On July 1 we headed out to Riverside Park to celebrate Canada Day on location. Despite the poor weather all turned out sunny on a fun Royal City Rag.
Storytellers Sya Van Guest and Brad Woods were on fine form; Sya explaining the origin of storytelling and Brad regaling us with his experiences in the cockpit during his first flying lesson.
Singer-songwriter Sam Turton sang several songs on the show, including another new one, “You’re my home, Canada”, written especially for Royal City Rag. He also threw in a soulful version of O Canada to finish the show.
Unfortunately we had to beat a hasty retreat at the end of the show after Brad got a bit carried away with his role helping out with the firework display.
Hopefully CFRU will still allow us to to go out on location in the future although I doubt Brad will get to play with matches again!
Catch the show if you missed it. It was a great one!
Music:
Sam Turton, What’s So funny About Peace, Love And Understanding? (Live) Sam Turton, Annapolis Farm (Live) Sam Turton, Right Here (Live) Sam Turton, You Are My Home, Canada (Live)
Sam Turton, O Canada (Live)
Storytelling:
Sya Van Geest, The Birth Of Stories
Brad Woods, Flying Lessons
We’re celebrating Canada Day on Royal City Rag this Wednesday… and we’re going to be on location again. This time we’re heading out to the park, ready to enjoy the celebrations, rain or shine.
Storytellers Sya Van Guest and Brad Woods will be joining me on the show along with singer-songwriter Sam Turton. We’ll be telling stories about the birth of Canada with some appropriately festive music thrown in for good measure. Sam is even promising us another new song, especially for the occasion!
Join us live on CFRU 93.3fm from 6-7 p.m. If you miss us, you can always find us on the CFRU archive or this website.
Guelph MP Frank Valeriote was in the studio again on June 24 to provide an update on the federal scene. During a wide ranging discussion we covered the recent intrigue around Employment Insurance reform and the current state of the Canadian economy as well as an update on Frank’s own committee work on food safety and agriculture. Definitely worth a listen. Also check out Frank’s last appearance on Royal City Rag on April 15, if you missed it.
Frank can be contacted via his Gueph office, 40 Cork Street East, Guelph, N1H 2W8, 519-837-8276, 519-837-8443 or by e-mail to Valeriote.F@parl.gc.ca. While in Ottawa he may also be reached at Room 713 Confederation Building, House of Commons, Ottawa, K1A 0A6, 613-996-4758, 613-996-9922 (fax).
During the show we also played music by Australian singer-songwriter Mark Seymour (formerly of Hunters and Collectors) and Guelph’s own Sue Smith. Mark has a June 27 show at Guelph Little Theatre at 8.00 p.m. with support from Sue (with Jeff Bird and Nick Craine) and Marta Pacek. Tickets are $20 in advance from Ground Floor Music and $25 at the door.
We have two tickets to give away for that event. If you are interested in them, e-mail us at info@royalcityrag.ca. The tickets will be waiting for you, with our compliments, at the door.
Music:
Mark Seymour, When The River Runs Dry from Closest Living Thing
Sue Smith, Walkin Away from I’m So
Mark Seymour, Throw Your Arms Around Me from Closest Living Thing
Mark Seymour (Photo by Paul Harris for www.theage.com.au)
Mark Seymour with special guests Sue Smith and Marta Pacek
Saturday,June 27 at 8.00 p.m. (Doors at 7.00 p.m.)
Guelph Little Theatre
176 Morris Street, Guelph
Internationally regarded as one of Australia’s best singer/songwriters, and, after 18 years with Hunters and Collectors, Mark Seymour has just released Closest Living Thing, his 8th solo album. Mark continues his vibrant solo career, drawing live audiences with his intense passionate vocals.
Guelph’s own Sue Smith is a singer/songwriter, performer and teacher. She spent 10 years as part of acclaimed vocal trio The Bird Sisters and is a co-founder of the Hillside Festival. Her wonderful debut solo album I’m So was released in 2006. Sue will be joined by Jeff Bird (Cowboy Junkies, Tamarack) and Nick Craine (Black Cabbage).
Marta Pacek was born in Poland and raised in Australia. She met Mark Seymour while studying at the prestigious Victoria College of the Arts and was inspired to continue on the road as a singer/songwriter. Marta is touring in support of her debut cd.
Tickets are $20 advance at Ground Floor Music, $25 door. Info and out of town tickets milanovichlil@hotmail.com.
Royal City Rag has secured a couple of complimentary tickets for this show.
If you are interested in them, e-mail us at info@royalcityrag.ca. The tickets will be waiting for you, with our compliments, at the door.
Guelph on the federal scene will be the subject of Royal City Rag on June 24 with a return visit from Guelph MP Frank Valeriote.
We’ll be catching up on all the goings on in Ottawa, including the recent intrigue around Employment Insurance reform and the current state of the Canadian economy. Frank will also update us on his own committee work on food safety and agriculture. We’ll also see if we can get the inside track on when to expect a federal election.
If you are interested in them, e-mail us at info@royalcityrag.ca. The tickets will be waiting for you, with our compliments, at the door.
Join us on Royal City Rag, Wednesday 6-7 p.m., on CFRU 93.3fm, Guelph’s Campus-Community Radio Station. Listen live or after the fact via the CFRU archive or this website.
The Guelph Symphony Orchestra presents its 6th Music in the Park outdoor concert on Sunday, June 28 at Riverside Park Bandshell, beginning at 3 p.m.
This concert promises to be great fun and featuries a selection of light classics for the entire family. The concert will include popular selections by Bizet and Strauss, songs, Sousa, and even a little James Bond, plus a hot jazz quartet playing Claude Boling. Guelph composer Bill Granger entered a theme in the CBC “Game Tonight!” contest, and his entry will be performed by full orchestra.
This show is the GSO’s “thank you” to the community for your support. Don’t miss it!
Guelph Symphony Orchestra’s Music in the Park When: Sunday June 28, 2009 at 3 p.m. Where: Riverside Park Bandshell
Visit the Guelph Symphony Orchestra website, www.guelphorchestra.ca for more informationon upcoming performances.
Left to Right: Sya Van Geest, Brad Woods and Sam Turton
On June 17, we replayed the wonderful Tall Tales show from April 1 featuring storytellers Sya Van Guest and Brad Woods, and singer-songwriter Sam Turton.
For this special show we were out on location. Thanks to the management at the establishment for allowing us to broadcast from there and all the people who came by to listen and join in the fun. Thanks also to Bubble the Clown for joining us to keep the children entertained.
Sya and Brad’s stories were wonderful. I strongly recommend you check them out when you get the chance. Sam’s songs were very appropriate to the occasion, and, as usual, highly enjoyable. This time he gave us his fourth different version of “What’s So Funny About Peace and Understanding?”; this time in lounge-style. He even composed a new song, “April Fool”, especially for the show!
