Our own piece of Sochi pride

 

Fresh off the heels of the 2014 Olympic Games, Canadian patriotism is at an all-time high. Coming in third place overall (and beating our competitive American friends) is a huge success for our nation. We have much to be proud of and I hope the momentum continues well beyond the games.

Here at home, I felt similar pride when attending the recent grand opening of phase two of the Rotary splash pad and ice rink. There have been many volunteers pouring countless hours into this project over the last few years and having a young family, I can’t thank them enough for their hard work so my children and I can enjoy this beautiful space. During the summer months, we spend a great deal of time at the splash pad, along with many other local families. It’s a great way to beat the heat and encourage outdoor activity. I was sad when the cooler weather set in and the splash pad shut down for the season, but that didn’t last long, as talks of synthetic ice and phase two of the project started.

Before long, the splash pad was cleared and the new skating surface was laid down for all to enjoy. With the winter we have been enduring (never-ending!), it has taken a lot of time and volunteer work to keep the surface cleared off.  When I heard of the grand opening, I was excited to attend and show my thanks to all involved. I wasn't the only one! A ton of local VIPs also attended, including Senator Bob Runicman, our MP Gord Brown, MPP Steve Clark, Brockville Mayor Dave Henderson, newly appointed Brockville Police Chief Scott Fraser and many councillors. The parking lot was packed and there were many families enjoying hot dogs, coffee and hot chocolate – all donated by our local Tim Horton’s. To top it all off, our politicians and other sport enthusiasts engaged in a friendly game of shinny for everyone’s entertainment.

I felt a lot of community pride that day and happy to have brought my family out to support such a great initiative. We really do have a great city and this initiative and its kick-off was a great reminder of all that we have to offer.  Great job Brockville! 

Can we all agree to be done with winter?

 

I’m not sure what life is like in your home the past week, but here – it has been nuts! With the frigid temperatures and layers of ice, I’ve been cautious about not taking the kids outside for very long. As a result, I have energetic children and not a lot of options to help burn off that cabin fever.

 

In the past we have travelled to Kingston or Ottawa to the big indoor gyms and playlands but when the roads are closed due to lack of visibility, we try not to venture out. I have taken them to that golden arch place, the museum and of course the library (yes, I’ve taken three very loud children to the quietest place on earth, in order to tire them out) but I am slowly running out of options and new ideas. The Aquatarium is going to blow my mind I’m sure, but it is currently still under construction, so I will have to make due until the grand opening.

 

I turn to my Pinterest boards and other social media platforms to see what the cool and fun moms are doing and I continually run into the same comments: “There is nothing to do here”. This is not just in my own community, but across the country and even beyond our borders. Wherever people are chiming in from, they are feeling the creative crunch with the harsh weather and new interesting ways to entertain their children. My solution? I’d really like for us all to agree to just be done with winter. Now if only Mother Nature would cooperate!

 

Long gone are the hours spent at local parks, walking and biking the trails and frequenting the splash pad. I miss the nights when the kids are asleep and I can sit out back and enjoy a glass of wine under the stars. Ok, it’s usually a beer but wine just sounded nicer.

 

I want to know, what do you do to keep the kids happy? I remain committed to supporting our community and will continue to do so wherever possible, but this mom needs some new ideas for the cold Canadian days we're facing. I can’t wait to hear from you all!

Welcome 2014 - A new journy awaits!

Wow, where to start? The last month and a half has been a whirlwind for our family. The end of November wrapped up my "Trees for Charity" campaign, raising two thousand dollars for local children's mental health resources in and around our area. Then came December, which was filled with preparing for the holidays and attending local and personal celebrations.  When Christmas finally arrived, we travelled to see family and spent some much-needed quiet time at home. I take only one week of vacation a year and this is between Christmas and New Years. It was nice to catch up on household chores and sleep in (well, as much as one CAN sleep in with small children in the house!).

New Year's Eve was spent as a quiet night at home, with a brief step out to take in the 22nd Annual New Year's concerts that are hosted by Brockville's churches. There was some fabulous entertainment for the children and we had the chance to catch up with some friends. New Years Day, we attended the Levee (this has become a tradition for our family) and enjoyed hearing what the new year has in store for the city and again, catching up with friends in the community.

