Why an Interview,,,

Over the years we have been able to meet and talk with some very interesting people. They have shared with us their knowledge and have provided us with a great deal of insight as to how and why festivals and events work and why they are so important to our communities and to the Province of Ontario. With this in mind, we decided that we wanted you to meet and hear from some of the wonderful people who work so hard to provide us all with such wonderful Ontario Festivals and Events! We are pleased and proud to present "THE INSIDE SCOOP"!

Thursday, August 27, 2015

“Appreciating Volunteers” ~ “Keeping Promises” ~ Caledonia Agricultural Society ~ Interview ~ Jodie Easson

We welcome you to join along with our Interview with Jodie Easson, representing the Caledonia Agricultural Society to this fabulous, fun, interesting, educational (“Agri-cational”), entertaining Interview with “THE INSIDE SCOOP”.
Judi "Scoop" McWilliams ~ Ontario Visited
"Jodie Easson" ~ Caledonia Agricultural Society
Interview
~ Blue Mountain Village, Collingwood
There is a lot of “SCOOP”, and Gary and I are excited to present this “INSIDE SCOOP” Blog via VIDEO. We had a sunny fabulous day to shot the Video at Collingwood ~ Blue Mountain Village. Jodie and her daughter had come the area for a dance competition (her daughter that is), and Jodie was able to carve in some time to share her insights, knowledge, and great sense of humour with us all.
We hope you enjoy this 7 Part Series of “THE INSIDE SCOOP” with Caledonia Agricultural Society ~ Great information for any Festival, Event, Organization, and Associations! Lots to learn!
PART #2 ~ “Appreciating Volunteers” ~ “Keeping Promises”


Stay tuned for Part 3 ~ “Caledonia Fair Memories” ~ “1987 Fair Queen” ~ “Breaking the Barriers” ~ “Growth & Change”.
In the meantime, you are welcome to check out the Caledonia Agricultural Society website for all their events and activities at the Fairgrounds. Check out at http://caledoniafair.ca/PHP/cashome.php.
You can also check out our Ontario Festivals Visited You Tube Channel for ongoing Videos: Tours of Ontario’s adventures and discoveries! Check out at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-JADna-sRdu9NQi18rymw.

Finally, have fun with our weekly “Oh Canada Eh! Game” ~ online interactive video with questions about Canada leading up to our 150th Sesquicentennial in 2017! Enjoy! Please see at http://ontariofestivalsvisited.ca/oh-canada-eh-the-game.html

Thursday, August 20, 2015

#TGIGT" ~ Thank Goodness It's Fair Time ~ "Importance of Volunteers" ~ Caledonia Agricultural Society ~ Interview ~ Jodie Easson

Introducing some GREAT SCOOP
We welcome you to join along with our Interview with Jodie Easson, representing the Caledonia Agricultural Society to this fabulous, fun, interesting, educational (“Agri-cational”), entertaining Interview with “THE INSIDE SCOOP”.
Judi "Scoop" McWilliams ~ Ontario Visited
"Jodie Easson" ~ Caledonia Agricultural Society
Collingwood ~ Blue Mountain Village ~ Interview
This is a lot of GREAT “SCOOP”, and Gary and I are excited to present this “INSIDE SCOOP” Blog via VIDEO. 
We had a sunny fabulous day to shoot the Video at Collingwood ~ Blue Mountain Village. Jodie and her daughter had come the area for a dance competition (her daughter that is), and Jodie was able to carve in some time to share her insights, knowledge, and great sense of humor with us all, along with some fun Video from the Caledonia Fair itself!

We hope you enjoy this 7 Part Series of “THE INSIDE SCOOP” with Caledonia Agricultural Society ~ Great information for any Festival, Event, Organization, and Associations! Lots to learn!


PART # 1 #TGIGT" ~ Thank Goodness It's Fair Time ~ "Importance of Volunteers" ~ Caledonia Agricultural Society ~ Interview ~ Jodie Easson


Stay tuned for Part 2 ~ “Appreciating Volunteers” ~ “Keeping Promises”.
In the meantime, you are welcome to check out the Caledonia Agricultural Society website for all their events and activities at the Fairgrounds. Check out at http://caledoniafair.ca/PHP/cashome.php.
You can also check out our Ontario Festivals Visited You Tube Channel for ongoing Videos: Tours of Ontario’s adventures and discoveries! Check out at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-JADna-sRdu9NQi18rymw.

