Before removing the wires
After removing the wires
Select on the left to navigate through the english articles of that issue.
A trick used to hide an incongruous object when decorating is to render it more obvious. The wires on Main Street in Sutton were a great example of this, because although they dominated the scenery few noticed them anymore. Then, suddenly, after they were buried, few failed to notice the many phone poles and how crooked they were. Today, happy are those who remember the former environment because they can now fully appreciate the airy feeling on Main Street and the larger view of the landscapes surrounding the town. As for the others, well, they can surely appreciate the feeling of well being in the heart of the village.
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Before removing the wires |
After removing the wires |
Le Tour has published a number of articles about the study of the scenery in the area and has praised its splendid nature. But it isn't only about noticing it. Whether it is in Frelighsburg, Dunham or Sutton many citizens and businesses stand guard. Obviously, all should attempt to maintain a just balance between conservation and sustainable deve-lopment. The MRC, the CLD and the municipalities revise their zoning regulations, their waste disposal and recycling plans. All are betting on the fundamental values of the area so that future generations aren't deprived of them.
The leaders or, as one of these names them, « the lively forces of the community » consult one another more and more in order to consolidate such assets and to enhance the value of our natural attractions. It isn't about making them more obvious, but of better structuring them so that they become a whole, a destination and a unique product.
Some are worried with reason about the impact of the price of fuel, the warming of the climate, and the aging of the population upon the community. But, in general, most agree that the perspectives are dazzling for products such as culture, the outdoors, health and the art of living.
This issue of Le Tour presents small and great evidences that sometimes conceal essential characteristics and values that should not be lost or taken for granted.
Happy reading!
Denis Boulanger
“Surely I will remember thy wonders of old”. Psalm 77:11
We all have them – boxes of photographs of our family's summer holidays, weddings, birthdays long past and years of bad-hair-day school pictures. If you are typical, you probably have not written a date or a name on most of your collection. You may even have many photographs of people you don't know, taken by somebody, who knows when. Today many of us have images waiting on our computer or digital camera to be printed or stored with captions. We say to ourselves, “I must do that soon” or “everyone knows whom that is and where it was taken”.
In the Missisquoi Museum there is a collection of over 500 photographs all given the generic label of “Unknown”. The lovely daguerreotypes and Cartes de Visites depicting our early ancestors in Missisquoi County are carefully preserved but their identities and life stories place them in this unfortunate set of file boxes. Of course it was obvious to the original owner of the photograph who was in the picture; there was no need to write a name on the back! Very few it seemed ever thought that future generations would wonder who was in the picture.
On April 15th 1839, the Quebec Gazette published a report on “The New Art of Sun Painting”. The article explained that “pictures with prepared paper are taken… with the “camera obscura”. These first photograph-like images were made by placing leaves or lace on a sheet of light-sensitive paper coated with sodium chloride (common salt) and silver nitrate. This camera-less photographic process was called “photogenic drawing”. What seemed to be an amazing discovery was hardly exciting at all compared to the sensation created later that same year with the introduction of the “daguerreotype”.
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Daguerreotype Unknown Woman c. 1850 / Unknown man c. 1850 |
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Louis J.M. Daguerre of France succeeded in producing a permanent picture on a copper sheet, plated with silver. His lens and mirror placement permitted direct sun light to reflect onto a small photographic plate in a portable camera. The sensitivity of the plate was accelerated by the use of bromine, chlorine and iodine whereby the image came forth “as if by enchantment”. Few inventions had ever captured the imagination of the public as this one did. The daguerreotype was said to be “exquisite beyond descriptions” and its popularity skyrocketed around the world.
In September 1840 Montreal's Morning Courier announced that the “Daguerreotype Rooms of Halsey and Sadd would only remain open for a few days longer and that Ladies and Gentlemen who intended to have their Miniatures taken by this novel and extraordinary process should call at Mr. Herbert's Music Store”. Nine days later an advertisement in the Montreal Gazette stated that the daguerreotype rooms would remain open for three more days. Miniatures were advertised for the expensive sum of $5.00 including the silver plate and a fine Morocco Case (a silk or velvet lined case with a gilt mat and a cover glass to protect the image). By the late 1840s the daguerreotypists were no longer interesting enough to be the headline in a newspaper but they could be found in advertisements throughout and by 1850 there were established “daguerrian artists” in many Canadian towns and cities.
The early 1850s was the heyday of the daguerreotype and the public demand and the increase of inexpensive galleries meant that owning a daguerreotype was no longer the privilege of the wealthy. Portrait factories produced likenesses for the small charge of twenty-five cents a head. In 1851, daguerreotypes were exhibited at the “Great Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations” held at London's Crystal Palace.
Daguerreotypes were produced in such large numbers that today they are not rare; thousands of shiny and polished mirror images have survived in their composition and velvet lined cases. It was not uncommon in England and the United States for the case or gilt mat to be stamped with the maker's name but this was rarely done in Canada. Very few of the images were identified unless the sitter was a famous personality.
For most people of the mid 19th century, daguerreotypes were a souvenir of themselves or a gift for a loved one who obviously knew who they were. “In the spring”, wrote one son-in-law to his in-laws, “we expect our parents…will reciprocate, and favour us with their likenesses”. By the end of the 1850s the beautiful “mirror with a memory” images were almost obsolete as the newest wave of image production was introduced in the form of a wet-plate process known as the “ambrotype” which did not have the reflection of the silver plate, was cheaper to produce and could be given to the sitter shortly after the picture was taken. In the 1860 District of Bedford Times “N.L. Merrill”, announced to the citizens of Dunham that he had returned and was “preparing to make daguerreotypes, ambrotypes or melaineotypes in the best style of the art.” In 1868, the same Mr. Merrill was only producing ambrotypes. In the 1865 Waterloo Advertiser, Mr. E.B. Hodge publicized that he could make “card pictures from old daguerreotypes”.
