Culture Home Recreation Spring 2015 | Volume 9 | Issue 1
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West Lorne Artist Ed Zelenak • Large & Small Attractions Chef Cindy Bircham's Goat Cheese & Spring Vegetable Dip The Strawberry Fields Kite Festival • Spring Events
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FROM THE EDITOR
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
2015 is a big year for notable anniversaries. Here are some of the ones we have come across so far... The 25th Annual Port Stanley Art Guild Show graces the Port Stanley Legion June 5th to 7th. Quai du Vin Estate Winery celebrates 25 years of distinctive wines (and several of those years as hosts of memorable music events). Dutton Meadows Golf Club, set amidst an abundance of mature trees, wildlife and nature was also established in 1990. It’s forty sweet years for Clovermead Bees & Honey. The Kettle Creek Conservation Authority marks fifty years of managing the 520 square kilometres of the Kettle Creek watershed. Canadale’s 60th birthday bash took place at their annual Spring Garden Show, but special events will continue throughout 2015. Municipal World, located in Union, is the oldest continuously published monthly municipal magazine in the world, and has been celebrating 125 years since the start of 2015. The St. Thomas Public Library 130th birthday was in 2014, but they recently launched the commemorative book of events, activities, stories and memories from the public gathered last year. The Aylmer Express became the “Aylmer Express” 135 years ago. And finally, at 175 years old, the Port Burwell Lighthouse is the oldest wooden lighthouse on the Great Lakes. The Lighthouse birthday party takes place on Canada Day this year. We also wanted to congratulate another longtime business, Briwood Farm Market. Brian and Sherwood received the 2015 Agriculture Business Award at the Elgin Federation of Agriculture awards ceremony this spring for their focus on selling locally grown produce. (And they will reach the 25-year milestone next year.) The success and longevity of local and unique organizations is always cause for applause and reason to celebrate their contributions to life in Elgin County.
4 Artist Ed Zelenak: Divining the Immeasurable 10 A Tour of Elgin's Large & Small Attractions 14 Goat Cheese & Spring Vegetable Dip with Fresh Herbs
Debra RELISH ELGIN SPRING 2015
By Chef Cindy Bircham
16 Elgin Map & What's in Season
with Pico de Gallo recipe from Catering by James Meadows
18 And I'm Going to... Strawberry Fields Kite Festival 22 The Season's Events in Elgin OUR COVER IMAGE
Chef Cindy Bircham's Goat Cheese & Spring Vegetable Dip with Fresh Herbs, the recipe for which can be found on page 14. Photo courtesy of Cindy Bircham. Editor • Debra Bagshaw • editor@relishelgin.ca Design • Joanne Rowles • jo@relishelgin.ca Advertising Info • ads@relishelgin.ca TO SUBSCRIBE Send a cheque for $10 (to cover mailing) to the following address. Includes 5 issues. Relish Elgin Magazine P.O. Box 20058 St. Thomas, ON, N5P 4H4 519-633-1992
www.relishelgin.ca Copyright 2015, Relish Marketing & Promotions Inc. All rights reserved. Relish Elgin is published by Relish Marketing & Promotions Inc. Reproduction of any material published in Relish Elgin is strictly prohibited without the written permission of the Publisher.
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Arts
ED ZELENAK
Divining the Immeasurable May has been dubbed Ed Zelenak month in London by the Michael Gibson Gallery—they will exhibit his new celestial-themed works there May 14th30th, while Museum London will host, starting May 2nd, a retrospective exhibition of his sculptures and other work made between 1960 and 2011. In an April interview the West Lorne based artist shared some thoughts on his explorations and expressions of life through art. “I recall drawing even before I started school,” Ed says. “My father had a talent for art, so I suppose it was in my DNA.” In the rural public school he attended in West Elgin, the teacher, Harvey Garbut, encouraged Ed and childhood friend Walter Redinger, to draw. That early encouragement was the start of a lifetime career which blossomed in the atmosphere of Beal Tech’s flourishing art program where a number of the professors were immersed in the world of art and exerted considerable influence on their
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students. Studying further at the Ontario College of Art and Design (1957-59) Ed remembers, “Jock McDonald was one of the most memorable even though he talked about everything but art.” Ed next travelled to Texas where he studied at the Fort Worth Art Centre and Barsch Kelly Atelier in Dallas. He experienced for the first time working as a painter in a studio while doing odd jobs to survive. He met and took part in one of Claes Oldenburg’s performance art productions. “I touched base with a ‘real art guy from New York’ and experienced people with a sense of contemporary art.” Upon returning to West Lorne, and with funds procured in part from work in area tobacco fields, Ed and Walter built two independent, self-contained large studios with two tiny apartments under one roof. These work spaces afforded each artist the opportunity to develop their individual, and vastly different approaches to the art aesthetic. With expanding families, and the need for more living
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Arts space Ed built his present studio and home in 1975 on his mother-in-law’s farm. In the late 60s and early 70s support from the Canada Council for the Arts extended to greater numbers of artists in a broader range of mediums and processes. The base of London Regional artists grew and was energized by talents from within and outside the region. Both Ed and Walter grabbed attention and recognition for large-scale sculpture, including many installations in public places.
These large works were investigations of materials (including wood and fibreglass), form, space and light—Ed considers them to have been an important stage in his development. However, he says, “Large works are overwhelming—the scale can derail a person—I wanted to get more hands on, to reveal more of who I am.” Ed began a shift into exploration of subjects and themes which are universal in nature, a study which has had both a forward and cyclical momentum.
Above: Locating Its Other Self #2, 2006, tin on copper, 21 x 15.5”; Levitation as Witnessed by 42 Ciphers, 2010, alloyed tin on copper, 84 x 78”; Opposite: Levitation–26 Pauses, 2012-2013, alloyed tin on copper, 48 x 208.25"
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Arts order to get it into a gallery, it has to be very low—so to have weight it has to be out of something that is very heavy. “
Ed Zelenak at his West Lorne studio “My work tends to work like a spoke. It goes out and then there will be an axiom and a corollary and it links that way. And then I go back to the hub. And then on to the next wheel.” As a sculptor and maker, seeking to explore questions related to life’s meaning, he was determined to get below the surface of things, to drill downwards and to work in the most basic of materials. He chose lead, copper and bronze—compressed, condensed materials rooted in human technological history. He was attracted to the activity of shaping, casting, welding and cutting the metals, and to the traces of the process which resided in the final object. He says, “One piece in the Museum London show is called Petrarch’s Climb. Now Petrarch didn’t climb the mountain-top because of his ego … but being about forty when I was doing this I was at the apex of my ‘go out there and get them’ energy … so to me it’s probably about one’s ego. One of the three sections is three and a half tons of metal, sixteen feet in diameter, about a foot off the ground. People might ask, ‘Why isn’t it made out of paper Mache?’ Well climbing a mountain is a pretty hefty project. So the material needs to match that. When you are making work you also have to be aware of the issues of your tools and the processes. In
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He believes that his job as an artist is to go beyond externalities. “I don’t trust the eye. If something is determined by eye only then you end up with the goods which deal with only the external-ness of it. By that I mean, if you lay out some colours and you don’t like it and you put it upside down and it looks better … so who is the judgement caller in that? It’s the eye. And if you are looking at really profound things you have to get beneath the skin of that. It has to shine through.” Over his career he has made limited use of colour as it is “just the skin”. Ed has used his materials and tools to explore, ponder, suggest, comment, analyze and observe. He has asked the questions of where we are and who we are, and investigated the seen and the unseen, the measurable and the unmeasurable, the interplay of intuition and logic, and often the dualities to be found in life. Tables have appeared and re-appeared in his work over the years. Tables were inset with a vase containing a branch. “What are they? I simply wanted to make a statement which put the audience in a situation where they would have to question and come to a conclusion whether they are looking at a picture or an object. In the true sense it’s an object. It’s a table; it exists in space. But when you look at it, what are you drawn to? You’re going to be drawn to the core point which is in front of it looking down and you see a picture of a vase with a branch in it. But really sculpture was meant to be in the whole, all in the round. So I am trying to ply that area of in-between-ness, the duality, all of the time.” Ed’s work has taken form as sculpture, wall pieces, most often with sculptural elements, and graphics,
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Arts The Levitation series consists of panels of sections with sculptural elements –somewhat like paintings in sculpture. In explaining why they are sectional, he notes, “You have probably many times where you stop and you take stock or you take your pulse, a sense of yourself … and each time is slightly different. So there are a number of these, and it’s like a picture seen on a rolling screen, like film. That serialization has been used frequently in my work.” Ed has employed the iconography of trees, stairs, dowsing rods and vessels, and his personal interests in mapping, measurement and travel, for his explorations. Symbols are utilized as forms of expression—but they often become vehicles to further investigation.
or combinations where one relates to the other in intriguing ways. He says, “Graphics fill a void for me—they help make my work more elastic, and allow me to render between ideas.”
