as if we’re going to be out barbecuing or relaxing with a drink on the back deck. The kids aren’t going to be tearing around on their bikes or tossing around a baseball or Frisbee. What is ironic about all of this is that the reasons often supplied for instituting Daylight Saving Time are factors like road safety and
making better use of daylight hours. Ostensibly it is also an energy saving strategy to reduce electricity use, but by taking away an hour of sunlight from my morning, I think it’s having the opposite effect. As a friend commented to me recently, only politicians would suggest that by cutting a foot off one end of a blanket and sewing it on the other, you’re making the blanket a foot longer. Until 2005 Daylight Saving Time didn’t come into effect until the first Sunday in April, which makes a bit more sense to me. But the Energy Policy Act in the United States extended the period of DST, and Canada followed soon after with its own similar amendment. I would be quite happy if we did away with the whole silly business completely, and apparently I am not alone in this view. Saskatchewan has seen the light and does not observe Daylight Saving Time at all. It remains on Standard Time throughout the year. Some states in the U.S. have taken a similar approach, or are thinking of doing so. According to cbc.ca, Michigan and Texas are among the States that have proposed legislation to end Daylight Saving Time, while a petition from almost 3,000 Alberta residents asking for the end of DST was recently tabled in that province’s legislature. Perhaps there is hope for the rest of us. I just want my March mornings back. Is that too much to ask for?
•
2015
EDIT
ION
The Perfect Destination
Online at www.visittrenthills.ca or call 1-888-653-1556 for your copy
Spring 2015 • Country Roads
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C o u n t r y
C a l e n d a r
Things to see and do in and around Hastings County. To submit your event listing email info@countryroadshastings.ca or call us at 613 968-0499. ART GALLERIES/EXHIBITIONS Art Gallery of Bancroft, 10 Flint Avenue, Bancroft, 613-332-1542 agb@nexicom.net www.artgallerybancroft.ca A pril 1 – 25 – Dan Schmidt – Inner Worlds Outer Worlds Sacred Geometry Explorations on Diverse Media. Fractal Prints and Blu-Ray Video also Photography Club in Gift shop. Sponsored by Grail Springs Wellness Retreat and Mirrors Café and Lounge Restaurant Opening reception Friday, April 3 at 7:30pm April 29 – May 30 – Annual Invitational. Juror David McIntosh. Sponsored by Bancroft Motors Opening reception Friday, May 1 at 7:30pm J une 3 - 27 – Mary McLoughlin – Becoming the Light: the Art of the Flower Sponsored by Stephanie Henderson in Memory of Robert C Henderson. Opening reception Friday, June 5 at 7:30pm Belleville Art Association, 392 Front St., Belleville, Ontario10am to 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday. 613-968-8632 info@bellevilleart.ca www.bellevilleart.ca March 9 – April 11: All Things Circular Fine Art Show & Sale April 13 – May 9: Artist Choice Fine Art Show & Sale May 11 – June 6: Apple Works Fine Art Show & Sale June 8 – July 11: Artist Choice Fine Art Show & Sale
THEATRE/LIVE ENTERTAINMENT The Regent Theatre April 11 –Kenny Rogers & Friends 8pm Direct from Las Vegas Starring Marty Edwards and the fabulous Memphis Cats band. April 12- Swing into Spring with the Brian Barlow Big Band - The Prince Edward County Jazz Festival in association with the TD Jazz Educational Program presents this special performance. Guest performances from some of Canada’s best up and coming jazz performers.
