The second production of Theatre Collingwood’s summer theatre season stars Leisa Way in Sweet Dreams: A Tribute to Patsy Cline featuring the Wayward Wind band, live onstage at the Gayety Theatre for one week only, Aug. 16, 17, 19, 20 & 21 at 8 p.m. with one matinee on Aug. 18 at 2 p.m.

     Created by and starring Way, the one-woman show is a new concert tribute to the legendary country singer. The two-hour presentation is set on the eve of her final concert in Kansas City before a fatal accident. In 1963, just 30 years old, Patsy Cline died tragically in a plane crash. In the six years since she’d had her first hit song, she had already made her mark on the music world paving the way for female solo singers. Cline was as comfortable with hillbilly and gospel music as she was with the emerging ‘60s rock and roll genre.

     There are 29 of Patsy Cline’s most popular hit songs highlighting a special era of country music history. Included are several songs that Cline only ever sang live and were never professionally recorded. Expect to hear classic signature tunes like Crazy, The Tennessee Waltz, I Fall to Pieces, Just a Closer Walk With Thee, Bill Bailey, Walkin’ After Midnight and many more.
     The show was conceived after Way starred in the 1997 stage play, A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline which she notes is vastly different. Ten years later, after researching books and bootleg copies of Cline’s live shows, she discovered it was the generous, big-hearted woman behind the music she wanted most to convey. It was after releasing a musical CD that Way was encouraged to take the show on the road. She does not impersonate; she pays tribute using subtle similar soulful vocal styling and physical mannerisms, with patter between songs to tell stories and little-known anecdotes about the highs and lows of Patsy’s life. Way charms with personality, passion and powerful vocal delivery. Raised in northern Ontario, the perky petite blonde soprano is a long-time fan of country music though her career has spanned jazz, music theatre and opera, as well as spoken plays.

     The Wayward Wind Band which accompanies her is composed of outstanding musicians. Guitarist Bruce Ley was in the Tommy Hunter and Ronnie Prophet Shows.  Pianist Michael Mulrooney has served as music director, conductor and arranger for major music theatre productions. Drummer Dave Wilson and bass Bob Hewus have worked in Toronto orchestra pits for the past two decades with the finest performers in the theatre business.

     Artistic Director Steven Thomas comments: “No one can possibly imagine the scope and even greater impact Patsy Cline might have had on the country western musical community had she not died so young. To have someone of the stature of Leisa Way in the Canadian musical theatre scene pay tribute to Patsy in this way speaks volumes to the importance of this unforgettable icon. I am delighted that Leisa is returning to Theatre Collingwood audiences, after starring in our past productions of Side by Side by Sondheim and The Long Weekend, with this very personal interpretation of Cline.”

     Here is what the critics say:

“Leisa Way’s tribute to Patsy Cline must be unprecedented! A very difficult repertoire to master - with Cline’s trademark deep voice and the ability to hit those low guttural notes - but Way causes shivers with her grandiose voice.” - Banner Review (2005)
“Leisa Way’s brilliant portrayal of this unforgettable country music icon, has to be her greatest triumph, to date.” - Country Music Jukebox, Germany (2006)
     Visit the Theatre Collingwood website for a sneak preview of the show.
     Single adult tickets are $33, Youth $17, High School Eye-GO $5, Group $28 (10 or more booked in advance, receive bonus $5 Downtown Dollars). All prices plus tax and handling charge.
     Theatre Collingwood’s year-round box office is located in the Rail Car beside the Collingwood Museum, 45 St. Paul St. (corner of Pretty River Parkway), (705) 445-2200 / 1 (866) 382-2200. Theatre Collingwood’s summer performance location is the historic Gayety Theatre in downtown Collingwood, 161 Hurontario St. at the corner of Ontario St., open one hour prior to performance.
     Performed in well over 20 theatres to date, this concert commemorating the heart and soul of an unforgettable musical icon has sold out virtually everywhere it has travelled.  This is a limited engagement of six performances only. 

     Any Patsy Cline fans out there? 

     Here’s another event for the whole family to enjoy, or people of any age! Sounds charming, romantic and mysterious…

     Summer evenings in Ontario’s natural areas are a time of magic. The summer breeze stirs forest leaves, crickets sing and owls call. Adults can slow down and reconnect to the world around them and children thrill at the excitement of moonlight nature walks, or storytelling around a crackling fire. You do not have to travel far to experience the wonder of a traditional summer evening, as on Sunday, August 15, Crawford Lake Conservation Area will host its annual Spirit Sings event.