He became intrigued with divining rods when he and wife Clara called in the services of a dowser to locate water on their new property. Clara could dowse for water; Ed chose to dowse and divine in the studio… with metal, paper, canvas and wood. He saw the divining rod as a tool of discovery and orientation. The divining branch also represented an intriguing metaphor for his interest in the rational vs the unknown. The vessel, as symbol,
Above: Levitation–Tracking #5, 2014, tin, copper, dry pigment, 30 x 24” Opposite page (clockwise from top left): Dowsing the Edge of Emptiness–Concave #1, 2004, copper, bronze, 15 x 30”; Table #3–Still Life with Divining Rod, 2003-2005, wood, bronze, 72 x 60 x 30”; Table #2– Still Life with Divining Rod (detail), steel, 1998-2005; Vase–Still Life with Divining Rod, 2008, bronze ed. 1 of 3, 18.75 x 13.75 x 7.5"
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Arts embodies the dualism of the exterior and the interior, of immobility and fluidity. Another recurring image has been a fivesided ‘house’ or gable shape used in different ways. “I reinvent myself by the use of that shape repeatedly; the shape has a variety of potentialities—straight up is grounded, on its side is an arrow. I come back to the shape to be re-grounded.” Through evocative forms and materials, Ed Zelenak’s creations draw the viewer in for a closer look. He says, “I think in the broadest sense my work aspires to co-share with viewers things which are important to a very broad spectrum of life.” May’s exhibitions will show artwork completed over more than fifty years at Ed’s rural studio. It’s a unique opportunity for the public to enjoy and share.
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Ed Zelenak's work is included in the collections of the National Gallery of Canada; Art Gallery of Ontario; Musee Cantonal des Beaux-Arts, Lausanne, Switzerland; Czech Museum of Fine Arts, Prague; the Chicago Athenaeum, Chicago; and The Ukrainian Museum, New York. “Ed Zelenak: Divining the Immeasurable“ runs May 2nd to August 16th at Museum London, with an opening reception on May 22nd. A scholarly catalogue surveying his work, with emphasis on his recent work, theory and symbolism will be released in June. On Sun June 28th at 1pm Museum London will host an exhibition tour with Ed and Curator of Art, Cassie Getty. Ed will also be showing work at the Christopher Cutts Gallery in Toronto from June 6th-24th. The Michael Gibson Gallery is located at 157 Carling St, London (www.gibsongallery.com). Find out more about Ed’s work at www.edzelenak.com.
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Community A TOUR OF ELGIN'S
Large & Small Attractions September 15th 2015 will mark the 130th anniversary of Jumbo’s demise in a railway accident in St. Thomas. The story persists that Jumbo gave his life to save Tom Thumb, a dwarf elephant which was also part of P.T. Barnum’s Circus, although it is more likely dramatic invention than truth. People are generally intrigued by things which are unusually large or small, and we thought we would set out across Elgin County in search of some of our jumbo and dwarf attractions. Jumbo Statue, St. Thomas
that take visitors inside the lives of our submariners and brings a greater understanding of the imporWhen Jumbo came to North America, his name tant role the Oberon submarines and Canadian came into common usage as a word meaning submariners played in the Cold War. The submarine large. He died as the result of being hit by a train is open seven days a week June to August. in a St. Thomas rail yard in 1885 but the Jumbo statue (38 tons worth) erected at the east end of St. HMCS Ojibwa, 3 Pitt St, Port Burwell, 519-633-7641, www.projectojibwa.ca Thomas is a tribute to his larger than life presence rather than his death. “Jumbo” has often ranked in THE Elgin Special at the top five experiences searched on ShaW’s Ice Cream www.ontariosouthwest.com. Last year Established in 1948, Shaw’s is a Railway City Tourism decided to give popular stop for old-fashioned style Jumbo fans a way to display their ice-cream in many flavours, all made fondness and introduced exclusive on site. Newcomers and visitors to 'I ♥ Jumbo' t-shirts. the area who are eager to embrace Shirts are $15 or 2 for $25 at Railway all that is Elgin may take a local’s City Tourism, 605 Talbot St, St. Thomas advice, “You have to try an Elgin (L&PS Station), 519-631-1680 x4132, Special!” They will discover that this Railway City Tourism T-S www.railwaycitytourism.com hirts extreme sundae contains your choice of five scoops of Shaw's ice cream HMCS OJibWa and three sauces, topped with nuts, HMCS Ojibwa is 297.5 feet long, 5 whipped cream and a cherry. Though stories high, elegant and imposmost will choose a more moderate ing. Canada’s first Oberon Class treat on their future visits to Shaw’s, Submarine last year won both the they will be able to say they have Tourism Industry Association of tried the Elgin Special experience in Ontario Innovator of the Year award total ice-cream decadence. and the prestigious TIAC Brewster Shaw’s Ice Cream, 6598 Sunset Rd, Travel Innovator of the Year Award l ia ec St. Thomas, 519-631-2510, for her opening season in 2013. The Elgin Sp Shaw's Ice Cream www.shawsicecream.com sub offers exciting experiential tours
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Community Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the eleventh largest lake in the world. Our Great Lake is 388 kilometres long and Elgin County Ye Olde Jail stretches along a significant portion of it. Its walleye fishery is widely considered to be the best in the world. We have four ports (Burwell, Bruce, Stanley and Glasgow); the busiest, Port Stanley’s popular Main Beach was awarded Blue Flag status for the fifth year in a row in 2014.
The Aylmer Express
The Aylmer Express was “born” 135 years ago on January 1st 1880 when The “Aylmer Paper” was renamed the “Aylmer Express”. Arthur Hueston purchased the paper in 1947 and it has been family owned and operated ever since. It continues on in “full broadsheet” format, 17” wide by 22.5” deep making it Canada’s biggest newspaper. Open, it is a full 34” wide, not a good format for bedtime reading but, readers love its big print and big pictures.
