The fifth annual Spirit of the Drum Traditional Powwow will take place on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11, 2023 on Duck Island in Smiths Falls. This event is being organized by Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute (SFDCI), as well as their Indigenous partners, to raise awareness about Indigenous culture and inspire reconciliation. June 10 will be focused on traditional aspects of a powwow […]
Let’s start with a little who’s who in Nunsense and the Little Sisters of Hoboken. Sister Mary Hubert is played by Tracey Noonan, who while playing a wiseman an annual nativity pageant was accidentally trampled by a camel who went berserk. Sister Mary Amnesia, (Raynee Doner), has no clue who she is, recalling only that […]
The upper room at Almonte’s old town hall was packed to standing room only on Sunday, March 26 for a presentation about a new development being proposed for the municipality. Ginawaydaganuc Village is a non-profit organization with an Indigenous-led economic development plan to construct an eco-sensitive education and tourist centre, which will promote Indigenous ideologies […]
The Pakenham Maple Run Tour returns April 1-2 with eight fascinating tour stops and over 30 artists and artisans. A tour like no other, Maple Run is a unique blend of art, fine craft, interesting and heritage buildings, spectacular spring scenery, and to top all that off, it takes place right in maple syrup country. […]
On Sunday afternoon, February 12, the Almonte Old Town Hall was filled with a special atmosphere – an atmosphere of joy! The Sunday afternoon tea dances organized by the Standing Room Only Big Band (SRO) had started up again after a three year, COVID-induced recess. The turnout of dancers and non-dancers was the largest ever and […]
You’ve seen parodies, you’ve seen spy thrillers, you’ve seen it all, am I right? Well, no, I’m not, because while Studio Theatre Perth’s latest production, The 39 Steps has these elements, it takes them to a whole new level. How, you may ask? There’s nothing new under the sun, right? Maybe not, but this play […]
Several years ago, I unearthed a strange object in our backyard. It was a disc of pale green glass with the markings “F & G.” My efforts to research this artifact proved unsuccessful until recently, when I spotted an old, pale green bottle at a local collectable store. The quart sized vessel had the markings […]
During Monday evening’s council meeting in Smiths Falls, Mayor Shawn Pankow recognized Wednesday March 8 as International Women’s Day. “The theme this year is ‘embrace equity,’” Pankow said, “True belonging and inclusion require equitable action.” Councilor Jay Brennan announced that the Heritage House Museum recently displayed an exhibit featuring 28 women who have impacted Smiths […]
Perth Tourism is pleased to present the Frost & Fire Winter Festival, taking place over Family Day weekend on Saturday, February 18 and Sunday, February 19, 2023. Back once again, this two-day, family-friendly event will provide visitors with an array of activities geared towards all ages. Experiences will be taking place throughout Perth, both indoors […]
It all started with a seed of an idea. The SCROOGE! seed was planted a long time ago here at Studio Theatre in Perth. Carolee Mason put this musical proposal forward to the play reading committee. That was just before COVID closed every thing down back in March of 2020. And before that Carolee and her […]
Yes… it’s that time of year again… Fall… My favourite… and the Hand Bells of St. Paul’s in Perth will be ringing out joyfully in the Crystal Palace at The Perth Farmer’s Market, on Saturday morning, September 24th at 10:00a.m. Some of the pieces they will be playing are a “Gershwin” medley, excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s […]
During the month of June, the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) will be celebrating National Indigenous History Month. This is a time to learn, grow, and celebrate Indigenous peoples and culture. The UCDSB is specifically situated on the traditional Anishinaabek and Haudenosaunee territories. With 79 schools and 27,000 students covering approximately 12,000 square kilometres of rural and urban areas, the UCDSB is committed to providing relevant and […]
The Perth & District Library, in partnership with the Local Immigration Partnership, Town of Perth, and Tay Valley Township, has launched a Culture & Diversity Word Walk as part of Culture Connect. The first annual Culture Connect, happening throughout June, is an opportunity for the communal celebration of beauty in diversity and the importance of […]
In 1829, Jason Gould (1802-1864) made the journey from Roxbury, New York to the raw, undeveloped wilderness of Smiths Falls, Ontario. He had been hired to work on the Rideau Canal by his future brother-in-law, James Simpson. Within two years, Gould had created the foundation for his future wealth. He constructed “flouring mills on Jason […]
It’s an age old struggle, children needing independence vs parental instincts to protect. In Studio Theatre Perth’s upcoming production of This Year, Next Year by Norah Harding, this thorny issue is deftly handled with love and compassion. Norah is a young woman who has met a Canadian soldier in the final days of World War […]
The popular Carleton Place Spring Home show, originally scheduled for April 8th to the 10th has been cancelled. This consumer event had grown over the years since its inception to providing dozens of local suppliers and retailers the opportunity to connect with new and old clients and customers, filling the one of the two Neelin Street Arena’s […]
Erin Lee and Andy Trull from Lanark County Interval House proposed a collaborative public art project (the Countdown Public Art Project) to Smiths Falls town council during the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday evening. Through community engagement and collaborative cultural production, the Countdown Public Art Project works to increase the public’s understanding of […]
The Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee of the Township of Rideau Lakes (MHAC) has partnered with historian and filmmaker Allison Margot Smith in the creation of a new documentary telling the story of Fettercairn Island. On Indian Lake, just north of Chaffey’s Lock, in the Township of Rideau Lakes, is an island that came to have […]
