Pontiac Community Events

July 1.  Quyon holds its first Canada Day parade, followed by Canadian flag raising ceremony at Quyon Ferry. Fireworks at dusk.For information call Curtis Hudson at (819) 458-1630 or Vikki Richardson at (819) 458-2224.

July 1. Canada Day in Shawville
8.00-10.30 am. Community breakfast (Lions' Hall).
12.00-1.00 pm. Music with Simon Clarke in front of the Library/Archives.
1.00 pm. Canada Day Parade, organized by the Lions' Club.
Starts at LaSalle Bus and ends at the Fairgrounds.
2.30-3.30 pm. Music with Simon Clarke at the Fairgrounds.
3.00 pm. Soap Box Derby (Hill on Victoria Avenue).
9.30 pm. (dusk): Fireworks.
Organized and supervised by the Shawville-Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department. Free camping at Mill Park.

On Friday, June 16, cycle one students at Dr. S.E. McDowell Elementary School entertained grandparents and great-grandparents with poems, songs and dances, and with stories based on what grandparents had, at the children's request, written about the kind of life they had at the age of seven or eight.  Songs were in English and French.  Teachers expressed appreciation of the way grandparents had responded to the requests for stories about their childhood.  The previous celebration of this kind was held three years ago.

On June 15 the George Bryson Cultural House annual general meeting was held at the House in Mansfield.    An open house will be held on July 15 (see announcement in this Bulletin) and a blueberry festival in August.
During the weekend June 17-18 members of the Bryson family gathered at the Spruceholme Inn, in Fort Coulonge, to reflect on the history of their family and to hold a memorial service for a family member, Bryson Moore, who died in World War II.  The Spruceholme Inn is one of the family's former homes.  George Bryson Sr., who died in 1900, built a log slide at the Coulonge Falls, in the location where there are now cement slides, and the region's first sawmill in 1843.  The family attended a church service on the Sunday morning, followed by a tree dedication ceremony at Bryson House, which is now owned by the Quebec Heritage Trust and contains a museum registered as the Pontiac Genealogy Society - Key to the Past.

The four-band fundraising effort at The Garage in Shawville, on Friday June 16, exceeded its target.  An audience of 82 listened to performances by Nefarious Souls, Thurside, Harmonic Distortion and In Safe Hands, organized to raise funds for travel to the battle of the bands, to be held in July at Club Lambi in Montreal.  This event was previously announced in this Bulletin.

Saturday, June 24 is the deadline for registration for the Pontiac School of the Arts (PSOA) previously announced in this Bulletin.

Pamphlets with registration forms are available throughout Shawville and the surrounding area, and can be printed from the website at www.pontiacschoolofthearts.com.  It is also possible to phone the school at (819) 647-2291.

The School's courses will be given this year from July 8 though 16 at Portage du Fort, using historical buildings such as the Portage school house.  Following the courses there will be an exhibition of the students' work and a video festival.From July 10 through 14 the young artist workshops will be held, for children aged 8 to 14.  Day fees: $35.00. Full five days: $160.00.  Workshop teachers: Valerie Bridgeman, Sher Moscaliuk, Robin Stone, Raymond Sander-Regier, Dale Shutt and Kate Aley.

July 2. The Municipality of Allumette Island invites everyone to take part in a ceremony at Desjardinsville, commemorating the construction of the interprovincial bridges and the end of the ferry boat service between Desjardinsville and Pembroke.  This celebration of living history begins with breakfast at 8.00 am.  The Allumette Wagon Train leaves Chapeau at 10.00 am. and arrives at Desjardinsville at 11.45 am.  The Antique Car Show arrives at Desjardinsville at 10.30 am.  At 12 noon there will be a mass at Notre-Dame-du-Lac Mission Church.  Other events will be the blessing of the boats at Desjardins dock, the unveiling of a historical panel, presentations and a pow-wow of the Algonquin First Nation.  At 4.00 pm. there will be a steak barbecue (price: $15.00). Activities will include a bake sale, crafts, quilting, art exhibition, exhibition of antique farm equipment and chidren's games. Visitors are encouraged to bring old family photos, family trees, musical instruments and lawn chairs.  Food and refreshments available all day.
For tickets and information call (819) 689-2242 or (819) 689-2410.