Ye Olde Jail
Built in 1890 and measuring just fifteen by eighteen feet, this tiny Rodney Jail is North America’s oldest and smallest. Visitors can still see the original steel doors and yellow brick exterior. You can visit Monday to Friday from July 6th to Aug 28th, 2015, or by appointment. Ye Olde Jail, 135 Queen St, Rodney, 519-785-0937
Harbourtown Fudge
Jon and Vicci Coughlin’s Harbourtown Fudge has found a perfect home in its very own shop in front of their Telegraph House B&B. It’s tiny but packed full of delectable handmade fudge in a long list of traditional plus more unique and seasonal flavours. Look for Rhubarb & Cream when the rhubarb is ready this spring. You’ll also find chocolates, confections, local honey and maple syrup. Harbourtown Fudge, 205 Main St, Port Stanley, 519-782-3006, www.telegraphhouse.com
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Union Statio
n
Harbourtown Fudge
Midtown Tavern
The Midtown Tavern (once Midtown House) is a historic tavern and long-standing St. Thomas landmark. There may be smaller bars but the front section, with its old-fashioned wooden ice-box cabinetry bar, is definitely on the cozy side. The service is friendly, and there is often live music on weekends. It has frequently been referred to as the ****** (you know—that TV bar from the 80s) of St. Thomas. However, when bar owners posted on Facebook their idea of creating t-shirts to that effect they received a rapid response from the folks at NBC letting them know that would be a no-no. Anyway, that won’t stop fans from referring to it as the ****** of St. Thomas. Midtown Tavern, 701 Talbot St, St. Thomas, 519-631-1377, www.midtowntavern.ca
Port Stanley Terminal Rail'S UNION STATION
Author Ron Brown includes North America’s smallest “Union Station” in his Top 125 Unusual Things to See in Ontario. It was named after the nearby hamlet of Union. Brown notes that its “style and arched windows reveal that railway architects often paid as much attention to the tiny flag stations as they did to the larger and more elegant stations.” The once derelict building was lovingly restored along with the main station in Port Stanley by PSTR volunteers. You can view it on one of their excursion trains or by following Golf Club Road west from Highway 4 in Union. Port Stanley Terminal Rail, 309 Bridge St, Port Stanley, 519-782-3730, www.pstr.on.ca
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CHANGING EXHIBITS LECTURES • GIFT SHOP ON MAY 11TH TO AUGUST 29TH, 2015:
WAIST MANAGEMENT: A HISTORY OF UNMENTIONABLES
Elgin County Administration Building, 4th Floor, 450 Sunset Drive (Hwy 4), St. Thomas, Ontario Open year round - Call for seasonal hours
519.631.1460 ext. 160
WWW.ELGINCOUNTY.CA
Artist Judy Minor’s Miniatures
Community Miniature & FAIRY Gardens
Judy Minor is an Aylmer artist with a Creation of miniature landscapes remarkable ability to capture the light with tiny accessories and plants and texture of even ordinary objects has taken off in the last couple of in her paintings. We were honoured years. The appeal may be fueled to feature an incredibly enticing by Disney fairy movies, interest in watermelon painting by Judy on one gardening with children, shrinking of our most popular covers. She has outdoor spaces, and desire for Fairy Gardens at Wind n Willow often applied her talents ease of maintenance. Wind n to pieces in tiny scale Willow in St. Thomas features a panel, Ladies-in-Waiting, oil onMinor y Jud by and many of them have fairy garden display and has also run several e tur nia 3x3" mi received awards which are popular workshops in the store on creating considered to be lifetime your own miniature garden. You can pick up achievements for miniatursupplies there, and at Canadale Nurseries. ists. Find out more about Wind n Willow, 435 Talbot St, St. Thomas, Judy at www.judyminor.ca 519-637-3904, www.windnwillow.ca and on Facebook—Judy Canadale Nurseries, 269 Sunset Dr, Minor visual art. St. Thomas,519-631-7264,www.canadale.com
Summer Buskerfest June 13 / July 18 / August 15 Kids Drama Camp - July 13-24 Sean McCann - October 2 Rocky Horror Picture Show - October 31
- 2015-2016 SEASON -
Beyond Therapy by Christopher Durang - October 15-25 Jack & the Beanstalk by Peter Denyer - December 3-13 Jakes Women by Neil Simon - February 11-21 Calendar Girls by Tim Firth - April 28-May 8 PRINCESS AVE PLAYHOUSE, ST. THOMAS Purchase tickets online at
www.elgintheatreguild.ca
or at Simply Pure Water, 123 Wellington St, St. Thomas (519-637-3306)
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Food
GOAT CHEESE &
Spring Vegetable DIP WITH FRESH HERBS
By Chef Cindy Bircham The more time I spend outside of kitchens and more time I spend at local farms, the more rooted I become in my belief that wholesome, high-quality food is a product of dedicated, impassioned farmers. The level of nurturing and care given before/ during/after growing anything—from soil to ducklings—directly influences what that food will taste like. By the time an ingredient, let's say asparagus or cheese, arrives on your plate in early spring (or at the grocery market), it seems like a deceptively simple journey from soil to farm to plate. The fact is a lot of planning goes on months, if not years, before it is procured. Spring may be the sign of rejuvenation but someone had to plant and tend for that new delicious life to mature.
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Winter may offer some down time in a busy farmer's life, however, it is often short-lived. The end of the growing season the previous fall is filled with harvesting, breeding, composting, planting, and seed-saving. After a small break it's back to the grind with planning at the very least. Spring also brings farm equipment maintenance, sleepness nights with bucks and does, brooding chicks, sprouting garlic, seed starting, hand-milking, soil amendments, hiring new help, and repairs from Old Man Winter's wrath. Nutrient-dense sourdough breads and fermented sauerkrauts may take days or months to prepare in the kitchen; it's not much compared to the two years required to harvest just a few spears from a young asparagus crown in the field though.
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Food Goat Cheese & Spring Vegetable Dip with Fresh Herbs In early spring goats milk is rich and ample. Fresh, creamy, mild chèvre cheese is usually found in small plastic tubs or tubes in the deli case. Use whichever fresh vegetables (by themselves or in combination to an amount of 1 1/2 cups) and herbs are tastiest and in season for this recipe. Goat Cheese Dip 1 1/2 cups goat cheese, softened 1/4 cup sour cream 2 tsp honey Kosher salt and fresh pepper, to taste Spring Vegetables 1 medium onion, finely chopped 2 tbsp unsalted butter 2 tsp kosher salt, divided fresh pepper, to taste 1 cup peas, fresh or frozen 6-8 spears asparagus, sliced 1/2 cm thick 1 lemon, zested 1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs (mint, dill, chervil, and/or chives) fresh radishes, cucumbers, breadsticks, or crisps for serving (optional) 1. Combine softened goat cheese with sour cream and season with salt, pepper, and honey. Set aside.
2. Cook chopped onion with butter, 1 tsp salt and pepper over medium heat until soft and golden brown; cool completely. 3. Blanch peas and asparagus in pot of boiling water with remaining 1 tsp salt for 45 seconds. Immediately refresh by straining the vegetables and submerging into ice water; drain well, set aside. 4. Reserving 1/4 cup of vegetables, place peas and asparagus into a food processor to make a coarse purée. Alternatively, chop by hand. 5. Combine cooked onions, puréed vegetables, lemon zest, and chopped herbs in a small bowl. 6. To finish: place goat cheese in a bowl or platter. Spoon vegetable mixture on top. Garnish with reserved vegetables and more fresh herbs. Serve with fresh vegetables or crisps. Makes about 2 cups. Photos by Cindy Bircham. Cindy Bircham is a professional chef and recipe developer cooking her way across Elgin County with a passion for quality, local and made from scratch. Follow her latest food finds and adventures at www. facebook.com/ElginHarvest. You can also sign up there for her newsletter and receive notification of “bake days” on which you can pick up pre-ordered sour dough bread and other delectable goodies baked in a wood fired oven.
QUAI DUVIN WINERY TOURS Tour our vineyards, processing area, fermentation and barrel rooms, then enjoy a tasting, all in the good company of our resident winemaker. SATURDAYS - PLEASE CALL AHEAD
519-775-2216 • www.QuaiduVin.com 2km north of Sparta, Ontario
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Map of Elgin
Fresh is In! AVAILABLE IN MAY & JUNE
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Rutabaga (Storage) Spinach • Sprouts Strawberries • Summer Squash Sweet Potatoes (Storage)
Tomatoes (Greenhouse)
JIM•BIT Pico de Gallo 4 Roma tomatoes, chopped • 1/2 small red onion, minced 1 small jalapeño, minced, no seeds 2 Tbsp chopped cilantro • juice of 1 lime • salt to taste Mix and enjoy!
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© Joshua Resnick / fotolia.com
Easy on time, big on taste recipes from Chef James Meadows
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HERBS
We’ve relocated! Contact us via our website or by calling 519-619-2153
You can now find our Dried Herbs & Blends, Herb Teas and more at THE VILLAGE COLLECTIVE MAIN STREET, SPARTA
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Potted herbs available in May
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cateringbyjamesmeadows.com
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www.heritagelineherbs.com
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Recreation
AND I’M GOING TO …
Strawberry Fields
KITE FESTIVAL
Anne Sloboda and Eric Curtis brought their print design studio to Sparta in 1980 and, soon after, narrowed their production to functional but beautiful kites. When Anne started a second job at the St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital, it just happened to be located on grounds with a field which looked to be kite-flying perfect. Anne and Eric’s gathering of a few flyers in 1996 grew to become the Strawberry Fields Kite Festival, which now draws hundreds and will celebrate its 24th anniversary this year. Anne chatted recently about their business and the festival’s beginnings and future. Anne and Eric grew up in Toronto in the 60s. When they met she was attending Sheridan College School of Design and he was a printing press operator at an underground newspaper. She graduated with a flair for silk screen design, and the two looked to share a life and business together.
