N O R F O L K

A guide to day trips, special events, and cultural attractions.

9

Perrie Olthuis William Matthews Bruce Davies Ted Atherton Jennifer Toulmin Melanie Janzen Alison Lawrence

For tickets call: 519-583-2221shop online @ lighthousetheatre.com

Enjoy live, professional theatre,

every summer in beautiful lakeside Port Dover.

Catch all the laughter, love, surprises, and more.

Thank you for picking up the first edition of the Norfolk Traveller.

The three people who put the Traveller together work at Barber & Veri Inc., a marketing and graphic design company that provides services to small businesses and not-for-profits throughout Norfolk County and southern Ontario.

We put this book together because we have the good fortune of meeting interesting people through our work, and we love hearing their stories. We are confident that people from outside the community will enjoy them too, but first, the stories have to be told.

Our approach to this tourism guide is to recognize the passionate individuals who work together to make Norfolk County an interesting, welcoming, and exciting place to visit.

No one paid for any editorial coverage in this book. The advertisers all paid, but we kept the prices as low as we could to encourage as many small businesses to participate as possible. This project is about demonstrating what is possible through collaboration and entrepreneurial ingenuity, not just turning a profit.

Our hope is that the Traveller not only reaches tourists, but also reminds people who live here that what they do professionally, as volunteers, and as hobbyists is significant, valuable, and appreciated by their friends and neighbours. We are all part of this community, and we should take pride in what makes each of us unique, as much as we celebrate the commonalities that unite us.

Thank you a million times to the people who agreed to be interviewed for articles, and to the advertisers who supported this project. We are proud to work alongside you, and greatly appreciate everything you do to help us, and each other.

P.S. - We know we haven’t captured everything that is special about Norfolk County. If you have an idea for a story, let us know. There are many opportunities to work together.

h i r e u s

NORFOLK

The Norfolk Traveller is a handy dandy reference guide to some of the interesting sites and opportunities available to the travelling public - particularly those from Norfolk who may not get about the County as much as they would like.

It is important that local entrepreneurs, business people and artisans have the opportunity to showcase their products, services, art and culture. The more we, Norfolkians, know about our community, the more we can brag when travelling outside the County.

I encourage you to use this Guide and take daytrips to explore the glory and wonders of Norfolk.

There is a lot to discover.Dennis TravaleMayor, Norfolk County

barber .com veri

Rachel Moffatt

“Trout are smart, and they adapt. You have to either trick them, or get them angry enough

to strike.”

In a sport traditionally, and almost exclusively, populated by men, Rachel Moffatt has carved out a niche for herself among Port Dover’s diehard, dedicated anglers. Her dedication to fishing – both with her line in the water, and on shore as a writer and advocate - has earned her the respect and admiration of her peers throughout Ontario.

Moffatt’s family has a long association with Port Dover ’s commercial fishing industry. Her grandmother cut fish on the harbor for 40 years, as did her mother, who also worked at McDonald’s Fish Market. As a child, Moffatt joined her mother working at the market.

To date, she reports that her most impressive catch in Norfolk County is an eight pound male steelhead, which she caught in November, 2013. Overall, the fish she is most proud of is the 24-inch wahoo she caught while vacationing in Jamaica.

Moffatt says patience and technique are the keys to catching a great fish. “It took me a year to catch my first trout,” she said. “They’re smart, and they adapt. You have to either trick them, or get them angry enough to strike. There’s a big learning curve, and it takes a while to figure things out.”

When her hooks aren’t baited, Moffatt writes an online forum for Ontario Out of Doors magazine under the name Lady in Red, and has a significant following. She also covers regional fishing, boating, and outdoor sporting shows for the World Fishing Network, reporting on new equipment releases and interviewing well-known figures within the fishing community.

Moffatt is an active advocate for a number of angling organizations, most notably the Ontario Women Anglers Association (OWAA), an organization that encourages and supports women who are new to fishing as they develop their interest and skills.

“There are a lot of women who love to fish, but there’s still the overwhelming perception that this is exclusively a man’s sport,” Moffat said. “That’s simply not true, and the OWAA is all about encouraging women to participate.”

The exposure has made her a recognizable figure in Ontario’s sport fishing community. “I get messages from people on the forum who want to come to Port Dover to fish with me, and I get a lot of requests for information about the area. Sometimes I can hear out-of-towners talking about me, and referring to me by my forum name,” Moffatt said. “‘Is that the Lady In Red? I think that’s her. Are you sure? No…but I think so.’ It’s funny, but most of them do eventually come talk to me.”