Genealogists remind us to label and identify all of our photographs. They know first hand how agonizing it is not to know what family face is looking back at them. Each year more unidentified images are added to the museum's ‘unknown' boxes. Imagine your family members being categorized “anonymous” and your life story forgotten in time. Only a generation or two remembers us, unless of course we have a labelled photograph. What is so obvious to us now may not be so in the future.
Sources: The Expanding Eye - Alan Thomas; Canadian Photography - Ralph Greenhill & Andrew Birrell; L.J.M. Daguerre - Helmut and Alison Gernshiem.
Heather Darch
Musée Missisquoi Museum
2 rue River, Stanbridge East Qc J0J 2H0
(450) 248-3153
info@museemissisquoi.ca
www.missisquoimuseum.ca
by Diana Frizzle
It's that time of year again. Labour Day weekend and the Big Brome Fair are the first signs of the end of summer and return to the routine of school and work for which Brome Fair is the last hoorah! For more than 150 years the fair has provided a venue of excitement and entertainment for the whole family. Aside from the special night shows there are a variety of things that bring people back to the fair every year. It is taken for granted that there will be a midway and various artisans plying their wares and animals galore. With the general public being farther and farther removed from the land that produces their food, it has been an aim of the Brome County Agricultural Society to provide more educational exhibits.
The “Sheep to Shawl” exhibit is one in which a sheep is shorn, the wool is cleaned and carded then spun to make wool, as we know it, and finally made into a shawl or sweater.
In the Handicraft building there is a display by the Knitters' Guild to show various techniques of these disappearing skills and to answer anyone's questions. For the last several years there have been displays of how a cow is milked in the milking parlour and how maple syrup is made. To continue in the educational vein, there will be an animator giving sessions aimed at children but interesting for the parents as well on various farm animals and their purpose. Then, why not go to the petting zoo to get close to some of the animals or check out the horse and livestock judging in various locations throughout the grounds. All are invited to check it out in the arena! The midway with its rides and games is another tradition of Brome Fair and provides excitement for all ages. There is also musical entertainment and circus acts on the small stage and the grandstand all weekend long, and all this included in the admission price.
Don't forget the Big Parade on Sunday, August 31st as it is one of the biggest attractions each year. Your day isn't complete unless you have browsed through the vendor kiosks and tried the traditional and not so traditional fair food!
For special attractions this year the Board of Directors has put together a variety of things starting with the horse pull on Friday night and David Usher on Saturday night. There will be a truck and tractor pull on Sunday night and on Monday, the Pari-Mutual Racing will start at 1:00 p.m.
So come one, come all for fun and excitement and maybe learn a thing or two in the process. All roads obviously lead to Brome Fair on Labour Day Weekend!
Compassion and Self-Acceptance Awaits Beyond the Obvious
Seeking the deeper truth always has been a driving force in my life. When we look beyond the obvious, beneath the surface, there lies the key to compassion and a deeper consciousness of what is.
The how and why of human behaviour and emotions are the least obvious to our understanding. The underlying motivators of behaviour are unconscious issues and emotions. The operative word here is “unconscious”; which literally means we are not openly aware of what is at play in our behaviour.
Let us take the ego as an example as it is a popular subject of human consideration. In my experience, the ego is a very misunderstood vital part of our existence because its active role and reason for being is less than obvious and it is easily judged for its manifestation. It is often seen as a shady and destructive side of our character as it acts out in ways we judge as shameful and distasteful. What is not evident is that the ego is a warrior. It is instantly ready to go to war for our fears; it will fight tooth and nail to survive by protecting and hiding the weak and vulnerable in us. Like a protector and saviour it comes to our rescue putting forth an image of superiority, strength, intelligence, anything it can creatively gather to use as armour that will hopefully be impenetrable by the enemy: our judgment of what is weak. The ego is often described as non-loving; something we need to eradicate from our being and our actions. I don't believe one can survive being human without the ego actively expressing itself. It is an instinctual natural reaction to bring the ego to the frontline for our inner battles. We hide behind it; we put it forth as an archetype of strength (what is regarded as masculine energy), when we feel unable to show ourselves as we are. It comes down to accepting the ways we use to survive.
In my experience, paying close attention to the ego and how it expresses itself, giving it room and space to be - therein lies a wealth of opportunity for self-awareness and self-healing. For instance, it is being aware of when we are expressing the need to be right or better than others, acting self-righteously, arrogantly or acting/feeling superior in some way. We don't often like ourselves at that moment yet the impulse to react as we do is so strong. Compassion evolves from becoming aware of what lies beneath the façade of the active ego. What is revealed are the vulnerable, fragile parts of us that feel weak and desperate not to be perceived. It helps to understand that the external behaviour is the exact opposite of what we are feeling deep down and that we compensate by cleverly masking the truth of that feeling. When we feel weak in some way; we put on a mask of being strong including using our physical strength. When we feel we are wrong, we need to express and act out how right we are, even more so than with whomever we are in discord. When we feel inferior, we protect ourselves by acting superior, our unconscious gathers information on how we can support the belief that we are superior in some way and we act it out. It is obvious when you think about it, yet while in reactive mode witnessing either our own ego or someone else's acting out, it is far from evident, and we tend to stay stuck on the outer layer of truth.