I hope you enjoy listening to the show as much as we enjoyed putting it together. A perfect show for a very special day.
Music:
Sam Turton, What’s So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding? (Nick Lowe, Live)
Sam Turton, Fool On The Hill (Paul McCartney, Live)
Sam Turton, Everybody (John Prine, Live)
Sam Turton, April Fool (Sam Turton, Live)
We’re replaying one of our most successful Royal City Rag shows on June 17. It’s our show from April 1 featuring storytellers Sya Van Guest and Brad Woods, along with singer-songwriter Sam Turton. To celebrate April Fools Day we were broadcasting live from a mystery location. If you missed it the first time, definitely catch it this time. It’s really worth a listen!
To learn more about the storytelling of Sya Van Geest and Brad Woods along with the songs of Sam Turton, join us on Royal City Rag, Wednesday 6-7 p.m. on CFRU 93.3fm, Guelph’s Campus-Community Radio Station. Listen live or after the fact via the website.
Sya Van Geest
Sya Van Geest is a retired teacher-librarian now devoting her energy and considerable gifts to storytelling. Sya is very active in many areas of Guelph life, including, as a regular volunteer in schools, senior homes and churches. As a founding member of Guelph GoGo GrandMothers, Sya has a special passion for African stories as part of the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign. Sya was recipient of the Ontario Library Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2005 and Guelph Woman of Distinction for Voluntary Community Service 2007.
Brad Woods
Brad Woods is a former director of the Storytellers School of Toronto, the recipient of the 2002 Anne Smythe Travel Grant for Storytelling and in 2004 was the Storyteller in Residence at the Guelph Civic Museum. In 2005 he was featured at the Yukon International Storytelling Festival in White Horse and in 2006 he was the first Canadian featured at the Los Angeles Storytelling Festival. In 2007 Brad released his first CD full of stories and had a story in rotation on Talk Story Radio out of Hawaii. Brad is also a member of the Great Wooden Trio.
Sam Turton
Sam Turton is a singer-songwriter, mentor/therapist, and social activist. Until the age of 45, because his voice was very restrained, he would find other performers to sing his songs. Ten years ago, while exploring and resolving emotional blocks, his original voice emerged. He now belts out soulful blues, gospel and classic R&B. Sam’s songs can be heard on his solo CD Feel and on the benefit CDs Not There and Afghanistan–On Guard For Thee?.
As well as his working on his own musical career, Sam also facilitates community singalongs and Rise up Singing voice workshops with his partner Jane Lewis.
The President of the association, Bruce Homer, joined us live in the studio. There were also great taped interviews with painter and printmaker Margaret Peter and crafter Patti Rainbow.
The two-day art show and sale is one of the oldest annual outdoor shows in the province, now in its 48th year. The public is invited to come and see original painting and crafts, watch art demonstrations, and take the opportunity to purchase works by local favourites and emerging artists, all in a beautiful outdoor setting.
On Saturday the show runs from 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., and on Sunday from 11.00 a.m. until 4.00 p.m. The announcement and presentation of awards for the best works in the show will take place Saturday at 3.00 p.m.
On Sunday, the hammer dulcimer and guitar duo from Burlington, the Playford Players, will be entertaining between 1.00 p.m. and 3.00 p.m.
Admission to Painting on the Green is free, although donations to support the work of the GCAA will be gratefully accepted.
Please note that the Arboretum now has a new entrance off College Avenue, west of Victoria Road. Due to pending construction, using Victoria Rd to access College Ave is recommended.
Music:
Tannis Slimmon, There’s A Lift from Oak Lake
Playford Players, Meadowsweet (digital download)
Ian Reid, Two Steps At A Time from Somewhere In Between
It was great to welcome Culture Vulture Marie back to Royal City Rag. We’ve missed her!
This show is well worth a listen especially if you’ve never considered taking in a modern dance performance.
You should also check out the site-specific series in Exhibition Park, especially the twilight show at 7.00 p.m. onJune 4. It promises to be fun and inspiring as well as a great introduction to the art form. Don’t miss it.
Music:
Lou Reed, Modern Dance from Ecstasy
Great Lake Swimmers, Backstage With The Modern Dancers from Onigiara
Julie Doiron, The Life Of Dreams from I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day
Great Lake Swimmers, Changing Colours from Onigiara
Harry Manx is coming back to play to Guelph for a special show to help artist Sue Richards in her battle against Parkinson’s Disease. Sue, a founder of Hillside and ArtJam, is also well known in Guelph as the creator of both Blog Guelph and the Breast of Canada Calendar.
The show takes place on June 13 at Guelph Little Theatre.
Also on the bill: Tannis Slimmon & the Uplifters, Brenda McMorrow, Jessy Bell-Smith, with emcee Jane Miller, magic by Ben Caesar, piano by Jeremy Shute and a photo exhibition by the Guelph Photo Club.
Formal dress suggested as it’s a pretty special night.
HARRY MANX HELPS SUE
The Guelph Little Theatre, 176 Morris Street
June 13 at 7.30 p.m.
Tickets are $30 and available at Wild Rose 519-763-2233 and Ground Floor Music 519-827-1444 or online at www.helpingfriends.ca. You will also be able to get them at the door if they last that long!
The Culture Vultures will be back in the studio on June 3 for our monthly trip around the Guelph art scene. This month we’ll be focusing on the Guelph Commentary Dance Festival taking place in Guelph from June 4-7.
Don’t miss it.
Join us on Wednesday,June 3 from 6-7 p.m. on CFRU 93.3fm, Guelph’s Campus Community Radio Station.
Royal City Rag on May 27 focused on the Eden Mills Writers’ Festival. Festival Director of Operations Jane Hastings, Dan Evans from The Bookshelf and local author, Andrew Hood joined us live in the studio.
This year’s festival takes place on Sunday,September 20.
The festival also has a very special fundraiser, “Words That Sing”, taking place at Norfolk Street United Church on Sunday May 31 at 2.00 p.m. The fundraiser features renowned Canadian authors Michael Ondaatje, Jane Urquhart, and Leon Rooke. They will be reading from their work and taking part in a discussion facilitated by Linda Spalding. Soprano Theresa Thibodeau supported by John McClelland (piano), Tim Kramer (bass) and Adam Zaatinge (drums) will compliment the spoken word with some awe-inspiring music.
Tickets are $20 ($15 for students) and available from The Bookshelf, 41 Quebec St. downtown Guelph.
Guelph author Andrew Hood studied in the creative writing program at Concordia University in Montreal and won the Irving Layton Award for Undergraduate Fiction there. His first collection of stories, Pardon Our Monsters (Vehicule Press), won the 2007 Danuta Gleed Literary Award for the best first collection of short fiction in English. Andrew will be appearing at the Elora Writers Festival on June 7 and at the Eden Mills Writer’s Festival on September 20.