April 30 -May 3 –The Pirates of Penzance - Brings to life the most lovable swashbuckling, free spirited, crazy troop of pirates that have ever set sail. The County Theatre Group. As a special treat, the production is bundled with “booty” for ticket holders. June 7 - The Wintergarten Orchestra 8pm - A new and exciting 11 piece ensemble dedicated to recreating the great music of the 1920’s and 1930’s. Seasoned Toronto musicians perform classics from the golden age of the pre-swing era. Brash horns, crooning vocals and violins take us back 90 years to the dawn of Jazz. Stirling Festival Theatre, West Front St., Stirling 613-395-2100 1-877-312-1162 www.stirlingfestivaltheatre.com April 10 - Beach Party Boys brings you the fun, fun, fun of California’s summer sun and the great music of The Beach Boys to life! Fast paced and interactive with the focus on lots of nostalgia to awaken the teenage heart of all who carried a transistor radio in the 60’s. 2 & 8pm April 17- Dynamic Duos -The songs of Country music royalty! Marie Bottrell and Rick Loucks perform the songs of your favourite Country music duos: Porter & Dolly, Conway & Loretta and George & Tammy and more! 2 & 8pm April 18 - Night Fever, An Evening Of The Bee Gees - This all Canadian cast has been touring for the past ten years, from Disneyland to Russia, recreating the look and sound of the Bee Gees. Capturing a full history of the Bee Gees songs. 2 & 8pm April 25 – We Know He’s Dead! A Young Company Show! - The legen-wait for it-dairy Young Company actors turned playwrights Sam Orr and Dallin Whitford bring you this brilliant tale of crime solving and stupidity. Join Shirley Holmes and Clancy Drew as they try to solve the Killoggs murder case! A murder mystery for all ages! Admission to this show is FREE, however donations to the Young Company will not be refused! Delicious desserts will be available for purchase. 7 pm May 1 – Classic Country - Wendy Lynn Snider Band “2012 Niagara Music Awards “Country Group of the Year” along with international artist, Mr. Elton Lammie, Mr. Peter Sisk (bass player for The Good Bros), Mr. Darren Lachance
(has played for Vince Gill among many other top artists), along with other exceptional musicians from Southern Ontario. 2 & 8pm May 8 – Rock ‘N Roll Motown with Pauly & The Goodfellas - High energy interactive show will take you back to the 50’s and 60’s, recreating the look and sound of the Rock ‘n Roll and Motown with songs from The Temptations, The Four Seasons, Chuck Berry, James Brown, The Blues Brothers and many more! 2 & 8pm May 22 – Honkytonk Gal, A Tribute to Loretta Lynn. Amberley Beatty’s mesmerizing new tribute show of the most popular and best-loved of Loretta Lynn’s songs. Plus Shades of Roy Starring Vili V. From the famous Orbison growl to the crystal-clear falsetto, you’ll hear it all in ‘Only The Lonely,’‘Crying,’‘Pretty Woman’ and many more. 2 & 8pm June 5 – Walk Like a Man – Tribute to Frankie Vali & The Four Seasons. A tribute to hugely popular New Jersey-based recording stars Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. The show features 23 year old singing sensation Paul Fracassi, a former Star Search and Canadian Idol semi-finalist
EVENTS April 4 - Annual Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny. www.floatyourfanny.ca April 8 - Tweed Writers’ Series features Kath MacLean. Kath is recognized as one of Edmonton’s most eclectic poet-performers. In 2015 she will be writer-in-residence at the Al Purdy House in Ameliasburgh. Signed books and refreshment available at The Tweed Public Library, 230 Metcalf St., Tweed. 7pm www.tweedlibrary.ca April 15 - Queensborough’s St. Andrew’s United Church Ham Supper –4:30 to 7 pm. For more info Betty Sexsmith 613 473-2188
April 15-18 - Prince Edward County Authors Festival - An exhilarating celebration of writers, readers and the written word with author readings of fiction, nonfiction and poetry, panel discussions, writing workshops, the 6th annual County Reads and more. www.pecauthorfest.com, Books & Co in Picton at 613-476-3037, or find the Festival on Facebook. April 18, May 23, June 20 - Saturday Postage Stamp, Coin & Postcard Fairs Over one million Worldwide Stamps, Postcards & Coins in stock. Stamps, Postcard & Coin Supplies available, many at discounted prices. King Edward Community Centre / Hockey Rink Complex, 75 Elizabeth St. / Hwy # 2, Brighton, Ontario. Free Admission, Free Parking 10:30 am – 3:30 pm April 21 - Hastings County Historical Society presents Stories from the Archives. The Archives Volunteers share