Field Notes for Spring 2023

Art News

The Caledon Library’s Artful Caledon program offers space for local musicians, artists and authors to showcase their work and celebrate the ways in which art shapes and enhances our community experiences. Visit In The Hills photographer Pete Paterson’s ethereal cloud exhibit, Look Up, at the Albion Bolton branch through to summer. The dramatic photos were taken, “here, there, and everywhere,” and captured by just looking up at the right time, says Pete humbly. Submit entries for Artful Caledon at the Caledon Public Library’s website.

Caledon artist Patty Maher’s new book, Story, takes the reader on a visual journey, offering a view of her subjects through fairy-tale, literary and surrealist lenses. The book is divided into thematic sections, offering poetic commentary on the key influences behind her stark and arresting images.

The cover of painter Patty Maher’s new book, Story.

Museum of Dufferin and Dufferin County Cultural Resource Circle bring us Our Story: Past and Present, an exhibit of Indigenous artworks featuring venerable Ojibwe painter Janice Toulouse and emerging Haudenosaunee/Anishinaabe artist Sharon Rigby, who works with beading textiles and other media. The show is on display at MoD until March 29. (Another Museum of Dufferin moment not to miss: On March 25 MoD hosts an event exploring climate change from an Indigenous perspective. The event will be hosted by community elder Karen Vandenberg and her daughter, Skye Vandenberg, both of whom have a background in environmental science.)

A Long Ride Home

Monday Night at the Movies will present The Long Rider at Galaxy Cinemas Orangeville on March 20. The film documents the epic journey of former Caledon resident Filipe Leite who travelled 25,000 kilometres on horseback from Calgary to his family’s home in Brazil.

Filipe Leite wrapped in a Canadian flag on his arrival at the tip of South America. Photo by Barbara Nettleton.

The film’s award-winning director Sean Cisterna will be a guest at the event. He attended Robert F. Hall secondary school in Caledon East with Filipe in the late ’90s. During Filipe’s eight-year odyssey across 12 international borders, he and his horses battled intense heat, drought, speeding transport trucks, nature’s wrath and corrupt border guards on his history-making ride. 

There will be three screenings at 4:30, 7 and 9 pm. Advance tickets are available at BookLore in Orangeville or the cinema on the day of the performance. See the profile of Filipe, ‘Filipe Leite’s Incredible Journey‘. which appeared in this magazine in 2018.

Hiking News

On April 22, join the Dufferin Hi-Land Bruce Trail Club for their Pine River Nature Reserve cleanup day. This stretch of the Bruce Trail has a long history of visitors leaving garbage behind, so bring a bag and donate your time to help restore this area to its natural splendour.

Are you ready for a challenge? A hiking event at Mono Cliffs Provincial Park in May dares hikers to predict their time – with a prize for the closest guess! Photo by Rosemary Hasner.

At Mono Cliffs Provincial Park, the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club’s Prediction Hike on May 7 pushes hikers to predict the time it takes to complete one of two Bruce Trail routes without peeking at their watches. The hiker with the most accurate guess will receive a prize (in addition to bragging rights). The family-friendly hike begins at the Mono Community Centre in Mono Centre and co-ordinator Sandy Green says they’ve planned snacks along the way, photo ops and even special badges. The hike passes through a newly secured section of Bruce Trail land, the Whitetail Refuge Nature Reserve. Proceeds from registration fees go to trail maintenance and development of the Caledon section of the trail. 

A healing moment

Though each of us experienced the pandemic differently, a sense of loss is one sentiment that seems to unite us, whether a loss of connection, financial stability, lifestyle or for some, loved ones. The pain of that time lingers and working through it is key to our health. To help, the Caledon Public Library is hosting a workshop – Post Traumatic Growth: Loss & Healing Through the Lens of the Pandemic – on April 20 at its Southfields Village Branch. Participants will have an opportunity to reflect on their losses as well as the growth and renewed sense of purpose that may have emerged.

And the bands played on… 

Local music fans have two reasons to celebrate. First, Orangeville’s father and sons rock band trio, The Discarded, released their animated musical film and soundtrack, The Getgoes, on You Tube in September 2022.

A colourful throwback to retro Saturday cartoons and The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine, the film tells the story of a fictional band’s rise to fame, and all the ups and downs along the way, with 13 original high-tempo songs. The film is directed and written by the band’s frontman (and dad), J.P. Wasson, and is the band’s fourth project since its 2016 inception.

19th Annual Blues and Jazz Festival

It’s back! The Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival — rated one of Ontario’s top 100 festivals by nonprofit industry group Festivals and Events Ontario – is celebrating its 19th year from June 2 to 4. The festival features more than 80 acts across town, including Juno Award-winners MonkeyJunk from Ottawa and Barbra Lica of Toronto. With downtown Broadway closed to traffic all weekend, stroll through the Blues Cruise classic car show, take in a music workshop to hone your own skills, or pick up some locally made snacks and artisanal crafts at the outdoor market of more than 50 vendors.