July 15. Open house at the George Bryson Cultural House, 314 Highway 148, Mansfield.  2.00-9.00 pm.  Music with orchestra, casino, crafts, auction, games for children, refreshments.  Bring lawn chairs or blankets.

July 14-15-16. Shawville Country Music Jamboree at the Armstrong Heritage Farm, on Highway 148 beside Shawville Chrysler. Music by The W.R.D. Band, Howard Hayes and The Country Drifters, Don Cochrane, Dennis Whitty, the Bowes Brothers and Gail Gavan.
For information call (819) 647-6563 or visit the Armstrong Heritage Farm website at www.armstrongheritagefarm.com

July 6.  Performance in the Concert in the Park series, in Fitzroy Provincial Park, Fitzroy Harbour.  From 6.00 pm. to 9.00 pm. Music by the Mick Armitage Band and Guests.  West Carleton Youth Barbecue at 6.00 pm. Free entrance, bring lawn chairs.  No pets, no alcohol, children welcome.
For information call (613) 226-9178 or visit the website at www.mickarmitageband.com

August 6. Radford United Church will celebrate its 100th anniversary.  Although the church has been closed since 1965 it is still intact, and is the only church in Radford with a small cemetery.  It first opened on December 19, 1906. The anniversary committee is asking the community to supply old photos, clippings and stories, for a book which the committee hopes to sell at the celebration. Events will include an address by Rev. William McDowell, special singing and a luncheon. For information call Elaine Richardson at (819) 647-5410.

August 19.  Blueberry festival at the George Bryson Cultural House, 314, Highway 148, Mansfield.  Details to be announced when available.

The town of Quyon now displays murals illustrating its history:a winter scene of logging and syrup making, located near the ferry to Ontario; a waterfall driving a water wheel on the side of M & R Feeds on Egan Street; historical scenes on the façade of Gavan's Hotel, on Clarendon Street.  In addition there is a display, entitled "Friends of the Pontiac", showing thousands of signatures and good wishes from visitors from the Valley and all over Canada and the United States.
Created during the summer of 2005, the murals are the work of local artists Lindsay Trudeau and students Julia St. Laurent and Cassandra Dinel McEwen.  They constitute the first project in the plan devised by the Quyon Economic Development Council to beautify Quyon and develop education, tourism and employment.  Phase two was the release of James Robinson's book How Quyon Came To Be, also referred to on this page.  Phase three will be the creation of a brochure on Quyon, which may be combined with the organization of guided tours by seniors and students around the area's landmarks.

On June 4 the Heritage Old Time Country Music Association (HOTCMA) held a Jamboree at the Quyon Lions Hall.  The house band was Rick Sernoskie's Bay Connection.  A dance was performed by Savannah Moreau of Bristol and Nora Daoust of Quyon. This is the second time the Jamboree has been held in Quyon.  The Association is devoted to preserving the traditional music of the Ottawa Valley. Proceeds go  to cover promotional and performer costs.  The Board of Directors, under the presidency of Stan Callaghan of Pembroke, meet every month in Cobden, Ontario.
The next Jamboree will be held in July in Matawatchan.  The next Pontiac gathering will take place on August 19 at a flat-paddle event at Rapides-des-Joachims.

Stacey Acker, a writer from Nova Scotia who now lives in Clarendon Township, has been awarded a plaque by the International Library of Poetry and poetry.com for her poem "When Life is Rough", posted on the website poetry.com.  The poem will now be featured in a hardcovr book and has also been selected as one of 33 top poems which are to be recorded on a CD poetry collection.

Until June 30.  Underground Impressions Souterraines presents Creek Walking/Sortie Ruisseau – A Fly Fisher’s Discoveries, by Raymond Sander-Regier.  At 317 Main Street, Shawville.  Regular Summer Hours: Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, 10.00 am. – 5.00 pm. Friday, 10.00 am. – 6.00 pm.
For information call (819) 647-5549, or e-mail raymond@sanderregier.com
Visit the website at http://www.raymond.sanderregier.com/UIS.htm

Dominic D'Arcy, the singing policeman from Sheenboro, has been given the key to the City of Ottawa, in honour of his dual career as singer and police officer. Dominic D'Arcy, now retired from the force, has received the Governor General's Award three times, ran his own television show D'Arcy's Beat for five years, and was responsible for a "Rising Stars Program" aimed at bringing on young performers.