Although there are around 10 or so “regulars” who fish in the same areas as Moffatt, she says that for her, fishing is primarily a solitary pursuit. “My husband has no interest in fishing at all,” she explained. “He’s a car guy, which I have no interest in either, so we keep our hobbies separate.” She is teaching her two sons, ages six and nine, some of her tricks though, in case they develop an interest in the sport.

When asked what advice she would give to a novice fisherman – or woman – Moffatt said to start simple. “Fishing can get complicated quickly, so with trout it’s best to just start with a float, fluorocarbon leader – they’re invisible underwater – and either a worm or a spawn sack. That’s a little mesh bag of fish eggs. They stink pretty bad, but they work.”

Follow the Lady in Red online on Ontario Out of Doors at www.oodmag.com, send her Tweets @LakeErieLady, or buy her hand-knit hats, scarves, and gloves at stichesintime.etsy.com. For more information on the Ontario Women Anglers Association, go to www.facebook.com/ontariowaa.

Le Cordon Bleu is a worldwide network of elite level post-secondary institutions, renowned as the guardian of French culinary tradition. Graduates possess the highest level of gastronomic training, incorporating over 500 years of technical mastery.

Port Dover just so happens to have a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu operating downtown. Pastry Chef Brad Lewis, along with his fiancée Melanie Atkins, owns and operates Urban Parisian, a small café bakery at the corner of Main and Chapman Street.

Lewis begins his day at 5:00am, preparing breakfast pastries and daily bread specials. Once those are complete, he prepares desserts for the lunch and afternoon crowds. More than a dozen varieties of pastries, squares, pies, and tarts, along with smaller treats like handmade rochers and macarons fill the display case, and are sold alongside savoury soups, salads, and sandwiches prepared by Atkins. The duo also sells premium coffees supplied by a nearby, family-owned and operated, roast-to-order business.

The expertise that goes into production and preparation is obvious. The macarons are light, crispy, and always flavorful, and the key lime pie is zesty and tart. Sausage and cheese breakfast croissants are flaky and fresh, and not too greasy. Lewis says one of his biggest sellers is the sharp and tangy blue cheese walnut bread he makes on Sundays. At just $5 per loaf, it’s no wonder.

“We get quite a few heartbroken people throughout the week who’ve heard about the blue cheese bread and are disappointed when we tell them it’s only Sundays,” Lewis said. “We hate to turn them away, but we want to keep things fresh.”

F R E S H I N N O R F O L K C O U N T Y

Specialty breads:

Tuesday:

Celery seed Viennois

Wednesday:

Montreal style bagels

Thursday:

Chef’s choice (mystery!)

Friday:

Beer bread

Saturday:

Brioche

Sunday:

Blue cheese walnut bread

“I guarantee that any concert you see at the

Old Town Hall will wow you.”

Sara Moody-Veldhuis describes herself as a “lover of all things musical.”

She is a formally trained musician, the former Director of Artistic Administration and Operations at the Hamilton Philharmonic, and is currently the Head of Music at Langton’s Valley Heights Secondary School.

She is also one of Norfolk County’s most prolific live music promoters.

Live music is on a stage somewhere in Norfolk just about every day, especially during the summer. Moody-Veldhuis says Norfolk has many venues that provide a similar premium concert experience as more urban venues, but at a fraction of the cost. “Most places don’t charge for parking, and admission to many concerts is by donation to a local charity,” she reported.

Moody-Veldhuis coordinates the annual Lynn River Music & Art Festival, which includes two stages of live music – one professional, and the other a mix of local amateurs and professionals – as well as art and craft exhibits and demonstrations, commercial vendors, a Kids Zone, and a series of draws, raffles, and contests. Admission to the festival, including concerts, is free.

She also organizes and promotes an annual concert series at the Waterford Old Town Hall, in partnership with local performer Claire Senko. “The Old Town Hall is one of the many intimate spaces in this community that provide a unique setting where an artist’s personality truly comes through,” Veldhuis explained. “I guarantee that any concert you see at the Old Town Hall will wow you.”

Sara Moody-Veldhuis

performsNORFOLK

Moody-Veldhuis stays at the leading edge of the Canadian music industry and capitalizes on the energy of up-and-comers. She counts Rose Cousins and the Good Lovelies as two acts that she was ahead of the curve on. “It’s a satisfying feeling to see a performer that you know deserves success and recognition actually get there.”