     Spirit Sings allows visitors of all ages to experience the excitement of a summer night. The evening runs from 6 to 9 p.m. and includes a variety of guided activities. First Nations teacher Joe Paquette will share past and present First Nations traditions around a crackling fire in Crawford Lake’s reconstructed Iroquoian village. Staff will also guide visitors through a quiet forest path to a starlit lake. Finally, guests will sample traditional First Nations food, and create a craft to take home.

     The Spirit Sings event begins as the moon rises, however, registrants may explore Crawford Lake for the full day as part of the registration fee. The park boasts hiking trails on the Niagara Escarpment, a rare lake, beautiful woodlands, and a Visitors Centre with giftshop and picnic areas. The Iroquoian village is also open daily for the summer between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

     Spirit Sings is a pre-registered event and runs from 6 until 9 p.m. Spots fill quickly so please register early. The cost is $24 for adults, and $5 for seniors and children between 8 and 14. To register, visit the Conservation Halton website and go to Spirit Sings in the Events Calendar.

     Crawford Lake Conservation Area is located on the corner of Conservation Road and Guelph Line, 5km south of Hwy 401 or 15 km north of the QEW. Crawford Lake is one of six Conservation Areas operated by Conservation Halton. To learn more about recreation activities or any of the special events taking place at the parks, visit the website.

Floyd Elzinga will be exhibiting works in “The Broken Landscape” at Jordan Art Gallery from Aug. 3 to 30. The launch opening, with everyone welcome, will be on Sat. Aug. 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. Here’s a bit about the artist.
     Floyd Elzinga grew up actively involved in the landscape on a dairy farm outside Jarvis, Ont. He could draw the best elephant in grade one and everyone knew he was predestined to be an artist.
     Floyd Elzinga’s work is fundamentally inspired by the natural world. Elzinga’s recent work explores the traditional landscape through non-traditional techniques and this show focuses on the idea of a broken landscape.
     The landscapes are broken in several possible ways. In some the subject matter breaks the frame of the landscape. In others the landscape is cobbled together of different panels and there are visual breaks in the picture or story. And finally through the features of the landscape, some trees show the telltale signs of history of brokenness through the deadwood still clinging to the living structure. In the title piece for the show all three types of brokenness are present.
     As a sculptor, Elzinga’s work has been predominately three dimensional, but after a bout of “painter envy” he was inspired to create a series of flat wall hangings of traditional landscapes. The process became an integral part of the content, with the welder as his pencil and the grinder as his paintbrush.
     He was initially drawn to create these paintings in steel because the material (steel) is forgiving. It is a common, fast-working material that is very malleable, allowing him to sketch his thoughts in quick line-drawing style panels but also spend great time and skill on creating persuasively formed objects.
     Elzinga currently lives and works in the landscape surrounding his studio in Beamsville.

If you enjoy art and artists’ homes and gardens, check out a couple of our published feature articles: “The Creative Hands of Benitta Wilcox” and “Brigitte Schreyer: Continuing the artistic tradition.”

Westfield Heritage Village is hosting a cool and delicious summer family event this Civic Holiday weekend! Enjoy the fun and flavour of Canada’s favourite treat, ice cream, and the nostalgia of simpler times. Surrounded by period music, you can join the pioneers as they make homemade ice cream from start to finish. Experience the fun and nostalgia of ice cream from Pioneer to Victorian times. Live music, horse and wagon rides, magic shows, face painting, period crafts and games combined with living history make for the perfect topping for a perfect family outing. The theme of this year’s event is candy-flavoured ice cream, including honey. You may even be able to get close to Westfield’s own bees in their new observation house. The Ice Cream Festival takes place Sun. Aug. 1 and Mon. Aug. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $11 for adults, $6.50 for youth 6 to 12 years, and $10 for seniors. Children 5 and under get in free! Annual membership pass holders receive free admission for the passengers of their car to a maximum of seven occupants. Parking is free.

Have a sweet tooth? Read about maple syrup in “Sweet Tastes of Spring.”

Like to learn about what’s happening along the Niagara Escarpment? Why not subscribe to Escarpment Views?

Below is a request from the Terry Fox Foundation, for your memories of his historic run.

     I’ll share mine here. My parents were hosting some of our relatives from Germany at their house in the country north of Georgetown. I was driving to my parents house, on the stretch of Highway 7 between Georgetown and Acton, when I saw flashing lights approaching me, people running on the shoulder on the other side of the road, carrying buckets to hold cash contributions, and I knew that something special was going on. I pulled over to the side of the road and then I saw him. Terry Fox in white T shirt and shorts, running with that unmistakable hopeful hop, swinging his artificial leg. Of course I burst into tears. When his procession passed, I drove slowly to my parents’ house.