On some of the more quiet days, I have started work on my newest charity event - "Bikes for Beats". This event will bring hundreds of motorcycles to Brockville to raise awareness and money for the Brockville General Hospital's Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. This cause is near and dear to my own heart, as I lost my dad five years ago to cardiac arrest and my grandfather has survived two heart attacks and wears a pacemaker/defibrillator. Most recently, my uncle had, and thankfully, survived a heart attack and has since benefited from the local cardiac rehab program offered by the hospital. As this is a program that receives little to no government funding, it relies heavily on community support. The event will take place on Father's Day weekend at the 1000 Islands Mall and I will be releasing more information as it becomes available in the months to come. Currently, you can visit our Facebook and Twitter pages for updates and information.

https://www.facebook.com/bikesforbeats
http://www.twitter.com/bikes4beats

Looking ahead, there are many new journeys that await our family in 2014. I have been given the role as City Hall Reporter for Eastern Ontario Network, where I will live tweet and provide an update on the comings and goings at City Hall each week in the lead up to the fall's municipal elections.  Nick has been working on a new political editorial that he will submit regularly to Eastern Ontario Network and (unofficially) he is considering running for council. But you didn't hear that from me. The girls continue to stay busy with their extra-curricular events and involvement with our community and we try to savour some quiet family time, every moment we get.

From my family to yours - Happy New Year! We wish you all the best in the upcoming year and thank you for the continued support you have shown me by visiting and reading about our adventures in this great community we call home.

Christmas Crafts and Holiday Cheer

 You can feel the holiday season upon us. The air is crisp, restaurants are filling up with patrons celebrating and stores are buzzing with happy shoppers.  I have recently given in to the spirit and started to join in the fun.

 Saturday morning was off to a whirlwind start. The girls were up early and we had a busy day planned. I had been anticipating the 1000 Islands Mall Annual Craft Sale for weeks and it was finally here. I love the idea of hand-made and unique gifts plus, as you all know , I’m a huge advocate for supporting local. The parking lot was full and upon entering the mall, you could see people were in the shopping mood. From door to door, vendors lined the corridor showing their products and services. There were beautiful hand-made soaps, knitting, Christmas ornaments, wood carvings and various other offerings. Everywhere I looked, people were carrying bags full of their new purchases and it instantly threw me into the holiday spirit! I can’t tell you what I bought, because that would ruin the surprise for some reading this – but I’m very happy that I was able to attend the Uniquely Creative Craft Sale and will be back next year!

Now that we were all shopped out, it was time to relax with the family and get ready for the Annual Athens' Christmas Parade. It has been a busy month and unfortunately we had missed all the local parades to this point, so I was very excited to take the kids to see Santa. The Athens' Parade of Lights is held later in the evening (starting at 7 pm) so with small children, it was a bit of a gamble for us. We packed up the hot chocolate in our thermos, brought blankets and dressed the kids in their flannels and warm snowsuits.

 

We made sure to arrive early enough to find parking and get the kids situated. As we have a mini-van (with stow-and-go seating) we parked the van so we could pop the back hatch and watch from the comfort of our vehicle. This proved to be a smart move, as the entire main street quickly filled up. My aunt and uncle, cousin and family friends met us and we all waited for the parade to start. This year was especially fun as both my kids are at the age where an event like this is sheer magic!

The floats were lit and started to make their way towards us. With the OPP starting things off, followed by local fire departments and then the parade of business and entertainers, this was a big hit with all of us. There were great school bands, a fun group of bikers showing their "light" side, and of course – Old Saint Nick, himself. The girls were very happy that Santa was able to see them behaving (for once!) and he may possibly bring them more then coal now. 

Hope you've found some time in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season to stop and enjoy some fun local events like these. All the best of the season to you and yours.

Every time a bell rings...

George Bailey, a well-known fictional character, is a small-town man whose life seems so desperate he contemplates suicide. He had always wanted to leave Bedford Falls to see the world, but circumstances and his own good heart have led him to stay. He sacrificed his education for his brother, kept the family-run building and loan af… Moreloat, protected the town from the avarice of the greedy banker Mr. Potter, and married his childhood sweetheart. As he prepares to jump from a bridge, his guardian angel intercedes; showing him what life would have become for the residents of Bedford Falls if he had never lived.