Architect extraordinaire When we moved into the Keyhole House in Smiths Falls, we decided that the 1960s chandelier with space-age globes hanging in the front hall had run its course. Retro was replaced with Gothic in the form of a three-foot-tall, hexagonal lantern with translucent gold glass. A local antique store was the source of […]
A suitably large crowd of over 1500 people gathered at Carleton Place’s Cenotaph under sunny skies on November 11th to pay their respects and to honour veterans and members of Canada’s military services. Complying with current public health pandemic measures, everyone managed their social distance and wore masks as requested by Legion organizers and were spread […]
The first-ever poppy dates back 100 years ago to 1921, marking 2021 the 100th anniversary of the poppy, with the annual poppy campaign running until November 11th on Remembrance Day. Madame Anna Guérin, later christened “The Poppy Lady from France,” inspired by John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields,” had an idea: to adopt the distribution […]
Councillor Peter McKenna, chair of the Committee of the Whole meeting in Smiths Falls on Monday night, brought up the possibility of Smiths Falls acknowledging Louis Riel Day on November 16 with the raising of the Métis flag. This was prompted by a request several weeks ago, when Smiths Falls town council received a letter […]
Live performances seem like a distant memory, but as the province re-opens Studio Theatre, Perth is delighted to get back on the boards with Educating Rita by Willy Russell. A comedy/dramas about relationships and connection it is the perfect post COVID offering in more ways than one. “The electricity between these two characters and actors […]
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 95’s president Stan Lasenba learned it’s hard to plan public events in the pandemic era when rules seem to change almost every day. Three weeks ago when this busy Smiths Falls Legion was sending out notices about Remembrance Day services, the advice they reported receiving from the local health unit led […]
On September 30, flags will be at half-mast throughout the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) and staff and students will be dressed in orange, to recognize and share in learning for the 8th annual Orange Shirt Day and the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. These two special recognition days go hand-in-hand to recognize the tragic […]
During Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting in Smiths Falls, Knowledge Keeper Chuck Commanda opened the meeting with an inaugural reading of the Land Acknowledgement. This acknowledgement was recommended by the Racism and Discrimination Task Force, and penned by Mr. Commanda. For the past decade or so, more and more gatherings have been prefaced […]
Smiths Falls’ Mayor Shawn Pankow shared several updates from the Racism and Discrimination Task Force during the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday night. There have been numerous discussions with the Task Force – driven by discovery of unmarked graves in residential schools across the country – that we should mark Truth and Reconciliation. […]
As part of their commitment to reconciliation, the federal government passed legislation earlier this year to make September 30 a federal statutory holiday. Called the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, it answers the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action #80; We call upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, […]
On October 4, 2021 the Sisters in Spirit Vigil will be held in many places across Canada. In Perth the Vigil will take place at the Perth Healing Forest Memorial in Last Duel Park at 5.30pm. The event will include Indigenous Ceremony, readings and a display of Red Dresses. Anyone is welcome to attend the […]
Peter Au, chair of the Rideau Paddlefest committee, has announced that the event scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 18 has been cancelled. Au said all members of the committee were surveyed, and reached the consensus that “we are not comfortable” going ahead with the event due to a number of concerns related to COVID-19. The annual […]
The Smiths Falls Canadian Pacific Railway Station was constructed in 1887. The structure was built on what was once swampland belonging to John McGill Chambers. The town was experiencing a population boom during the construction of the station as CPR workers arrived in abundance to work on the new train line connecting Smiths Falls and […]
The award-winning Burning Passions Theatre – which produced the Classic Theatre Festival in Perth for over a decade – has announced a new series of free online courses for those interested in set design, video design and stage management for the theatre. “Taught by some of this country’s leading theatre artists, these accessible classes are an […]
If a couple of hours in the sunshine in scenic Centennial Park, listening to live music and enjoying some refreshments sounds like fun, you’re in for a treat. The second annual Music by the Basin series, showcasing an array of local musical talent, kicks off at the Park Friday, July 30 and continues every Friday […]
The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum is excited to present a showcase of artist Colleen Gray’s work. Painting with ground mineral watercolours, Gray creates vivid and iridescent artworks that share Indigenous stories and experiences with the viewer. Rooted in Indigenous spirituality, learned and practiced over her lifetime and informed by her Cree Elders, Gray uses […]
Thousands of years before European settlers arrived in what is now called Lanark County, Algonquin/Omàmìwininì People thrived in these lands. When Samuel de Champlain first encountered Algonquins in the 1600s, the land was not empty. Rather, the Algonquin People had complex social and political structures for governing their homeland. These structures worked at an individual […]
During Tuesday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Director of Community Services Shannon Baillon shared the unwelcome news with Perth town council that it was time to cancel the planned Canada Day celebrations for 2021, including fireworks. Mayor Fenik asked if there would be any possible way for the town to still enjoy the fireworks. […]