There are infinite ways through our actions that we mask our inner vulnerabilities and deficiencies from the outside. Controlling our environment and others is the way we express feeling insecure and powerless over certain parts of our life. Outward control is a way to seek a release from the discomfort of powerlessness. Observing oneself becoming controlling is a great indicator and an opportunity for self awareness. Paying attention to the question, “What is it that I am feeling powerless about?” and observing its expression rather than trying to squelch and censor it, transforms how we feel and how we act out. Compassion and self-acceptance begins with the awareness and understanding of our own behaviour and underlying emotions. All our fears and issues stem from real life experiences, usually from our youth, which are imprinted in our energy and unconscious. Those fears will be expressed with or without our awareness through our actions and behaviour. It is how we release and heal ourselves naturally.
Marie-Noëlle Gagnieux, M.Ed
mngagnieux@gmail.com
450 538-0160
Townshippers' Day is organized in a different part of the Eastern Townships annually by the Townshippers' Association and a local partner.
The Association is a non-profit, non partisan organization founded in 1979. Townshippers' Day is a bilingual cultural festival and information fair where English and French speaking neighbours get together to celebrate the community and its heritage.
Townshippers' Day on Saturday, September 20 will attract an estimated 12,000 visitors on Sutton's Main Street and on Mont Sutton –sites of exceptional cultural vigour and natural beauty.
The Day will offer a smorgasbord of sights, sounds and activities for all ages: cultural and historical exhibits, arts performances, sports and games, artisans, environmental and economic exhibits, community and governmental services, and more.
I am delighted to invite you to participate in the 29th annual edition of Townshippers' Day 2008 which will be held on September 20th next at Mont Sutton in the magnificent Town of Sutton.
Townshippers' Day is a day of friendship celebrating the English community and its heritage. The event includes a cultural showcase of artists, artisans and bilingual activities as well as music and healthy food fare. The setting is the backdrop of the breathtaking autumn landscapes of the Eastern Townships. The event draws annually more than 12 000 persons for a day of family enjoyment.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the organizers as well as everyone who has contributed to make this day a remarkable event.
I look forward to seeing you at Townshippers' Day 2008 and remain,
Sincerely,
Kenneth Hill
Mayor of the Town of Sutton
By Catherine Canzani
With fall quickly approaching, I can't help but think back to the beginning of summer. All three of my children had waited for summer to start with so much anticipation…. the swimming, the late nights, campfires. They were convinced it would be perfect. They crossed off the days on the calendar, just waiting for that most important day – the last day of school. They would then be free. Life would be good.
What a surprise to them and us when that last day of school finally came, with all its excitement and fun and teary good-byes to teachers and friends. The day was finally over and the kids climbed onto the big yellow school bus, got dropped off at our doorstep, and Paf! The excitement burst like a big soapy bubble. Where was the magic? There was nothing to do. Everything was boring.
It got worse before it got better. The kids wanted to go swimming. The kids wanted to go out for ice cream. The kids wanted to go to the movies. They wanted to go for bike rides. They didn't like each other. They didn't like us. My husband and I would look at each other over the kids' heads as they bickered and mouth the words, “It's going to be a long summer.” The other would nod gravely.
Part of the solution to all of this unrest and irritability came quite by accident. I had come home the night before with a dollar-store medal, which had been a gag gift from my end-of-year teachers' social. I had left it on the kitchen counter and forgotten about it.
The next morning, my daughters came running downstairs, already fighting. Their current fight was about who was going to get to eat with the baby spoon. I know it sounds crazy, but they always seem to fight about things that have no value to the rest of us. The fight ended when Olivia dug out the spoon from where she had hidden it the night before, and quickly plunged it into her cereal so Laura couldn't use it. I glanced at my watch, 7:30 a.m. This was going to be a very long day.
When the girls were done eating. Olivia got up to put her dishes in the dishwasher, which happily surprised me. As she got up, she noticed the shiny medal on the counter. “Who's that medal for?” she asked me. I'm convinced it was divine inspiration that struck me from above at that precise instant and made me answer, “This is a very special medal. I won it last night, and I've decided that this medal will be awarded every day to the person who does something special to earn it. Today, it is an honour for me to award this medal to Olivia for putting her dishes away without being asked. Congratulations, Olivia.” I kept a sombre expression on my face as I knelt down to attach the medal around her neck. Both Laura and Olivia looked at me, transfixed. “Wow,” said Laura, “That's so cool!” She quickly got up and put her dishes in the dishwasher as well.
The medal has since been awarded daily for various reasons – being kind to one another, doing chores without complaining, being the first to jump into icy cold water, and for being a responsible pet owner.
Since that rocky beginning, the summer has gone by quite nicely. The kids gradually unwound and adopted the slower rhythm of summer. They re-learned how to amuse themselves and to enjoy the quiet moments as well as the fun-filled ones. They began to play together instead of fighting each other, and soon had all kinds of “inside jokes” that were known only to them and which brought them closer. We were able to sit around the patio set, laughing at their antics and making plans for the next day. My husband and I were relieved to know that our children still had many of the qualities that we have spent the last 6 to12 years teaching them. They hadn't disappeared after all.
Surprisingly, the medal kept its value in my daughters' eyes. Every day we would have a formal ceremony where the medal was awarded to a worthy recipient. I almost got in trouble one day when both girls did something monumental on the same day. Laura managed to make it through her first sleepover, and Olivia learned to start and stop on her bicycle all by herself. Once again, I was struck with inspiration and went to the basement, dug out my husband's old racing medals – and had a special ceremony with real medals to be awarded to each of the girls for their accomplishments.
It may sound obvious to us – but it made a real difference to two little girls who got to be celebrated for their accomplishments, just about every second day.
I went rafting in Ladahk the other day, in the very north of India. I was up for a little scenery, risk and excitement, so I signed onto a whitewater-rafting day. The morning run was to be down the narrow Zanskar River Valley, from Chiling to Nimmu, a point just below its confluence with the Indus River. It was the last leg of same company's 4-day trip from Padum, supposedly the best day, and it promised class III+ rapids. There would be a stop for lunch and then, were there enough people interested, we could augment the fee and continue down the Indus to Alchi in the afternoon, a more challenging run.
