Free Passes To NordicFest 2012!
January 22nd 2012We are giving away passes to NordicFest Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Festival to be held in Collingwood on Feb. 4, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is a full day of fun in the snow at Scenic Caves Nordic Centre at the base of the Niagara Escarpment at Collingwood/Town of Blue Mountains. Latest-model skis and snowshoes will be available to try out. There will be fun contests and free apple cider and hot chocolate to warm up with by the fire in a chalet if you want a break.
Yesterday when we were there for the charity event Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer, the sky was blue, the trees glittered with ice and the snow was good. Lovely.
We have two free individual passes to give away, and one free family pass. To win, just leave a comment and tell us which passes you want. If you win the draw, we’ll get back to you. This offer closes Fri. Jan. 27 at noon.
These tickets are thanks to the generosity of our friends at Get Out There magazine.
Egg Nog Jog 2011
December 15th 2011
They’re off! Start of Egg Nog Jog at Terra Cotta CA. All photos by Mike Davis.
The sold-out 29th annual Egg Nog Jog, claimed to be “the prettiest and most challenging road race in Ontario,” took place on Dec. 11 starting at Terra Cotta Conservation Area. Organized by the Georgetown Runners, there were 609 entrants taking part in 10.8-km course that followed roads up and down the Niagara Escarpment hills in the area. Darryl Bank of Toronto was the fastest runner, finishing in 37 minutes, 28 seconds. Our friend and advertiser Brad Mailloux of downtown Georgetown’s Feet in Motion was the first Georgetown Runner across the finish line. Mike was there taking plenty of photos. Do you see yourself in the crowd?
A special One Mile Smile race was held for kids 12 and under.
Runner with bib # 60 is in the lead at the start.
Not in the very first group, but near the front of the pack.
The One Mile Smile race for kids starts here with parents behind them.
Kids are picking up speed here.
Here's the winner of the One Mile Smile heading for the finish line.
Did you run this race? How did you do? What was it like?
Westfield Heritage Village Has Photo of Fairy?
October 27th 2011Believe this…or not! We’re just passing on the news…
Something unbelievable and exciting has happened at Westfield…a repeat of an event from the past! A fairy has been captured on film at Westfield Heritage Village. Is it real? Is it a hoax? The only way to truly know is to see the photograph with your own eyes. The photo will be on display at Westfield’s Haunted Halloween this Friday and Saturday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Westfield Heritage Village has a photograph of a beautiful young fairy sitting on the bed upstairs in their historic Gillen house. Photographer David White, a volunteer at Westfield, uses a working antique box camera to take sepia photographs of images at Westfield. [Ed. note: He is the photographer in the photo in the blog post below.] When David went upstairs recently to photograph the bedrooms at the Gillen house he was surprised to see a young girl with fairy wings sitting quietly on the bed. Without disturbing her he was able to capture the image on film.
This unlikely event is strikingly similar to the Cottingley Fairies story from 1917 when two young cousins in England captured photographs of themselves with fairies beside the beck (stream) in the village of Cottingley where one of the girls lived. The pictures came to the attention of writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who used them to illustrate an article on fairies he had been commissioned to write for a Christmas 1920 edition magazine.
Efforts were made to validate the Cottingley photos but none of the experts could prove or disprove whether they were of real fairies or not. By sheer coincidence, Westfield now also has a photograph of a lovely young fairy.
Has history repeated itself? What other mysteries may be uncovered in the Village during Westfield’s Haunted Halloween? Visitors to Westfield’s Halloween programme will have the opportunity to view the photograph, decide for themselves if it is real or a hoax and discover many of the past traditions and mysteries of Halloweens gone by.
Have you ever seen a fairy?
Haunted Halloween at Westfield Heritage Village
October 21st 2011
Hallowe'en from the past
Things are looking pretty spooky in Rockton! See what’s brewing…
Haunted Halloween allows visitors to explore All Hallow’s Eve history and folklore in the unique setting of one of Ontario’s best living history museums, Westfield Heritage Village, Friday, October 28th and Saturday, October 29th, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Time after time, Westfield takes you back to our past with historical buildings, costumed interpreters, live demonstrations and presentations that entertain and educate like no other.