 

This is the classic 1946 film - "It's A Wonderful Life" and was the latest play to be staged by the Brockville Theatre Guild at the local Brockville Arts Centre. This timeless Christmas classic was the perfect choice to mark the Guild's 80th anniversary and kick off the upcoming holiday season

 

I had been anticipating this production since the very beginning. You see, my fiance, Nick, had been cast to play "Ernie, the cab driver". Nick has a love for the arts, and experience in theatre from his native home in Quesnel, BC but this was a first for him since moving to Ontario nearly eight years ago. Nick's good friend Will Wright, was also auditioning (and would later be cast as the lovable angle "Clarence") . With our family life now affording him the support, time and flexibility to get back into a hobby he once loved so much, Nick jumped at the chance to audition for this adaptation of the classic film.

 

As a first-time "theatre widow", I had no idea the time and effort that went into the productions. Thankfully Will's wife, Laura was there to guide me through the months of late-night rehearsals and proved to be a great date when we attended the production's closing night, last Saturday.

 

When we arrived, the lobby of The Arts Centre was beautifully decorated for Christmas and was buzzing with excited patrons. Everyone was dressed up, cocktails in hand and catching up with friends they hadn't seen in awhile. It was the perfect setting and reminded me of what life would have been like before the era of motion pictures - one in which live theatre was what everyone looked forward to as a night on the town.

 

We entered into the theatre and took our seats, where the lights dimmed and the play began. I was nervous for Nick and Will. I knew Will was a seasoned actor with years of experience in the Guild, but I had never seen either of them act before and had no idea what to expect. As the story unfolded, I found myself drawn into the characters and anticipating the upcoming scenes. Having watched the original movie every year for as long as I can remember, I may have been able to say the lines myself. What the actors brought to the stage, that set it apart from the movie, was a modern twist with their humour. I found myself cracking up by their mannerisms and on-point comedic timing. Although "It's A Wonderful Life" can be very dramatic and even reflective at times, there is also a lighter side that brings you back to the joys of the holiday spirit and the Theatre Guild nailed it with this adaptation.

 

The long hours of rehearsal and cast chemistry was very evident. The "Young George Bailey" and "Young Mary" proved to have talent to spare as they flawlessly navigated the scenes and really made you believe their love story. I also have to give a huge hats-off to Paul Duchesne, who reprised the leading role of George Baily himself. Paul was incredibly moving throughout the play, taking you with him on his journey of lost hope, despair and then eventually renewed faith in life.

 

 It was a remarkable and emotional ride that once over, truly had you walk away feeling that "It's A Wonderful Life" after all.....

 

 

Tea time equals Tree time

For the past six monthes, I have been working on a charity event called Trees for Children. This event brings together local businesses with one goal - raising money for children's mental health programs in and around our community.

This event placed sixteen Christmas trees on display at Fulford Mansion for the months of November and December for the community to enjoy, leading up to the holiday season. During this timeline, Fulford Place holds their annual Edwardian Tea, where staff and volunteers dress in period costumes and hold a proper tea event at the mansion to emcompass the era of the Fulfords. This year, I was fortunate enough to attend this event and see first hand, the impression the Trees for Children Christmas trees had on tea goers.

I was recently joined by my Aunt, Grandmother and friend, Suzanne Dodge from Dodge Communications for an afternon of Edwardian tea and Christmas ambiance from days past at local historic site, Fulford House. Upon arrival, we were asked to gather in the traditional tea room, where fresh baked goods and raffle items were on sale. In this room, there was a tree on display sponsored by Dodge Communications as part of my brainchild, Trees for Children. Suzanne was my guest at the tea and was quite pleased with the way the Edwardian Tea brought the Christmas trees to light. We were then seated in the billiards room, which was beautifully decorated with garland, old-fasioned Christmas ornaments and of course a Christmas Tree sponsored and decorated by two local businesses- Set the Barr and First Avenue Interiors. While guests sat to listen to Brian Porter, who was dressed as historical character, a ship's captain and Fulford Helmsman, Julian 'Pont' Mallette, they enjoyed prepared sandwiches, tea and coffee and followed up with an array of desserts. After the tea, guests were allowed to tour the mansion and view the trees on display.

 

I took this opportunity to watch guests reactions to each tree and hear their thoughts on how it added to the usual Edwardian Christmas theme. I heard wonderful feedback from those in attendance, all  were pleased to see our local business owners come on board to support such a worthy cause and raise awareness for a cause close to many.