Though the Zanskar Valley is ama-zingly beautiful, the morning was much too passive for the two British couples. They were up for more, as were a British girl, a Canadian doctor, and a Dane. I had always been keen to continue and eight was enough, so we readied our raft.
But how rough would it to be? Rougher than the morning, for sure with more and longer runs of rapids and plenty of class IV and IV+ ones. There were clues too. Firstly, we'd had two rafts in the morning with just one kayak rescuer in the water. Setting out in the afternoon, we had just one raft but two kayaks, a four-fold increase. We had a new guide too - the lead guide. He told us he would put us through a battery of drills immediately, right off the beach, because “just around this first S-curve it gets interesting right away, class III and IV, but it goes on non-stop for 175 meters.”
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Driving up the Zanskar River to the put-in Chiling |
Wow! It was exciting! Yes, there were dead spots, but the whole tenor of the day had changed. The Indus was bigger, fuller and stronger. The valley was wider, windblown, and with no road. The rapids were more constant and insistent and the general acuity of the crew had heightened. There was talk of a dam, but surely that was some time in the future; you can't raft over a dam! But whatever it was, we were up for it!
That's when Alex, one of the Brits, tempted the gods. “These rafts are really stable. I can't see how you could flip one, or even fall out.” We each committed to take Alex with us if we were unlucky enough to “take a swim.” And we chided him for taking the edge off of our confident “Damn the Dam!” attitude. We had doubts about our abilities, but we also doubted the damn could be so bad.
Mark Twain famously said, “It is better to be thought a fool and say nothing, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” Our doubts were removed visually. There was the smoke from a rock crushing operation feeding the concrete production for the dam; this we could see for miles. Then, on the long approach, we could see that the foundation of the dam was already built most of the way across; a gap on the left compressed the flow past the unfinished structure. “That's our chute,” said the guide. Soon we could hear the water, a faint rush that became a deepening roar. As we got even closer, as if we needed more confirmation, we could see the workers on the left bank and on top of the dam all throwing down their tools and sprinting for the best vantage points. Like a French mob to the guillotines, our audience was eager. Obviously, we were in for quite of a ride.
Nobody died, but four of us took a swim, Alex included. We made it though the diversion channel with some semblance of control, and a little way into the outfall beyond. But it was there that the water from the diversion channel combined with the water from underneath creating a chaotic roiling that we just couldn't manage. A hole opened up in front of us, we dropped into it, and then climbed up the slope of what grew into a mountain of water. The raft flexed, flinging me off, and Alex dropped from the top picking Jane and Stephan off the raft's left side. I was under and disoriented for longer than I was comfortable, and then just trying to float and catch my breath (altitude, 3200 meters) was alarming. As the first one into the water I am the least qualified to say what happened next to the raft, but I was told that the other three were picked out of the water. I drifted into eddies that took me to a rock wall on the right bank where I clung until someone got to me on foot over the bluff.
There is nothing so ignominious looking as a 6-foot-tall man walking on a gravel road in a dripping wetsuit, anorak, lifejacket and helmet, and carrying a paddle. That was me. The raft had pulled off about a kilometer down stream, across the river and just past a fortuitously placed bridge built specifically for constructing the dam. I met most of them on that bridge, hugs all around. Of course I had to get right back to my station for the rest of the run, but a mere class IV rapid seemed fairly benign after my “swim.”
The next day I went to pay my supplement for the afternoon rafting. The guy said that that rapid had been a class IV before the dam's construction began. Since then it had crept up, but to what? It had been a week since they had made it through without losing anyone overboard. Perhaps it was in need of re-ranking or even abandoning, he said. Seemed obvious to me.
Jay Sames
jay.sames@gmail.com
Submitted from Leh, Ladakh, in the State of Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Chris Rawlings: children's musician from the Townships
In the Heath family's apple orchard in Stanstead, families and school groups have been delighting for over a decade in the songs that Chris sings for them at harvest time. Rawlings, whose career as a folk-singer spans an amazing 40 years, has performed at major folk and children's festivals and composed film scores for the NFB.
On “Rocks and Water,” Chris Rawling's last geology-and-ecology-themed album for kids, the musician sings and plays guitar and recorder. Two different school groups provide backup on songs in French and English on such subjects as the rock cycle, the scientific method and the solar system…
We're all living on a layer cake
Way down under the ground…
So take a slice and look around
Kids' music with an environmental message, of course, is not new – and Canada has a strong tradition of gentle ‘activist' folksong aimed at a young audience. Rawlings' music continues this tradition, his experience and his musical talent giving depth to his message. His honeyed voice takes center stage in his original compositions, giving a new perspective on education and the environment.
You and I are the ones
Who must do all that we can
Starting at home with our families
That they understand…
In Ontario, Rawlings is part of the province-wide project “Mariposa in the Schools” – to educate and introduce “young people to world oral traditions that link past generations to new generations with inspirational stories through music, song, dance, puppetry and spoken word.” MITS offers 50 performing arts programs by 30 artists from Canada (including First Nations), Africa, the Caribbean and South Asia.