Finally, have fun with our weekly “Oh Canada Eh! Game” ~ online interactive video with questions about Canada leading up to our 150th Sesquicentennial in 2017! Enjoy! Please see at http://ontariofestivalsvisited.ca/oh-canada-eh-the-game.html

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Why am I not Peacefully Retired????

Our “THE INSIDE SCOOP” interview with Cyndee Barrette, Sole Proprietor Crazy Bitch BBQ Sauce concludes with this anecdote.
Over the course of the year, the “Scoop” collects anecdotes to publish. Cyndee Barrette, Sole Proprietor Crazy Bitch BBQ Sauce shares with our THE INSIDE SCOOP this “anecdote”…
Why am I not Peacefully Retired????
(An anecdotal account of a so-called-not-so-part-time-unplanned-business!)
Let me begin by saying The Tale of the Crazy Bitch is a factual account of how I arrived at this point and the names HAVE NOT been changed to protect the innocent (see www.crazybitch.ca). Let me ALSO say that I am not 20 years old and spent my life in a less-than-satisfying job that thankfully had great perks and I am more thankfully retired from! I say this because I was no doubt a petri dish waiting to grow!
Being a ‘child of the north’ born and raised in Timmins area (South Porcupine, specifically) I have done my time with the cold and snow so living in Barrie makes me feel like I am in Florida and driving to Parry Sound in November is not an unfamiliar feat for me. I attend a great juried artisan event there every year at the Stockey Centre (Home of Bobby Orr memorabilia).
Things were going just too well this year and I entered the parking lot in preparation for a good unload and set up when BANG!!! I thought I was being attacked by snipers….I then realized that I was ‘lowering’! When I saw a look of horror come across a witness to all this, I really knew I was in trouble! It seems that something (still don’t know what) was protruding from a snow laden cement median and punctured my driver front tire – yes, the very tire that my husband had said “Cyndee – you KNOW you NEED to replace those winter tires soon”! I proceeded to ‘melt down’ & wail (an art form I have perfected) but, luckily the nice witness had CAA and in an effort to calm me down, called them. As luck would also have it, SHE KNEW A MECHANIC!!! (double big YAY!)
Within two hours, little men from CAA arrived and put my ‘doughnut spare’ on….I didn’t even know where it was but after digging through a lifetime supply of ‘green grocery bags’ and old running shoes (in case I saw something nice in the forest while driving and needed to take off my pumps to retrieve it), there it was! I will say at this point that to this day, I never paid a dime for this service and I assume the nice witness lady had credit in that area so she was handsomely paid in all gluten free CRAZY BITCH BBQ SAUCES!  She was thrilled and so was I.
Well as it turned out the mechanic friend lived a distance out of town and couldn’t come and get the car and I needed to stop freaking out and set up for the masses waiting to attend this awesome event. That meant I had to go to the Canadian Tire in Parry Sound at quitting time and beg, plead, cry and yes, eat (an entire box of licorice all sorts – my drug of choice). They too were paid handsomely with CRAZY BITCH BBQ SAUCES! They no doubt thought I was the Crazy Bitch despite my telling them all about Ginger, the poster girl!
The happy ending here was that only $130 later, all was well by 6:30 p.m. and I was so worn out from the stress of it all, I slowly went to the hotel and collapsed until the second day of this event….I am firmly of the belief that I will NEVER die of a heart attack because if ever it was going to happen, then that would have been the time.
I don’t know a soul in Parry Sound and was alone for the event. The entire day looked like a re-run of The Bugs Bunny Show featuring the Roadrunner, the Tasmanian Devil (me) and Foghorn Leghorn!  I was exhausted!  And yes, I DO keep asking myself, ‘why am I not peacefully retired?!’
Cyndee Barrette, Sole Proprietor Crazy Bitch BBQ Sauce
"on the road"
P.S.  To this day, my ‘observant husband’ STILL doesn’t realize that I have one BRAND NEW WINTER TIRE on that red 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid that ‘needed’ new winter tires! My cover will, however, be blown come the Spring when he arranges to have the ‘snows’ removed and the summer ones installed. I will then puff out my chest and advise him that he doesn’t notice EVERYTHING about a car that he THINKS he does!  He is too preoccupied with the ‘car that ruined my life’ outside in the driveway which is HIS….an UNPAID FOR 2014 Limited Edition Jeep Cherokee that I DID NOT WANT!  (BUT that is another story…….).

Don’t forget to check out Crazy Bitch BBQ Sauce at www.crazybitch.ca. I’m sure Cyndee will be glad you checked out her website to laugh along and enjoy!