When asked which artists to book and promote, her approach is simple. “I want to bring great music and art to people, but I also want them to have a good time.”

For up-to-date music listings for the Lynn River Music & Arts Festival and the Waterford Old Town Hall visit lynnriverfestival.com and oldtownhall.org.

Y TT HN RE E

W E

T 23creativeeconomy

PORT DOVER

photo: Glenn Lowson

Tom O’Neill

“We make apple cider donuts here on-site. I’m told they’re made using

a secret recipe.”

On Queensway East in Simcoe, somewhat hidden among fast food restaurants and commercial chains, is the Norfolk Fruit Growers Association, one of Canada’s largest suppliers of apples, and its retail store, the Apple Place.

General Manager Tom O’Neill says that the association – owned by nine local growers - packages and ships up to 750,000 bushels of apples every year. At approximately 100 apples per bushel, as many as 75,000,000 apples (or 14,300 metric tons) leave Simcoe annually for the rest of Canada, the United States, United Kingdom, Caribbean, Mexico, and Sri Lanka. In March, 2014, O’Neill attended a trade show in India, laying the groundwork for new Asian markets.

Open September through June, the Apple Place is an old fashioned country store that sells locally-grown apples, usually for less than grocery stores. “There isn’t much freight built into the price here,” says O’Neill. “The apples only have to travel from the back of the property up to the front.”

The Apple Place also sells traditional apple products, including baked goods and locally pressed cider, but at just $4.99 per dozen, apple cider donuts are by far the biggest sellers. “We make them right here on-site, and I’m told they’re made using a secret recipe,” O’Neill said with a shrug. “I don’t know much about that, but I do know that people love ‘em.”

Apple Place Manager Deb Matthews has been at her post for 20 years. She estimates she sells between 32,000 and 35,000 dozen cider donuts annually.

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Jim DeLuca

“I came for the motorcycles, but stayed

for the food.”

For cultural reasons, Jim DeLuca prefers to call himself a “motorcyclist,” as opposed to “biker.” “I’ve always seen bikers as people who follow the trends set by motorcyclists,” DeLuca explained. “To me, the guys who are wrenching on their own bikes in the garage every weekend are the real deal, and I’ve always been more interested in that aspect of the lifestyle than trying to look like a badass in a Tim Horton’s parking lot.”

DeLuca has been a motorcyclist since he got his first bike at age 14, and now rides a modified 2003 Harley Davidson Road King. He is a former three-patch member of the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club (BFMC), an international club formed by "Wino" Willie Forkner in California in 1946. Club members refer to themselves as “the Original Wild Ones" and "a drinking club with a motorcycle problem."

The BFMC is an “outlaw” club, which means that members are required to earn their way in. One of DeLuca’s required tasks was to ride 1000 miles in one day, which he did on a direct trip from Port Dover to Arkansas. He quit the club by turning in his colours in 2008. Without going into specifics, DeLuca claims that he didn’t enjoy the regimentation and rules required to be a club member and decided to move on.

“Club life is great for camaraderie and feeling like you belong to something, but it’s the opposite of freedom,” he said.

A Port Dover resident for the last 11 years, DeLuca cites the community’s motorcycle culture as the main reason he moved there. “I came for the motorcycles, but stayed for the food,” he joked. “Norfolk has a disproportionate number of excellent restaurants.”

And he would know. His career as a high-end sales coach, motivational speaker, and Canada’s foremost

expert in social media applications in the automotive industry takes him across the country, and he eats at a restaurant at least once a day. “Norfolk really is the best place to go out for a meal,” he attested. “Everything is just better here.”

DeLuca says that the ride from Port Dover to Turkey Point, through the tree canopy in Port Ryerse, is one of the most beautiful rides in Ontario. “I’d recommend serious motorcyclists try that ride without using brakes, and just gear down through the hair pins. That’s an authentic experience.”

He also recommends people stop by the Turkey Point Hotel. “That place is a lot of fun. I’ve been thrown out of - and back into - that hotel several times over the years,” he recalled.

The Port Dover Maple Leaf is the last locally owned, weekly newspaper in Norfolk. Owned and operated by Paul Morris, the paper focuses entirely on community news, as it has done since it was founded in 1873.

Morris is the third generation of his family to own and operate the newspaper. His grandfather, Sam Morris, came to Port Dover from England, and took a job as a printer’s apprentice. He fought in the 133rd Battalion in World War One, and came home a wounded hero. When the Maple Leaf’s owner, L.G. Morgan, died suddenly in a house fire, Sam bought the newspaper. The year was 1920.