During Monday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Jennifer Miller, Manager of Economic Development and Tourism, presented town council with a new microeconomic initiative: Smiths Falls Swag. This involves the creation of Smiths Falls branded items which will be sold at multiple retailers in town. This initiative will be funded with a $20 000 withdrawal […]
This year’s pandemic has put a big damper on live performance but Studio Theatre Perth has come up with an innovative way to continue entertaining the community. The community theatre is working on Christmas with Sherlock Holmes – a theatrical reading of two of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s best loved Holmes adventures. The production stars […]
The sound of two hands clapping is lonely on a dreary, grey November 11. A single woman, dressed in red, stood on the embankment across from the Cenotaph in Smiths Falls shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday morning saluting seven members of the Colour Guard as they marched from the Cenotaph at the end of the […]
During Tuesday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Perth town council discussed correspondence received from concerned citizen Lynda Haddon. Haddon pointed out the dilapidated state of Inge-Va, a heritage building in Heritage Perth. Council agreed that Inge-Va seems deserted and overrun, and pointed out that Ontario Heritage Trust is supposed to be looking after that […]
The current COVID-19 pandemic has directly affected the execution of this year’s annual November 11th Remembrance Day Parade and Ceremony in Carleton Place and other communities across Canada. However, the good news is that in order to have the residents of Carleton Place remember and pay our respects to our fallen, a much smaller scaled […]
Naming the legacy of slavery As statues of those tainted by slavery tumble down across England and the United States, and the Municipality of the Township of Russell, Ontario, casts about for a namesake to replace the lamentable Peter Russell, might Perth contemplate how far the historic stain of human bondage extends? Could connections to […]
The Tragically Hip: The Tragically Hip, often referred to simply as The Hip, were a Canadian rock band from Kingston, Ontario, consisting of vocalist Gord Downie, guitarist Paul Langlois, guitarist Rob Baker (known as Bobby Baker until 1994), bassist Gord Sinclair, and drummer Johnny Fay. They released 13 studio albums, two live albums, one EP, […]
On a vacation the first question people ask you is where you’re from. We proudly boast Canada because we know confidently that Canadians are known for being polite. This is a widely held belief and longstanding virtue and I wonder, as Canadians what other associations we could aspire to. Unified would be nice. They say […]
Beat the winter blahs with Studio Theatre, Perth’s production of the comedy thriller, Out of Sight…Out of Murder by Fred Carmichael. The play opens on January 16 and is a must see. “It’s a well written script, I think,” says director Grey Masson. The play has everything that a thriller should have – a sinister, […]
With Christmas right around the corner, the Heritage House Museum is excited to host its annual Victorian Family Christmas Tea Party on Sunday, December 1st from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Share in the sights, sounds, and flavours of an 1860s Christmas. Gather around a traditionally decorated tree in the parlour and enjoy a cup of tea […]
Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.Gallipeau Centre Theatre, Smiths Falls, ONGreat North Wrestling returns to Smiths Falls for the first time in 3 years on Feb 29 2020 for our “Annihilation” event! Main Event Tag Team MatchWWE Legends ‘The Faces of Fear’ Haku & Barbarian vs ECW Original Too Cold Scorpio & The Blood Hunter […]
On the morning of Oct. 23, 1969, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Kootenay was part of a task force exercising in United Kingdom waters, and was returning to Canada, heading westward in the English Channel off Plymouth, England. After separating from the task force, the Kootenay started a full-power trial at 0810 (times in 24-hour format), […]
For theatre goers, one-act plays are rare, tantalizing theatrical delicacies. In a cluster of two or more, one-acts provide an enticing assortment of dramatic experiences in a single evening. That’s the idea behind An Evening of One-Act Plays, opening October 24th at the Studio Theatre in Perth. It’s also a preview of an exciting event […]
Mark it on your calendars! October is a busy month at the Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum. We have family-friendly events, ghost tours, haunted houses and more. For October the museum is open Wednesday, Friday – Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. October 5th – Apollo 11: The […]
An extremely large crowd of well over 2.500 people welcomed the RCMP Musical Ride into Carleton Place on Saturday Sept 14. As part of the town’s 200th anniversary celebrations, this iconic and legendary troop of mounted officers thrilled the audience comprised of residents and visitors of all ages. 32 riders and theirhorses gave a flawless performance […]
Consider this an invitation to join us for lunch at the Kemptville Farmers’ Market on September 22 from 12-4pm at the regular market location in the B&H Lot (200 Sanders Street) in downtown Kemptville. The new fall event is called MarketTable, and here’s how it works: the market is going to set up and dress a huge, long, fancy community […]
There may have been a few dark clouds overhead on Sunday Sept 8th, but on the ground it was all bright smiles as Beckwith Township hosted the fifth annual Lanark County Harvest Festival at Beckwith Park. Originally intended to be a traveling fest with a different community hosting each year, after the first issue, everyone […]
Break out the cowboy boots and Canadiana and head to Maberly for the 137th Maberly Fall Fair on Saturday, Aug. 24. Beginning at 8 a.m. this annual fall event offers a family-friendly event celebrating small-town fairs that take place on local fairgrounds across Canada each year, with livestock demonstrations, parade, musical entertainment, and more. Each […]
The third annual Festival of the Wild Child, a two-day event at High Lonesome Nature Reserve in the Pakenham Hills, takes place on August 24th and 25th. Open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., this festival is offered by the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust (MMLT) and provides a variety of Stations along wooded […]
