Merry Christmas 2011
December 23rd 2011
Orchard House photographed by Mike Davis for Escarpment Views
All of us who work on Escarpment Views wish you a happy and wonder-filled Christmas. Be sure to take some time to get outdoors for a peaceful walk or some family fun! We’ll be taking some time off to do just that.
Governments May Not Sue Critics
December 09th 2011I’m trying to reorganize my office, and while sorting through materials, I came across a document that I want to keep and that should be better known by the public and journalists in particular.
This document is the finding of an Ontario judge about a defamation suit by a municipal government against a local Internet news provider. The details of this 2006 case are not important. The judge’s findings are.
J. Corbett of the Superior Court of Justice for Ontario wrote that “no government may bring an action in defamation…Everyone should be free to criticize democratically elected governments, be they federal, provincial or local, without risking a defamation action…
“Without free speech, there is no free press. Without a free press, there is no free political debate. Without free political debate, there cannot be true democracy. Freedom, writ large, is a pillar of democracy… A law that restricts free speech, even slightly and for noble purposes, has some chilling effect…
“In a democracy, it is essential that the government be in the public domain, and be available for criticism of all kinds.
“…everyone has a right to voice her [sic] opinion, whether orally or in writing…
“It is in the very nature of a democratic government itself that precludes government from responding to criticism by means of defamation actions…
“The government may not imprison, or fine, or sue, those who criticize it…Litigation is a form of force, and the government must not silence its critics by force.
“…any legal restriction on freedom of expression about public affairs has a chilling effect on freedom of expression generally…”
These are comforting words of wisdom for everyone in democracies. If you want more details about this document, email me.
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!
Toronto Star Letter About PCs Refusing Escarpment Views
September 14th 2011One of our readers, Alexander Forbes of Caledon East, has written a letter to the editor of The Toronto Star about the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party. In it, he writes that the party “appears to be avoiding media and public scrutiny.” He also points out that “when asked by the Escarpment Views magazine to respond to five questions selected from reader contributions, they were the only political party that did not provide a direct answer.”
This is true. Our Autumn issue contains an election feature of questions by readers and answers by the political parties. The Liberals, NDP and the Greens provided detailed answers. The PCs didn’t.
I was surprised and annoyed. We’ve had several Conservative MPPs advertise in the magazine, so it was odd that the party seemed to dismiss us in a way I felt to be rude.
We’re interested in our readers responses to this. What are your thoughts?
Patrick Wentzel, U.S. National Carousel Association, at Launch of Autumn Escarpment Views
August 30th 2011
Escarpment Views Autumn 2011 cover story: Lakeside Park Carousel
We’ve been busy delivering the Autumn issue to our advertisers, and now that we’re back from four days on Manitoulin Island, we’ve learned that more organizations will participate in our Sept. 4 celebration of the antique Lakeside Park Carousel in Port Dalhousie.
The person who brought the carousel to our attention, Patrick Wentzel of the U.S. National Carousel Association, will be at the launch with a display, photos and information. Patrick wrote and took most of the photographs for the article on the carousel, which is our cover story for the Autumn issue.
The City of St. Catharines, which is making the special launch event possible, will have an information table promoting their programs and services associated with the carousel.
The volunteer community group the Friends of the Carousel will also have displays of the important restoration work they do. Friends will be happy to point out and explain some of the unique features of the carousel and to answer questions.
Free rides on the carousel will be available during our launch party from noon to 5 p.m. on Sun. Sept. 4, but at only 5¢ a ride at other times, the carousel will never break the bank! The day is shaping up to be an interesting afternoon that will bring together people who appreciate the carousel. We’re looking forward to meeting St. Catharines residents and introducing them to Escarpment Views and the treasure that is the Lakeside Park Carousel.
To get to Lakeside Park, take QEW to Ontario St. in St. Catharines, then follow Ontario St. to Lakeport Rd. and go to the lake. We’ll all be there with banners!
Do you have a memory or info about the carousel? Share it by leaving a comment!
Welcome to Meldrum Bay Inn
July 05th 2011 We’re pleased to have Meldrum Bay Inn on Manitoulin Island on our website as our first independent (as in not from Google) advertiser. Meldrum Bay Inn is located on the western tip of Manitoulin Island, “at the end of the rainbow” as they like to say. Shirin and Bob Grover are the hosts, and Bob is also chef for their licensed dining room.
This looks like a place that’s worth the visit if you’re on the island this summer. Click on the photo of their inn at the top right corner of the screen to find out more about this destination spot. If you contact them, tell them we said hello!
Have you been to Manitoulin Island? What did you enjoy there?
CORRECTION: Ontario Election is Oct. 6!!!
May 20th 2011Arrgh. Pfft. And rats.