In the setting of more than 30 historical buildings lit by lantern-light, learn the story of Stingy Jack or join the roaring ‘20s costume party. Enjoy presentations of our ancestor’s phobias, superstitions and history including puppet shows, ghost stories, and relive the traditions of Halloweens past! Younger children can try their hands at Halloween crafts and even try on a pair of feathered fairy wings. For the more adventurous visitor, take a stroll through the haunted train station or do the Walk of Doom… if you dare! Enjoy some free hot popcorn (while quantities last) and remember your trip with a one-of-a-kind souvenir from the gift shop.
So bone up on your history at Westfield Heritage Village located on 1049 Kirkwall Road (also known as Regional Road 552) in Rockton, just off Highway 8 between Hamilton and Cambridge. For more information, call 1-800-883-0104. For all Westfield event information and directions, visit www.westfieldheritage.ca.
Admission is only $11 for adults, $10 for seniors and $6.50 for children 6-12 yrs of age. Kids 5 years and under are free and parking is free. Buy your tickets online at www.westfieldheritage.ca and save $1 per ticket.
Rod Muir, Sierra Club of Canada, in Milton
October 17th 2011Miltongreen Environmental Association sent us this news about an event this week:
See the motivating presentation by Rod Muir of the Sierra Club Canada about Waste Diversion – the quick, cheap, and yes easy-means to achieving Sustainability! Then, join workshops on smart and practical approaches to events, celebrations and gift giving!This ecofriendly event is held at the Milton District High School Theatre on Thursday, October 20th, 6:30-9:00 pm. Refreshments will be served.
Hear-about and participate-in workshops on family, cultural and public celebrations and household or other waste issues to reduce your “footprint” and sustain the earth’s resources. You will take away from this event, lots of fun and hands-on ideas to making sustainable choices and activities a part of everyday life. This family friendly event is held with regard for all cultures.
Presented by Miltongreen Environmental Assoc. and MDHS Ecoclub in partnership with the Halton Environment Network and sponsored by an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant of Miltongreen. Please bring clean gently-used (or new) PYJAMAS to donate to the Halton Women’s Place – all sizes are needed.
Sign-in at 6:30 pm when you arrive to receive your “door prize” tickets for cool items donated by the handful of this event’s theme-based vendors. For more information or to let us know you are coming email miltongreen.ontario@gmail.com; call 905-878-0995.
Classic Thanksgiving Festival at Ball’s Falls
October 03rd 2011Here’s some news from our friends at Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority:
As the trees begin donning their fall colours, the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority is busy preparing for its long-standing classic Niagara tradition with the 37th annual Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival weekend. The Festival will take place from October 7 to 10 at the beautiful Ball’s Falls Conservation Area in Jordan. This event is truly a favourite family tradition where visitors converge from far and wide to enjoy the many aspects of this fun festival.
The festivities begin on Friday, October 7 and run through to Monday, Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $6.00 per adult; children under 14 years of age are free when accompanied by an adult. Friday, Oct. 7 is Seniors Day with admission only $4.00 for seniors.
The Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival features the exceptional work of over 100 artisans offering beautiful items for sale, a host of daily live entertainment, children’s activities and numerous heritage displays. Visitors can explore the rich natural and cultural heritage of the area including the many historical features such as the Ball family home, the historical Church, a visit through the operating Grist Mill and a peek inside the Blacksmith shop.
Be sure to visit the Seeds in Disguise exhibit sponsored by Stokes Seeds in the Centre for Conservation sponsored by Stokes Seeds. Again this year, wineries of the Twenty Valley will offer an assortment of wines for sampling. This is a great way for visitors to learn about the unique growing region while sampling some of Niagara’s finest vintages.
A courtesy shuttle service from the parking lot into the park area is available for those who wish to use it and visitors will be able to utilize a courtesy parcel checking service that will be conveniently available at the NPCA Information Tent. Handicap parking is available and visitors are reminded that the NO PETS POLICY at Special Events is in effect for the duration of the festival.