Following its completely sold-out inaugural year, the Classic Dinner Theatre returns to Perth this summer with an additional lunchtime sitting at Michael’s Table (110 Gore Street East). Featuring Laurel Smith’s new adaptation of the Shaw comedy classic Androcles and the Lion (a satire on life under the Roman Empire), the play, accompanied by a three-course […]
PLUS Help kick-off 200 Labyrinth Walks for CP 200! Join us on Saturday May 4th, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. as we officially open the Carleton Place Community labyrinth for the season. We will “Walk as One at 1 PM” in celebration of World Labyrinth Day. And to help celebrate and honour Carleton Place’s 200thAnniversary – we […]
Council’s second delegation came from Karen Bedard, Kemptville Music Festival, asking for a resolution from the Town recognizing Live at the Falls, a Blues Festival, slated for August 16 and 17 on the grounds of the Gallipeau Centre. Bedard says to expect 2,500 people a day and adds her team will work to grow the […]
Acknowledging Industry excellence in the Province of Ontario The Stewart Park Festival in Perth has once again been recognized by Festivals & Events Ontario (FEO) as one of the Province’s top events. The festival is an event of the Downtown Heritage Perth BIA. Submissions for FEO’s Award Program were received for consideration and adjudicated by an independent panel of judgeswith the 2019 awards being presented during FEO’s recentannual conference in London, Ontario. The award recognizes the many […]
2019 will be an awesome year for live music as Dream Rock announces their first two of many shows they will be producing at The Gallipeau Centre Theatre this year. Live in concert Saturday February 9th 2019 Captain Fantastic The Elton John Experience the ultimate musical tribute to one of the worlds greatest and highly […]
Are you ready to party? It’s never too early to think of summer. Stewart Park Festival and the Downtown Heritage Perth BIA announce this year’s Kick-Off to Summer party – “Welcome to Margaritaville” Happening on Saturday June 22 at the Crystal Palace in Perth, “Welcome to Margaritaville” is a two-part event beginning with a tailgate […]
Stacey Roy Country music singer, Kelly Preston and Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) invites the communities of Merrickville, Smiths Falls and Perth to join them for a Christmas tradition of harmony and helping others Nov. 28 when the CP Holiday Train pulls into our communities this anniversary year. This annual holiday event will be moving into […]
Submitted With the holiday season on its way, Newfoundland’s Ennis Sisters have announced their 9th Annual Christmas Tour. This year, the Juno award-winning trio will once again bring their highly-acclaimed show to select venues across Canada, including a stop in Perth on Friday December 7th. The sisters, Maureen, Karen and Teresa, deliver one of the […]
Sally Smith It started with a question — “Why are there three cenotaphs in Smiths Falls?” There’s a large memorial plaque at the Memorial Centre where the LAV III is now located, another small cenotaph behind the library at the cross streets of Beckwith and Elmsley, and the main cenotaph at Centennial Park — Beckwith […]
Submitted “We are family! I got all my sisters with me!” That old “Sly and the Family Stone” nugget about sums up the attitude of The Marvelous Wonderettes, along with Gloria Gaynor’s timeless anthem, “I will survive!” And survive, they do. Lindsay Rewi (Betty Jean), Lauren Bailey (Cindy Lou), and Justine Sousa (Missy) are thrilled […]
Submitted Some of Canada’s top theatre reviewers have honoured the Classic Theatre Festival with three Capital Critics Circle Awards nominations for artistic excellence during their 2018 summer season in Perth. An awards ceremony will be held at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa on December 3. Laurel Smith, a Perth resident and the Classic Theatre Festival’s Artistic […]
Submitted The Ontario Festival of Small Halls is getting festive with hall-iday shows again this year, bringing big names in holiday music and comedy to even more special places across Eastern Ontario! The festival is expanding its hall-iday offerings, while presenting the unforgettable music of JUNO-nominated, Royal Wood, as well as the enthralling live performance […]
Submitted The Ragged Flowers would like to thank SchoolBOX supporters and music fans for their generosity at the band’s benefit show at Almonte Old Town Hall on Sept. 29th. The performance helped raise $2,432 from sales of concert tickets, home baking, pizza provided by Pizza-ria Unlimited, drinks provided by Equator Coffee Roasters, and of our donated CDs […]
On their last visit to Lanark County, Bootleg CREEDENCE brought the house down at their SOLD OUT Show in Perth on Saturday June 9th. The crowd loved them and and was blown away as the band kept them on their feet for the last five songs as they sang along and danced in the aisles. […]
Submitted Last Saturday at the Gallipeau Center Theater New Kid in Town paid homage to the Eagles and brought the house down with their outstanding tribute to the Eagles. These five incredibly talented musicians based out of Saint Catherines Ontario and the GTA blew the audience away as they played hit after hit from the […]
Submitted Tickets are now on sale for the eighth annual edition of Merrickville’s Jazz Fest (MJF) taking place in venues around Merrickville from Thursday, October 11 to Sunday, October 14, 2018. We are excited to showcase a terrific lineup of 16 excellent performances again this year. With a great selection of subgenres, featuring up and […]
Submitted In 1968, a group of free-spirited visionaries moved onto what had once been the Brennan farm, west of Perth, and created the vibrant, alternative community of Brooke Valley. Their dream of a sustainable and cooperative lifestyle, together with the natural beauty of the area, soon drew others, many of whom, not surprisingly, were craftspeople. […]
Submitted Although it was written 80 years ago, Angel Street (aka Gaslight) is completely in tune with the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements around ending violence against women. The story of an unsolved murder and a woman’s heart-pounding struggle for survival plays at the Classic Theatre Festival in Perth until September 9 (54 Beckwith Street East). Written by […]