It is with great humbleness that I thank all those involved with Trees for Children. It is still surreal to me that something that was just a mere thought many monthes ago, has now come to life with the help of our community. I hope everyone has the opportunity to view the trees while they are on display and as always, I would love to hear your thoughts.

For tour dates and times, please visit:  www.heritagetrust.on.ca/fulfordplace

Haunted Halloween Road Trip - GUEST BLOGGER

Every now and then it is fun to have Guest-bloggers chime in with their adventures! Please enjoy this great post from Kendra, who works for Brockville and 1000 Islands Tourism:

 

One of the best things about working at Brockville and 1000 Islands Tourism is that I get to hear a lot about all of the great events and attractions that are going on throughout our region, and occasionally I get to go and check them out for myself!

 

Last Friday I decided to head out on a Halloween road trip with my partner and go to both the Haunted Hay Rides at Drummond’s Sugar Bush and Pumpkinferno at Upper Canada Village. I dug out my hiking boots, bundled up with a cozy hoodie and scarf, made a thermos full of hot chocolate and hit the road.

 

First stop was Drummond’s Sugar Bush in Spencerville for a Haunted Hay Ride. Driving out on County Road 21 in the dark we knew we were close when we saw a trail of head lights turning down a dirt road - a good sign that this was a popular event. We parked in the field beside the road and headed straight for the snack truck, the buttery smell of freshly popped popcorn too enticing to pass up. We bought out tickets, loaded up on popcorn and snacks, and headed towards the line up. We ate our popcorn and waited in anticipation as we heard the screams of those in the woods who had gone before us.

 

As we boarded our wagon with around 25 other brave souls, I was glad to see that there were a lot of children on board (I spook easily and generally avoid horror movies so this was a bit out of my comfort zone). As a few of the first ones on, we tried to figure out where the best place to sit would be: at the front? No, we didn’t want anything targeting us first; at the back? No, the tour guide was there, who knew what role he had to play. We settled on the middle, but in the end it wouldn’t have made any difference where we sat, it was equally terrifying everywhere.

 

Our ride started up and headed off into the dark woods. No cameras, recording devices, or cell phones were allowed, so I don’t have any evidence of my trip through the woods, and don’t want to give too much away, but I can tell you that we all screamed. A lot.

 

Throughout the woods were tableaus of various horrors taking place and lots of things hanging from the trees. Our hay ride was equipped with strobe lights which hid movement, making it very difficult to see what was approaching our ride. I was constantly on alert for something jumping out at me, but I was never fully prepared for what would come next. At one point I was off of my seat and crawling across to the other side of the wagon. I wasn’t the only one climbing my way to safety; most of my side of the wagon was there with me.

 

After the 35 minute ride was over I was left wondering who would pay to be psychologically tortured like that. Well I had and I’d had a great time. As we left there was a line full of people waiting for their turn to be scared, so I guess I wasn’t the only one. It was great to see so many people out enjoying this local event.

 

We hopped back in our car, poured some hot chocolate, and set off for Pumpkinferno. I’d heard great things about this event and had seen a lot of photos (check out Lindsay’s latest post!), but I hadn’t yet been out to see it for myself. Walking through Upper Canada Village and seeing it completely transformed to showcase installations of thousands of carved pumpkins, I was amazed at the vision and artistry that went into this project. The craftsmanship involved is truly spectacular and it’s difficult to imagine all of the work that has gone into this endeavor. You can look at all the photos you want, but it is something completely different when you visit in person. Everyone around us was blown away by the exhibits; it’s difficult to find a truly all-ages event but this is one.

 

 

 

After taking pictures all night at Pumpkinferno, I was very glad that we had thought to pack our hot chocolate; it was just the thing to warm up our hands for the drive home.

 

We had left the house at around 6:30 pm and we were home by 10:00 pm, having experienced two very different Halloween events (if you have little ones in tow you would probably want to go to these two events separately). It was a great start to the weekend and we couldn’t wait to tell our friends about it.

 

 

The Haunted Hay Rides are running every Friday and Saturday night in October from 7:00-10:00 pm

Pumpkinferno will be open October 24^th – November 2^nd from 6:30-10:00pm