Music:
Harry Manx, Lay Down My Worries from Dog Not Cat
Moxy Fruvous, My Baby Loves Loads Of Authors from Bargainville
We’ve all had enough of sky high hydro bills, and with spring renovation fever setting in, it’s a good idea to check out the free Home Energy Renovation workshop on Saturday, May 30 from 10.00 a.m. till 4.00 p.m.
This event is sponsored by Transition Guelph, a chapter of the worldwide movement for sustainable communities, and the Green Committee of St. James Anglican Church.
It takes place at St. James Church, 86 Glasgow Street North, at the corner of Glasgow and Paisley. Admission is free.
This workshop will discuss ways to save energy and, as we move into the summer months, ways to ensure a house is well-ventilated so the cool air stays in.
The workshop features:
Home energy expert Matt Vermeulen on the ecoENERGY Retrofit–Homes program at 1:00 p.m. Vermeulen, a Certified Energy Advisor with the Elora Environment Centre, has already conducted energy assessments in over 500 homes across southwestern Ontario. Staff from the Elora Environment Centre will be available throughout the day to answer specific questions.
David Rekker will speak about energy efficiency for churches and other public spaces. Rekker is a LEED project manager for Enermodal, a consulting firm exclusively committed to improving the energy and resource efficiency of buildings and communities.
Mark Bailey of Guelph Solar, a local grassroots initiative to promote the local use of solar photovoltaic systems, will discuss the work the group is doing in the region.
Tour one of Guelph’s green homes to get the scoop on what new energy technologies look like and how they work.
Informational dsiaplays from green energy-related businesses and groups.
For updates on the day’s program, please check the Transition Guelph Website ( www.transitionguelph.org )
Royal City Rag on May 20 had a distinctly environmental slant.
We started off with a great interview with University of Guelph Arboretum manager Ric Jordan and Guelph Urban Forest Friends‘ Norah Chaloner and Judy Martin.
Trees in Guelph need far greater protection than afforded by the current city bylaw. Guelph has far less than the ideal 40% tree canopy cover recommended for cities. A strategic plan for Guelph’s urban forest has been in the works at city hall for over a decade now yet progress has been slow to say the least.
We need a certified forester to direct tree, shade and water interconnection, public education and enforcement of tree maintenance and protection.
We need an urban forest advisory committee to support this department.
In the meantime more and more trees are lost from our urban landscape. For more on this important issue, visit the Guelph Urban Forest Friends website at www.guffguelph.ca.
Please consider signing the GUFF petition.
Download and print the petition. Encourage your friends and neighbours to show their commitment to Guelph’s trees by signing it. Return complete petitions to GUFF, under the Big Umbrella, at the Guelph Farmers’ Market.
Later in the show, Karen McKeown from the City of Guelph joined us to discuss the city’s Healthy Landscapes – Landscape Assessment program. The Healthy Landscapes program provides great information on how to develop and maintain a beautiful garden without hours of maintenance and ritualistic pesticide use.
For more information on the program, book an assessment or get your questions answered e-mail Karen at mckeown@guelph.ca or call 519-822-1260 Ext. 2109.
On Saturday June 20 from 9.00 a.m. – 2 p.m., Healthy Landscapes will be running a Lawn Care Day in the back parking lot at the West End Community Centre. This is your opportunity to learn all about lawn care with advice on weed and insect control. Representatives from local lawn care companies and businesses will be present. You can also bring in your old gas powered lawn mower and receive a rebate on a brand new SOLARIS – SP21HB – High Performance Self Propelled Cordless Electric Lawn Mower.
Another interesting event coming up, and one that ties both parts of the show together, is the A Bus Tour Of The Trees of Guelph on Sunday June 21 from 1.00 -3.00 p.m. The tour, featuring Sean Fox, forester at The Arboretum, will visit some of the outstanding trees in our city. You will also be able to learn what trees will work best in your yard, and how to look after them. Pre-registration is recommended as space on the bus in limited. Email healthylandscapes@guelph.ca or call 519-822-1260 Ext 2109.
Music:
Fiona Joy Hawkins, Prelude to a Landscape from Portrait of a Waterfall
Gregory Hoskins, Real Beauty Aches from Alone At The Mayor’s House, Almost
We’re devoting the whole of Royal City Rag on May 27 to the Eden Mills Writers’ Festival which takes place on Sunday,September 20.
Festival Director of Operations Jane Hastings, Dan Evans from The Bookshelf and local author, Andrew Hood will be joining us live in the studio.
The festival has a very special “Words That Sing” fundraiser on May 31 featuring renowned Canadian authors Michael Ondaatje, Jane Urquhart, and Leon Rooke. They will be reading from their work and taking part in a discussion facilitated by Linda Spalding.
Soprano Theresa Thibodeau supported by John McClelland (piano), Tim Kramer (bass) and Adam Zaatinge (Drums) will compliment the authors with some awe-inspiring music.
The fundraiser takes place at Norfolk Street United Shurch on Sunday May 31 at 2.00 p.m.
Tickets are $20 ($15 for students) and available from The Bookshelf, 41 Quebec St. downtown Guelph.
It promises to be a great show.
Join us on Wednesday,May 27 from 6-7 p.m. on CFRU 93.3fm, Guelph’s Campus Community Radio Station.
This year, to kick things up a notch, there is an afternoon of readings and song that looks back to the festival’s origins.
Twenty-one years ago, the first festival brought together some of Leon Rooke’s friends to celebrate his publication of A Good Baby.
Those friends were Michael Ondaatje and Jane Urquhart.
On Sunday,May 31at 2:00 p.m. at the Norfolk St. United Church, Eden Mills Writers Festival is honoured to present Michael Ondaatje, Jane Urquhart, and Leon Rooke for a day of exceptional readings.
In the true spirit of the Festival, the afternoon promises to be a celebration of literature, both written and spoken, its authors, and its readers.
Theresa Thibodeau will add one more element of artistry to the afternoon with her awe-inspiring soprano solos. Whether you are a faithful attendee of the Festival or hearing about it for the first time, you will be among friends.
Spread the word and be sure to get your tickets in advance. Look for them soon at The Bookshelf, 41 Quebec St. downtown Guelph. Tickets are $20 ($15 for students). Proceeds will go to support this years festival.
See you on May 31!
Also, look out for a special Eden Mills Writers Festival edition of Royal City Rag on May 27.
We’ll also be replaying a wonderful interview with Ric Jordan, manager of The Arboretum at the University of Guelph about the plight of our urban trees, an important part of any healthy landscape.
Don’t miss the show. It promises to be a good one.
