Grand Bend, Ontario community newspaper and entertainment events guide. Also serves Zurich, Dashwood, Port Franks, Exeter, Parkhill. Casey Lessard photos.
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Public policy and regulation among subjects of winter Partners in Learning discussions The winter season of Partners in Learning, a discussion group that meets at the Southcott Pines clubhouse, runs Wednesdays from Jan. 13 to Feb. 10 and then March 3 to 31. This season’s topics include Science, Serving the Public Interest?; Has Big Brother [...]
Lambton Shores mayor wants low-pressure sewers before infrastructure funding runs dry The Lambton Shores sewage treatment plant and Zone 3 sewer network could be the last project mayor Gord Minielly is involved in before he retires. Casey Lessard sat down with the mayor to discuss the projects. Why is this project necessary now? We just [...]
The Grand Bend Chamber of Commerce named its 2009 Entrepreneur of the Year and Business of the Year at its annual general meeting November 12. Colonial and Gables won the business award, while Paddington’s Pub owner Jen Gaukroger won the entrepreneur honour. Interview and photo by Casey Lessard What makes you successful as an entrepreneur? [...]
Darlene O’Rourke taking part in torch relay Story and photo by Casey Lessard This is one flame Dashwood firefighter Darlene O’Rourke won’t want to put out. O’Rourke is on her way to Summerside, PEI this week to take part in the 2010 Winter Olympic torch relay. She will run the torch November 22 at approximately [...]
Zurich photographer opens shop in Exeter above Village Vines Story and photo by Casey Lessard One of our favourite area photographers, Sandra Regier, opened a studio and office above Village Vines in Exeter in July. Regier hosted an open house Friday to show the new place, which is a photographer’s dream. The former apartment has [...]
SHDHS receives $10,000 CARAS instrument grant Story and photos by Casey Lessard Music students at South Huron District High School are blowing new horns after the school’s music program received a $10,000 equipment grant from the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS). “You’d be surprised how much equipment costs,” says music director Isaac [...]
The Grand Bend Chamber of Commerce named Paddington’s owner Jen Gaukroger its entrepreneur of the year, and named the Colonial Hotel and Gables Bar the business of the year for 2009. The awards were presented at the chamber’s annual general meeting Thursday night at Hessenland Country Inn in St. Joseph. Guest representatives from Saugeen Shores [...]
Father Brad Dunbar has been rector of Trivitt Memorial Church in Exeter and St. John-by-the-Lake in Grand Bend for the past two years, and recently presided over Trivitt’s 150th anniversary celebrations. As told to Casey Lessard Photos by Casey Lessard Trivitt has begun to recognize that we live in a post-Christian era. The days when [...]
Story by Casey Lessard Painting by Helga Otton After a trip to Cuba, an inspired Helga Otton returned to Grand Bend with plans to document the town in the way Caribbean artists do. The result is Dreamin’ Grand Bend, a surreal collage of favourite Grand Bend landmarks painted in acrylic on canvas, as seen at [...]
Inspired by Brian Dale’s Miss Grand Bend, a group of radio listeners is fighting to win CBC’s Great Canadian SongQuest Story and file photos by Casey Lessard Only days remain to vote for Grand Bend (or its competitors) in CBC Radio 2’s Great Canadian Songquest, a contest to choose one town from each province to [...]
What do you do without demolition derbies? Race lawn tractors, of course. Photos and story by Casey Lessard Most people don’t get a rush of adrenaline from hopping on a lawnmower, so it’s easy to be surprised by the idea of challenging a few friends to a lawnmower race. It’s something a group of guys [...]
Let’s Play Bridge Musical comedy presented by the Grand Cove Musical Theatre Group Fri. October 2 – 7 p.m. Sat. October 3 – 7 p.m. Sun. October 4 – 2 p.m. Grand Cove Caddyshack. Tickets: $7.50; on sale Mondays and Fridays from 1-3 p.m. at Caddy Shack or call Jo Dabrowski at 519-238-5156. Grand Cove’s [...]
Story by Casey Lessard Although it’s not very common in Canada today, polio had a serious and sometimes deadly impact on Canadians until the 1950s. Today, polio (or poliomyelitis) affects about 1,000 people worldwide, with almost all cases occurring in India, Afghanistan and Nigeria. That’s down from 350,000 cases in 1985, when Rotary International pledged [...]
“It’s always with you.” – Hugh Marsh As told to Casey Lessard Hugh Marsh is a former area resident whose family ties remain in and around Grand Bend. He has lived in California most of his life, and spent much of his career teaching engineering writing at the University of California Santa Barbara. A polio [...]
“You either get better or you die.” – Reg Copeman Reg Copeman of Port Franks grew up in London, and in early 1952, he contracted polio at age 10. He has few aftereffects today, but the memory stays with him. As told to Casey Lessard I came back off summer holidays, and the first week [...]
“There are different ways you learn to cope with it.” – Marian Maguire Although Marian Maguire of Grand Bend had a mild case of polio as a child, the disease has more of an impact on her life today than ever. She, like so many others, has post-polio syndrome, which progressively disables nerves and muscles [...]
Needs supporters to maintain River Road presence Story and photos by Casey Lessard The Grand Bend Art Centre could give up the lease on its River Road space if a fundraising effort fails to generate enough interest before October. Artists (including this reporter) use the space to teach art workshops to community members. Artist Teresa [...]
Taste of Huron August 24-30 Full list of dinners, workshops, and other events: http://www.tasteofhuron.ca Food for Thought Dinners at Huron County restaurants $35 per person (excluding alcohol, taxes and service) Book through host restaurant. Tuesday, August 25 7 to 9 p.m. – Hessenland $35 – Reserve: 1-866-543-7736 Tasting and discussion with Pelee Island wine master [...]
The Band In You is building a following for bands that might hit their peak 10 or 20 years from now Photos and story by Casey Lessard Sitting outside a basement studio in the Dalton Subdivision south of Grand Bend, four teenagers wait their turn in Ken Dinel’s domain: his professional music recording studio. Surprised [...]
Hard worker makes cozy nest for himself and cat by restoring century home across the street from his parents Now 23 years old, Tom Love got the idea three years ago to buy the home and acreage across from his parents after it came up for sale. After a year of hard work, with help [...]
Story and photos by Casey Lessard Master boat-builder Skip Izon has been working on a non-aquatic project for the last little while: restoring what’s believed to be the oldest horse-drawn ambulance in Canada. The ambulance, built in Petrolia in 1908, spent the last 25 years at the Lambton Heritage Museum after it spent ten years [...]
Story and photos by Casey Lessard When Deb and Jim McCann bought a lakefront cottage last year, it came complete with a dead tree. Of course, they thought what anyone would: make a pirate. “It’s an elm tree that was hit by lightning about four years ago,” Deb says. “The bark flew off it one [...]
Story by Casey Lessard Fresh out of college, fresh-faced Thomas Alderson of Strathroy is hogging the spotlight in Camelot, playing now to July 25 at the Huron Country Playhouse. “It’s a dream come true,” says the 21-year-old, whose mother Mary writes theatre reviews GrandBendStrip.com and other newspapers. “I grew up coming to see every show [...]
Bob Teskey was “a good listener and companion.” This week, his wife Barb pays tribute to his legacy by walking in the Relay for Life. Her lesson: live your dreams. Originally from Sarnia, retired teacher’s assistant Barb Teskey, 58, and her family are participating as team Family Ties in Grand Bend’s 12 hour Relay for [...]