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“Our common ground in print made silk-screen an obvious choice. We opened our silk-screen studio, Gothic Design in Toronto in 1976.” At that time, the Ontario Crafts Council was newly formed and the couple found that the high-end craft show circuit was a viable way for artisans to make at least some of their income. In 1980 they set out to find a living and studio space in a country setting. Anne laughs, “We needed space for a sixty-inch by twenty-four foot fabric table with ample clearance all around—our real estate agent told us our choices were limited to churches, school houses, chicken coops and pig barns.” Fortunately, they stumbled upon a 1908 school house for sale in Sparta and have been there ever since. The recession of the 80s and declining discretionary incomes for many got them brainstorming about a product which would attract customers. “I had a
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Recreation talent for toy design and we found that toys had excellent sales at Christmas but not during the rest of the year. We pondered what cloth product we could we make to sell in summer which would be a source of immediate gratification (and sales). We came up with kites—a pragmatic, cross-gender toy. We didn’t know a darn thing about kites though.” Some extensive R&D was required. “Oriental kites were silk so we decided to try silk, but it’s porous and stretchy which was a problem—the kites didn’t resist wind and had slow lift. But the challenge got to us. We came upon a rip-stop nylon used for sails on sailboats and created an excellent flying kite—we were hooked!” They narrowed their textile design and printing to strictly producing kites, with acid dyes on nylon sailcloth, presented as “Boreal Kites”. Their new passion really took flight when they discovered a whole world of kite-flying enthusiasts. “We found kite magazines, associations, clubs and conferences. At our first convention of kite makers in Nashville, we had a blast, learned, made friends and discovered there were often prizes for best kites—sometimes a free trip to another festival. That was a definite enticement.”
Kiting adventures took Anne and Eric to France, Germany, Italy, Columbia, India, Australia, Lebanon, all over Canada and Newcastle in England where they spent six weeks as kite makers in residence. A few of the trips were won as prizes and often they participated as invited, subsidized guests. In 1983, a fellow artisan, a leather maker who was also the patient librarian at what was then the St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital suggested Anne apply for an arts and crafts instructor opening there. It was a job she would enjoy and which would afford a stable income supplemental to Gothic Design. Her six-month contract led to a full time job in the recreation department. In 1991 she and another recreation instructor, their families and eight patients gathered for a kite-flying outing on the grounds at the hospital and the seed for a kite festival was planted. Four years later it had grown and Anne came up with the “Strawberry Fields Kite Festival” name on a whim. In the early days the event was in June and she had a thought of someday holding it in an actual strawberry field. However, the hospital grounds location seemed to work well and even though the festival moved to late May in 1996, the name stuck.
Above: Deb Gibson and Susan Gordon from St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital's Mental Health Program, along with festival organizer Anne Sloboda, fly the "Lets Talk About Stigma" kite at last year's festival
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Recreation Attendance continued to increase each year and in 2013 it became a two-day event. “I think it is the second oldest kite festival in the province. The last weekend in May is after the long weekend and usually too cold yet for the beach. The location is good with a nice steady on-shore wind starting at noon and dropping off at 5pm, most of the time.”
Anne was also instrumental in founding and nurturing along the annual Healing Palette Art Exhibition, a showcase of how art can bring hope and strength to individuals who have experienced mental illness. Now located each year in the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital atrium, it will celebrate its 10th anniversary this November.
Anne says that they now have attendees who came to the festival as kids coming back with their own families. She is thrilled to find people settle in with lawn chairs and picnic baskets, and some who are content to just lie on the grass and watch the kites fly. She sees an important place in the community for a relaxed, open, low-cost, ‘not frantic’ event.
With retirement not too far down the road, Anne looks forward to having a little more time to organize both events—they take a lot of work but the spring and fall dates make a good combination. She’s looking forward to the 25th Strawberry Fields Kite Festival in 2016 and more in years to follow—not “forever” perhaps, but a good long run to be proud of.
The Festival runs with an almost-zero budget, but with some in-kind donations and plenty of volunteer support from St. Joe’s Mental Health as well as several other community organizations. Though the “Strawberry Fields” are no longer owned by St. Joe’s, Anne has negotiated with Infrastructure Ontario in order to be able to continue the festival.
This year’s Strawberry Fields Kite Festival will take place Sat May 30th & Sun May 31st from 1-4pm at the corner of Sunset and John Wise Line, St. Thomas.
Below: Last year's Strawberry Fields Kite Festival (photo by Mark Girdauskas, Photos by MG)
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Recreation
Gothic Design Kites Gothic Design kites are made from screenprinted or hand-painted acid dyes on rip-stop nylon sailcloth, cut and sewn into kites. Through experimentation and trial and error Anne and Eric found materials and developed unique designs and techniques which give strong colours, and amazing visual effects. See their kites at www.gothicdesign.ca.
Photos above of Anne Sloboda and Eric Curtis, and Gothic Design kites, courtesy of Anne Sloboda. Eco-Conscious Seasonal Cut Flowers Sunflowers • Special Events & Weddings
Affordable for Fa milies BROWN EGGS AVAILABLE DAILY
SATURDAYS 10AM-2PM: limited supply of McSmith’s whole organic chickens and grass fed beef & pastured pork from Harris Farm
Plus Seasonal Surprises McSmith’s Organic Produce & Harris Flower Farm Cut Flowers
available by chance when you visit the farm NOW AVAILABLE FOR SPRING:
Compost & Hearty Transplants
(heritage tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce, herbs)
519-631-0279 • 42828 Shorlea Line, St. Thomas
www.McsmithsOrganicFarm.com
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HORTON FARMERS' MARKET Saturdays from Mother’s Day to Thanksgiving COVENT GARDEN MARKET Outdoor Farmers' Market, London (in season)
Janis & Mark Harris and children Cameron, Nathan & Megan janisandmarkharris@hotmail.com
519-668-9537
www.harrisflowerfarmpasturedpork.weebly.com
Member of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers
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Events
Spring Into Elgin EVENTS ACROSS ELGIN • MORE AT WWW.RELISHELGIN.CA CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
Mon Mar 2 TO Fri May 22 Exhibition: The Holocaust on Main Street
Artifacts, photos and information on the Aylmer Main Street Fire on February 26, 1965 Aylmer-Malahide Museum & Archives, 14 East St, Aylmer 519-773-9723 | www.amtelecom.net/~aylmermuseum
Sat Apr 25 TO Sat Jun 6 Exhibition: Ron Milton—The Who, The How, The Why
Interactive sculpture works exploring the artist's own ancestry St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre, 301 Talbot St, St. Thomas | 519-631-4040 | www.stepac.ca
Fri May 1 TO Mon Oct 12 ExhibitION: Beds, Baths & Beyond
Learn about the history of bedrooms, bathing, and more Backus-Page House Museum, 29424 Lakeview Ln, Wallacetown | 519-762-3072 | www.backuspagehouse.ca
Mon May 11 TO Sat Aug 29 Exhibition: Waist Management: A History of Unmentionables
Contact museums for times Elgin County Museum, 450 Sunset Dr, St. Thomas 519-631-1460 ext.160 | www.elgincounty.ca/museum
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ONGOING EVENTS Every Sat Saturday Art Parties
11am-5pm; work in your media of choice (excluding solvent-based oil) with other artists; bring your supplies; all skill levels; free, but weeks with guest instructor $10 Art Emporium, 177 Main Street, Port Stanley 226-658-1888 | www.artemporium.ca
Every Sat Until Nov Horton Farmers' Market
8am-noon | Manitoba, just north of Talbot www.hortonfarmersmarket.ca
Every Sat in May & Jun Galaxy Cinema Family Favourites
11am; $2.99/person; proceeds to Free The Children Galaxy Cinema, 417 Wellington St, St. Thomas 519-631-5777 | www.cineplex.com
Sat & Sun until Jun 28, Mon May 18; Wed to Sun in Jul & Aug, Mon Aug 3 Scenic Train Rides on the PSTR
Departs at 11am, 1pm & 2:30pm; adults $15, children (212) $9; reservations not required, but arrive 30 min prior; regular rides 60 min; rain or shine; Sat 11am trains in July & Aug are 90 min Complete Line Tours to Parkside Port Stanley Terminal Rail, 309 Bridge St, Port Stanley 519-782-3730 | www.pstr.on.ca