Here in Canada, we are truly lucky to have a company like The Secret Mountain regularly releasing albums in both English and French for kids and families. The production quality and the artwork are always impeccable - the hardcover books that accompany the CDs feature the work of such talents as Stéphane Jorisch, Pierre Pratt, Fil et Julie, and Élise Gravel. The label's repertoire re-visits such musical treasures as Félix Leclerc, Gilles Vigneault, Lionel Daunais, and Les Cahiers de la Bonne Chanson of the 1950s. The music feels fresh, funny and inspiring, performed by such young local artists as Mara Tremblay, Yann Perrault, Connie Kaldor, Ariane Moffatt and Jorane, as well as international musicians Jeanne Cherhal, Bia, and Francis Cabrel. The current catalogue of The Secret Mountain also includes 3 collections of lullabies from the Canadian prairies to China, Senegal, Mali and Louisiana, You can travel and learn while the rich traditions of such diverse cultures bring calm and peace to bedtime.
The last Secret Mountain story/music CD that our family bought is ‘Un Cadeau pour Sophie' (2007), a story written and narrated by Gilles Vigneault himself, along with his daughter Jessica Vigneault and actor James Hyndman. The story is sweet and simple, sometimes sad – and the original songs that round off this lovely package are outstanding. The instrumentation is careful to leave the spotlight on Vigneault's lyrics, which dance, swing, and tumble as they weave the story of Sophie, Emilio and Bonhomme Tom.
Putumayo Kids was created in 1993 as a children's and educational division of the independent label Putumayo World Music. There are no less than 16 releases from Putumayo Kids, easily recognizable by the playful cover art from Nicola Heindl - the CDs take the listener around the world for fun (the ‘Playground' and ‘Sing Along' discs are lively, and their accompanying liner booklets are in English, French and Spanish) – or for relaxation (there are 4 CDs in the ‘Dreamland' series, including traditional Celtic, Asian and African lullabies). Putumayo works with an ethnomusicologist to choose songs with kid-friendly lyrics and rhythms by renowned and ‘undiscovered' international artists. The label has more than 20 offices worldwide, from New York City to Rio de Janiero, Stockholm to Tel Aviv and Tokyo. Their CDs and activity kits have won multiple awards and a portion of the proceeds from each new release is donated to charity (more than 40 organizations have benefited from this commitment over the years). This year, Putumayo celebrated the 15th anniversary of the label and released a very special album for the 400th anniversary of Québec City with songs in French (and in Montagnais). Released on June 24th, a portion of the proceeds from Québec will be donated to Jeunes Musiciens du Monde (Young Musicians of the World), a Quebec-based non-profit organization that provides children free schooling and training in traditional music.
The CDs and labels featured here can be found locally at:
Librairie le Livre d'or, 12-B Principale in Sutton;
Librairie Cowansville, 533 rue Sud;
Station Knowlton.
http://www.putumayo.com/
http://www.lamontagnesecrete.com/
http://www.stationknowlton.com/homepg.html
http://www.vergerheathorchard.com/
Heath Orchard: 4950 Heath Rd., Rte. 143 Stanstead, QC (819) 876-2817
This is my tale to tell,
Before I bid you fare thee well!!
It's hard to believe that it should take 2 English words to express 1 French word. Usually it's the other way around. The theme of this paper's present edition is “ÉVIDENCE” which means an “OBVIOUS FACT”. Is their anything more evident? Let us find out.
This morning I asked Brian Hoyt, Sutton's whistler, for a favor and he kindly obliged ‘cause Brian's a good human being. Every morning he whistles in front of the dépanneur on la rue Principale. All he is stating is “whistle while you work!” This is just to get us ready for our working day ahead. I query if anyone is paying attention to such an “OBVIOUS FACT”. The 7 dwarfs and myself, we always whistle while working and we work harder than anyone I know.
When Brian whistles, I tend to ponder and listen to what my inner-self is saying. Listening to one's self is a major function of our existence. But even more importantly, I find, is to listen to others. So Brian said, “Make sure you mention me in your next article”, and this I have just done. Thanks for everything Brian.
I then found myself straight in the path of Brigitte Normandin - an artist <doyenne> of our community. Being that she is of the visual arts, I can sense her eyes penetrate my soul. I must admit that this can be an eerie feeling. Then we jostled and had some fun just trying to figure out which side of the sidewalk we each would take. But me being the guy in this scene, I could not resist and went straight for her body. We chuckled because I was excusing myself for having done something that was such an “OBVIOUS FACT”.
She once explained to me that she could see an “OBVIOUS FACT” in whatever she looks at. In my personal view, she looks at life like Picasso would. Brigitte can transform a piece of anything into a ‘piece of art'. What seems most evident to me is that she is obviously an artist.
As I took my usual shortcut through the parking lot next to the post office, I stumbled unto Doctor Michel Morin and his most delightful companion, Line. They were just standing there with their bikes and looked strikingly sharp with all their riding gear on. It was an “OBVIOUS FACT” that they were about to depart on a trip to somewhere, so I jokingly asked them if they were just standing there to look good. We all laughed as they acknowledged that I had found out their little secret.
They were actually on their way to Richford VT and planned on coming back through Mansonville. But if I had not asked them, how could I have known? Truth is that I know them very well. They love our area and cycle regularly. But what is evident to me might not have been to someone else.
Then I suddenly found myself walking next to Madame Claudette Kunsay who just happens to live next to The Sutton School on Highland Street. So where is the “OBVIOUS FACT” in this one? …”Elementary, dear Watson!” Monsieur et Madame Kunsay chose to establish themselves in Sutton in 1990. The plan being that Monsieur would benefit from his retirement while Madame would end her teaching career. So they found a home close to the school.
Claudette taught for another 13 years and let me tell you that all the kids that I have spoken to remember her with deeply felt fondness. Madame Claudette is still very active in the community but you will never hear her brag about it. She just keeps doing a lot of good things. This fact may not be evident to many people around here but to me, it's an “OBVIOUS FACT”.