Paul’s father Stan Morris, and Stan’s brother Archie, eventually took over the Maple Leaf as partners. When Archie retired, Stan gained full control and brought Paul into the family business. Stan, now 82, still works as a reporter.

Paul Morris says he’s had opportunities to sell the newspaper, but never seriously considered doing so. “This is what I do,” Morris said. “I enjoy the variety of tasks, and it’s what I know.”

The Maple Leaf’s owner also doesn’t buy into the threat the internet supposedly poses to the newspaper business. “Newspapers predate electricity, and they’ve survived radio and television,” Morris explained. “The internet is great for quick news, but people still want edited, curated news and responsible reporting.”

Morris recently added the Port Rowan Good News to the Maple Leaf’s holdings, ensuring that the monthly community newspaper would continue. The Good News’ focus is also entirely on local news.

Visit portdovermapleleaf.com for more.

HOT OFF THE

PRESS

Paul Morris

“This is what I do.”

Bonnieheath Lavender & Estate Winery is a success story made possible by perseverance and creative entrepreneurship.

The Bonnieheath Farm has been active since 1801, when the Crown deeded the land to Marion Collver. At the turn of the century, Colonel William Heath took ownership and built the

farmhouse that stands today. While owned by Colonel Heath, the land was known as the Bonnieheath Fruit Farm, until the 1950s when the crop changed from small fruits to tobacco.

When farms throughout Norfolk County began transitioning out of tobacco at the government’s behest in 2009, many families faced an uncertain financial future. Anita Buehner and her husband Steve met the challenges head on, and replaced their tobacco with lavender and a new vineyard in 2010.

In 2011, the Buehners harvested their first lavender crop, and hosted the annual Lavender Festival on their Waterford farm. In 2012, they produced five varieties of wine from their first grapes, with the help of winemaker Terry Rayner. Another batch of wine followed in 2013, and earlier this spring they opened their winery.

The family also produces a line of affordable lavender products on-site, including soaps, lotions, scrubs, sachets, teas, and more.

The Bonnieheath farm is beautiful and welcoming. The heritage farmhouse is pristine, and lavender is

NORFOLK COUNTY

Anita Buehner

“We’re passionate about local.”

grown in a sun ray configuration. Vineyards are open for walkabouts, and a gazebo is nearby for relaxing with a glass of wine. Impressive ecological sights include a rehabilitated wetlands, prairie grasses, and a gargantuan black oak tree.

Buehner says she enjoys the excitement that comes from working with other businesses to rejuvenate Norfolk County’s economy. “We’re passionate about local,” she said. “I’m happy to be part of what’s happening in this community.”

L AV ENDER & W I N ERY

E S T A T EBonnieheath

410 Concession 12 Townsend, Waterford, ON

bonnieheathestate.com

519 443 7125T info@bonnieheathestate.comESteve & Anita Buehner

OPEN APRIL - DECEMBERVISIT US ONLINE FOR HOURS AND EVENTS

Susan Robertson first came to Norfolk looking for a place to live, but she wasn’t in the market for real estate. At the time, she was living with her fella on a boat in Bluffer’s Park Marina, and they came to Port Dover to buy a boat with more living space. After several visits to the lakeside community, they decided they’d just rather live there.

Robertson now coordinates three important community events. The Lynn River Music & Arts Festival (formerly the Simcoe Rotary Friendship Festival), August 2 - 4, is a free event in Wellington and Clifton Parks in Simcoe. The holiday weekend event includes two free concert stages, arts and crafts vendors, Kids Zone, raffles, food, and more.

From August 6 – 10, the Turkey Point Community Pavilion anchors the Turkey Point Summerfest, a week of games, contests, food, and a silent auction. Attractions include a Caribbean bar, sand castle sculpting, and a karaoke contest.

The Simcoe Christmas Panorama began in 1958 after Santa Claus parade organizers decided to place decorated floats in Wellington Park, instead of struggling through another rainy event. Heading into its 56th season, the Panorama now includes thousands of lights, 60 exhibits, horse-drawn carriage rides, carols, gift shop, and more. This winter, the light-up party is November 29, and the lights will stay up until January 4.

Robertson emphasized the need for volunteers. “Festivals don’t just happen. If you love a festival, ask yourself if there’s something you can do to help,” she encouraged. “That’s the only way to ensure that it happens again next year.”

“Volunteers arethe main ingredient

to the success of

any festival.”

Susan Robertson

You’ll find it in...