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Events Mon until Sept 21 Cruise Nights at the CASO Station
Fri May 15 Nikki James & Pizza Fundraiser
6-9pm; no event May 18, Jun 22, Aug 3, Sept 7 CASO Railway Station, 750 Talbot St, St. Thomas Contact Carol Watson, 519-633-2535 www.facebook.com/events/1627804717455828/
Nikki James live from 5-7pm; fundraiser to assist Aylmer Optimist Club President Glen Stewart with health recovery Pizza Factory, in front of store, 81 Talbot St E, Aylmer www.facebook.com/AylmerOptimistClub
Tues TO Sat until late August Free Tours of Old St. Thomas Church
Sat May 16 West Lorne & Community Horticultural Society Annual Plant & Bake Sale
9am-5pm The Old St. Thomas Church, 55 Walnut St, St. Thomas 519-633-2610 | www.oldstthomaschurch.com
Various Dates Classes at Little Red Mitten
8am | westlornehort@gmail.com West Lorne Community Complex, 160 Main St, West Lorne www.gardenontario.org/site.php/westlorne
Sat May 16 Rodney Horticultural Society'S 16TH Annual Plant Sale & Garden Accessories
See website for info on variety of classes for all levels; individual instruction also available Little Red Mitten, 86 Talbot St, St. Thomas 519-207-2880 | www.littleredmitten.ca
8am-11am | 519-785-0937 Rodney Recreation Centre, 135 Queen St, Rodney
Various Dates Social Painting Nights
Sat May 16 & Sun May 17 LIVING HISTORY: The Road to Culloden
Step-by-step with a professional artist to create your own take home piece; starts at $20; preregistration required Art Gallery of Lambeth, 2454 Main St, Lambeth (London) 519-652-5556 | www.artgalleryoflambeth.com
MAY EVENTS Thur May 14 TO Sun May 17 Victoria Day Gardening Extravaganza
Canadale Nurseries, 269 Sunset Dr, St. Thomas 519-631-7264 | www.canadale.com
Thur & FRI May 14 & 15, 21 & 22 Arthur Voaden: Farewell to Broadway
Tickets available at the door; 6:30pm doors open, 7pm show starts; $15 adults / $5 seniors & students Arthur Voaden Secondary School, 41 Flora St, St. Thomas 519-631-3770
10am-4pm; $6 ages 13+; age 12 and under FREE; skirmishes, music, camp life displays, storytellers and more on the Scottish emigration to the Talbot Settlement Backus-Page House Museum, 29424 Lakeview Ln, Wallacetown | 519-762-3072 | www.backuspagehouse.ca
Sat-Mon May 16-18; Daily Jun 1 TO Sept 13 Tours of HMCS Ojibwa
May 12-5pm, June 10am-5pm; adults/children 6-12: interior $19.75/$12 (under 6 not permitted); exterior $10/$5 (under 6 free); special events on holidays HMCS Ojibwa, 3 Pitt St, Port Burwell 519-633-7641 | www.projectojibwa.ca
Mon May 18 Elgin Historical Society: Talbot Toast
2pm | www.elginhistoricalsociety.ca St. Peter's Cemetery, 29596 Lakeview Ln, Wallacetown
Make our garden your garden! strawberries raspberries tomatoes and much more seasonally available
48937 Glencolin Ln, Aylmer Open Mon-Sat 8am-6pm 519-765-1752 www.berryhillfruitfarm.com
Strawberries begin mid-June. Visit us at the Horton Farmers’ Market in St. Thomas, Saturdays 8am-noon.
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Events Sat May 23 St. Thomas & District Horticultural Society Annual Spring Plant Sale
7:30am-noon | Contact Shelley, 519-769-2529 Horton Farmers' Market, Manitoba St, St.Thomas gardenontario.org/site.php/district10/events/plantsales
Sat May 23 Kids’ Pond Ecology Workshop
11am-12pm; $25 for supplies; kids aged 5-10 create a mini pond to take home; register before May 19 Moore Water Gardens, 4683 Sunset Rd, Port Stanley 519-782-4052 | www.moorewatergardens.com
Sat May 23 The Snake Lady AT MOORE WATER GARDENS
Reviving The Lost Arts: Pies, Tarts & More at the Arts & Cookery Bank (photo courtesy of the Arts & Cookery Bank)
Tues May 19 TO Wed Jun 10 Reviving the Lost Arts Demonstrations
$25/session; May 19, 1:30pm: Pies, Tarts & More; May 28, 1:30pm: Gluten Fee; Jun 10, 6:30pm: Fermentation The Arts & Cookery Bank, 242 Graham Rd, West Lorne 519-768-9986 | www.theartsandcookerybank.com
Wed May 20 Passport Clinic
4-7pm | St. Mary's Parish Hall, 132 Main St, West Lorne 519-637-2255
WeD May 20 to mid-Sept 8TH Annual Aylmer Shrine Cruise Nights
5pm to dusk | ICS Courier Parking Lot, Downtown, Aylmer
Thur May 21, FRI-SUN may 22-24 & 29-31 Periscope Playhouse: Neighbourhood Crime Watch
8pm Thurs (Preview Night), Fri & Sat; 2pm Sun; $17/ person; play by Craig Alpaugh; tickets online via PayPal Eden Community Centre, 56967 Eden Ln, Eden 519-874-4026 or 226-271-3815 | periscopeplayhouse.ca
Fri May 22 Arts & Cookery Bank: Guys' Night Out
6:30pm; $75/person; Wild Game: Ultimate Combos The Arts & Cookery Bank, 242 Graham Rd, West Lorne 519-768-9986 | www.theartsandcookerybank.com
Fri May 22 TO Sun May 24 The Village Collective Grand Opening
10am-5pm Fri & Sat; noon-4pm Sun; Art demo, samples, fortune telling, draws, prizes and more | 519-775-2856 Main St, Sparta | www.thevillagecollective.com
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11am-3pm | 4683 Sunset Rd, Port Stanley 519-782-4052 | www.moorewatergardens.com
Sat May 23 27TH Annual Tiny Tots Co-op Nursery School's Trike-a-Thon
9am-noon; trike races, Celebrity Ride, games, face painting, bake sale, silent auction, food, yard sale, 50/50 draw & more Tiny Tots Co-Op Nursery School, 217 Furnival Rd, Rodney Contact Shelley, 519-785-2164 | www.ttcns.ca
Wed May 27 Elgin Historical Society: County Series
7:30pm; history of St. Thomas Elgin Admin Bldg, lower level, 450 Sunset Dr, St. Thomas www.elginhistoricalsociety.ca
Wed May 27 Elgin Theatre Guild: Joel Plaskett
8pm, doors open 7pm; $45; 'The Park Avenue Sobriety Test' on tour with The Emergency; tickets at Simply Pure Water, 123 Wellington St, St. Thomas, 519-637-3306 or online Princess Ave Playhouse, 40 Princess Ave, St. Thomas 519-633-8530 | www.elgintheatreguild.ca
Wed May 27 TO Sat Jun 6 Port Stanley TheatrE: Rhinestone Cowgirl DOLLY PARTON TRIBUTE
Leisa Way & Wayward Wind Band; Tues/Wed/Thurs/Sat matinees at 2pm, $30.50; Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sat evenings at 8pm (except first Wed), $33.50; $142.50 subscription Port Stanley Festival Theatre, 302 Bridge St, Port Stanley 519-782-4353 | www.portstanleytheatre.ca
Fri May 29 7th ANNUAL Golf for Kids Sake
Fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Thomas-Elgin Kettle Creek Golf & C. C., 320 Carlow Rd, Port Stanley Contact Barb Matthews, 519-633-3830 bbbselgin.org/en/Home/events/golfforkidssake.aspx
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Events Sat May 30 Redtail Cocktail Party & Silent Auction
4-7:30pm; $100 ($65 tax receipt); St. Thomas Elgin Public Art Centre fundraiser, held at Redtail Golf Course, with haute cuisine, door prizes, cash bar; tickets at Art Centre 519-631-4040 | www.stepac.ca
Sat May 30 Back to Our Roots: Fermented Drinks
2-5pm; $45/person; register at wildflowerstea@gmail.com Wildflowers Farm, 42338 Fruit Ridge Ln, St. Thomas 226-926-6432 | www.wildflowerstea.com
Sat May 30 Koi Sale at Moore Water Gardens
12-3pm Moore Water Gardens, 4683 Sunset Rd, Port Stanley 519-782-4052 | www.moorewatergardens.com
Sat May 30 5TH ANNUAL Royal Ascot Tea and Hat/ Fascinator Competition
2pm doors open; tea served promptly at 2:30pm;$10; fun prizes for most elegant, flattering and humourous Knox Presbyterian Church, 55 Hincks St, St. Thomas 519-631-2414
Sat May 30 Wheeler Antique Car Show
9am-3pm; no admission charge; door prizes, music Dave Wheeler Automotive, Dutton | 519-762-3561
Sat May 30 & Sun May 31 24TH Strawberry Fields Kite Festival
1-4pm both days, closing ceremonies Sun 4pm; face painting, kite making, balloons, craft vendors, refreshments, bubbles and more; admission is free South Lawn, Regional Mental Health Care Corner of Sunset and John Wise Line, St. Thomas 519-775-2527 | www.gothicdesign.ca/strafest.htm
Sun May 31 Purina Walk for Dog Guides
1:30pm registration, 2pm walk; organized by Port Stanley Lioness Club for Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides Port Stanley Legion, 310 George St, Port Stanley Contact Bev Filewood, 519-782-4308 purinawalkfordogguides.com/locations/walk.cfm?ID=339
Sun May 31 Nourishing Your Soul Day Retreat
9am-5:30pm; $150; pre-registration required Wildflowers Farm, 42338 Fruit Ridge Ln, St. Thomas 226-926-6432 | www.wildflowerstea.com
JUNE EVENTS Sun to Thurs from June to late August Canada Southern Railway Station Tours
10am-4pm, Sun to Thurs; tours by donation provided by knowledgeable summer staff on the history of the station Canada Southern Railway Station, 750 Talbot St, St. Thomas 519-633-2535 | www.narhf.org
Mon Jun 1 TO Fri Aug 28 Exhibition: It's a Small World
Kids' fashions, furniture, toys, games, traditions & photos Aylmer Malahide Museum & Archives, 14 East St, Aylmer 519-773-9723 | www.amtelecom.net/~aylmermuseum
Tues Jun 2 Full Moon Yoga
7:15-8:30pm; $15/person; pre-registration required Wildflowers Farm, 42338 Fruit Ridge Ln, St. Thomas 226-926-6432 | www.wildflowerstea.com
Wed Jun 3 to Sat Jun 6 44TH Annual St. Anne’s Community Festival Midway, games, entertainment, food, auctions & more St. Anne's Church, 20 Morrison Dr, St. Thomas Contact Mike, 519-631-3640 | www.stannesfestival.com Talbot Line/Hwy 3
Open Early June to November
Strawberries, watermelon, canteloupe, squash, pumpkins, garden vegetables and much more!