DIRECTIONS: Ball’s Falls Conservation Area is located south of Vineland on Regional Road 24. To avoid the traffic congestion along Victoria Ave., visitors are encouraged to use the alternate routes as follows: From Toronto; Follow QEW Niagara to Exit 64 (Ontario St. Beamsville) Take Ontario St. to Regional Road 81 (King St.) Turn LEFT and follow to Regional Road 24 (Victoria Ave.) Turn RIGHT onto Victoria Ave. and follow to 8th Ave. Turn LEFT onto 8th Ave. then turn LEFT onto 21st St. and LEFT at 7th Ave. to enter Parking Area; From Niagara Falls/ Buffalo: Follow QEW to Exit 55 (Jordan Rd.) Follow Jordan Road to Regional Road 81and follow signs to Ball’s Falls Parking; or access via Hwy 20 to Victoria Ave. Southbound – Follow Directional signs to new park access entrance.
Customer Appreciation Day by Escarpment Views
September 22nd 2011Escarpment Views will host a Customer Appreciation Day for advertisers and subscribers on Sat. Oct. 1 at Orchard House near the Niagara Escarpment in the country north of Georgetown. Weather permitting, we will lead a short hike or walk through part of the nearby Niagara Escarpment, followed by a buffet supper.
If you are an advertiser or subscriber, we invite you to contact us for directions and time details. We look forward to welcoming you to Orchard House!
Locke Street Festival Cleans Out Escarpment Views
September 12th 2011Locke Street Festival at the base of the Niagara Escarpment in Hamilton, the “mountain” to locals, was a great place for us to give out copies of Escarpment Views on Sunday. So great that Mike and I left with not one copy left over. Not just the current Autumn issue, but every single back issue we brought, was taken. I’m talking about hundreds of copies. Possibly close to 2,000. And we could have given away more.
People taking free copies of Escarpment Views at Locke Street Festival
I knew that the festival draws crowds. I think I read that there were 15,000 visitors in 2009. So we packed the car as full as possible with boxes of magazines.
I did not expect we would be cleaned out.
I did not expect to sell so many subscriptions.
I did not expect to meet people from Georgetown who came because of the ad in the magazine.
I did not expect to see current subscribers picking up back issues they hadn’t received.
I didn’t expect to hear that one lady uses our centre photos for meditation.
I didn’t expect to be questioned about our mandate and then to see the person get teary-eyed and wish us well because we have the best intention.
I didn’t expect the long day, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., during which we stood most of the time, to fly by as quickly as it did.
Mike roamed the street taking photos and came across Andrea Horwath, leader of the NDP and a previous advertiser of ours, out campaigning. He gave her a copy of the Autumn issue because it contains an election feature of questions by readers and answers by the political parties. To Mike’s delight, Andrea had the magazine in her hands for a while as she spoke to people.
NDP leader Andrea Horwath campaigning with a copy of Escarpment Views.
There were lots of people wearing Green Party buttons at the festival, and suddenly one of their candidates appeared at our table saying “I heard you have an election article?” I was happy to give him a copy.
I have to mention Goodness Me, a natural food store, for excellent public relations in inviting us to use their washroom, handing out gift bags with neat samples of products, snacks and lotions, and selling delicious, wholesome ready-made wraps and big bottles of water at reasonable prices. I’ll be back at this friendly store.
And I think we’ll definitely be back at the Locke Street Festival next year.
Carousel Launch Done, Locke St. Festival Next
September 06th 2011 Despite the bad weather forecast, we had a good time at the Lakeside Park Carousel with the Friends of the Carousel and Patrick Wentzel of the National Carousel Association, introducing Escarpment Views to people and celebrating the launch of our Autumn issue. Thanks go to the City of St. Catharines for making all the arrangements to keep us organized and dry despite (only!) one late downpour.
Next up: the Locke Street Festival in Hamilton on Sept. 10, this Saturday, where we’ll be opposite Starbucks, giving away free copies of the magazine and signing up subscribers. Crowds of people traditionally attend this festival , so come out for a full day of fun and make a point of saying hi to us!
City of St. Catharines Promotes Autumn Launch
September 02nd 2011Thanks to the City of St. Catharines for helping to spread the word about our launch of the Autumn issue at Lakeside Park on Sunday. You can read their news item from their homepage. We’re hoping for good weather so we’ll have lots of people enjoying the park, going for free rides on the antique carousel, picking up free copies of the Autumn issue with the cover story about the carousel, meeting author & photographer Patrick Wentzel & learning about the Friends of the Carousel & programs offered by St. Catharines. Photo of our Autumn cover is below. Attention on St. Catharines/Port Dalhousie this weekend!
We’re still looking for memories of your previous rides on the carousel.