DynamicDowntown energy

blended with history

Business Improvement Area (BIA)

www.downtownsimcoe.com 519-426-5150

Representing more than 200 shops,services & experience options in

the heart of Norfolk County

During warm weather months, Simcoe’s Robinson Street is alive with the sights, smells, and sounds of Latin America. For decades, seasonal workers from Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean have come to Norfolk County to work on farms from spring to autumn, and downtown Simcoe now hosts a handful of grocery stores, restaurants, and lounges that specifically cater to these annual visitors.

Taste of Latin, a food truck at the corner of Robinson and Colborne Streets, prepares fresh, authentic Mexican food on-site daily. Operated by Teresa Mairena and her daughter, Allison Hernandez, the eatery offers tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and more a la carte, and combo meals, which include sides of fresh salad, rice, beans, and tortillas.

Menu prices range anywhere from $2.50 for a taco to $11 for a full meal. Given the quality of the food, prices are more than fair. Soft tacos are made with shaved pork, cilantro, and onions on a fresh tortilla, and eating just one is a near impossibility. Burritos come in two varieties: the monster stuffed version North Americans are familiar with, and the somewhat surprisingly superior Mexican version, filled with ground beef and mashed potato, and steamed until they’re dense, and delicious. Beware the enchiladas: they’re the kind of spicy that makes you sneeze when you inhale their wafting steam. Be prepared for tortillas stuffed with spicy chicken, covered in green salsa, red onions, and salty melted cheese. You’ll need a drink, maybe two.

Hernandez says she’s proud of what her business means to seasonal workers. “We remind them of home,” she said. “We prepare food in a way they can’t get anywhere else here.”

Taste of Latin is open six days a week from May to

Teresa Mairena, Allison Hernandez, and Anna-Maria Palomares operate Taste of Latin. Little Estrella Hernandez plays

Taste of LatinHOURS:

Monday - Wednesday

11am - 6pm

Thursday - Friday

11am - 9:30pm

Saturday

11am - 6pm

October. On Thursdays and Fridays, the covered patio stays open until 9:30pm, and offers a more festive atmosphere. “We turn the music up loud and give the men the experience they’re used to in Mexico. We’d be loud all the time, but there are people doing business during the day, and we want to be good neighbours.”

Every September 16, to celebrate Independence Day in Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Honduras, Taste of Latin hosts a large party that includes live music and a buffet dinner for just $12. Hernandez says everyone is welcome. “We serve all people in Simcoe – Mexicans, Jamaicans, Canadians – it doesn’t matter,” she explained. “We’re happy to share our culture and our food with anyone.”

.

+27 28

NORFOLK

studio2014

Studios open 10am - 5pm

norfolk tourstudio .com

Look for theyellow signs

36 19 artists studios

tour

Port Dover pot ter Joanne Munzar saw a need in her artistic community and took action. In 2001, she and watercolour artist Carol Gerrett, led the group of artists that started the Norfolk Studio Tour. For the uninitiated, a studio tour is a group of artists who agree to open their studios and creative spaces to the public for a weekend to promote local arts and ideally, sell their work.

The self-guided tour offers unique opportunities for tourists to meet artists and discuss the ideas and inspiration behind their work, and learn more about their process and technique. Conversely, the artists have an opportunity to collect firsthand feedback about their work. Guests explore the studios at their own pace, and are welcome to stay at each one as long as they like. There are no admission fees.

The 2014 tour includes 19 studios featuring 36 artists throughout Norfolk. A range of disciplines and media is represented, including painters, sculptors, potters, handmade jewelry, textiles,

NORFOLK COUNTY

A R T S

Norfolk Studio Tour

September 27+28

36 artists

19 studios

norfolkstudiotour.com

woodwork, and mixed media, with many subcategories deriving from each. Studios are open from 10am until 5pm daily.

Artists must apply to be on the tour, and pay a fee if accepted. The revenue is used to produce a brochure and map, and pay for a modest advertising campaign. A volunteer selection committee, including Munzar, juries all tour applicants, ensuring that each artist and destination provides high-quality, original work.

Munzar says that tours are about more than just sales. “Studio tours help artists evolve,” she explained. “Showing work publicly and receiving feedback is encouraging, and it may also help artists view their own work differently. None of the artists who are on the tour are the same as they were when I met them. They’ve all developed with time, and being on the tour certainly contributes to that.”

