C
Business
onnections June 2017
New public art in Orangeville: The Mantis Queen
Orangeville’s Visitor Information Centre is home to the Town’s newest piece of public artwork, the Mantis Queen. The impressive metal sculpture arrived on April 1 following a generous, anonymous donation by a local resident. The Mantis Queen is seven metres high, weighs approximately one ton, and is made of stainless steel. The interactive sculpture has a commanding presence with arms that spin and rotate in the breeze. The sculpture was designed and created by award-winning artist Ron Baird and was originally commissioned for location at a private residence in Dufferin County. “I'm very excited about seeing the Mantis Queen in Orangeville,” said Mr. Baird. “When I was commissioned to create a landmark sculpture there were no restrictions on the project. This was a rare and wonderful gift from a patron to an artist. And I think the resulting Mantis Queen sculpture rewarded the confidence in me; this powerful piece is among my most favourite works.” Mr. Baird has received numerous awards and medals for his work, including Allied Arts Awards from both the Royal Architectural Society of Canada and the Ontario Society of Architects. He has been regularly commissioned to create large-scale, site-specific sculpture installations across North America. The Orangeville location abuts Credit Valley Conservation Area property, and the location’s proximity to Island Lake ensures that even more visitors are able to enjoy the sculpture within a complementary natural environment. Landscaping around the sculpture was completed in late May through a generous contribution by Glen Echo Nurseries Inc. “The Mantis Queen sculpture is well suited to the Visitor Information Centre,” said Councillor Sylva Bradley, Chair of the Town’s Arts and Culture Committee. “In addition to the environmental aspect, the location allows residents and visitors to safely stop and admire the artwork. It’s an incredible and memorable landmark for the community. This is a significant donation of art to the Town of Orangeville, thanks to a very generous Councillor Sylvia Bradley and Klaus Tiessen individual.” of Glen Echo Nurseries Inc.
Tourism Week – May 28 to June 3 The week of May 28 to June 3 was proclaimed as Tourism Week in Orangeville. To celebrate the proclamation, Councillor Sylvia Bradley and Klaus Tiessen of Glen Echo Nurseries Inc. visited the Mantis Queen at the Visitor Information Centre. Orangeville’s growing collection of public art, which also includes utility boxes and tree sculptures, is popular with tourists and demonstrates the role of arts and culture in promoting tourism.
orangevillebusiness.ca
Volume 8
Issue 3
Company Profile
Sharing a passion: Savour the Flavours Good food and good people. According to owner and tour guide Irene Whitten, those two ingredients were the inspiration for Savour the Flavours, a local business that offers tasting tours at food shops and restaurants in downtown Orangeville. Savour the Flavours began as a partnership between Ms. Whitten and long-time friend Lynda Dickinson who both love exploring communities, enjoying food and sharing their passion with others. A culinary walking tour with Savour the Flavours spans approximately two hours on a Saturday afternoon. Starting at Town Hall, each tour visits six different locations where participants enjoy scrumptious samples prepared by independently-owned restaurants, cafes and food shops. Every Saturday is unique with a different selection of participating businesses. “I’m often asked which restaurants will be included on the tour,” says Ms. Whitten. “I tell guests that they have to wait and see – the anticipation is part of the experience!” Eateries and food shops partner with Savour the Flavours to showcase their specialties and tell their stories. “The food is amazing but it’s so much more than that,” says Ms. Whitten. “The hosts share their passion and knowledge for their business and products. It’s inspiring to see people who are so excited about what they do.” Although the tour’s focus is on food, Ms. Whitten believes that is just one of many elements that contribute to downtown Orangeville’s inviting atmosphere. Her tour commentary is peppered with fun facts and intriguing information about the town’s history, community events, and top attractions. She also highlights the alluring array of shops that adorn Broadway and Mill Street. Her goal is to ensure that participants end the tour with much more than just a full stomach. Now in its third year, Ms. Whitten operates Savour the Flavours with a contagious passion. “I just love Orangeville,” she says with a smile. “The food, the people, the downtown – I love telling everyone all about it.” To learn more about Savour the Flavours and to book a tour, visit savourtheflavours.net.
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Upcoming Events
In The News
Credit Valley Explorer • June to December Take a ride on the Credit Valley Explorer and experience the picturesque beauty of the Hills of Headwaters. The 74-km excursion aboard classic rail cars travels along the Niagara Escarpment on a rail route established over 130 years ago. Tours are offered throughout the summer. Visit creditvalleyexplorer.com for dates and booking information.
Orangeville Farmers’ Market • Saturdays until October, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Orangeville Farmers' Market features the best in fresh produce, fruits, locally-raised meats, fish, flowers, home-baked goods, and unique artisan crafts. Located at Town Hall on Second Street, the Orangeville Farmers' Market is now in its 27th year of celebrating local food.
Canada Day Celebrations • July 1, 12 to 5 p.m. The Town of Orangeville invites you to celebrate Canada 150 on July 1, 12 - 5 p.m. at Alder Recreation Centre. Family fun activities include an opening ceremony and cake cutting, free family swims, face painting, and inflatable activities as well as the President's Choice SuperDogs. Festivities continue at Island Lake with a performance by the Campfire Poets from 6 - 9 p.m. and a spectacular fireworks display at 10 p.m.
