Field Notes for Summer 2024

Get Hooked

Fishing enthusiasts wait all year with bated breath (pun intended) for the Island Lake Bass Fishing Derby, taking place from July 13 to 14. Armed with rods and reels, participants test their casting skills to see who can hook the biggest catch. Kids under 15 compete in the Youth Derby with prizes for largemouth and smallmouth bass, black crappie, Northern pike and more. Participants 15 and older can snag the coveted $5,000 first prize. Daily admission and the boat launch fee are included in registration.

Drawing Nature, in Nature

Join well-known artist, educator and shamanic practitioner CJ Shelton and author and In The Hills contributor Nicola Ross for Capturing the Moment, a workshop on the Art of Illustrated Journalling held in the lush gardens of the Alton Mill Arts Centre on June 15. The goal of the workshop is to “tickle all your senses, helping you to feel as much as observe the world around you, whether it is describing your backyard or Timbuktu,” the organizers say. Later in July, Orangeville artist Ricky Schaede leads three one-day outdoor drawing workshops in Alton and Mulmur.

Helping Prevent Oak Wilt

Ontario’s oaks are under threat from an invasive fungal disease that restricts the flow of water and nutrients, and can cause death within weeks. But there are some steps you can take to help reduce the spread. “Unfortunately, there is no cure,” says James Godbold of Hill’N Dale Landscaping, “but you can avoid moving oak firewood to other parts of Ontario, and don’t prune, wound or cut oak from April through July, even into November.”

Dogs and other Wild Things

Artists focus on the feral and tap into their untamed imagination at the Headwaters Arts’ Where the Wild Things Are exhibition at the Alton Mill Arts Centre until July 1. And it’s a tail-wagging good time at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives with the Oh My Dog! exhibition of work by artists who have chosen man’s best friend as their muse – on until September 3.

Going for Gold

As Team Canada heads to the Paris Olympics in July, be sure to cheer for 29-year-old pole vaulter Alysha Newman, a Caledon East resident who has competed at the Commonwealth Games, the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and the Pan Am Games. Alysha’s goal is to become the first Canadian female pole vaulter to take home an Olympic medal and break the five-metre barrier.

Catch competitive archery in action when The Archers of Caledon host the Canada Cup East from June 21 to 23. Highlights include watching more than a hundred archers launch their arrows and hit targets up to 70 metres away. The club will also be at the Caledon Day event on June 15, where you can try archery for free.

The Island Lake Classic attracts runners, walkers and stroller warriors for a 10K loop around Island Lake, a shorter 5K through challenging forested hills, or a Family Fun Run open to kids 10 and under. The event is September 2, but if you want to train on your treadmill, visit raceroster.com for virtual runs around Island Lake.

Save the Dates: Fun in the Sun

Feel the pride at Celebrate Your Awesome, back on June 15 in Orangeville’s Alexandra Park with great food, music, vendors and performers. The inaugural Erin Pride Festival kicks off on June 22 at McMillan Park with entertainers and artisans. The Orangeville Fall Fair runs from August 30 to September 1.

Concert News

Fridays in the Park offers free outdoor concerts starting on June 14 at Shelburne’s Jack Downing Park with performers such as The Campfire Poets, Terra Lightfoot, Clerel and Naomi Bristow, plus Bhangra dancers, a Jumpin’ Jamboree and face painting for kids. Visit the Town of Shelburne website for info.

Erin Hill Acres, on 3rd Line Erin, hosts tribute concerts featuring Eagles devotees Hotel California on June 15 and country tunes by Shania Twin on July 20. She’s sure to impress you much, as the real Shania puts it.

Caledon Day turns 50 this year with multi-platinum and six-time Juno Award-winning Canadian alt-rocker Sam Roberts Band at the Caledon East Community Complex on June 15.

Held at picturesque venues in small, intimate settings, the Caledon Music Festival from August 4 to 18 brings together some of Canada’s top classical musicians, including Emily Vondrejsova, Douglas Kwon, Sarah Kim, Ryan Davis, Songhee Lee, Catherine Gray, and Daniel Hamin Go.

Midnight Madness

Downtown Bolton’s Midnight Madness takes over on August 9 with musical acts such as the 12-piece Motown group The Momentum Band, plus a food truck alley, patios and a Kid Zone with face painting, magicians and inflatables.

Getting Help, in your Language

TeleCheck, a free and confidential phone service that reaches out to independent adults 55-plus to provide health checks and social connections, has partnered with Polycultural Immigrant & Community Services – their Orangeville branch is on Brenda Boulevard – to provide their services in more languages, including Bengali, Hindi, Portuguese, Urdu and Yoruba.

Bryan’s Fuel Celebrates a Century

Congratulations to Orangeville-based Bryan’s Fuel, which started as a small garage in 1924 and evolved to an HVAC and fuel business that employs 70 people. “We’re really proud to have gotten to 100,” says Laura Bryan, great-granddaughter of the company’s founder, Roy D. Bryan, “but mostly we’re grateful that an amazing community has supported us for 100 years.”