Friday, August 7, 2015

WORLD CLASS 360 VIEW ~ Special Interview ~ Joe Corrigan ~ Lang Pioneer Village Museum ~ Jacquard Loom



Lang Pioneer Village Museum


We are excited to share this great Interview with Mr. Joe Corrigan, Lang Pioneer Village Museum who took some time to share with us the amazing insight and "Behind the Scenes" knowledge about their "WORLD CLASS" Jacquard Loom.

It is exciting to know that everyone has an opportunity to view in a 360 degree view the Jacquard Loom and learn about this very important part of Canadian History, World History. Join Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene during their Textile Traditions Days event. It all starts Thursday, August 13th - Sunday, August 16th ~ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Discover the history of textiles at Textile Traditions Days! How did the earliest settlers clothe themselves when they didn’t have access to commercial fabrics? What did they learn from the First Nations that provided them with more practical footwear for the new terrain of the Canadian bush? Find out the answers to these questions and more at Textile Traditions Days. See demonstrations in carding, spinning, weaving, knitting, embroidery, rug-hooking, and other textile traditions. Attend the Festival of Textiles on Saturday, August 15* to see demonstrations and displays from local guilds working in textile traditions today and witness a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Jacquard Loom.

Their Special Event ~ Festival of Textiles happens on Saturday, August 15th ~ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Join in to celebrate textile traditions!
This event Features:
* A ribbon-cutting ceremony for Lang’s replica Jacquard Loom
* Fibre demonstrations from local guilds and artisans including rug hooking, lace-making, embroidery, quilting, weaving, knitting and more.
* 19th century fashion and undergarments with Charlene Roberts from A Stitch in Time
* Natural dyeing and sheep shearing demonstrations
* Horse-drawn wagon rides
* The Kawartha Truth and Reconciliation Support Group quilt on display with interpretation on process and meaning
* Fibre Artist Marketplace (Note: The Fibre Artist Marketplace will be located in front of the Visitor Centre. Interested shoppers are not required to pay admission to peruse the Marketplace)
* Dorothy Caldwell, internationally acclaimed textile artist- Meet Dorothy and purchase a limited edition Art Gallery of Peterborough exhibit catalogue Silent Ice/Deep Patience to have signed by the artist (11 am to 1 pm only).
* Book reading and signing by local author Joanne Findon author of Seeking our Eden: The * Dreams and Migrations of Sarah Jameson Craig, a story about dress reform in Canada.
Our friend Julia ~ Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Ontario Festivals Visited photograph
"Running FREE at Festival of Textiles"!
Ontario Festivals Visited photograph


Thursday, August 6, 2015

Music affects culture! ~ The Next Generation Leahy

Music affects culture!
Our interview continues with The Next Generation Leahy
We asked if they felt their “type of music” was a dying art. We wondered if their audience was that of an “older generation”, living from the momentum of The Leahy Family … They tell me they do not feel they have a “target audience”. Anyone who loves enthusiasm, upbeat tempos, Celtic music, foot tapping rhythms, fantastic dance, song, joyous music, will love The Next Generation Leahy! Doug and Jennifer try to provide access for all visitors, to make their performances affordable for all, in particular, children.

The Next Generation Leahy
Ontario Festivals Visited ~ Interview at
Home in Lakefield
Music affects culture!
The root of their music is Irish, Scottish, mainly inspired from Cape Breton. We asked how they felt their music fit into the society and music of today. Their type of music roots are based from dances, waltz, rigs and more. On a smaller scale, Jennifer says the culture starts with small parties and family gatherings. “Music starts the party!
On our way out, we discovered that this was the first interview the children had done, and Mom tells us truthfully they were nervous. While the Leahy Family welcomed us into their home, I had to confess to the kids that I was nervous. They are so talented, I was inspired and in “awe” seeing them at the Westben Arts Festival Theatre, I felt privledge to have their time, insight and share an experience of learning from their experiences.
We stopped to enjoy the cattle grazing in the field by the house and the Gary shot some footage for the boys as they performed "their famous golf swings"!
The Next Generation Leahy
Ontario Festivals Visited ~ Interview at
Home in Lakefield
We hope you have enjoyed this series of “THE INSIDE SCOOP” with The Next Generation Leahy. In the meantime, we welcome you to follow Doug Leahy and The Next Generation Leahy at http://www.dougleahy.com/home.html. Their 2015 Tour Schedule is available as they journey across North America.