A Family Tradition

A long-standing family tradition we enjoy is preparing and serving baked beans as our first meal of the New Year. We'll soak the beans tonight, and place them in the oven at about 4 p.m. New Year's Eve - ready for a midnight tasting. I'm sure there are varying takes on the link that a meal of beans has to prosperity, but my mom always said that starting the year off with the simplest meal ensures better fortune in the year to come. There is still time for you to enjoy this tradition, too. We use Ontario grown Thompson's White Pea Beans. A simple recipe for old-fashioned baked beans is provided by the Thompson family on the package. Enjoy!

The Relevance of Museums

If you have spent time working in the museum or gallery field you may find this short video essay by Robert Janes a wake up call of sorts. For anyone who has toiled in under-resourced organizations, you have likely taken action long ago. If not, his perspective is real and worth considering, in my view.

When the day of quality ends...

There is a scene in the 1979 film An American Christmas Carol (found at 8:25 of this linked segment) that is prophetic, especially as the manufacturing economy in Ontario towns continues to disappear. After apprenticing with the owner of a small town furniture maker, ambitious young Ben Slade unveils a new manufacturing concept, mass production, to his employer and adoptive father Mr. Brewster at the staff Christmas party. Mr. Brewster cannot accept that the assembly line will revolutionize the furniture business, and states, "When the day of quality ends in this country we'll all be in trouble indeed."

This depression era interpretation of the Dickens classic was filmed in Elora, roughly an hour from the small towns of Hanover and Durham. As a kid, I remember the sign at the edge of Hanover proclaiming the town as "Canada's furniture capital" It has probably been 30 years since furniture has been made there. East on Highway 4 is Durham, which just this year lost the town's major employer, Interforest, a veneer production factory for nearly fifty years.

Mr. Brewster was right. In the new year we should all make an effort to seek out quality, local made goods. They cost a little more, but last a whole lot longer, and our support may just help to ensure the sustainability of our small Ontario communities.

Spectacular Illuminations

As you celebrate this Christmas Season, take the opportunity to enjoy some of the fantastic light displays in our Ontario communities. Whether you are walking through your urban neighbourhood, or taking a drive in the country, there is an abundance of displays to be found. I especially like the displays in small villages and towns, where at a glance you are able to see through backyards, all spectacular illuminations that together magically transform our communities. A recent drive through Walkerton and Neustadt were particularly memorable.

Clicking Hooves & Jingle Bells

The Holstein non-motorized Christmas parade was a refreshing alternative to the commercialized, theme driven parades held in many communities. Except for the excellent Brussels bagpipers that lead the parade, the humble thirty minute display was virtually silent, save for clicking hooves and jingle bells. Absent but not at all missed were the non-stop advertisements and amplified Christmas music. Stripped down and simplified, the true meaning of Christmas - family and community - was felt. The only compromising moment in the parade was the inclusion of the Grey County tourism van. Although it was horse drawn to comply with the parade theme (and seemingly to add a little humour) the tourism entity's presence was unnecessary and noticeably out of place in the otherwise wonderfully wholesome event.

Holstein Non-motorized Christmas Parade

Our family is looking forward to attending the Holstein non-motorized Christmas Parade this Saturday in this tiny village, just east of Highway 6 between Mount Forest and Durham. The parade starts at 1 p.m.

What a novel, eco-friendly idea! The irony is that we likely won't be the only family driving to the country in our SUV's

to watch the parade.

Keep Calm and Carry On

As we become immersed in the frenzy of the Holidays, heed the advice of this simple message. Created to help bolster the spirits of Britain's citizenry in the event of a Second World War invasion, its' simplicity rings even more true today.

Keep Calm and Carry On is available in a variety of colours and formats, including posters, mugs and magnets. I found mine (a perfect gift for my Mom) at the Art Gallery of Hamilton shop.

Countdown to the Holidays

With December now underway, our obsession with measuring the passage of time is at it's height. Enjoy these 'countdown songs' as you ease into the Holiday Season.

Canadian Pacific Holiday Train

Don't miss your chance to catch the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train as it rolls through Southern Ontario this coming week. Festooned with lights - loaded with entertainment, the train fills box cars with food destined for local food banks. Look for the train as it makes whistle stops in the communities of Oshawa, Cambridge, Hamilton, Ayr and many more in the next few days. Follow the highlighted link to a complete schedule of Holiday Train visits.

The Last Waltz

A great way to share in the celebration of Thanksgiving in the United States is by watching Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz, filmed 33 years ago today in San Francisco. The film documents The Band's final performance. As the opening credits demand - play it loud!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Santa Claus makes stops in a number of Ontario communities this weekend. This linked Santa Claus Parade listing is comprehensive, but be sure to check locally so you don't miss Santa's visit to your town. The Brantford Santa Claus Parade travels Dalhousie Street to Harmony Square, on Saturday, November 28, beginning at 6 p.m. An upcoming parade not to be missed is the Holstein non-mechanized parade on Saturday December 12th. Holstein is between Mount Forest and Durham, just off Highway 6.

The Vinyl Cafe visits Picton, Ontario

Take a few minutes to listen to the The Vinyl Cafe pod cast from this past Sunday. Storyteller Stuart McLean gives listeners a passionate portrayal of Picton, Ontario. His observations could become a template for creating a healthy and vibrant downtown core. From the retention of the post office and new residential development downtown, to the downtown's anchor businesses (the liquor and beer stores are at either end!) his story is a valuable resource for anyone interested in building and preserving their community.