interesting stories they have found during their work in the Community Archives, illustrated with pictures and documents from the archival collections. Free 7:30 pm at our new location, the Maranatha facility, 100 College St. West, Belleville. www.hastingshistory.ca. April 25 – Introduction to SoulCollage. Originated by Seena Frost of California, SoulCollage® is a simple, intuitive collage process that helps you discover and express your own soul’s landscape while building a deck of cards as a tool for self-discovery. In both workshops, you will learn how to make soulcollage® cards and you will be guided on how to use them to answer questions about your life’s journey. www.soulcollage.com April 27 Quinte Field Naturalist Annual Fundraising Dinner - Reflections on a Career in “Nature Stuff” - Terry Sprague, pied piper of Nature from Kingston to Cobourg, has enjoyed almost 40 years as a Naturalist. Over his long career he has introduced scores of people to the joys and mysteries of the natural world through weekly newspaper articles, presentations, tours and hikes. Terry will look back on his career and share some of the stories and misadventures he has collected during his years on the trail. 6 pm St. Mark’s United Church, 237 Cannifton Road North, Belleville Buffet Dinner $25 per person Call Doug Newfield for tickets: 613¬-477-3066
month of May. Join us Thursday, May 7th at The Core for the gallery showing of the students’ work. 613-968-2242 or bdia@downtownbelleville.ca www.downtownbelleville.ca May 1 - Tweed & Area Arts Council presents The Alberta Young Memorial Jamboree. Marble Arts Centre, Actinolite 13 Bridgewater Rd. 7-10 pm. Proceeds in support of the Gateway CHC Youth Jazz Ensemble. Jeff Young at 613-920-1317 or Brad Young at 613-403-4670 May 2 -Tweed & Area Arts Council presents Spring Youth Theatre Showcase. Marble Arts Centre, Actinolite 13 Bridgewater Rd. 7pm Admission $2 and an item for the Tweed Food Bank. May 2 & 3 - Belleville’s 3rd Annual Jane’s Walk. This global event held the first weekend of May honours urban activist Jane Jacobs. Her 1961 book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, called for an approach to city living that fosters healthy neighborhoods and communities. Lace up your walking shoes and bring your bike. Organized tours. Each walk (or ride) lasts approximately 1-1.5 hours. For info Facebook Jane’s Walk Belleville or twitter.com/walkbelleville. janeswalkbelleville@gmail.com www.janeswalk.org/Canada/Belleville May 3 - The Mother of All Craft Shows - We Create Artisan Events present the 6th annual The Mother of All Craft Shows .This indoor/outdoor event features over 40 incredible artists and artisans, live music and a licensed bar. Items generously donated by the artisans raffled off with proceeds benefiting Fixed Fur Life. Admission $2.00, kids free. Rain or shine. 10 am - 4 pm River Inn, 79 River Road, Corbyville, On. K0K 1V0 www.motherofallcraftshows.com motherofallcraftshows@gmail.com May 3 – QCC Annual Pancake Breakfast 8am to Noon. 1853 Queensborough Road. For info Ann Brooks 613 473-4550
May 1 – 30 – Student Art Show - The BDIA celebrates the talent of local high school student artists with the Student Art Show. Art work will be displayed in downtown windows during the
www.deseronto.ca
613-396-2440 ~
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Experience Deseronto… Situated in Hastings County at the heart of the Bay of Quinte region, with Prince Edward & L&A Counties at its doorstep; it’s your ideal destination for visiting, living and business. Explore the historic downtown and uptown business district to discover a unique blend of boutiques, antiques/collectibles, artisans, dining, culture and events. Experience the picturesque waterfront, just a short stroll from downtown; and the unique variety of parks/trails, natural assets & heritage sites.
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Things to see and do in and around Hastings County. To submit your event listing email info@countryroadshastings.ca or call us at 613 968-0499. May 6 - Kevin Callan, Canoeist and Author, will speak about camping and canoeing at Killarney Provincial Park. Free, 7pm at the Tweed Public Library, 230 Metcalf Street, Tweed. 613-478-1066
May 19 - Hastings County Historical Society presents local historian James Kennelly speaking on the History of Tyendinaga Township. This free public presentation takes place at 7:30 pm at our new location, the Maranatha facility, 100 College St. West, Belleville. Bring a friend. www.hastingshistory.ca.