Wednesday,May 20 from 6-7 p.m. on CFRU 93.3fm, Guelph’s Campus Community Radio Station.
The Guelph Spoken Word team have another night of SPOKEN WORD and WORLD MUSIC at the Guelph Googenheim, 129 Woolwich St (underneath Gordon Taylor Music) on May 23.
Their featured poet for the month of May is Toronto’s White Noise Machine. He has been described by CBC’s Doctor Poetry as “the city incarnate, a prickly glom of voices, wit, whimsy and insight.”
The POETRY SLAM starts at 9.00 p.m. Poets are given three minutes to perform their poem and will be scored by randomly selected members of the audience! Any poet who wishes to perform must sign up at the door by 8:30 p.m. There will be an OPEN MIC at 8:30 p.m. Cost: $5-10 (sliding scale)
The evening ends with a frenetic night of world music featuring DJ Hok.
On May 13, the focus of a 2-hour Royal City Rag was firmly on the performing arts.
In the first hour, Ingrid Gatin and Miss Emily Brown joined us in the studio. They are touring the country on The Great Lakes Train Tour and popped in to play a few songs for us prior to their show with Guelph’s Tannis Slimmon at the newly renovated and expanded Red Brick Cafe. They even tackled Royal City Rag’s opening theme, Nick Lowe’s “What’s So Funny About Peace, Love And Understanding?”. An interesting accordian version, I think you’ll agree.
Ingrid Gatin’s most recent EP, “Tin Heart” features accordion, mandolin and piano. Miss Emily Brown who plays guitar and autoharp is currently working on her second LP, “Missing My Eddie”, a dreamy and nostalgic work loosely based on letters from her war-time grandmother and dispatches from the era’s women’s magazines.
Ingrid and Miss Emily are in London on May 14, St Catherine’s on May 15 and Toronto on May 17. Check out their myspace sites (Ingrid Gatin, Miss Emily Brown) for songs and more details on their tour.
Later in the hour, we were joined by storytellers Brian Holstein and Derek Brisland, on their way to the monthly session of Guelph Guild of Storytellers at the Boathouse. Storytelling at the Boathouse takes place on the second Wednesday of every month from April till December. Admission is by donation (pay what you can).
In the second hour of this special show, Guelph guitarist Mike Mucci and local poet and Royal City Rag favourite Beth-Anne Fischer joined us for The Sound of Guelph.
Mike’s guitar playing is mesmerizing. Check him out if you get the chance. Upcoming dates include his own “pre-wedding” bash at the E-bar on May 17 at 8.00 p.m. and an Attic show (14 Northumberland Street) on June 5 at 8.00 p.m. with Harris Newman and Ignatz (cover $5). He will also be on CFRU 93.3fm’sFishing with Boston show (Tuesdays 9-11 a.m.) at 9.00 a.m. on May 26. Later that day, at Noon, he will be playing live in the lilac garden at The Arboretum. Sounds idyllic!
Beth-Anne Fischer, an accomplished Guelph poet, will feature at the upcoming Guelph Poetry Slam show at the Guelph Googenheim on May 23 at 8.30 p.m. and at the Guelph Pride event ”Pinch This Pride: An Eclectic Queer Circus” at the E-Bar on May 28 at 10.00 p.m.
Music:
Ingrid Gatin and Miss Emily Brown, What’s So Funny About Peace, Love And Understanding? (Live)
Miss Emily Brown, Flash Freeze from Morlove EP
Ingrid Gatin, How Did I Get So? from Tin Heart EP
Miss Emily Brown, Technicolour (Live, demo)
Ingrid Gatin, In The Backseat (Live) from Tin Heart EP
Mike Mucci, Eramosa (Live) from Under The Tulip Trees
Mike Mucci, Along The Speed River (Live) from Under The Tulip Trees
Mike Mucci The Ward (Live) from Under The Tulip Trees
Mike Mucci, Small Triumphs (Live)
Mike Mucci, For R.M. (Live) from Under The Tulip Trees
Storytelling:
Brian Holstein, Truth And Fantasy (Live)
Derek Brisland, The Well O’ The World’s End (Live)
We have a double dose of Royal City Rag on CFRU 93.3 fm on May 13. We’ll be on air from 6-8 p.m.
With an array of musicians and spoken word artists coming in it promises to be lots of fun. You won’t want to miss it.
In the first hour, Ingrid Gatin and Miss Emily Brown will be joining us. They are on The Great Lakes Train Tour and will be playing with Guelph’s own Tannis Slimmon this evening at the newly renovated and expanded Red Brick Cafe, Douglas Street, Downtown Guelph.
Royal City Rag is lucky to get a preview of the duo prior to their date with Tannis.
Sponsored in part by Via Rail, the tour kicked off in Winnipeg on May 7 and travels vial the rails through Toronto, London, and culminating in Montreal.
Ingrid Gatin is a former member of Winnipeg’s Magnificent 7s. Layering accordion, mandolin and piano, Gatin’s work combines French-inspired accordion and Balkan rhythm. Back from a month in a Northern Saskatchewan cabin sponsored by the Winnipeg Arts Council, Ingrid will premiere some new songs on the tour.
Montréal’s Miss Emily Brown, fresh from a six-month Canada Council song-writing project, will debut tracks from her second record, “Missing My Eddie.” Dreamy and nostalgic, Miss Emily Brown’s new work is loosely based on letters from her war-time grandmother and dispatches from the era’s women’s magazines.
In the second hour of the show we’ll be joined by Guelph musician Mike Mucci for “The Sound of Guelph”. Mike is a fabulous guitarist. I absolutely love his CD “Under the Tulip Trees”. Mike will be playing live for us in the studio. We’ll also be joined by local poet and Royal City Rag favourite Beth-Anne Fischer.
Promises to be a great show. Don’t miss it!
Wednesday,May 13 from 6-8 p.m. on CFRU 93.3fm, Guelph’s Campus Community Radio Station.
After the success of the last Singalong at Bon Appetit, there is another planned for May 15. These sessions are great fun. Reservations are recommended.
SINGALONG! with Sam Turton and Jane Lewis
Friday, May 15, 7-9 p.m.
BON APPETIT RESTAURANT (licensed)
259 Grange Road, Unit 6, Guelph
(Plaza at Victoria & Grange by Planet Bean)
Reservations: 519-515-0522
TRANSIT: Route 6 (Auden/Eastview) leaves Downtown (St. George’s Square) every 20 minutes starting on the hour, and is a 5 minute ride
Website: www.all-together-now.ca
Hosted by Sam Turton & Jane Lewis with songbooks so you can all join in!