What I have to say next was actually meant for another article but it doesn't look like this will happen. So I beg each and every one of you to go on the net and look up the name: Thierry Bégin Lamontagne on your favorite search engine. He is a young aspiring Mozart of the guitar from Cowansville and will make his way to Vienna in order to refine his craft. He is nothing less than phenomenal! And this really is an “OBVIOUS FACT”. But Vienna is a lot of $$$ away so just maybe somebody has an idea of how we can help this kid.
Oops! I almost forgot to tell my tale. The past 28 years have most certainly been the best years of my life. And I owe it to all the people I have met since I first arrived in this region. If I owe you some money, don't worry; I'm working on it...
Furthermore, let me express that life is strewn with “OBVIOUS FACTS”. Most times it is not that we don't see them, it's just that we are not looking for them.
When I arrived in Sutton everything I was looking for was mostly in my head. But gents around here made me see things another way and so I listened. Good thing I did.
So for now I bid thee “fare thee well” and “have a great fall season”.
Rolland Potvin
Obviously, Sutton has made considerable progress in the past few years. The wire burial endeavour has markedly put Sutton's beauty on the map. This Herculean project took most of the spring, summer and fall of last year, plus a bit of this spring and summer to final completion. Clearly, in order to complete this huge task successfully, Suttonites, City Council members, Town employees and contractors proved themselves to be conspicuously innovative and creative. Planning to improve the aqueduct and sewage systems and beautify the village was costly, but the obvious advantages made it well worth it and, without a doubt, the amazing results impress everybody. Residents, visitors and tourists alike often comment on the discernible feeling of the openness Main Street now has.
It is also obvious that annual events and festivals markedly help to maintain the fun atmosphere that draws visitors back year after year. The dynamism of Sutton attracts many young and not so young peoplefrom far and wide. This fall, tourists and Sutton residents alike are distinctly privilegedas three exciting festivals will undeniably bring a real feeling of energy to the village just as the temperature starts to drop. The Sutton Jazz Festival, which starts on September 20th and ends on October 18th as well as the Sutton Blues Festival, beginning October 11th and ending November 22nd, will perceptibly spice up weekend evenings with the influx of innumerable music lovers from all over the region. In addition, the well-known and very special Panoramaduod'lacôte simply cannot be overlooked. Five weekends of popular activities brazenly show off our unmistakably magnificent fall colors. Great music, creative regional cuisine and breathtaking views are only some of the stupendous characteristics of this festival and its resounding success is plainly reflected by the 20 000 visitors who attend the festival each year. Sutton also has the privilege to host the 29th annual Townshippers' Day on Saturday September 20th. The event is held annually on the 3rd Saturday of September and is expected to attract around 12 000 partici-pants. The 2008 Sutton Organizing Committee for the Townshippers' Day has extended the event from September 18th to the 21st for the first timein hopes of keeping people in Sutton a little longer. A golf tournament at the Golf Les Rochers Bleus will be held on Thursday the 18th; a concert by the Société Philharmonique de Montréal conducted by Miklos Takacs will take place at the Saint André Roman Catholic Church on Friday, Sept. 19th, at 8 p.m. Tickets will be on sale for $ 25.00 (points of sale to be announced). On Sunday the 21st at 2 p.m, a free outdoor concert at the Sutton Municipal Park on Western Street will be offered to the whole population.
It has been 20 years since the magic of Townshippers' Day has lit up Sutton.This exciting cultural event will involve the entire town of Sutton, as well as the Mont Sutton ski resort. Participants will be entertained with street animation, dance, music and storytelling in a peaceful, relaxing and creative atmosphere.
Obviously, no one knows everything there is to know about Sutton, so why not drop by the tourist office and prepare yourself to be amazed!
The office is open Sunday to Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The BATgirls !
Don't just look, make sure you see!
Lynda Graham
I don't know about you but all too often I am accompanied by an incessant voice in my head that runs on and on telling me what I need to do, what I must not forget and so on. Recently, along with many others in Sutton, I have been reading a book called A New Earth. In this book the author suggests, amongst other things, that it is important to switch off that voice from time to time, to live in the moment rather than the past or the future and as a consequence be much more appreciative of one's surroundings. I decided to try this out the other day walking along rue Principale here in Sutton.
Usually when I walk along I am thinking about a hundred and one things: errands, housework that I need to do, upcoming reservations here at B&B Vert Le Mont, my boyfriend Jay on his travels in India and so on and so on – you know how it goes. The result is that whilst my physical body is walking along my mind is usually some place else entirely. This time I kept my mind quiet, my eyes open and simply looked around me truly noticing my surroundings.
Firstly have you noticed the new vistas that have opened up since the wires and poles came down? Looking both North and South the views are just beautiful. Next, I was amazed by how great rue Principale is looking and also by the efforts that I realised it must have taken to get it that way. Flowers are everywhere and art too has sprung up. It's easy to take these things for granted but much of this improvement is due to the efforts of individual Sutton citizens.
Solange Duguay is responsible for many of the gardens and terraces that run along rue Principale. I often see her working at all hours planting, watering and tending to the tiny spaces in which she has to toil. Of course Solange is paid for this but the pride that she takes in her work is priceless.
The other thing that has flourished along rue Principale is art. Roger Gervais has installed sculptures by local artists in front of a number of businesses. Thanks to the efforts of Louise and Marc Dettwiler, we have Olivier Burnham's arch commemorating the Coupe des Ameriques. Stores like Atelier Bouffe, Au Coeur des Saisons and Farfelu always have wonderful shop window displays that are like pictures in themselves and Rumeur Affamée typically has some interesting work of art in their window. The little banners suspended from the new lamp posts are eye catching and even commercial signs, such as the one for Amore di Pasta, can add value to our village landscape.
Next time you walk along rue Principale make the effort to really see what is in front of your nose and I think you will be as pleasantly surprised as I was.