May 7 – 10 - Centennial Secondary School presents Alice in Wonderland –These are exciting times for the theatre production course at Centennial S S. Thurs- Sat 7pm. Sun 2pm Tickets available at the door and in April will be available at the QAC and Red Ball Radio. Centennial Secondary School, 160 Palmer Road, Belleville. Students and Seniors $10.00; Adults $15.00. For more info and updates on visit the class blog at cssalice.blogspot.ca or call the school at 613-962-9233. May 9 - 10am – 3pm
May 21 - Tweed Writer’s Series features Paul Wells, a Canadian journalist currently political editor at Maclean’s magazine. He won the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing in 2014 for his book The Longer I’m Prime Minister: Stephen Harper and Canada, 2006. Signed books and refreshments available at The Tweed Public -Library, 230 Metcalf St., Tweed. 7 pm www.tweedlibrary.ca
May 9 -Tweed & Area Arts Council presents Flamenco. Marble Arts Centre, Actinolite 13 Bridgewater Rd. 7:30pm
May 22-24 - Tweed & Area Arts Council presents Stalkyard Hurts performed by “Tweed & Company Theatre”. Marble Arts Centre, Actinolite 13 Bridgewater Rd.
Celebrating Life in Hastings County
May 28-31 - Plein Air Festival, Downtown Belleville - Four day event where artists complete their works outdoors capturing natural light, colour, texture and nuance in their work capturing the beautiful images of historic downtown Belleville. A juried and judged competition. Cash awards of up to $4500.00 www.bellevillepleinairfestival.com bdia@downtownbelleville.ca or 613-968-2242 June 7- 4th Annual Stirling Lions Legacy Run, 9 am, arena parking lot, Stirling, 1km, 5km or 10km. Request cash donation to the food bank. Hosted by the Stirling and District Lions Club. Pre-register at www.stirlinglions.com for a mailed
form Lin 613-395-0575 or Glenn 613-395-3261 Lin.clarke@xplornet.ca grpayne@kos.net June 13 - County Garden Show presented by the Prince Edward County Horticultural Society features several dozen vendors of garden-related gadgets, furnishings, unusual plants, art and goodies. Silver-service Victorian tea, a judged flower show and raffle. Free on-site parking. http:// pechorticultural.org/the-county-garden-show/. 10-4 Crystal Palace, Picton, Prince Edward County June 13 &14 - Odessa Car Show. Celebrating our 42nd Year, Car Show, Flea Market, Crafts, Antique Car Parts & More. Odessa Fairgrounds. 8 am – 5 pm. Admission $3, Children 12 & under free.
July 5 - Gem Shower – hosted by the Kingston Lapidary and Mineral Club. 4th Annual show and sale showcasing gem and mineral, lapidary and jewellery vendors from across Ontario & Quebec in the historic Crystal Palace – PEC Fairgrounds, 375 Main Street, Picton, ON. Admission: $3.00 per person, 12 and under free 10am – 5pm
June 20 - Summerlicious - Downtown Belleville - Downtown restaurants compete in this delicious competition by using seasonal ingredients to create their dishes. Enjoy samples and vote for your favourites. www.downtownbelleville.ca
marketplace
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June 27–Crowe Lake Waterway Assoc. World Famous Lighted Boat Parade (approx. 7:30pm) and Fireworks on Crowe Lake, www.clwa.ca info@ clwa.ca
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Bird’s Creek Plaza, Bancroft www.bancroftjustwineandbeer.com Spring 2015 • Country Roads
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Back Roads
Log drive on the Scootamatta River near Actinolite, about 1900 Logging has been an important industry in Hastings County from its early settlement to the 21st century. Before mechanized equipment came into use, logs were felled in the winter and hauled to the riverbank to await the spring thaw. The logs were driven down river to the sawmill when the water level was high after the spring melt. This picture shows a log driver with his pike pole being watched by three young boys from what appears to be a logging trail, with six others seated on the ground nearby. The Scootamatta (or Skootamatta) River carried logs to Billa Flint’s waterpowered sawmill at Actinolite (then named Troy), or further on to the Moira for the longer journey down to the large mills in Belleville. Photo and information courtesy Community Archives of Belleville and Hastings County (www.cabhc.ca)
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Country Roads • Spring 2015
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