HUNDREDS OF SONGS – SONGBOOKS PROVIDED
Over 100 great artists, including The Band, The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Elvis, Bob Marley, Van Morrison, Dolly Parton, John Prine, The Police, Paul Simon, James Taylor, The Temptations, U2, Neil Young…
Over 200 classic songs, including Hey Jude & Twist And Shout; Amazing Grace & Danny Boy; Brown Eyed Girl & Bobby Mcgee; House Of The Rising Sun & Heart Of Gold; Like A Rolling Stone & Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door; Wade in the Water & Man Of Constant Sorrow; My Girl & Blue Suede Shoes; Fire & Rain & Bird On The Wire; Jambalaya & Folsom Prison…
Culture Vultures, Daniel and Lynn were back in the studio for our monthly trip around the Guelph Art Scene on May 6. Great fun, as usual. There must have been something in the air as we were decidedly giddy this time around. Cool music, fun events. Hope you enjoy it.
This month we had one special group pick, Harry Manx Helps Sue. Blues Guitarist Harry Manx will be back in Guelph for a special concert for good friend of Royal City Rag, Sue Richards. Sue is battling Parkinson’s Disease. As an artist she doesn’t have the benefit of the health insurance policy those of us more fortunate often take for granted.
The show takes place at Guelph Little Theatre on June 13 at 7.30 p.m. Also on the bill: Tannis Slimmon & the Uplifters, Brenda McMorrow, Jessy Bell-Smith, with emcee Jane Miller, magic by Ben Caesar, piano by Jeremy Shute and a photo exhibition by the Guelph Photo Club. Tickets are available at Wild Rose 519-763-2233, Ground Floor Music 519-827-1444 or online at www.helpingfriends.ca.
You can learn more about our individual picks for the month below.
Friday Noon Concert Series – Downtown Guelph puts on a series of concerts in St. George’s Square from noon until 1:00 p.m. every Friday from June 12 through September 18 .
Jenn Grant with Jessy Bell-Smith - Thursday, June 11 at 9.30 p.m., Carden Street Cafe, 40 Carden St.; $10 tickets; reservations recommended (519)837-2830.
Music: Harry Manx, Goodtime Charlie from Harry Manx and Friends Live At The Glen Gould Studio Jenn Grant, I’ve Got The Two Of You from Echoes Ian Reid, Sunday Blue from Tiger School
Guelph Arts Council historical walking tours of Guelph’s historic core area are scheduled on selected Sundays, April through October.
Tour I: Where Guelph Began: This tour encircles the original Market Square area of almost twenty-four acres laid out by John Galt in 1827. Serving as the focal point for Guelph’s early social and business life, the area also contains the sites of many of Guelph’s first buildings. Dates: April 26, May 31, August 16, September 20 Time: 2 p.m.
Starts: Guelph Civic Museum, 6 Dublin Street South, Guelph
Cost: $3 per person. (Fee does NOT include admission to Guelph Museums.)
Tour II: Downtown Walkabout: The present downtown centre of Guelph, with its wide main street, provides a compact walking tour which includes many buildings and sites of considerable historical and architectural interest. Dates: May 3, June 7, August 23, September 27 Time: 2 p.m.
Starts: Guelph Civic Museum, 6 Dublin Street South, Guelph
Cost: $3 per person. (Fee does NOT include admission to Guelph Museums.)
Tour III: The Slopes of the Speed: This tour explores the slopes of the Speed River between Norwich and Macdonell Streets, where many of Guelph’s largest and most distinguished historic homes are located. Dates: May 10, June 14, August 30, October 4 Time: 2 p.m.
Starts: Guelph Public Library, 100 Norfolk Street, Guelph
Cost: $3 per person.
Tour IV: Altar and Hearth in Victorian Guelph: This tour provides a glimpse of the Victorian era in Guelph. Covering the area west of Norfolk Street, between Essex Street and London Road, the tour includes several historic stone churches and many historic homes representing a variety of architectural styles. NOTE: This tour is offered in two parts [(lower) and (upper)] on alternating dates.
Dates: May 17 (lower), June 21 (upper), September 6 (upper), October 11 (lower)
Time: 2 p.m.
Starts: Lower: Guelph Civic Museum, 6 Dublin Street South, Guelph; Upper: Guelph Public Library, 100 Norfolk Street, Guelph
Cost: $3 per person. (Fee does NOT include admission to Guelph Museums.)
Tour V: Brooklyn and the College Hill: This tour takes participants to the south side of the Speed River to explore one of Guelph’s early industrial sections, formerly known as Brooklyn, as well as the College Hill area that developed around the Ontario Agricultural College. The tour includes some of the city’s best examples of masonry and stone carving. Dates: May 24, September 13 at
Time: 2 p.m.
Starts: McCrae House, 108 Water Street, Guelph
Cost: $3 per person. (Fee does NOT include admission to Guelph Museums.)
Tour VI: Ward One Guelph (NEW TOUR): This tour of the area southeast of the downtown, between the Speed and Eramosa Rivers, reveals the rich variety of historic architecture and the diversity of peoples who formed Guelph. Particular attention is devoted to residential/industrial proximity and the city’s early Italian community.
Dates: June 28, October 18 Time: 2 p.m.
Starts: Tytler School, Toronto Street entrance (off York Road near York Road Park), Guelph
Cost: $3 per person.
Walking tour booklets are available, at $5 each, for all tours either from the tour guides or from the Guelph Arts Council office.
There’s no better way to kick off the weekend in Guelph during the summer than catch one of the noon time concerts downtown.
Each Year Downtown Guelph puts on a series of concerts from noon until 1:00 p.m. every Friday from June 12 through September 18 in St. George’s Square.
This is a great way to get introduced to some cool music and support upandcoming local and regional artists.
The other important thing to mention is that all of these concerts are FREE!
CONCERT LINE-UP
June 12 – Rebel Rhythm (Multicultural Festival Showcase)
Over the next six weeks, Trees Ontario are expected to plant approximately two million trees as part of the Ontario government’s 50 Million Tree program, which will see 50 million trees planted in southern Ontario by 2020. This is the single largest commitment to the United Nations Billion Tree Campaign aimed at planting one billion trees worldwide each year.
Ontario’s 50 Million Tree program comes to Guelph on May 8. The Guelph event will contribute to the growth of the Guelph Rotary Forest at Guelph Lake Conservation Area, a long-term project heavily supported by the Guelph Rotary Club.
Assisting in the planting will be 100 students from Victoria Terrace Public School, Centre Wellington High School, and Victoria Cross Public School, who are all part of the Guelph Lake Nature Centre located nearby. Families are invited to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend in a unique way by planting trees to create their own family legacy.
Forestry experts will be onsite offering short tree planting tutorials to teach everyone the proper techniques to ensure a successful tree planting. Participants will then plant native trees in the designated afforestation areas. Each planting event is four hours in length, and participants will be taking part in a planting activity for approximately two hours.