Girls' Hockey Team For Uauitshitun School
Help me make it happen!
Let me begin by introducing myself. My name is Rachel Demers and I was born and raised in the Sutton area. Last year, I graduated from McGill University and set off for what I thought would be a short-term teaching experience in Natashquan. I was posted on an Innu Native Reservation located on the Lower North Shore of Quebec. It was a new, difficult experience, but the Innu people, with their warmth, sense of humor, and love of life, stole my heart, and I find myself already looking forward to going back to the reservation again next year to teach…and to make a difference.
The Innu people are known for their “love of laughing”``. They love to spend time in nature returning to their cultural heritage of hunting and fishing. The Innus are people to whom you can become extremely attached but they are in a desperate situation. Living in a restricted area, many have lost a sense of purpose and have settled for passive lifestyles and, as a result, many have developed bad habits. The main problems evident amongst the Innu people are: sexual promiscuity, loss of motivation because many see no hope for a brighter future, lack of parental support in educating the youth, no boundaries set for the young ones, loss of cultural heritage, rampant drug and alcohol consumption, absence of stimulating activities in the community and school dropouts.
This year, many teachers introduced new courses to the curriculum as a means to motivate students (i.e. music, arts, survival skills, cooking and sewing). We even created and distributed a promotional pamphlet on the community in order to bring back school dropouts. One of the highlights proposed was a Girls' Hockey Team to represent the school. I dove in, knowing that this would become my way of making a difference; hence the reason for this article.
I will be coaching a team of approximately 18 girls next year, but I can't get this project off the ground without financial support. We will need to cover the costs of our jerseys, transportation to tournaments, and the rental of an arena an hour and a half's drive away. We are hoping that being a part of a team will stimulate and encourage students to succeed. This success not only applies to academics, but also to the individual's personal and social life.
I am convinced that the Girls' Hockey Team will have a positive impact on these girls' lives, as it will give them a sense of belonging. They will discover new pleasures in life through physical activity, shared goals, and through the sense of purpose these young women will experience by being a part of a team.
I am appealing to businesses here in my hometown of Sutton and other towns in the area, as well as any individuals who would like to help me make a difference in the lives of the Innu – our fellow Canadians. One hundred percent of all donations will go directly to the Girls' Hockey Team. I am both excited and nervous about this endeavor. Please help me to make it a reality.
Please contact me at 418 533-2024 if you wish to help us attain our goal or for additional information.
“Quoi de Neuf ?”
Obviously; a Unique Experience!
This year the ‘Quoi de Neuf? Artisan Show and Sale' is taking place on Saturday and Sunday, October 18 & 19. It will be held at the Knowlton Golf Club, 264 Lakeside Road, in Knowlton. The location is a wonderful reminder of yesteryear, as are many of the skills shown, and crafts displayed. It is obvious on entering, that this is no ordinary shopping experience; no box store here, no mass merchandised items of dubious quality in sight; but a return to handcrafted, quality workmanship. Many old style skills are on display: folk art furniture, willow basketry, dried flowers, braided rugs, Victorian santas, homemade soaps and bath salts, herbal mixes and tisanes, stained glass, woven fabrics, unique children's clothing, wood carvings, doll houses, and blown/flamed glass, hand- died hooked rugs, rustic folk art dolls, cushions and wall hangings, rustic bird houses, ceramics, turned wood items, and beautifully crafted local angora knits, woven ponchos, & crafted accessory bags. Many of these artisans have put their own modern interpretation to these crafts, thus featuring the obvious “ one of a kind ” type of merchandise. Food items, mostly locally grown produce are available; cider products, flavouring salts, honey products, fudge, rose-based food and beauty items, and more.
The ‘Quoi de Neuf? Artisan Show and Sale' is an annual event, and has been running for over 13 years. Started as a small, home based sale; it is now evident that it has grown to a large upscale show welcoming between 30 and 40 artisans, from the local region and other places in the Eastern Townships. The organizers, most of whom have been involved since the beginning, are also participants. They are very proud to be associated with this event, which continues to show that the local talent is formidable, displaying unique items made with care and a devotion to one's craft. They know that the obvious trend, as the world becomes more environmentally conscious will be towards locally produced items, unique in their quality, attention to detail, and allowance for customized touches. They feel the support of one's community is important. Each year the artisans contribute examples of their crafts towards a raffle supporting a local charity.
The ‘Quoi de Neuf? Artisan Show and Sale' is a wonderful experience. A place to get unique gifts, unusual items for home, Christmas goodies or just to look around and experience the wondrous creativity. Quoi de Neuf? …the obvious choice! Saturday October 18; 9 am – 5 pm, Sunday October 19, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Information: 450 243-0890
Debbie Hornig
Dirt-Road Cycling – The Obvious and the Not-So-Obvious
By Stéphane Marcoux
VeloZoom
The leaves are turning and most of us have achieved our road biking goals for the season. A sense of melancholy sets in as we see summer ending. We know that the cycling season is almost over, yet it doesn't have to be. If you get the chance to expe-rience dirt road cycling in the fall, this could become a whole new cycling season in itself.
There are hundreds of kilometres of dirt roads, connecting Abercorn, Sutton, Dunham and Frelighsburg, not to mention the connecting roads between Sutton, Brome, and Mansonville. But before we launch ourselves into the unpaved valley, here are a few obvious and not-so-obvious tips about dirt road cycling, which I've had the chance to learn in the past 15 years. First things first - get a map of the region with the dirt roads clearly marked. If you are not familiar with the region, you may end up doing much more mileage than you had planned for – as I found out the hard way. There are so many connecting dirt roads around our region that even after having ridden them for 15 years, I still end up taking an unexpected detour from time to time. Obviously, this shows the potential of the vast network of dirt roads for you to explore.