Rotary Ribfest • July 14 to 16 Orangeville Rotary’s 8th annual Ribfest features mouthwatering BBQ ribs, a beer tent, midway, classic car show, and continuous live entertainment on the big stage. Hosted at Alder Recreation Centre, admission is free but donations are gratefully accepted. Find out more at orangevilleribfest.com.
Great Taste Fashion Show • August 18, 6 to 9:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening of fashion, food, and shopping at the Great Taste Fashion Show. New fall fashions will be showcased by downtown boutiques. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and include appetizers. For more details, visit downtownorangeville.ca.
Taste of Orangeville • August 19, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Taste of Orangeville offers tasting menus created by the talented chefs at some of Orangeville’s best restaurants. Extended patios and delicious food combine with fantastic shopping to fill out the day. Taste of Orangeville is the culinary event of the summer! Tasting tickets are $1.25 and there is no entrance fee for this year’s event. For more information, visit downtownorangeville.ca.
Movie Night in the Park • August 25 and September 15, 9 p.m. Enjoy a movie night under the stars! Bring your family and friends, chairs and blankets to Alder Street Sports Field to take in a free screening of a popular movie. For the latest movie information, visit orangeville.ca/events.
Real Estate Featured Listing
The Headwaters Food Charter and Action Plan, presented by the Headwaters Food and Farming Alliance (HFFA), has gained the support of Orangeville Town Council. Food charters exist in many communities and are created to provide a community vision of the local food system and to help build a healthier community. In the Headwaters community, the food charter will use food as a tool for community action, including: • Using local food to promote tourism • Encouraging growth of local food businesses • Celebrating our agricultural heritage and locally grown foods • Advancing environmentally friendly and sustainable practices • Improving the availability of healthy local food in the community • Supporting local food champions and programs In the process of developing the local food charter, the HFFA gathered input from over 350 people and heard from businesses, farmers, municipalities, schools, community organizations, and interested community members. The collaborative document was created with input from a diverse set of stakeholders and identifies six areas of focus: Food Access and Equity, Agriculture Sustainability, Economic Vitality, Environmental Responsibility, Culture and Celebration, and Health and Well-being. Specific goals and actions have also been developed for each theme. In Orangeville, the food charter will promote continued support for existing food-related events like the Orangeville Farmers’ Market and Taste of Orangeville while also fostering new initiatives that help build and educate our food sector businesses, stimulate culinary tourism, and celebrate our local food champions. With endorsement from all municipalities in Dufferin County, HFFA will continue to raise public awareness for the food charter while identifying key priorities for 2017. One of the first initiatives will be the publication of the Headwaters Farm Fresh Guide, to be distributed in the June edition of In The Hills. The guide will include maps and listings for local food producers, including CSAs, on-farm markets, and local farmers’ markets within the region. For more information about the food charter, visit http://headwatersfoodandfarming.ca.
Things To Know New online resources for visitors at orangevilletourism.ca Orangeville Tourism has enhanced its website with videos and itineraries to help entice and entertain potential tourists. The website, orangevilletourism.ca, now includes a collection of short videos that feature some of the Town’s top attractions such as the Orangeville Farmers’ Market and Island Lake Conservation Area. Visitors can also use newly-created itineraries to help plan their stays. This fresh content complements existing information on Orangeville’s festivals, events, attractions, and businesses, making the website a helpful resource for tourists and residents alike.
Blues & Jazz Festival draws crowds to Orangeville
475-479 Broadway Commercial unit of 1,210 sq. ft. available in high volume retail plaza on Broadway. Located in growing area with easy access to highways and public transit and exposure at a signaled intersection. Great existing anchor tenants include RBC and Shoppers Drug Mart. Space is available for lease at $15.50/sq. ft. plus TMI of $8.06/sq. ft. Please contact Mike Mullin, Sales Representative, Royal LePage RCR Realty Brokerage. 519-941-5151.
orangevillebusiness.ca
Headwaters Food Charter endorsed by Town of Orangeville Council
From June 1 to June 4, residents and visitors experienced live music and special events during the 15th Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival. Over 90 acts performed on a variety of stages and venues throughout Town. This annual multi-award winning festival is made possible by the hard work and dedication of community volunteers and sponsors and is a major cultural attraction for Orangeville.
Summer Company 2017 This summer, eight enterprising local area students will be operating their own small businesses, including: Detail My Ride vehicle cleaning, Jacob Luxton; Fabulously Frozen hand scooped ice cream, Jasmine Joaquin; Fun Face FX face painting service, Abby De Ryck; JF Designs small business marketing and graphic design service, Jocelyn Foster; Knives a Plenty online cutlery and gadget store, Alex Arnold; Newton Wood Furniture custom made furnishings and wood products, Camden Newton; PEAK Probiotics brewed kafir beverage business, Robin Moffatt; and Student Gofers home and property services, Madelyn Cook. To find out more about these young entrepreneurs and their new businesses email sbec@orangeville.ca.
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