WHAT: Ontario’s 50 Million Tree Weekend
WHEN: Friday, May 8 from 10.00 a.m. – 2.00 p.m.
WHERE: Guelph Rotary Forest
Guelph Lake Conservation Area
7743 Conservation Dr., RR 4
WHEN: All welcome. To register to participate in this free tree planting event, please visit: www.50milliontreeweekend.com.
Join us on Royal City Rag on May 6 for our monthly trip around the Guelph art scene with Culture Vultures Daniel and Lynn. Whether its downtown, at the university or elsewhere in Guelph we’ll cover the events you need to know about.
Wednesday,May 6 from 6-7 p.m. on CFRU 93.3fm, Guelph’s Campus Community Radio Station.
Royal City Rag made it into the Guelph Mercury this past weekend. Thanks to Christie Zimmer for a great interview.
Radio Host Trying To Inspire, Make A Difference Guelph Mercury, May 1, 2009
CHRISTIE ZIMMER
Jan Andrea Hall said the best volunteer opportunities are those that allow you to give back and grow at the same time. Hall is passionate about community involvement. She’s also host of the weekly radio show Royal City Rag, on CFRU 93.3 FM, Guelph’s campus and community radio station.
Royal City Rag is a show about Guelph, pure and simple. It’s a mosaic of people, places, issues and events that Hall hopes will engage her listeners’ interests and stir their inner activists.
“With the show, I try to find out what’s important to people,” she said.
“I try to find ways to inspire people with the stories of others. Making a difference is what it’s all about; trying to inspire others to make a difference.”
Take a peek at the Rag’s recent archives and blog at www.royalcityrag.ca and you’ll get a taste of the breadth of material Hall covers, including the proposed changes to the Hanlon Expressway, management of our urban forest, the third annual Jane’s Walk, the launch of a songbook devoted to the songs of James Gordon, and an interview with Guelph MP Frank Valeriote.
As a volunteer at CFRU, Hall is a one-woman production team acting as the show’s researcher, engineer, writer, host and DJ. And, she loves every minute of it.It sustains her – now more than ever before.
Back in 2005, when Royal City Rag aired on Tuesday mornings, Hall began her day with a walk to the radio station.
She spent the remainder of the work week at the Ontario Veterinary College, where she balanced her roles as a veterinarian and faculty member. Three or four evenings a week, she could be found at local events and on Saturdays she took her turn behind the table at the Big Umbrella community information booth located at the Guelph Farmer’s Market.
Things are drastically different these days and what you might not hear in that powerful voice every Wednesday evening are the devastating effects of myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, which have left Hall unable to work for the past 18 months.
“I became a vet because I wanted to help out,” Hall said. “I still feel I have a lot to give. My story is not completely written.”
While the future of Hall’s career is frustratingly uncertain, her drive to remain an active part of her community and to communicate her passion for local engagement is fierce.
“I surround myself with activist people,” she said.
“There’s something very exciting about talking to people who are activists or volunteers or both. The key is giving of yourself because there’s a tremendous amount of well-being to get back.
“I think it would be really cool to still be doing this in 10 years,” she said, looking over my shoulder, to the future perhaps.
“Because there’s a lot to talk about.”
Christie Zimmer lives and writes in Guelph. Her column appears on alternate Fridays.
Our public hospitals are under attack as services are being cut all over the province, abandoning the patient who pays for those services through taxes and a health transfer. We deserve better!
This move is to satisfy the provincial policy adopted in 1994 to create more opportunities for marketing Canadian healthcare. It is a deliberate long term plan that has kept the public spinning in rhetoric for fifteen years.
Please join us this Monday, May 4at 7.00 p.m. in Mitchell Hall, at the rear of St. George’s Church, Woolwich St., Downtown Guelph for a presentation by Natalie Mehra, a Parlimentary Lobbyist and Director of the Ontario Health Coalition.
We look forward to a rigorous question and answer session after the presentation. Refreshments will be available. Parking is available in the rear parking lots.
On April 29, Royal City Rag welcomed Mary Carl from Student Support of Migrant Workers to the show to discuss the plight of migrant workers in Canada.
On April 2 and 3, over 100 temporary and undocumented workers were arrested, dragged in to detention and are now being forcibly deported from Canada.
These migrants, poor working people who came to our country, like many of us before, to make a living and find a home live in a state of constant crisis. Brought here, often at the behest of unscrupulous employers and agencies, to do the work that others don’t wish to do such as crop picking and domestic work, they have few rights. What protection they do has have been eroded by draconian legislation that make it very difficult for temporary workers to gain status in Canada.
Support groups are very concerned that the current ‘Economic Crisis’ is being used as an excuse to attack these people by increasing immigration enforcement; targeting those that are among the weakest in our society.
In the second half of the show, Susan Ratcliffe and Barb Mann joined us to discuss the upcoming Guelph Civic League sponsored Jane’s Walk.
Created by the Centre for City Ecology (CCE), Jane‟s Walk celebrates the legacy and ideas of urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs by putting citizens in touch with their environment and each other.
There will be 23 Jane’s Walks in Guelph. These free guided walks take place Saturday and Sunday,May 2 and 3 beginning at 10 a.m. and going throughout the day, with one night-time walk in the schedule as well.
Walk leaders include Mayor Karen Farbridge, several city councillors, historians, dancers, activists, actors, musicians, storytellers, artists, environmentalists, and just plain good neighbours.
All unique in their theme and geographical area, the walks usually take 60 or 90 minutes and are geared towards citizens of all ages.
Some of this year’s explorations include tours through quarries, riverbanks, urban gardens, buried streams, railways, ghosts, city forests, and rural settings.
The full schedule of Guelph walks is available on the Jane’s Walk Website: www.janeswalk.net.
Music:
David Rovics, No One Is Illegal from Living In these Times
Steve Earle, Living In A City Of Immigrants from Washington Square Serenade
Fats Domino, I’m Walkin’ from I’m Walkin’
Mike Ford, Crossroads (Song For Jane Jacobs) from Stars Shine On Toronto
On April 29, Royal City Rag will be welcoming Mary Carl from Student Support of Migrant Workers to the show to discuss the recent raids and deportation of migrant workers by the Canadian Immigration Service.
Those wishing to join the protest can meet at Guelph’s Covered Bridge (behind the Boathouse and the Guelph Animal Hospital , at 110 Gordon St. ) at 9.30 a.m.
The march starts at Sherbourne and Carlton in Toronto at 1.00 p.m. To reserve a spot on the bus (space is limited) contact: ssmw@uoguelph.ca.
In the second half of the show, Susan Ratcliffe and Barb Mann will join us to discuss the upcoming Guelph Civic League sponsored Jane’s Walk.