Tasty Pastry

Can't wait to taste test this new Brantford business. Golden Apple - the Tasty Pastry sells Funnel Cakes and Apple Fritters (with maple syrup and ice cream!) from a booth located at the Tiki Loft, 1182 Colborne Street East, Brantford. (from the 403 take Garden Avenue South.) Open Tuesday to Sunday.

Hamilton Outdoor Lighting Study

The City of Hamilton is holding a Public Open House this Thursday, November 26 to gather input for a policy for the lighting of roadways, alleyways, and pedestrian walkways, with special attention to the downtown core and Business Improvement Areas. I'm sure the Outdoor Lighting Study process can provide useful information for many communities.

Funding for Rural Ontario Organizations

Your rural Ontario organization may be eligible for funding to assist with:

• Skills Development
• Hiring Interns
• Business Development
• Local Initiatives Projects
• Community Capacity Projects

Local Initiative and Community Capacity activities include research, marketing and promotion, tourism related events, seminars and workshops, and small-scale capital projects that assist to strengthen your community.

Eligible expenses include marketing, advertising and equipment. Consulting and professional fees are also eligible.

Non-profit organizations can apply for up to 100% of eligible costs.

This is a time sensitive program, so I would advise contacting your local Community Futures Development Corporation to determine if your project is eligible.

Blowin' in the Wind

You may have noticed a news story today about a Pennsylvania woman who has been asked to stop hanging her laundry on the line. Apparently this public display 'annoys' local officials, and there is rising opposition among housing associations in the US against drying clothes naturally. I think there is something very humanizing about hanging laundry - the act itself and looking out upon backyards alive with flapping fabric. Take a drive through the countryside and marvel at the miles of sheets and shirts hanging at Mennonite farms.

How impressive this would be if we all returned to Monday as the designated wash day!

Outdoor Rinks - Coming Soon!

Many communities have incorporated outdoor ice rinks into their downtown development plans. Plans are underway for rinks in Grimsby, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines. We have a rink, located in the Brantford's Harmony Square. Does your town have an outdoor rink?

Can't wait to lace up the skates!

Autumn Soundtrack

I'm probably the last one on my street to put my leaves to the curb, but in doing so today it got me thinking of a few fall (related) songs by great Canadian artists. In no particular order ...

Almost a Full Moon Hawksley Workman

Cold Hearted Wind Ron Sexsmith

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald Gordon Lightfoot

Fallen Leaves Billy Talent

How I Spent My Fall Vacation Bruce Cockburn

Harvest Moon Neil Young

King Harvest The Band

Summer Dream, Winter Sleep Willie P. Bennett

Seek and enjoy!

Bright Idea for Facades

Let St. Lawrence Market light up your life

A new nighttime program to light up facades in the downtown St. Lawrence Market area showcases some of Toronto's most important heritage buildings. The Flatiron Building, St. Lawrence Hall, the market itself and nearby buildings on the south side of Front Street will be lit up year-round as part of the initiative, which is intended to support tourism in the neighbourhood.

"These are some of the most photographed buildings in Toronto." said Councillor Pam McConnell, noting the lights will also make the area more appealing for city residents. Lifting the gloom that can pervade a city during the darkest months of the year is another goal.

"Lighting, especially in winter cities like Toronto, is a way to animate streets and bring life to the public realm," the city said in a news release. The switch was flipped on November 6 as part of events marking the 205th anniversary of the market and the city's 175th birthday.

from the Travel Section of the Hamilton Spectator, Saturday, November 14, 2009

What is your favourite Christmas story?

What I enjoyed about this version of A Christmas Carol is that it unbound the 'story' from decades of interpretation and returned it to our imaginations. The scenes were as dreams, fantastic and improbable. The viewer was immersed into the film as a reader of the novella should be. The identity of the actors was irrelevant, serving only as calling cards for the turnstiles. The film left me eager to reread this classic, realizing too that after more than 160 Christmases past, the story needs to be continually retold and revisited. What is your favourite Christmas story?

Building the Future on Yesterday's Foundations

An interesting conference, Building the Future on Yesterday's Foundations, will be held Tuesday, November 17th at St. Andrew's United Church in Downtown Brantford. The conference is organized by the City's Brownfield and Heritage Advisory Committees. Featured will be an exhibition of work by 76 area photographers taken Saturday, November 7 when they were permitted one-time-only access to the massive Massey industrial complex, which is slated for redevelopment. A creative way of involving the public in documenting a heritage site, in this case before it is lost. For information about the conference email ttran@brantford.ca

10 of the most significant visual artists...

Timothy Neesam of CBC News has created this list of ten of the most significant visual artists of the 2000's. Canadian artists are well represented and in good company.

... a visit from the milk man

For the past year we have been purchasing bottled milk from a vendor at the Brantford Farmer's Market. It is a little more expensive, but the quality is superior, and the market experience is always enjoyable. Wouldn't it be great if we could turn back the clock, and have goods delivered to our door again?

...ambitious new vision

In the Hamilton Spectator, Thomas A. Beckett writes of the need for that city to develop a visioning process that would bring community 'dreamers' together to imagine the rebirth of downtown Hamilton.

... you can't save every building

If you are wrestling with urban renewal and development issues in your community, you may be interested in this Brantford Expositor Editorial that comments on the City's decision to buy, raze, and lead the redevelopment of a significant section of downtown Brantford. Yes, this area needs help, but let's hope stucco and styrofoam don't replace 150 year old brick facades.