     “What’s the matter?” asked my ever-observant mother.

     “I just saw Terry Fox,” I said, and the tears ran again.

     “Who is that?” asked my German aunt and uncle. And my parents explained who Terry Fox was, and my relatives later went back to Germany with the knowledge of him and the impact he had on Canadians and perhaps the rest of the world.

     And the tears are flowing even now as I write this, a few decades later.

     Here’s what the Terry Fox Foundation wants:

It does not seem possible that the story of Terry Fox is now 30 years old, nor that we are all 30 years older since we first heard it. In preparation for the 30th Anniversary of The Marathon of Hope, the Ontario Office of The Terry Fox Foundation is asking individuals who met or saw Terry during his visit to your community to share their stories with us. Terry touched the lives of many people across the country in the summer of 1980. We would love to hear these stories and share them with the rest of Canada on our website, Facebook, and Twitter pages.

     Please email or write your “I Remember Terry” (500 words or less) and fax it to the attention of Jessica at 416-924-6597 or email it to ontario2@terryfoxrun.org. We look forward to creating a narrative that reflects Canadians’ relationship with Terry Fox.

     The 30th Annual Terry Fox Run is Sunday September 19th. Please join us as we work together to outrun cancer.

Are you going to share your memories? Is there someone else whose challenge with illness has moved you?

I just learned about a craggy-faced character who might bring fun to the study of geological science, if we help…

Scarpface is the name of a new project intended to get students interested in the Niagara Escarpment. Created by the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Fund (NEBF), the charitable foundation that works with the Niagara Escarpment Commission, the project aims to engage teachers, elementary and secondary school students in Escarpment studies, in the natural wonders of the Escarpment. 

The fun part comes with the introduction of a rocky, colossal superhero character by the name of Scarpface, who embodies the magnificent Niagara Escarpment and has the motto “Don’t mess with the edge.” The first 25 classes to send to the NEBF their projects, essays, and photos on the themes of natural science, geography and culture, will receive a Scarpface character t-shirt for every class member.

“We are very pleased to share this dynamic proposal to excite a new generation of Ontarians in our awe-inspiring natural resources,” says Moreen Miller, chair of the NEBF. ”The Escarpment is vital to Ontario’s air and water quality. The more people are aware of this amazing part of our province the better we can live and work in it sustainably.”

            The Scarpface project is competing for a grant of $10,000 from Pepsi Refresh, a community relations initiative to support popular good-works projects. 

            “All across Canada, people from every walk of life are producing powerful, creative and fun ideas that can create positive change,” says Joey Adler, Pepsi Refresh Project Canadian Advisory Board Member. “Pepsi’s Refresh Project is going to help move ideas from wishful thinking to reality, and that’s an incredibly exciting effort to support.”

            In order for NEBF to win their grant and go ahead with the Scarpface Project, people have to vote for it at Pepsi’s Refresh site.

            Here are the goals of the Scarpface Project:

 • To encourage teachers and students to learn about the Niagara Escarpment

 • To engage classes in Escarpment studies and submit their projects online

 • Increase awareness of the Escarpment’s importance to our environment

 • Distribute Scarpface t-shirts to 25 classes of participants

     And here’s a description of the project in educational terms:

The Scarpface–Don’t Mess with the Edge project incorporates education and entertainment to engage Ontario students and teachers in Niagara Escarpment (NE) studies in science, geography and culture. Scarpface is a superhero figure representing the unique environment of the NE. Scarpface will benefit communities by increasing awareness of the significance of the NE. Improved understanding of the NE’s biodiversity (hundreds if not thousands of species of animals and plants) and impact on air and water quality, will encourage people to protect this extraordinary place. Students and teachers will be the focus of a multi-media campaign across the province. The first 25 classes to submit projects to the website receive Scarpface t-shirts for the class. The remaining shirts will be sold for fund raising.

Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Fund

     NEBF is a unique private/public fund that will be seen as the model across Canada for its presence as a premier, regional charitable organization, dedicated for use by the people on the landscape it serves. NEBF will be used by those committed to conserving the biodiversity that is the Niagara Escarpment. It is a fund that will be used to promote sustainable communities throughout the length of the Escarpment. It is a fund that will be used to collaborate with other like-minded individuals and organizations in improving the biodiversity and heritage of the Escarpment through research, outreach, and education. The fund will provide support for academic research on the rich natural biodiversity of the Escarpment to make optimal decisions for our future sustainability, both environmentally and within our own communities.

