Studios at Hotel Hamilton

As many municipal governments wrestle with the concept of becoming a 'creative city', entrepreneurs in Hamilton continue to lead the way. You will enjoy reading about the Hotel Hamilton initiative, where a 19th century flophouse is becoming a 'creative cluster' at the corner of James Street North and Mulberry in the steel-town's core. The story is written by Paul Morse, and appears in today's edition of the Hamilton Spectator.

Sweet and Sour

On our way from Brantford to Hanover on Saturday, a sign outside the Wesley United Church, adjacent the Cambridge (Galt) Farmer's Market caught our eye. Apple Dumplings! Sure we were in a hurry, but our day immediately slowed a little. After a walk through the market we went into the church and purchased a half dozen dumplings, with rum sauce, to go.

The Wesley United Church Apple Dumpling Corps has been selling the dumplings on Saturday mornings for more than fifteen years, raising funds for projects like their church restoration or for worthy community causes.

You can eat in or take away, as we did, enjoying them after a dinner of country garlic sausage (from Carl's Custom Meats, located in the market) and sauerkraut with Marlene's parents.

The sauerkraut isn't the sour in this story. A short while later, as we passed through Harriston, we noticed three snowmobiles driving half the length of the town on the main street sidewalk! I'm sure Saturday is one of the town's busier shopping days, and we all know how difficult it is to get people to stop and shop in small town Ontario. The last thing merchants need is another obstacle to deter visitors and residents from enjoying an afternoon on our streets.

There is an abundance of well groomed snowmobile trails maintained by local clubs throughout Ontario. Saturday snowmobilers - join a club and keep your sleds off our sidewalks.

Canadian Films on the Screen in Your Community

In addition to finding Canadian films in libraries and video stores, visit The Film Circuit website to find movies that are being screened in your community. The Film Circuit, a division of the Toronto International Film Festival, has been helping to bring Canadian and world cinema to communities across the country since 1995. Circuit groups are usually non-profit organizations who typically use the screenings as an income stream and awareness builder for their cause. Working with The Film Circuit staff, community organizers develop a program of films, promote and sell tickets to the screenings, and in many cases create special events or mini festivals as part of their program. Over the past fifteen years The Film Circuit and their community partners have helped tremendously to develop new audiences for Canadian film, brought back to the screen Canadian classics like Goin' Down the Road, The Rowdyman, and The Grey Fox, and introduced Canadians to many of the talented actors and directors working to develop a unique voice and Canadian identity, through the motion picture. With a little searching, I'm sure you'll find a Film Circuit group in your community.

Cozy Up With a Canadian Film this Winter

Last weekend the busy awards season was launched with the Golden Globes. As you find yourself inundated in the next two months with the relentless marketing of overblown Hollywood movie product, seek out a Canadian film.

Whether you stumble upon a film on a television movie channel, rent one from your video store, or borrow from your local library (many have a world cinema section) you'll immediately sense that you are watching something previously undiscovered.

Under-stated, under appreciated, and for the most part under-watched, a Canadian movie shares a unique perspective partially derived from dwelling in our vast and diverse country. These ten films are just a sampling, but a good place to start.