Created by the Centre for City Ecology (CCE), Jane‟s Walk celebrates the legacy and ideas of urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs by putting citizens in touch with their environment and each other.
There will be 23 Jane’s Walks in Guelph. These free guided walks take place Saturday and Sunday,May 2 and 3 beginning at 10 a.m. and going throughout the day, with one night-time walk in the schedule as well.
Walk leaders include Mayor Karen Farbridge, several city councillors, historians, dancers, activists, actors, musicians, storytellers, artists, environmentalists, and just plain good neighbours.
All unique in their theme and geographical area, the walks usually take 60 or 90 minutes and are geared towards citizens of all ages.
Some of this year’s explorations include tours through quarries, riverbanks, urban gardens, buried streams, railways, ghosts, city forests, and rural settings.
The full schedule of Guelph walks is available on the Jane’s Walk Website: www.janeswalk.net.
Listen live on CFRU 93.3fm, Guelph’s Campus and Community Radio Station or, after the fact, via the website.
Battle of the Atlantic Dinner/50th Anniversary of GNVA
Saturday 2 May 2009 at 6.30 p.m. Stone Frigate on Cardigan Street next to Guelph Youth Music Centre
Cost is $20.00/person
Battle of the Atlantic Parade/Dedication Sunday 3 May 2009 at 1.45 p.m. St George’s Square, Downtown Guelph
Parade will form on at 1.30 p.m. on Cork St before heading to St. George’s Square and the Cenotaph for a short commemoration. Parade will then walk to the Stone Frigate on Cardigan Street for a short plaque dedication.
On May 2 and 3, thousands of Canadians will take to the streets of more than 20 cities and towns across the country as part of the third annual Jane’s Walk, a series of free neighbourhood walking tours exploring our collective history, architecture, planning and personalities.
Created by the Centre for City Ecology (CCE), Jane‟s Walk celebrates the legacy and ideas of urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs by putting citizens in touch with their environment and each other.
“Jane Jacobs championed the interests of local residents and pedestrians over a car-centered approach to planning and encouraged local residents to familiarize themselves with their towns and communities,” says Jane Farrow, executive director of Jane’s Walk. “These sociable strolls honour Jacobs‟ belief that healthy cities feature walkable, compact, dense and diverse neighborhoods which help knit people into a strong, connected and resourceful community.”
These free guided walks take place Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3 beginning at 10 a.m. and going throughout the day, with one night-time walk in the schedule as well.
Walk leaders include Mayor Karen Farbridge, several city councillors, historians, dancers, activists, actors, musicians, storytellers, artists, environmentalists, and just plain good neighbours.
All unique in their theme and geographical area, the walks usually take 60 or 90 minutes and are geared towards citizens of all ages.
Some of this year’s explorations include tours through quarries, riverbanks, urban gardens, buried streams, railways, ghosts, city forests, and rural settings.
The full schedule of Guelph walks is available on the Jane’s Walk Website: www.janeswalk.net.
Progressive thought and the people of Guelph were the big losers at City Hall last night.
The winners were surely the gravel companies, and the highway engineers who have a new freeway to build. Rumour has it will be the 406 from Niagara.
This new 400 series 100 km/h highway, thanks to the wisdom of the current council, will run directly through the city which will be very convenient for those of us who like to get down to wine country or visit the Shaw Festival during the summer.
Unfortunately I doubt it will do much for the citizens of Guelph or their quality of life.
It was a surreal evening in the spanking new council chambers with the current council doing their best impression of the last council.
All very un-Guelph and all very unsustainable.
The vast majority of council seemed far more interested in the fate of a service road between Stone and Kortight, than in the impact these highways upgrades will have on our community.
Councillor Laidlaw tried to inject some sanity into the proceedings by speaking with passion about the very real impact of peak oil. Unfortunately few if any were listening. Her words like great presentations from citizen delegates fell on deaf ears.
Councillor Piper suggested an amendment to get some short-term solutions implemented faster. Longer turning lanes and improved signalization, with the hope that if we can prove the Hanlon can work better, we can put off this indefinitely.
For the record, councillors Findlay, Laidlaw and Piper voted against it.
Let’s hope it never gets built. Not quite the legacy we want to leave our grandchildren.
A very frustrating night for the citizens present.
It all reminded me a bit of a line out of that over-played song by The Who, “Won’t Get Folded Again”.
Please attend the public meeting about our urban forest on Wednesday,April 29 from 7.00 – 9:30 p.m. at NEW CITY HALL, Meeting Room C, 1 Carden Street (See notice at the end of this message).
See below for the actions GUFF believes should be priorities in the Urban Forest Management Plan. Following the recommended actions is a timeline showing the long delay in putting tree protections in place.
Since there was some opposition to these proposals at the recent Community Development Environmental Services (CDES) committee, we suggest passing an interim public property tree bylaw now followed by a full bylaw with private property tree protection in the near future.
You can listen to the audio from the CDES Committee meeting here.
WE NEED ACTION NOW!
1. We need an interim protective tree by-law now and a permanent by-law as a first priority of the Urban Forest Management Plan.
2. We need comprehensive standards for tree preservation in the city that protect existing trees, and maximize the growth and lifespan potential for all trees.
3. We need an independent urban forestry department, headed by a certified forester and supported by a public advisory committee.
4. We need an inventory of the trees in Guelph so we can evaluate the success of maintaining the health, diversity and canopy of the urban forest.
1991: tree by-law must be revised “in order to control the number of trees, woodlots & habitat destroyed annually by development” (Park Naturalization Policy)
1994: “Methods for protecting trees from development should be developed” (Green Plan)
2003: Environmental Action Plan recommends tree inventory, updating tree by-law to protect natural features and developing guidelines to protect trees during construction.
2003: Tree Protection Report–Background Review & Recommendations, Aboud & Associates, Inc., September 29, 2003 recommends professional forester with a degree in forestry or arboriculture.
2005: Council resolution asking staff to prepare funding request for urban forest study and tree maintenance program.
2007: (October) Staff report states that Urban Forest Plan will be finalized with details for implementation and be presented to council in first quarter of 2008.
2007: (November) Council resolution that staff report back following the visioning process with cost estimate for urban forest management plan.
2007 : Goal 6.6 “A biodiverse city with the highest tree canopy percentage among comparable municipalities” (2007 Strategic Plan.
2008: (January) Council approves prioritizing the Strategic Urban Forest Management.
2009: ‘Strategic Urban Forest Management Plan Recommendations’ contain 27 uses of the word ‘should’ instead of ‘will’ . No protection in sight. Guelph is still losing tree canopy due to construction and high impact development and lack of protective tree by-law.
Strategic Urban Forest Management Plan Public Workshop
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
NEW CITY HALL (Meeting Room C), 1 Carden Street
7.00 – 9.30 p.m.