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John Wise Line 11-5pm Mon-Sat 9-6pm & Sun
48556 John Wise Line, Aylmer
519-773-3779
www.howefamilyfarms.ca
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A Rogers Road
Line John WiseSouthdale Line
Springwater Road
Southdale Line To St. Thomas
Imperial Road
Rogers Road
Springwater Road
AYLMER To St. Talbot Thomas Line/Hwy 3
Events Sat Jun 6 Outdoor Wedding Show
1-4:30pm; $5/person; local wedding professionals Backus-Page House Museum, 29424 Lakeview Ln, Wallacetown | 519-762-3072 | www.backuspagehouse.ca
Sat Jun 6 6TH Annual Port Stanley Lions CLUB Marr Family Golf Tournament & Fish Fry Hosted by Lions Club and Shoppers Drug Mart in support of the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital Kettle Creek Golf & Country Club, 320 Carlow Rd, Port Stanley | Contact Rick Nemett, 519-661-6825
Sun Jun 7 The Grape Escape Vineyard Run
4pm; $30 till May 31; $35 till Jun 5; $20 dinner only Quai du Vin Estate Winery, 45811 Fruit Ridge Ln, St. Thomas | 519-637-0333 www.facebook.com/TheGrapeEscapeVineyardRun Get Active Downtown
Fri Jun 5 TO Sun Jun 7 25TH Annual PSAG Show & Sale
7-10pm Fri; noon-8pm Sat; noon-5pm Sun Royal Canadian Legion, 310 George St, Port Stanley www.portstanleyartguild.com
Sat Jun 6 Edison Fest
9am-6pm; riverside music, talent show, fire safety house, crafters, games for all, prizes, food, silent auction & fun Memorial Park, Vienna | 519-866-5521
Sat Jun 6 7TH Annual Sparta Girls Day Out
10am-5pm; $35/person, pre-register by May 31. Village of Sparta, Quaker Ln & Sparta Ln Contact Eileen, 519-775-2628
Sat Jun 6 Springfield Family Fun Day
Children’s games and activities; South Dorchester Optimist Club breakfast; St. John's United Church supper Malahide Community Place, 12105 Whittaker Rd, Springfield Contact Mary Robinson, 519-765-4306 | www.fun-day.ca
Sat Jun 6 Get Active Downtown
9am-noon; 9am 2km kids fun run/walk; 10am 5km walk/ run; 11:30am bike parade; yoga, dance, prizes, live music, food, community/business booths, chalk drawing & more Railway City Tourism, 605 Talbot St, St. Thomas www.facebook.com/events/805458879532060/
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SunDAYS Jun 7 TO Aug 30 Music in the Park Concert Series
Sundays 6-8pm Morris F. Jones Memorial Bandshell, Pinafore Park, 95 Elm St, St. Thomas | www.stthomas.ca/content/pinafore-park
Mon Jun 8 P.A. Day Workshop at STEPAC
9am-3:30pm; $35/child; JK-grade 4; pre-registration req'd St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre, 301 Talbot St, St. Thomas | 519-631-4040 | www.stepac.ca
Wed Jun 10 Elgin Teddy Bear Picnic—St. Thomas
10am-1pm; bring your teddy bear and picnic lunch; dessert and drinks provided; call to reserve your picnic spot Pinafore Park, 95 Elm St, St. Thomas Ontario Early Years Centre, 519-631-9496 www.facebook.com/events/867433546653524/
Wed Jun 10 TO Sat Jul 4 Port Stanley TheatrE: Hilda's Yard
A Norm Foster comedy; Tues/Wed/Thurs/Sat matinees at 2pm, $30,50; Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sat evenings at 8pm (except first Wed of fun), 33.50; $142.50 subscription (5 shows) Port Stanley Festival Theatre, 302 Bridge St, Port Stanley 519-782-4353 | www.portstanleytheatre.ca
Fri Jun 12 TO Sun Jun 14 23RD Annual Rosy Rhubarb Days
Starts 7pm Fri, 8am Sat & Sun Keystone Community Complex, 35921 Talbot Ln, Shedden | Contact Keith, 519-764-2600 www.rosyrhubarbfestival.com
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Events Sat Jun 13 Knit-in-Public Day at Little Red Mitten
Thur Jun 18 TO Tues Jun 23 Father's Day Celebration Sale
10am-5pm | Little Red Mitten, 86 Talbot St, St. Thomas 519-207-2880 | www.littleredmitten.ca
Celebrate Dad and enter to win an amazing prize! Canadale Nurseries, 269 Sunset Dr, St. Thomas 519-631-7264 | www.canadale.com
Sat Jun 13 & Sun Jun 14 Nostalgia Weekend
10am-4pm Elgin County Railway Museum, 225 Wellingon St, St. Thomas 519-637-6284 | www.ecrm5700.org
Sat Jun 13, Jul 18 & Aug 15 Summer Buskerfest
BYO instrument; first come first play; PA equipment supplied Princess Ave Playhouse, 40 Princess Ave, St. Thomas 519-633-8530 | www.elgintheatreguild.ca
Sat Jun 13 TO Sat Jul 25 ExhibitION: Gerald Pedros—Taking a Line for a Walk
Fri Jun 19 Aylmer-Malahide Museum & Archives Annual Spring Luncheon
11:30am-1pm; $10/person; takeout available Trinity Anglican Church, Aylmer | 519-773-9723 www.amtelecom.net/~aylmermuseum
Fri Jun 19 Shedden Tractor Pull
3pm gates open, 6pm event start; $15, under 5yrs free Shedden Keystone Complex, 35921 Talbot Ln, Shedden 519-643-6852 | www.sheddentruckandtractorpull.com
Fri Jun 19 TO Sun Jun 21 20TH Annual Van Fest
Artist reception Jun 27, 2-4pm St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre, 301 Talbot St, St. Thomas | 519-631-4040 | www.stepac.ca
Springwater Conservation Area, 8079 Springwater Rd, Aylmer | 519-773-9037 | www.catfishcreek.ca
Sat Jun 20 Relay for Life
Wed Jun 17 YWCA’s 34TH Annual Auction
No host bar at 6pm, dinner at 7pm; $40/person (at YWCA, 16 Mary St, St. Thomas before Jun 12); silent auction with theatre packages, art, cottage vacations, golf and more CASO Railway Station, 750 Talbot Street, St. Thomas 519-631-9800
Thur Jun 18 Book Lecture with Author Douglas Gagel
7pm; free; location TBA; hosted by Aylmer-Malahide Museum & Archives and Aylmer Heritage Committee; author of Fuhrer, Folk and Fatherland: A Soldier's Story, will speak about his father's experiences as a soldier in WWII Contact Aylmer-Malahide Museum, 519-773-9723 www.amtelecom.net/~aylmermuseum
5-11pm | St. Joseph's Catholic High School, St. Thomas Contact Nancy McFadden, 519-432-1138 www.relayforlife.ca/StThomas
Sat Jun 20 Animal Aide Cruise Night
4-8 pm; music, food and prizes; admission by donation Elgin Mall, 417 Wellington St, St. Thomas Contact Gary Calvert, 519-631-9717 www.animalaidecats.com
Sat Jun 20 TO Sun Jun 28 Lavender Bloom Celebration
Steed & Co Lavender, 47589 Sparta Ln, Sparta 519-494-5525 | www.steedandcompany.com
DISCOVER • INDULGE • ESCAPE
Our gift boutique offers unique handcrafted gifts & gourmet foods created from our harvested lavender. Open Wed-Sat 10-5 & Sun 12-4 • Mother’s Day until Christmas
JUNE 20-28 - LAVENDER BLOOM CELEBRATION 47589 Sparta Ln, Sparta • 519-494-5525 • buds@steedandcompany.com • www.steedandcompany.com growers & creators of fine lavender products
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Events Sat & SUN Jun 20 & 21, Sept 5 & 6 Horseshoe J Dude Ranch Family Camp
