Chelsea Community Events

September 29-30. 
13th Annual Artists in their Environment Studio Tour. 
10 am - 5 pm
Artists participating in the tour are located in Chelsea, Wakefield,  Masham, Rupert and Alcove.  Included are: Alisha Reilly-Roe (sculpture);  Meg Weber-Crockford (sculpture);  Rebecca Mason (painting);  Reid McLachlan (oil painting);  Brenda Lee-Wilson (photography);   Marie-France Nitski (painting);  Linda Wright (painting);  Alex MacKenzie (wood sculpture);  Heather Lamorie (painting);  Christine Lodge (silver jewellery);  Michael Kinghorn (artist blacksmith);  Hélène Anne Fortin (portrait photography);  Louis Rompré (starlight candles);  Udo Kohrmann and Marie-France Thibault (architectural ceramics);   Marc Walter (painting/mixed media);  Raymond Warren (clay sculpture);  Janice Moorhead (layered glass);  Jason Mayer (oil painting);  Sandy Castledine (painting/mixed media);  Joe Shepstone (sculpture);  Gabrielle MacKenzie (painting; Hugh Stewart (canoe builder).
Free brochures available at:  NCC visitors centres – Ottawa-Chelsea;  By Ward Market Building – information centre, Ottawa;   Association touristique de l’Outaouais, 103 Laurier, Hull;  businesses in Chelsea, Wakefield and Lapêche.

The municipality of Chelsea has now officially adopted its cultural policy, set out in a 20-page document which has been put together by municipal officials working with a number of local artists and historical society members.  As a first step towards implementation a new Cultural and Heritage Development Committee has been established, which will report twice a month to the Municipal Council on cultural matters.
The policy document emphasizes the need for improved infrastructure, such as a theatre and an expanded public library.  The present library will double in size by the end of the year, at a cost of $800,000 split 50-50 between the province and the municipality.  With regard to other facilities, Chelsea Foundation is holding consultations on the planned community centre on Old Chelsea Road. 
In the course of this year Chelsea, with the help of the Gatineau Valley Historical Society, moved to protect an important part of its historical heritage.   In our spring issue we included the announcement of the inauguration of Old Chelsea Protestant Burial Ground (on June 5).   Maintenance of the Pioneer Cemetery is also part of the plans, and the municipality is looking into the possibility of participating in government heritage programs and of establishing a website.

Recently published: "Pierre: Colleagues and Friends Talk about the Trudeau They Knew".  This collection of pieces about the former Prime Minister, edited by Nancy Southam, includes five contributions by Chelsea residents, all centring on canoeing, an activity Trudeau greatly loved. 
The writers are: Joyce Mason and her grown-up children Becky and Paul, Wally Schaber and Jean-Paul Murray. The book is published by McLelland & Stewart Ltd., and is available in all bookstores.