The fund supports the pillars of the UNESCO designation: education, science, and culture, and will establish the ideals and objectives to achieve the goals of the proposed projects and initiatives needed to create healthy and vibrant communities throughout the Niagara Escarpment while expanding people’s knowledge of the uniqueness of this world-renowned biosphere.

The fund will also be used to identify and promote, where possible, land acquisition of even more significant Escarpment properties for trails, public parks, and conservation.

The Biosphere Reserve Coordination project, in conjunction with those who want to see this change for the better, for our farmers, for our communities, for our families, and for our environment, are working toward a brighter tomorrow, today.

Here’s more information about the NEBF or contact Teri Trent, 905 877 6370.

What do you think of this project? Any thoughts on the competition for grants? Do you have a problem with Pepsi running it?

For a look at the rocks of the Niagara Escarpment below the surface, see our amazing feature “Beginner Caves on the Escarpment.”

     This looks like a pretty cool activity for people of any age:

     The past comes alive at Crawford Lake Conservation Area, at the popular Dig In and Discover Archaeology event on July 18 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. for a great day of discovery and exploration into the past.

     Visit with staff in the Turtle Clan Longhouse for a demonstration of traditional fire starting techniques and storytelling. Visitors can explore the Iroquoian village, view fascinating videos, and make a clay pot to take home. You can also participate in a discovery hunt and win a great prize.

     Take part in a simulated dig at the Crawford Lake site. Learn how and why archaeologists do what they do and find out more about fascinating artifacts and Ontario’s First Nations.

     After visiting the village take a hike through Crawford Lake’s beautiful woodlands and learn more about the history of the area. 

     Finally, stop by the Giftshop and take home a unique item as a souvenir of this great event. Feel good about your purchases as all funds stay in the park to help support conservation!

     Crawford Lake Conservation Area is located on the corner of Conservation Road (formerly Steeles Avenue) and Guelph Line, 5 km south of Hwy 401 or 15 km north of the QEW.  Regular park admission fees apply for this special event and kids ages four and under are free! There’s more information online or by calling Crawford Lake at (905) 854-0234.

     To learn more about the recreation activities at all of Conservation Halton’s parks, or any of the special events taking place, visit their website and go to the Parks and Recreation section.

     Conservation Halton is the community-based environmental agency that protects, restores and manages the natural resources in its watershed. The organization has staff that includes ecologists, land-use planners, engineers, foresters and educators, along with a network of volunteers, who are guided by a board of directors comprised of municipally elected and appointed citizens. Conservation Halton is recognized for its stewardship of creeks, forests and Niagara Escarpment lands through science-based programs and services.

Have you been to Crawford Lake and experienced the native village? What do you think of it?

For more about Crawford Lake, see our feature article “Maple Moon: Sugar Making on the Escarpment 600 Years Ago.”  For a free trial issue of Escarpment Views, just contact us.

On Aug. 2, cycling enthusiasts from across the entire province and beyond, from serious racers to beginners, will descend upon the village of Terra Cotta in Caledon, to participate in the annual one-day Le Tour de Terra Cotta bike race and cycling events.

     The multi-event classic starts at 7 a.m. The signature event, Le Tour de Terra Cotta Classic, a 108-km course completed at speeds of over 45 km/h begins at 11 a.m. Prior to this, Le Tour de Terra Cotta Kids, a great way to introduce children aged eight to 16 to the fun and health benefits of cycling, will take place. A third event, Le Tour de Terra Cotta Adult Short Course, is a 27-km race designed for new riders, tri-athletes in training or those who prefer a shorter course.

     Held in the scenic hills of the Niagara Escarpment, this event continues to gain popularity as the number of cyclist and spectators continues to grow each year. 2010 expects to see up to 600 participants. While the majority of participants come from the Golden Horseshoe area, riders from across Canada and the United States have attended; Le Tour de Terra Cotta has even welcomed cyclists from Italy.

     “Le Tour de Terra Cotta is fast becoming an elite event that attracts the best teams in Ontario to race the challenging and scenic Caledon hills. The warm support of the residents creates a fun festival atmosphere, great for families, spectators and riders,” says Amy Moore, former pro cyclist and cycling coach.

     The nine-km course, with full road closure, is sanctioned by the Ontario Cycling Association and is unique in Ontario. This year it has attracted the support of Share the Road, a cycling coalition raising awareness for bike safety and healthy lifestyle. It offers a rare opportunity to participants on every level because they can experience the thrill of the only European-style race held in the province. The race both starts and finishes near the Forge Pavilion on King St. in Terra Cotta.