I goofed. Big mistake in the Summer issue.
I must have had a brain infarction because I thought the provincial election is Oct. 25.
At the time we were finalizing the summer issue, I was working part time for Elections Canada, with a Voting Day of May. 2. Turns out I must have been remembering last year’s municipal election, which was on Oct. 25. Have we had too many elections lately?
Anyway, 25,000 copies of our Summer issue are about to hit the streets with a big headline on page 35 with the wrong date on it! Maybe it’s time for us to hire a factchecker. I don’t seem to be able to keep all our editorial balls in the air at the same time any more.
Should I manually correct each issue by crossing out the wrong date and writing in the correct one?
What do you think I should do?
Meanwhile, mark your calendars with the correct date. The next Voting Day is Oct. 6!
Stratford Shakespeare Festival Posts Seana McKenna’s Column
March 29th 2011Stratford Shakespeare Festival has posted Seana McKenna’s column about preparing to perform Richard III, on their website. I’m glad. This is Seana’s column in the spring issue of Escarpment Views and we’re extremely fortunate that she’s willing to share with our readers, her deepest thoughts about acting and theatre. It says a lot about her trust in our editorial work, and her understanding that our 25,000+ readers are her audience. When she writes for Escarpment Views, she’s reaching some of the thousands of people who see her perform each year, and leap out of their seats to give her a standing ovation.
Photo by Andrew Eccles
To see the Festival’s link to her column, go here but then make three more clicks: click on “2011 Speeches and Articles” and then click on 2011 and then click on the date beside Seana’s name. Not the most direct way to her words, but at least her thoughtful writing is now being recognized by the Festival.
This is not her first column for Escarpment Views. It’s not even her first column about Stratford for Escarpment Views. Her other columns are available among Selected Articles on this website, and include these:
Seana’s View of Greek Characters
Seana’s View: Performing Nude
Seana’s View: How do you solve a problem like Medea?
Seana’s View: Backstage at Stratford
Seana’s View: Getting the Most Out of Theatre
Seana’s View: Why Bother With Theatre?
So check out Seana’s thoughts about her work, and better yet, try to see her live at Stratford again this year, in the solo performance as Anne Hathaway in Shakespeare’s Will, and as King Richard in Richard III. Try. I hear tickets are going fast.
Special Spring Issue of Escarpment Views
March 04th 2011
The Spring issue is our garden special, because from now to June, gardeners are getting keen to get back outside, carving a bit of paradise. We feature a large rural garden that is the work of just one woman. If she can achieve these results while running a full-time business, we should be able to reach our own garden goals.
This issue also takes you near Owen Sound to look at the range of beautiful ferns that thrive along the whole Escarpment. As you can expect, we have several photos of various kinds.
And we feature the old pioneer methods of making maple syrup, and some of the wonderful festivals where we can celebrate this sweet, delicious season.
There’s much more to enjoy in this issue, but I have to make special mention of Seana McKenna’s column on performing Richard III at Stratford this year. Tickets are already selling for this history-making production, and Escarpment Views is tremendously fortunate to publish her reflections on approaching this career-defining performance. I personally know of a few people in the U.S. who are planning to travel to Ontario in order to catch Seana tackle this killer of a role. Grab a copy of Escarpment Views to learn what the excitement is about!
The Spring issue is available now for free at most of our supportive advertisers. If you get a copy from one of them, please tell them you’re happy they provide the magazine. If you want a copy but our advertisers are not convenient, you buy a copy now. We have PayPal to make it easy.
New Look for Escarpment Views Spring Issue
March 02nd 2011
Escarpment Views Spring 2011
Here’s the cover of the Spring 2011 issue. It’s available now at our advertisers and at plenty of other places too: tourist offices, NEC offices, CONE headquarters… This issue is bigger than ever, and is a special on gardens. It will be available at the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy exhibit at Canada Blooms. We’ll have it at Eco festivals and home shows in April and at the Leading Edge Conference at Brock University in May, where we’ll be giving a presentation.
My sister Barbara and I displayed it at the recent Erin Recreation and Culture Fair, where Barbara won a draw for a gift basket from the Erin Library! She’s pleased to have won, and says she never does. That’s not true, of course. I seem to remember her winning an artificial Christmas tree some years ago.
Mike and I also were handing out copies at the Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show, where we ran into an IPAO colleague, Marissa Schroder, publisher of Get Out There, which had a booth at the show. The spring shows and festivals are just beginning, so there will be several places to visit, meet people and get the current issue.
And remember, the magazine is now for sale at The Bookshelf in Guelph, so if this is convenient, you can browse through the features before deciding to buy. But if you want a copy without leaving home, you can request a free sample.
I’ll post more info about the spring issue once we’ve updated the rest of the site with current info. Check back later