You will get the chance to discover the region in a whole new way, seeing unfamiliar views other than the ones you have become used to seeing on your road bike, not to mention all of the wildlife, fauna, historical buildings, roads, and private cemeteries. One of the things that always amazes me as I ride the dirt roads, is how my perspective of Mont Pinnacle changes depending on which side of the mountain I am on.
What do you need to make this a successful adventure? Obviously – a bike! You can use just about any bike, but make sure the tires are built to withstand dirt road cycling since the chances of puncture are much higher than on paved roads. Make sure you select a tire that is highly puncture resistant. Bring along an emergency tool kit containing a spare inner tube, multi-tools and a pumping device because car traffic can sometimes be very rare on dirt roads, as I found out the hard way once on McCullough Road. Stranded, I had to ask a kind lady working in her front yard for a lift home. I know what you're thinking… what a bike mechanic? Unprepared? But we all get caught unprepared from time to time.
Although you can enjoy dirt road biking on almost any bike, you will probably get more out of the experience using a Cyclocross which is very similar to a road bike and offers high performance and comfort. You will travel a lot further and more easily on a cross bike than on a mountain bike. You maintain the feeling of being on a road bike although you are travelling on dirt roads. Awesome!
Here are a few safety tips to remember while dirt road riding. You may see fewer cars than on the highway but car drivers on dirt roads are not expecting to meet many cyclists. When a car approaches, move care-fully to the edge of the road. Don't make any sudden moves since your bike handles differently on dirt roads. You have a higher risk of sliding and falling if you make your movements too brisk and sudden. As soon as you hear a car, plan your move immediately, don't wait until the car is too close.
Another not-so-obvious safety tip is, beware of loose dogs, as there are many more on dirt roads. If you are faced with a loose dog coming towards you, one thing for sure, do not attempt to out-sprint the dog. Stop and yell, this should startle him and will hopefully get the attention of the owner. If you are faced with an aggressive dog, use your bike as a shield.
Your bike will need more TLC when you ride the dirt roads. Keep your gears and your chain clean. Wipe them off with a degreaser after your ride. Reapply a good coating of oil after cleaning. Nothing will spoil your chain and gears faster than dirt road grime.
I have many more tips but this last one I consider important, dress in layers. In the fall, temperatures change quickly. Keep this in mind as you dress for your ride and always bring a raincoat – there are raincoats designed especially for cycling that fold up and can be shoved into a pocket.
Obviously, it is not hard to go dirt road riding, but the key to an enjoyable excursion is to be well prepared. Don't forget your camera – you'll regret it if you do!
Ride hard or easy and have fun!
It was evident that I needed to go and do this…but I did not realize how much until I actually did it. Three years ago I had heard of a place where one might go and learn a meditation technique that could alter a life. But there was always a reason not to go: single parent of a young child, didn't have the time or couldn't afford to take the time. Well, I managed to set aside all the excuses and took the plunge.
I packed a bag, surrendered my car, my computer, and my cell. I left behind all of the keys to the locks that represent responsibilities and agreed to be driven to the Vipassana Center in Glen Sutton.
Upon my arrival, I was asked to take a vow of silence for 10 days, not to make eye contact with fellow novices, respect a modest dress code, have no physical contact and respect the separation of men and women -basically to live like a monk for the entire period.
Meditation was not strange to me; I had already devoted 45 minutes per day to it and even taught a form of it at the Sunshine Centre. However I had no idea of what was to follow in the next 10 days.
It is incredible how much you learn about yourself when you meditate 11 hours per day. At times it was wonderful to have all that time to be alone by myself then, at other times, I felt like a little kid being dragged off kicking and screaming. I felt desperate to express what I was feeling. The daily question period with the teacher was not enough for me, but it was an important part of the process. Humour helped me through it and also knowing that it was only going to last 10 days.
This particular technique was originally taught by Buddha as a path to enlightenment, so anyone of any faith or atheist can learn to do it. It does not require of someone to renounce his or her own beliefs, it is meant as a tool to help one to stop suffering and to heal. It also helps people to have more compassion for themselves and each other.
The most frequent questions I've since been asked are: would I do it again and how has it helped you? Yes, I would repeat the experience! I also learnt that instead of asking how can I get something, I am now asking how can I give something. How may I help wherever and whenever possible – to give without expecting to receive? We are so lucky to have this wonderful place so close to us as there are only 3 in Canada.
As a result of it, as of September, I will be offering free 30 minutes massage therapy treatments to people who cannot afford the service but really need it on Wednesday afternoons between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. No appointments needed, first come first served. The Sunshine Center is located in Sutton at 50, Principale N. Studio 204 (above the X-Calibur Gym).
The Sunshine Center will be holding an Open House on Saturday the 13th of September from 1 to 3 p.m. Registration will be open to all for any of the many classes that are offered such as Dance, Yoga, Tai Chi and Qi Gong.
For those who are interested in discovering Vipassana, an Open house will be held Sunday, August 31 from 1 to 5 p.m. People will be allowed to walk around the grounds and view a 15-minute video about the technique.
After this experience, it is obvious to me that everyone should discover it.
Ilia Kavoukis
450 538-1791
26th Apple Pie Festival at the Missisquoi Museum
Admission includes apple pie, ice cream, coffee, tea, or apple juice as well as a visit to the museum. There will also be music and children's activities. Come early as the museum doors open at 10 am! Bring a lunch to eat on the museum grounds or go to the Soup Luncheon beginning at noon in the Memorial Hall.
Sunday, September 21st, from 1:30 pm – 4 pm (rain or shine).
Admission $7.00 for adults; $2.00 for children 10 and under.
Information: 450-248-3153 ou www.museemissisquoi.ca