$85/person +HST; starts Sat 1pm; horseback riding, hayride, swimming, campfire, and lots of fun and games; BYO tent or camp in a cabin or covered wagon; 2 meals Horseshoe J Dude Ranch, 32553 Erin Ln, Fingal 519-762-5402 | www.duderanchontario.com
Sun Jun 21 Wildflowers Summer Solstice Festival
3-6pm; $10 advance, $15 at door, kids 12 and under by donation; live music, marketplace, yoga & drumming Wildflowers Farm, 42338 Fruit Ridge Ln, St. Thomas 226-926-6432 | www.wildflowerstea.com
Sun Jun 21 18TH Annual Fathers Day Car Show
8am-4pm; organized by Lions Club of St. Thomas; show car registration $10 (free for Oldsmobiles); food, music, 50/50 draw, awards, door prizes & more; admission by donation Pinafore Park, 95 Elm Street, St. Thomas Contact Wayne, 519-631-2148, wcudney@sympatico.ca www.lionsclubofstthomas.com
Wed Jun 24 Elgin Historical Society: County Series
7:30pm; history of Central Elgin (Yarmouth Township) Elgin Admin Bldg, lower level, 450 Sunset Dr, St. Thomas www.elginhistoricalsociety.ca
Thur Jun 25 7TH Annual County of Elgin Warden's Charity Golf Tournament
$135/person (closes Jun 15); continental breakfast, lunch and dinner included; fundraiser for United Way St. Thomas Golf & Country Club, 42325 Sparta Ln, Union Contact 519-631-1460 x456
FRI JUN 26 TO SAT AUG 22 Horseshoe J Dude Ranch Camps
Ages 5-18; 2-night mini-camp: Fri Jun 26-Sun Jun 28; 3-night mini-camps: Thur-Sun Jul 2-5 & Aug 6-9; week camps start Jul 5, 12, 19 & 26, Aug 1, 9 & 16 Horseshoe J Dude Ranch, 32553 Erin Ln, Fingal 519-762-5402 | www.duderanchontario.com
Sat Jun 27 15TH Annual MENNONITE COMMUNITY SERVICES Aylmer Charity Auction
7am breakfast & viewing; 9am live bidding begins for handcrafted furniture, tools toys and more; 11am Mennonite and international lunch booths open Aylmer Curling Club & Fairgrounds, 115 Pine St E, Aylmer 519-765-3020 | www.mcson.org
Sat Jun 27 Fermentation Series: Cheese Making
2-5pm; $50/person; registrater at wildflowerstea@gmail.com Wildflowers Farm, 42338 Fruit Ridge Ln, St. Thomas 226-926-6432 | www.wildflowerstea.com
Sat Jun 27 Winemaker's Dinner at Quai du Vin
6:30pm; $90/person (all inclusive); reservations required Quai du Vin Estate Winery, 45811 Fruit Ridge Ln, St. Thomas 519-775-2216 | www.quaiduvin.com
Sat Jun 27 Extreme Elgin
9am-4pm; registration $85 to Jun 12 (plus t-shirt) or $95 Jun 12-26; 10km extreme race with military style obstacles; register online as an individual or team Springwater Conservation Area, 8079 Springwater Rd, Aylmer | Contact Karen, 519-637-8230 | www.escf.ca
Sat Jun 27, Jul 18 & Aug 22 Movies in the Park
Free; check the St. Thomas event calendar for movie title Morris F. Jones Memorial Bandshell, Pinafore Park 95 Elm Street, St. Thomas | www.stthomas.ca
Sun Jun 28 Annual West Lorne Optimist Car Show
Extreme Elgin (Mark Girdauskas, Photos by MG)
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9am-3pm; breakfast until 11:30am; shaded park, vendors Miller Park, 134 Chestnut St, West Lorne Contact Kelly, 519-319-1921
RELISH ELGIN SPRING 2015
Events Sun Jun 28 St. Thomas & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ANNUAL Garden Tour
11am-5pm; gardens in St. Thomas and Elgin County; tickets at Canadale (269 Sunset Dr, St. Thomas) Contact Diane Vaughan, 519-633-3213 www.gardenontario.org/site.php/thomas
Sun Jun 28 VON Great Community Run, Walk 'n' Roll
9:30am registration; 10am start; fundraiser for VON Middlesex-Elgin; 2 or 5km route or VON SMART class (Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together) for all mobility levels Lions Park, Lions Park Dr, Mt Brydges Contact Julie, 519-659-2273 x3275 | vonmiddlesexelgin.ca
Tues Jun 30 Fingal Canada Day Celebrations
St. Thomas & District Horticultural Society Garden Tour
Fireworks at dusk Fingal Ball Park, Township of Southwold
Wed Jul 1 CANADA DAY IN PORT BURWELL
JULY EVENTS Wed Jul 1 Music & Artisan Festival for Hospice
1pm; tickets available first of June Pinecroft, 8122 Rogers Rd S, Aylmer | Contact Debbie, 519-637-3034 | www.serenityhousehospice.ca
Wed July 1 Canada Day in Pinafore Park
Daytime festivities, vendors, entertainment and nighttime fireworks (10pm). Pinafore Park, 95 Elm Street, St. Thomas | 519-633-7112
Wed Jul 1 Canada Day in Dutton
Noon-dusk; free swim, volunteer awards, opening ceremonies, music, kid's activities and fireworks at dusk Sons of Scotland Park, Dutton
11:30am; parade, lighthouse 175th anniversary ceremony, Canada Day ceremony, Canada Day cake, available lunch, music and entertainment Robinson St & Cenotaph Parkette, Erius St, Port Burwell 519-874-4963 | www.bayham.on.ca
WED JUL 1 AYLMER Canada Day CELEBRATIONS
5-9pm; carnival games, mini golf, food, entertainment, crafts and activities; fireworks begin at dusk East Elgin Community Complex, 531 Talbot St, Aylmer 519-773-5631 | www.eastelgincommunitycomplex.ca
Wed Jul 1 West Elgin Canada DAY Celebrations
1-10:30pm; 1pm Kids Country Carnival & other activities; 5pm fish fry; 7pm opening ceremonies, baseball game, Snake Lady show; 9:30pm fireworks Miller Park, West Lorne
Jeff Yurek, MPP Elgin-Middlesex-London
Here to help you with: Ontario Disability Support Program, OHIP Cards, Driver’s Licences, Ontario Works, Birth Certificates 750 Talbot Street, Suite 201, St. Thomas, ON, N5P 1E2 P: 519-631-0666 | T: 1-800-265-7638 | E: jeff.yurekco@pc.ola.org www.jeffyurekmpp.com
RELISH ELGIN SPRING 2015
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Events Fri Jul 3 7TH Annual Pinafore Park Fishing Derby A Bob Izumi Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire Fishing Day Pinafore Park, 95 Elm St, St. Thomas events@kidsandcops.ca | kidsandcops.ca/events/
Fri Jul 3 TO Sun Jul 5 Balls Bike Rally
Ride with a thousand for charity; food and entertainment Springwater Conservation Area, 8079 Springwater Rd, Aylmer | 519-773-9037 | www.catfishcreek.ca
Sat Jul 4 & Sun Jul 5 Annual Perch Derby
Weigh-in 'til 3pm Sat, 2pm Sun, followed by prizes Port Bruce Pavilion | Contact Wayne, 519-773-5118
Sat Jul 4 to Sun Jul 12 Ontario Free Family Fishing Week
An opportunity to fish in Ontario without an outdoors card www.ontariofamilyfishing.com
Ontario Free Family Fishing Week (Mark Girdauskas, Photos by MG)
Mon through Sat in July & Aug Summer Days with the Beekeeper