Submitted Article by Paul Joyce As any seasoned theatre-goer knows, murder mysteries generally start off with a Bang! then wend their duplicitous way, via clues and misdirects, to the doorstep of the murderer. It’s a comfortable, time-honoured formula. But don’t get too comfortable… The Business of Murder, premiering September 6th at Perth’s Studio Theatre, is […]
Submitted The very popular Classic Theatre Festival production of Shaw’s Mrs. Warren’s Profession draws to a close this weekend (August 12), with final shows running every day at 2 pm, with an 8 pm show on Saturday evening at 54 Beckwith Street East in Perth (at Harvey) “In addition to the fabulous debate the show is sparking, audiences have really enjoyed the work of our […]
Submitted It’s not every day that the streets of Perth turn into a scene from a classic musical like Singing in the Rain or On the Town, but that’s exactly what happens this summer every Thursday and Friday from 7 to 8 pm with the Classic Theatre Festival production of Far From Home. Passersby and drivers alike have done double […]
Submitted When George Bernard Shaw wrote Mrs. Warren’s Profession – a comedic classic opening July 20 at the Classic Theatre Festival in Perth – it took him eight years before he was able to arrange a private staging of the play, and an additional 20 years before it was first publicly performed in London. The play caused a worldwide stir, […]
Submitted Just when you thought you’d never stop humming the tunes from The Studio Theatre’s megahit Sister Act, The Musical, along comes a brand new season of plays to get your heart racing. The shows at Perth’s community theatre just keep getting better. And this year, for as little as $90 you can enjoy six […]
Submitted The Classic Theatre Festival 9th summer season has thusfar been marked by delighted audiences and pleased theatre reviewers responding to the rediscovered comic gem, John Van Druten’s There’s Always Juliet. Playing at its wheelchair accessible, air conditioned 54 Beckwith Street East venue, the play embodies much of what makes unique the Festival’s mandate to produce hits from the […]
Submitted Relive the dawning of the Age of Aquarius on Saturday, Aug. 11 as 4 Degrees Brewing Company hosts an outdoor concert and hippie costume party. Frost & Wood-Stock, scheduled for 5 to 9 p.m., is also a fundraiser in support of children’s summer programming at the Smiths Falls Public Library. Audience members are urged […]
Stacey Roy editorial@pdgmedia.ca Downtown Carleton Place’s Let’s Play initiative has hit just the right note in its effort to draw people to the heart of the town. During the Canada Day long weekend the local organization installed two artistically painted pianos in the downtown core: one in front of their offices on Bridge Street and […]
Submitted Take a trip down the rabbit hole and into a world of the Supernatural. Witness the Wunderkammer, a 17th Century Cabinet of Wonders that will bend and warp reality, giving you a glimpse into a world where anything is possible. The Paranormal Show is a Spectacular assortment of Supernatural feats that will make you […]
Submitted (written by Paul Joyce) When the film On Golden Pond opened in theatres in 1981 it represented the work of three actors at the peak of their artistic prowess, Katherine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, and his daughter Jane. Fittingly, Henry Fonda and Kate Hepburn each won an Academy Award for their portrayal of an aging couple […]
Sally Smith A second annual Pow Wow on Turtle Island is slated this year for Saturday, June 9 and Sunday, June 10. SFDCI, and students of the Indigenous Studies Program, will host the event. The purpose is to bring people together, connect the school with the community, and celebrate Indigenous culture and traditions. Akwesasne Mohawks […]
Submitted Reserved seating, a cash bar and a great show?! It’s all happening June 16th @ 7 PM as part of the On The Roll Smiths Falls series! Don’t miss the Stompin’ Tom Connors Canadian Tribute Tour, performed by none other than his son, Stompin’ Taw! This show promises to be a STOMPIN’ good time… […]
Submitted The Carleton Place High School (CPHS) Drama Team recently participated in the National Theatre School Drama Festival – Ontario (formerly known as the Sears Drama Festival) held from May 9 to May 12 in Cambridge, Ont. The elite competition saw 12 schools perform over a four-day period. Each school was presented with an Excellence […]
Submitted The Stewart Park Festival has released its 2018 performer line-up and the talent set to hit the stage this summer is a solid mix that’ll once again draw thousands to the park. The three-day festival will showcase performers from across Canada including Juno-award winners The LYNNes and three-time Juno-award nominee Danny Michel. Festival-comers can […]
Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca Looking for a reason to celebrate? One thing worth celebrating is the thriving music scene to be found in Smiths Falls and Lanark County. This area has always been home to many talented musicians, from the old time fiddlers of the 1940s and 50s, to the country singers whose original songs made […]
Submitted by The Station Theatre Mothers should see this play. It’s about letting go of your children, and propping them up along the way. It’s witty and wise; you’ll weep and wonder if that’s you up there on stage. Butterflies are Free is a two-act play written by Leonard Gershe and originally produced in 1969 […]
Submitted It’s springtime. And that means that C. Lee Bates, the Ottawa Valley’s celebrated director of stage musicals, is hard at work. As the driving force behind some of this area’s best-loved shows — among them 9 to 5, Bingo Ladies, The Wonderettes, and The Drowsy Chaperone — C. Lee has a lot to live […]
Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca Carleton Place artist Sarah Moffat opened her studio/workshop to the public Saturday for those on the lookout for a unique art media in her one-of-a-kind pieces of art. Moffat works in plastics and holographic metallic foil, and likes to work ‘large’. Two younger visitors (Mia and Ben) worked away in her sun-filled […]
Submitted The Carleton Place High School Drama Team represented their school and the Upper Canada District School Board well at the Ontario East Regional Drama Festival held in Perth from April 11 – April 13. The school was one of two that claimed the top prize of an Outstanding Production award, which gives them access to the provincial showcase. […]
Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca Sarah Moffat is convinced the gene for fearlessness has come down directly from her grandfather through her father to her. Her grandfather flew planes from Newfoundland across the Atlantic without radar (in leather flying gear because it was freezing cold); her father sailed from Lake Ontario to the Bahamas with his wife […]
Submitted The global #MeToo and #TimesUp movements receive a local interpretation in April as Burning Passions Theatre presents a new play, Every Friday, that will tour local youth centres and schools in Lanark Highlands, Perth, Smiths Falls, Carleton Place, and Almonte. The play, written and directed by Laurel Smith, based on stories created by Mary Cowan, Ruby […]
Submitted – Article by Jane Stott Michael Healey’ play, The Drawer Boy, directed by Roberta Peets, will open April 5th. Just recently on one jam-packed day Roberta managed to have meetings on location with lead set painter Fiona Bladon, set designer Carolee Mason, set dresser Norma Cummings, and costumers Marie Amyott and Joannna Treffers. Coordinating color […]
Hometown News Staff In the mid-1960s the RCA Victor record pressing plant in Smiths Falls was humming like a finely-tuned machine. The plant ran around the clock in those days, pumping out records to keep up with the demand for new music by a band from England – four long-haired young men in matching suits […]
Submitted After great success with last year’s Christmas parody based on Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, Puppets Up! Presents is back! This year’s seasonal show is loosely based on Frank Capra’s beloved film It’s a Wonderful Life. A slightly naughty adaptation of this classic Christmas tale tells the story of a man who has sacrificed […]
Submitted by West Ottawa Ladies Chorus Winter, the season of shorter days, grey skies and bone chilling temperatures is embraced by Canadians as their right of passage. Not only do we celebrate the season but the tradition of Christmas as well. One can pass those cold days by undertaking invigorating sports, cuddling up with a […]
Submitted by the Smiths Falls Community Theatre The Continentals are back at The Station Theatre for an afternoon of good music, good memories, lots of hand-clapping and foot-stomping, and it’s happening this weekend on Sunday, Nov.12 at 2 p.m. All proceeds go to The Smiths Falls Food Bank. With just a little bit of pride, […]
Submitted The Smiths Falls & District Arts & Culture Council (SFDACC) is calling for nominations for the seventh annual Joyce Brennan Award for outstanding contributions to art and culture in the Smiths Falls Area. Nominations are due Nov.1 and an individual or an organization can nominate a candidate. This award is given in honour of […]
The Art Journey, Show and Sale will be held on Oct. 28-29 at the Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre, 71 Cornelia St. W. It will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days. Two days of artistic delights – artists’ demos, live music and a door prize. The goal of Art Journey is […]
Submitted by Paul Joyce It’s that time of year again, when plays travel in twos at the Studio Theatre in Perth, for An Evening of One Act Plays. This year’s edition brings you two comedies for the price of one — actually less than the price of one. Hamlette The first one-act play of the […]
Submitted by The Station Theatre Movie or play? Play or movie? Solve the conundrum by taking in both at The Station Theatre this month. Katharine Coleman, veteran director of half a dozen plays, is excited about her comedy-mystery opening mid-October. And what better night to open Who Dunit? than Friday, Oct. 13. “I picked the […]
Submitted Audiences are raving about The Tomorrow Box, deftly directed by Carolee Mason and now playing at Studio Theatre with only three performances to go: Friday, Oct. 6 andSaturday, Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. This beautifully-written, tender and funny Canadian play about family, tradition and the power of […]
Submitted “It’s my party and I’ll …” “Mr. Sandman, …” “Lollipop, lollipop, …” “R-E-S-P-E-C-T…”, What jumps into your head when you hear these lines? Do you sing out the next line or two of the lyrics? Does it take you back to high school and dresses with crinolines and prom night with boys in white […]
Submitted It was in March 2017 that Patricia Josefchak released her latest title, Provenance of the Stones, published by Burnstown Publishing House. Patricia Josefchak is an Ottawa Valley author who calls Otter Lake home. It is the first in her new Rideau Lakes Mystery series. The novel is a historic mystery set in 1850s Province […]
Sally Smith I know exactly what the Dames mean now – you know – Dame Helen Mirren and Dame Maggie Smith. After the world premiere of Fort Hemlock at The Station Theatre this summer in Smiths Falls, my star has risen. I just don’t know how far it will go. And, like Dame Maggie, I […]
Hats off to everyone for a fabulous premiere! That was the buzz around The Station Theatre Friday night at the end of the first-ever performance of Fort Hemlock. “The sets were wonderful – transforming a street scene to a hotel was amazing to watch,” said Nancy Grundy from North Gower. “And the kids were really […]
Jason Code For the second year in a row Tweed’s Front Yard Shindig was a huge success, even though the weather was a major factor in the stage time for the bands. The afternoon kicked off with The Wild Card followed by Toronto based rock-surf band Thrifty Kids. Up next, from London, Ont., Basic White […]
Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca Up and coming talent from both the east and west coasts of Canada are coming to Smiths Falls Aug. 12 for the second annual Front Yard Shindig hosted by Tweed. The outdoor concert, to be held on the front lawn of the Tweed site at 1 Hershey Dr., will be headlined […]
Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Every summer the Classic Theatre Festival in Perth hosts a series of family-friendly, hour-long historic theatrical walking plays that bring to life the characters and stories of Perth’s history. On Thursday and Friday evenings from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. starting on July 29 until Aug. 25, the The Lonely Ghosts Walk opens […]
Submitted by Jane Stott editorial@pdgmedia.ca Imagine Star Wars without its iconic theme music. Jaws without its pulse-pounding intro soundtrack. Gone With The Wind stripped of its sweeping musical refrain. Music is an essential “character” in our favourite movies, and its role on the stage is just as indispensable. For proof, consider the musical landscape created […]