     Created in 2005 through the efforts of local resident Ted Webb, with the support of the community and the Brampton Cycling Club, the race became solely a community event in 2009, run entirely by volunteers from surrounding communities and cycling clubs. Proceeds from Le Tour de Terra Cotta will support the Terra Cotta Community Centre Heritage Restoration. The refurbishing of this structure built in 1862, and designated a Caledon Heritage building, has been a labour of love for the local community for over 12 years.

     Nestled in the beautiful Niagara Escarpment, this community event provides an unforgettable experience to children, beginners, cycling enthusiasts and elite athletes. More information is available.  

What kind of cycling do you enjoy?

For more about serious youth cyclists, see our feature article “Kids of Steel Conquer Collingwood.” 

If you like learning about what’s happening close to the Niagara Escarpment, you might want to subscribe to the magazine!

On Sat. July 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 17 heritage sites in Erin, Hillsburgh, Alton, Caledon and Orangeville will participate in the Ontario Heritage Trust Doors Open program.
     Special events in Erin Village include a guided walking tour at 10:30 a.m. to the site of the Woollen Mill ruin, and another, more challenging, guided walk at 2:00 p.m., across the top of the moraine.
     The Victorian ambiance of the Main Street will be enhanced throughout the day with actors from Century Church Theatre in period costume. All Saints Anglican features Kersti Finnie on the pipe organ built in 1947 by Casavant Freres of Saint‐Hyacinthe, Quebec. All Saints also features Anna Marie Holtom and John Wright screening Stars of the Town, one of a collection of 85 black and white films depicting day-to-day life in small town southwestern Ontario captured by the Rev. Leroy Massecar between 1947 and 1949.
     From the Charles Street dam visitors will likely be able to watch kingfishers trolling for chub, and an enterprising pair of muskrats who have set up residence under a huge black willow behind the Porcupine’s Quill.
     Complete details of the day’s events are available, where background documents available for download include the complete text of The Cromaboo Mail Carrier, a novel written by Mary Leslie which offers an unflattering fictionalized depiction of Erin Village as it was in 1878. On a more positive note, A Backwoods Hero by Alexander McLachlan eulogises in verse the considerable achievements of Daniel McMillan, whom many consider to be the father of Erin Village. A Brief History of Erin Village documents the architectural history of the Main Street. A Brief History of McMillan’s Mills looks at the industrial history of the village.

     Have you been to any previous Doors Open event? What have you enjoyed seeing? Is there any place or building that you would like to see open its doors?

     For other events happening along the Niagara Escarpment, see our Calendar of Events.

     These articles in Escarpment Views give you more insight into some of the interesting people of Erin Village and surrounding areas:

“The Creative Hands of Benitta Wilcox”

“Autumn Colour: Touring for Artists’ Studios”

“Grimsby Wayzgoose: For the Love of Paper and Print”

We’ve been starting to get responses to our summer issue. Some of them are so interesting that I hope we’ll have room to publish them on our letters page.

     As for other reactions, we’ve had praise for the centre photo spread, as we always do, and Mike enjoys bragging that he’s sleeping with his centrefold model. She’s cute and has a great tail, but is very hairy, with a wet black nose and four paws, in case you’re wondering.

     We’ve heard from people whose gardens we featured. “Look at my garden!” one of them told Mike. “It doesn’t look that way now.” Well, we know how gardens change from week to week. And the gardener was seen proudly showing other people her photo. An aquaintance of mine emailed that she wants to be in the garden on the cover. Someone stopped us on the street to say to Mike “You take photos underwater now too?” A Chamber of Commerce in the Georgian Bay area of the Niagara Escarpment told us that it’s a wonderful magazine and they’re proud to display it.

     One of our advertisers wrote “Wow!” and that she loved the variety of articles. When she makes up “goodie bags,” she includes copies of Escarpment Views. What a great idea!

     Other people have reported that copies are “flying” out of their locations. I’ve heard that readers are planning to go to some of the places that have been advertised in our magazine, because they’ve only learned about them from their ads with us. Mike had someone tell him that after seeing a restaurant ad in our issue, the man remembered “That’s a great place. Excellent fish and chips.”

     But we’re already getting busy with our Autumn issue. We’d love to get your events for our calendar covering Sept. 1 to Dec. 1. Send them to us for free listings in print, on this website, or both.

     And if you want to advertise your business, festival, event or service in our Autumn issue, get back to us or your local sales rep. Our ad space reservations will close July 25. You’ll have until Aug. 1 for the final artwork. Be part of our great Autumn issue and you can share in the interest our next issue will generate!

Do you have anything to share about what you liked or didn’t like about our summer issue?
If you’d like to get your own free copy, pick one up from one of our advertisers near you, or contact us for your free trial issue.