11am-2pm (Adventure Farm open 9am-5:30pm); admission $10.99/person +HST ($9.99/person for groups of 5+); children under 2 free; spend some time with the beekeeper and see a beehive opened up for you personally Clovermead Bees & Honey, 11302 Imperial Rd, Aylmer 519-773-5503 | www.clovermead.com
Tues to Fri in July & Aug Homestead Days at Backus-Page House
10am-4:30pm; barn exhibit with antique agricultural tools and implements, along with the house with 1850s period room settings; admission $5/adults, $2/child or student Backus-Page House Museum, 29424 Lakeview Ln, Wallacetown | 519-762-3072 | www.backuspagehouse.ca
Thur Jul 2 TO Tues Jul 14 Canadale Customer Appreciation Sale
Canadale's biggest sale of the year, with 25-70% off! Canadale Nurseries, 269 Sunset Dr, St. Thomas 519-631-7264 | www.canadale.com
Thur July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; Wed Aug 5, 12, 19, 26 History Camp for Kids
9am-5pm Backus-Page House Museum, 29424 Lakeview Ln, Wallacetown | 519-762-3072 | www.backuspagehouse.ca
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Sun Jul 5 Aylmer & District Horticultural Society Garden Tour
Noon-5pm; $10/person (under 12 free); incl. five gardens Aylmer | Contact Roberta Wilson, 519-773-3270 www.facebook.com/pages/Aylmer-DistrictHorticultural-Society/181133121934633?fref=ts
Sun Jul 5, 12, 19, 26; Aug 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Sunday Summer Teas
1-4pm; $10/person; tea served by costumed interpreters, plus tour of historic house; seatings of 8; please RSVP Backus-Page House Museum, 29424 Lakeview Ln, Wallacetown | 519-762-3072 | www.backuspagehouse.ca
Mon Jul 6 TO Fri Jul 10 100th Anniversary Ontario Amateur Women's Golf Championship
Public welcome (no charge); practice Mon Jul 6 St. Thomas Golf & Country Club, 42325 Spart Ln, Union Contact Rob Mason, rob@stthomasgolf.com www.stthomasgolf.com | Tee times at www.gao.ca
MON-FRI July 6-10, July 13-17 & July 20-24 Fridge Door Live Theatre Summer CAMP
For Grades 3-9 | Faith Church, 345 Fairview Rd, St. Thomas Contact Len, 519-495-7305 | www.FridgeDoorLive.com
Tues Jul 7, 14, 21, 28; Aug 4, 11, 18, 25 Night Hikes & Night Legends
7-9pm; evening hikes and legends around a bonfire! Longwoods Road Conservation Area /Ska-Nah-Doht Village, 8348 Longwoods Rd, Mount Brydges 519-264-2420 | www.ltvca.ca
RELISH ELGIN SPRING 2015
Events Wed Jul 8 Seniors Picnic in the Park
9:30am-3:30pm; entertainment, door prizes, food, vendors, community displays and fun; classic cars welcome; free paratransit (call 519-631-0001) or city bus (seniors' card must be presented) Pinafore Park, 95 Elm St, St. Thomas 519-637-6408 or 1-800-201-0909
Wed Jul 8 TO Sat Aug 1 Port Stanley Theatre: Old Wives' Tales
Sat Jul 11 Cactus, Cattle & Cowboys Western Festival
Food, vendors, horse parade at noon, live entertainment, displays & demos, wagon rides; new: mutton busting Rodney Fairgrounds, 135 Queens Ln, Rodney www.cactuscattleandcowboys.com
Sat Jul 11 & Sun Jul 12 Living History Weekend at Backus-Page House Museum
Comedic tribute to mothers and daughters by Kevin Riordan; Tues/Wed/Thurs/Sat matinees at 2pm, $30,50; Wed/Thurs/Fri/Sat evenings at 8pm (except first Wed of fun), 33.50; $142.50 subscription (5 shows) Port Stanley Festival Theatre, 302 Bridge St, Port Stanley 519-782-4353 | www.portstanleytheatre.ca
Re-enactments, displays, vendors, food and hands on activities from many time periods including Civil War, War of 1812, WW1, WW 2 Fenian Raids, and much more! 10am-4pm Sat; 9am-4pm Sun Admission: $6 per person, age 12 and under fee Backus-Page House Museum, 29424 Lakeview Ln, Wallacetown | 519-762-3072 | www.backuspagehouse.ca
Sat Jul 11 Nostalgia Nights
Sun Jul 12 Rodney Kiwanis Kids Fishing Derby
2-9pm; free train rides, art show, live music, car show & more hosted by St. Thomas DDB on Talbot (John to Hiawatha) Railway City Tourism, 605 Talbot St, St. Thomas Email: info@downtownstthomas.com www.downtownstthomas.com
10am-2pm (9:30am registration); free, fun event for kids Port Glasgow Yacht Club & Marina, 8536 Haven's Lake Rd, RR #3 Rodney | 519-785-0163
Sat Jul 11 Doors Open East Elgin
9:30am-3:30pm; $250/student; kids drama workshop for ages 8-12, with performance finale on Fri Jul 24 at 7pm; registration required, space is limited, form on website Princess Ave Playhouse, 40 Princess Ave, St. Thomas 519-633-8530 | www.elgintheatreguild.ca
10am-4pm; sites across East Elgin, including Municipality of Bayham, Township of Malahide & Town of Aylmer www.doorsopenontario.on.ca
Mon-Fri Jul 13-17 & 20-24 Elgin Theatre Camp
WE STRIVE FOR ACCURACY IN THESE LISTINGS, BUT DETAILS SOMETIMES CHANGE SO PLEASE CALL AHEAD.
FIND MORE AT WWW.RELISHELGIN.CA
More events, details and past event photos can be found on our website. MAJOR ATTRACTIONS • Edison Museum, 14 Snow St, Vienna • Marine Museum & Historic 1840 Lighthouse, 20 Pitt St & 17 Robinson St, Port Burwell • Wind Interpretive Centre Info Kiosk 5361 Brown Rd (at Nova Scotia Ln), Port Burwell • HMCS Ojibwa Submarine, Port Burwell • Port Burwell Provincial Park & Beach
www.bayham.on.ca • 519-866-5521
RELISH ELGIN SPRING 2015
BAYHAM EVENTS • EDISON FEST • JUNE 6, 7:30am-6pm Vienna Memorial Park • Family activities, draws, entertainment, vendors, talent show and more! • CANADA DAY IN PORT BURWELL • JULY 1 Parade at 11:30am, free BBQ & cake, Lighthouse 175th at 12 noon, festivities
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WEST ELGIN WEST LORNE • RODNEY • PORT GLASGOW
Green Frog Tea Room at Pinecroft
Upcoming Events
Windjammer Inn Quai du Vin Estate Winery
West Lorne Optimist Car Show • Sun Jun 28th West Lorne Canada Day • Wed Jul 1st 1pm - Kids Country Carnival; 5pm - Fish Fry 7pm - Opening Ceremonies; 9:30pm - Fireworks
Cactus, Cattle & Cowboys • Sat Jul 11th Kids’ Port Glasgow Fishing Derby • Sun Jul 12th
May 2015 – February 2016
Pick up your passport at any Savour Elgin business. Collect 4 stamps to win a weekend getaway in Elgin County. PRESENTED BY
We’re just down the road and off the beaten path.
519-785-0560
#SAVOURPASSPORT
www.westelgin.net
Savour Elgin
@SavourElgin
www.savourelgin.ca
O W O I D R B IGHBOURHOOD FARM MARKET YOUR NE
BAKERY • FRESH PRODUCE • GROCERY & DAIRY • MEAT & BULK FOODS • PET FOODS
EVERYTHING FOR YOUR
GARDEN!
ANNUALS & PERENNIALS PLUS A LARGE HUNDREDS OF HANGING BASKETS SELEC TION OF FAMILY NURSERY STOCK FIREWORKS ASSORTED MULCHES FOR MAY 24 & JULY 1 & SOILS
519-633-9691 .
1030 Talbot St St. Thomas
OPEN YEAR ROUND Mon-Sat: 8am-8pm • Sun: 8am-6pm
We proudly support local farmers.