Jane Hobson jane@pdgmedia.ca Young. Passionate. Energetic. Loud. They call themselves Elementals. After a few months of remodeling, the hiatus is over. The four-piece alternative rock band that started in Almonte is touring Southern Ontario and Quebec this summer. The tour is made up of six shows, starting with two gigs in mid-June at Lobsterfest in […]
Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Fresh off her award-winning performance as Raina in last year’s Arms and the Man at Perth’s Classic Theatre Festival, Lana Sugarman has returned to star in the Bernard Slade comedy Same Time, Next Year, about a couple – Doris and George – who get together for an annual weekend over 25 years despite […]
Jane Hobson jane@pdgmedia.ca “The more I write, the more I want to write,” said Natasha Peterson, a Carleton Place author who recently published her third children’s book in April called Harold the Homeless Hermit. Published under her own label Polar Bear Press, Harold the Homeless Hermit is a story about a Canadian hermit crab that […]
Matthew Behrens editorial@pdgmedia.ca Coming off a season in which they garnered more Capital Critics Circle Awards nominations than any other company in Eastern Ontario, Perth’s Classic Theatre Festival opens its 8th summer season on June 21 with a combination of brand new historic walking plays and a collection of hits from the golden age of […]
Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca The students of the Indigenous Studies Program at Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute hosted a traditional pow wow on Duck Island June 10 and June 11. Traditional drumming and dancing was presented by the Mohawks of Akwesasne First Nations and the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation. Photos by Chris Must Host drummers […]
Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca It took nearly a decade to complete, but members of a Smiths Falls group of poets, composers and storytellers can take pride in a new book that will share their work with a wider audience. Vine Rhymes, a group founded in 2005 by Helen Latimer-Hanah and Beth Bernhardt, offers writing enthusiasts of […]
Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca A railway-themed musical evening on Aug. 26 at the Parks Canada Visitor Centre theatre is the newest event in the growing line-up of Canada 150 events in Smiths Falls. Trainfest After Dark, to be held following a day of hands-on activities for visitors to the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario, will get […]
Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca A feast of bison will be among the cultural highlights as the Town of Smiths Falls’ Canada 150 celebrations continue with a pow wow on Turtle Island June 10 and 11. Economic Development Director Cyril Cooper told councillors at a meeting of council’s Committee of the Whole on May 23 that the […]
Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Students from across the region will put their musical talent to work on Thursday, May 18 when they take part in the annual Stewart Park Festival Coffeehouse. Taking place at the Perth Tea Room on Gore Street, the evening event will showcase four acts from four Lanark County-based high schools. The annual concert […]
By Jenny Burr editorial@pdgmedia.ca The year was 1964 and the date was Feb. 9 when The Beatles made their first appearance in the United States on the Ed Sullivan Show. The Beatles had already topped No.1 on the American music charts. The audience seating for 700 had sold out. By the time 8 p.m. arrived […]
Matthew Behrens editorial@pdgmedia.ca Youth homelessness is not as obvious in rural areas as it is in Ottawa or Toronto, but a new touring play seeks to remind local audiences of the extent of this pressing social problem facing too many small-town teenagers. The Invisible Boy, touring Lanark County and Smiths Falls high schools and community […]
Jane Hobson jane@pdgmedia.ca March 8 was International Women’s Day (IWD), a global day that brings awareness to the fact that a serious gender gap still exists. The World Economic Forum predicts that parity won’t be reached until 2186. This year’s IWD theme is #BeBoldforChange. March is also Women’s History Month. While there are many bold […]
Jenny Burr editorial@pdgmedia.ca It’s looking a lot like Christmas, at least it is on Mill Street in Almonte. The cameras are rolling again with another Christmas movie in the works. This is the fourth movie which The MOB Entertainment has filmed in the town and surrounding area in the last year. “We love Almonte. It’s […]
Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Céad míle fáilte! The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum extends a warm welcome to local residents to attend the Taste of Ireland, an Irish stew luncheon. The museum is partnering with the Town of Smiths Falls Tourism and Economic Development, the Local Immigration Program, and the Smiths Falls & District Collegiate Institute Hospitality […]
CJ Cochrane presents the 5th annual MyView Youth Film Festival and this year it’s open to all youth ages 10-24 in Eastern Ontario. Young people of Eastern Ontario are encouraged to pick up their phones, tablets or even (gasp) an actual camera and make a short video that celebrates something in their life or community; […]
Jane Hobson jane@pdgmedia.ca “Sketching connects you to what you’re drawing,” says charcoal artist Rob Parsons as he picks up his mug to sip a flat white coffee at Equator in Almonte. Parsons has been running his own business called Portraits by Rob since 2012. He specializes in charcoal sketches, his most popular being portraits of […]
Jane Hobson jane@pdgmedia.ca Castle Masonry and Construction will continue repointing portions of the Carleton Place Town Hall, a decision that was made at the Feb. 14, 2017 council meeting. This project is a continuation of the portion of Carleton Place Town Hall that was repointed in summer 2016. This project is in conjunction with the […]
Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca Part of Perth’s charm is its look. Many of the buildings in and around town have immense heritage value, and the town has in place a heritage committee to ensure the old buildings are well cared for. To date, Heritage Perth Advisory Panel requirements for those wishing to be become a member […]
Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca In support of an application for $50,000 in funding from the Town of Smiths Falls, Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario curator Anne Shropshire updated town councillors on Jan. 23 on the progress of the museum’s plan to achieve financial sustainability. “We have had a very successful two years,” said Shropshire, noting that […]
By Allison Graham On Saturday, Jan. 14 actors auditioned for Bare Bear Bones, a play written by Michael Grant and directed by Sheila Jasiak. Bare Bear Bones is a comedy about a middle aged couple who are empty nesters and have lost that loving feeling. They decide to return to the place in which they […]
Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca We’ve all seen too many movie and theatre slogans that promise “an experience you won’t soon forget!” Nine times out of 10, those are the shows you mentally ash-can before you leave the parking lot. Luckily, there are still a few plays that truly engage us, living in our memories long enough to […]
By Jane Hobson jane@pdgmedia.ca What do a hockey stick and a guitar have in common? The answer is Glen James. Carleton Place native Glen James built his first electric hockey stick at 19-years-old. Now 60, James plays the two-string instrument for fun at a Carleton Place watering hole called the Waterfront Gastropub. “An ex-girlfriend gave […]
BarnDoor Productions’ (BDP) adaptation of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol is returning to the stage in Perth on Dec. 2. First produced in 1997, the show combines drama, choral work, Charles Dickens’ marvellous words, music from five centuries, a cast of nearly 20, and what may be the most boisterous jig you’ll ever see. Putting […]
Do you recognize this coin? “We had a lovely local couple pop by the museum this week to show us an interesting souvenir coin they stumbled upon. Ordered in a box of stuff from the internet, the coin made its way back to Smiths Falls from Sudbury, Ontario. This one isn’t like the other coins […]
By Jane Hobson jane@pdgmedia.ca The Table Community Food Centre in Perth was livelier than usual last night (Sept. 20) as people gathered to eat, mingle and learn about Men’s Sheds in Lanark County. Men’s Sheds are collaborative, communal spaces where men gather to woodwork, cook, and yell at the television during playoff season together. There […]
Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Nick has just received a job offer in Seattle that he simply can’t refuse. Trouble is, accepting it means he’ll have to tell his grandparents he’s moving away from New Jersey. And if you’re Italian and Catholic, with grandparents like Nunzio, Emma, Frank and Aida, that’s a big problem. Premiering Thursday, September 22 […]
Submitted At its core, the Ontario Festival of Small Halls is about celebrating community. The Festival of Small Halls is set to get hands clapping and toes tapping this month as it welcomes an inspiring combination of big names in music and local opening acts to treasured small halls across eastern Ontario from Sept. 14 to […]
By Dianne Pinder-Moss dianne@pdgmedia.ca What should be encapsulated in Beckwith Township’s time capsule? That’s the question that is being posed to the township’s residents as its Heritage Committee undertakes this initiative as part of Beckwith’s 200th anniversary celebrations this year. “We just thought, especially after doing the book and all the different things from the […]
By Dianne Pinder-Moss dianne@pdgmedia.ca Laurie Bennett openly acknowledges that she has never been one to play team sports. That all changed, however, in January when the Almonte resident was introduced to pickleball. She started playing at the invitation of friends and enjoyed the sport so much that, along with playing in Almonte, she is now […]
Submitted Want to get fresh with a local farmer? The fourth annual Lanark County Harvest Festival will give everyone a chance to do just that. This outdoor event, slated for Sunday, Sept. 11 at Beckwith Park (1319, 9th Line, Beckwith), will celebrate the county’s bounty of the harvest featuring local producers, food seminars, cooking demonstrations, […]
By Howida Sorour-Roberts heddy@pdgmedia.ca Every year the Rotary Club of Smiths Falls organizes and serves a barbeque for staff and children at the Easter Seals’ Camp Merrywood in Port Elmsley. This year the BBQ was held on July 20, and staff presented the Smiths Falls Rotary Club with their Spirit of Giving Award in recognition […]
History is fascinating, and now you can see it first hand! It’s possible to explore Canadian history through the many programs offered by the Heritage House Museum. Discover the businesses, people, art and culture which makes Smiths Falls what it is today by taking part in one of the many courses available! Discover how people lived, worked, and […]
Evening strolls through Victoria Park often lead to a large stone adorned with a bronze marker laid in 1923. The marker reads “This swimming pool erected by the corporation and citizens of Smiths Falls under the auspices of the Rotary Club”. Antique postcards featuring beautiful images of the Rotary Pool are relatively common. An old […]
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The adolescent stage is between 13-19 years of age. They are filled with untapped potential, but the teenage years are often not seen as positive. It’s the stage of life where we are fraught with insecurity and self-doubt. The stage where we make mountains out of molehills. We sit around feeling isolated, lonely, and believing […]
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Agnes woke up in pitch black darkness—she was shivering uncontrollably and drenched in sweat. By morning she was coughing to the point of choking. The 60-year-old could no longer ignore the inevitable. Agnes picked up the telephone receiver and cranked the handle. “Operator, it’s Agnes Lamb, please connect me with 114,” she requested. This was […]
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On February 24th, 2023, the doors of The Tipped Ship on Main Street in Elgin will open to the public following a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 am. All are welcome. In 1893, John R. Dargavel built and opened a general store on the main corner of Elgin. 130 years later, The Tipped Ship opens […]
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