A framework for a Strategic Urban Forest Management Plan (SUFMP) was completed and approved by City Council in November 2007. This framework identified 25 specific recommendations to support moving forward with the Strategic Urban Forest Management Plan, and provides guidance for developing and implementing such a plan. The recommendations are designed to help the City develop and deliver a proactive, adaptive urban forest management approach on both public and private lands.
During 2007-2008 the City moved forward with a number of the recommendations and identified funding to pursue a number of additional recommendations between 2009 and 2014.
The purpose of this workshop is to present the approved recommendations; obtain input from various stakeholders and the community; and prioritize the implementation of outstanding recommendations.
Agenda
The format for the Community Forum will involve a presentation followed by small group discussions and feedback.
7:00 p.m. Introductions and Presentation
7:40 p.m. Update from the City
8:00 p.m. Question Period
8:15 p.m. Roundtable Discussions and Input
9:00 p.m. Groups Present Results
9:15 p.m. Next Steps
9:25 p.m. Closing Remarks
The Framework for the Strategic Urban Forest Management Plan is available at guelph.ca or can be viewed at Community Design and Development Services in new City Hall, 1 Carden Street.
For more information contact:
Suzanne Young, Environmental Planner
Community Design & Development Services
519-837-5616 suzanne.young@guelph.ca
Royal City Rag on April 22 focused on the to the MTO’s proposed “upgrades” to the Hanlon Expressway. Their “preferred plan” is scheduled to go to Guelph City Council for approval on Monday, April 27.
Transit and Transportation advocate David Graham and Co-Chair of the Guelph Chapter of the Council of Canadians, Dave Sills, joined us in the studio to discuss this important and highly controversial project.
Many people in Guelph are concerned about the serious environmental, health and social consequences of allowing the Hanlon to become a 400-series 100 km/hr highway that divides our city.
Despite an apparent high degree of public consultation by the MTO there are still many unanswered questions:
How much time will be saved for vehicles using the “improved” highway?
Is there not a danger of transferring the occasional bottleneck the Hanlon experiences in rush hour to another part of the highway network?
Could we not have found a much cheaper way to make the Hanlon a more efficient way to travel?
For instance, why weren’t other options (synchronized lights, longer turn lanes) seriously considered?And, could we be spending the city’s transportation dollars more effectively?
Finally, wouldn’t we be better to hold off on a final decision on the Hanlon until council sees the MTO proposals for upgrades from Wellington to Woodlawn?
With the City of Guelph looking at a bill of at least $16 million to make this a reality - a figure that is sure to balloon once the cost of service roads needed to maintain a certain level of livability for those close to the highway are factored into the equation, this decision is likely to be one of the most important, if not the most important, that the current council will face, especially when it may take 10-15 years to see all the upgrades completed.
Bearing in mind that all these “improvements” could be made at the same time as sky-rocketing gasoline prices make automobile travel less appealing, this could be seen to be seriously wrongheaded and highly irresponsible.
If there is one Royal City Rag that you should listen to, this is it.
If there is one issue you should get involved in, this is it.
As a community we need to be careful what we ask for.
Please contact the mayor and councillors if you have any concerns about this project.
Arrange to speak as a delegation at City Council by contacting the City Clerk at 519-837-5603 or clerks@guelph.ca.
Your children will thank you for it.
This project WILL change the fabric of our city… forever.
Music:
Artists In Support Of Concrete Action On Climate Change, You Have A Choice (digital download)
Cat Stevens, Where Will The Children Play? from Tea For The Tillerman
The views express on this site are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of CFRU 93.3fm Radio Gryphon, www.cfru.ca. RoyalCityRag.ca is not responsible for the content or views expressed on external sites.
Guelph’s Big Umbrella
Visit the Big Umbrella Community Information Booth at the Guelph Farmers Market every Saturday morning
On July 1 we headed out to Riverside Park to celebrate Canada Day on location. Despite the poor weather all turned out sunny on a fun Royal City Rag.
Royal City Rag Makes The Guelph Mercury – May 1
May 4, 2009 by Jan Andrea Hall
Royal City Rag made it into the Guelph Mercury this past weekend. Thanks to Christie Zimmer for a great interview.
Radio Host Trying To Inspire, Make A Difference
Guelph Mercury, May 1, 2009
CHRISTIE ZIMMER
Jan Andrea Hall said the best volunteer opportunities are those that allow you to give back and grow at the same time. Hall is passionate about community involvement. She’s also host of the weekly radio show Royal City Rag, on CFRU 93.3 FM, Guelph’s campus and community radio station.
Royal City Rag is a show about Guelph, pure and simple. It’s a mosaic of people, places, issues and events that Hall hopes will engage her listeners’ interests and stir their inner activists.
“With the show, I try to find out what’s important to people,” she said.
“I try to find ways to inspire people with the stories of others. Making a difference is what it’s all about; trying to inspire others to make a difference.”
Take a peek at the Rag’s recent archives and blog at www.royalcityrag.ca and you’ll get a taste of the breadth of material Hall covers, including the proposed changes to the Hanlon Expressway, management of our urban forest, the third annual Jane’s Walk, the launch of a songbook devoted to the songs of James Gordon, and an interview with Guelph MP Frank Valeriote.
As a volunteer at CFRU, Hall is a one-woman production team acting as the show’s researcher, engineer, writer, host and DJ. And, she loves every minute of it.It sustains her – now more than ever before.
Back in 2005, when Royal City Rag aired on Tuesday mornings, Hall began her day with a walk to the radio station.
She spent the remainder of the work week at the Ontario Veterinary College, where she balanced her roles as a veterinarian and faculty member. Three or four evenings a week, she could be found at local events and on Saturdays she took her turn behind the table at the Big Umbrella community information booth located at the Guelph Farmer’s Market.
Things are drastically different these days and what you might not hear in that powerful voice every Wednesday evening are the devastating effects of myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, which have left Hall unable to work for the past 18 months.
“I became a vet because I wanted to help out,” Hall said. “I still feel I have a lot to give. My story is not completely written.”
While the future of Hall’s career is frustratingly uncertain, her drive to remain an active part of her community and to communicate her passion for local engagement is fierce.
“I surround myself with activist people,” she said.
“There’s something very exciting about talking to people who are activists or volunteers or both. The key is giving of yourself because there’s a tremendous amount of well-being to get back.
“I think it would be really cool to still be doing this in 10 years,” she said, looking over my shoulder, to the future perhaps.
“Because there’s a lot to talk about.”
Christie Zimmer lives and writes in Guelph. Her column appears on alternate Fridays.
christiezimmer@rogers.com.
Posted in Commentary | Tagged Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Guelph Mercury, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Royal City Rag | Leave a Comment »