Four years ago, Munzar also evolved, adding a line of handmade jewelry to her output. She specializes in bracelets and necklaces made from semi-precious stones and non-tarnishing silver clasps that she also makes by hand. Prices range from $35 to $50 for a bracelet, and $85 to $125 for a necklace. Her pottery prices range from $25 to $175.

Munzar said she started the tour because she wanted the same opportunity for Norfolk artists that she’d seen in other communities. “I was considering moving to Ganonoque, and one of the reasons was because it had a studio tour,” she recalled. “When I decided to stay here after all, I also decided that Norfolk should have its own tour. We were the first tour in the region, and now most of our neighbouring communities have one too.”

In 2011, the Norfolk Studio Tour partnered with the Norfolk Arts Centre to lead the creation of Arts Country, a regional marketing partnership that also includes tours from Brant, Elgin, and Oxford County. Arts Country produces a printed publication featuring approximately 100 artists, galleries, and studios, and maintains an online directory and map at artscountry.ca. Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Dover is home to the Arts Country gallery, which features monthly exhibitions by participating artists.

The 2014 Norfolk Studio Tour is September 27 and 28. For a list of participating artists and studio locations, visit norfolkstudiotour.com. Printed maps are available in businesses across the county. While on the tour, visitors should look for bright yellow signs that will direct them to their destinations.

Artwork: Joanne Munzar, Carol Gerrett, Shelley Smith, Michael Barber

TAKEA

Seat

For a community of approximately 63,000, Norfolk County has a disproportionate number of live theatre companies, and subsequently, a wealth of live performances year round.

Leading the way is Port Dover’s Lighthouse Festival Theatre, Ontario’s most successful summer theatre company, and one of the most successful theatres of any type in all of Canada. Lighthouse produces an all-Canadian playbill every May through September, and during the winter and early spring, the 350-seat venue is home to many rentals, including concerts, fundraisers, and private functions. Lighthouse is co-managed by Artistic Director Derek Ritschel and Administrative Director Helen Wagenaar.

Lighthouse hires only professional actors, directors, designers, and technicians, many of whom are Canadian film and television veterans who are excited to come to Port Dover for five weeks during the summer. One of the highlights of the 2014 Lighthouse season is the world premiere of The Gentleman Clothier by Canada’s most-produced playwright, Norm Foster, which plays from August 27 to September 13. Lighthouse also offers youth theatre programs that provide opportunities for aspiring actors as young as seven to develop their skills in a professional environment.

The Waterford Old Town Hall presents both professional and amateur theatre productions. The transition to professional theatre began in 2011, and Waterford audiences have quickly embraced the adaptation. The Old Town Hall’s professional offering for 2014 is Comrades by Beth Graham and Daniela Vlaskalic. The play makes its Ontario premiere from November 5 to 9, and tells the story of

You’ll

Love it

LIVE!

Melodee Finlay

two Italian immigrants who were wrongfully arrested, imprisoned, and executed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1927.

The Old Town Hall is also well-known for its Town Hall Kids theatre program, developed by Artistic Director Claire Senko, and its annual concert series managed by Senko and promoter Sara Moody-Veldhuis.

Norfolk’s amateur theatre leader is without doubt the Simcoe Little Theatre, which is heading into its 68th season in 2015. The theatre is completely volunteer-driven, and produces five plays annually between September and June. In 2012, SLT completed a $550,000 accessibility renovation, and improvements to the facility are ongoing.

In Delhi, the Backstage Capitol Theatre regularly hosts musical tribute shows, featuring live bands performing hits by some of pop music’s most famous names. Professionally developed and presented tributes to Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, Johnny Cash, and many more stars appear on-stage year round.

Theatre professional David Kent, of Simcoe, utilized his varied professional theatre experience – including production, management, development, and promotion – to create the annual Norfolk Has Talent showcase. Heading into its third season this October, the competition features many of the county’s best performers in a range of entertainment disciplines, including singing, dancing, musicianship, and more. Proceeds from the project are divided between the county’s not-for-profit theatre companies and youth theatre programs.

Compass Theatre Productions, led by Executive Director Lisa Dent-Couturier, bridges the gap between professional and amateur theatre by partnering seasoned professional mentors with developing artists. Compass has expanded its success into other communities as it continues to develop community partners and offer new educational and entertainment opportunities.

To see what’s playing, or to order tickets to a live theatre performance, visit:

Lighthouse Festival Theatre: lighthousetheatre.com

Waterford Old Town Hall: oldtownhall.org

Simcoe Little Theatre: simcoelittletheatre.org

Backstage Capitol Theatre: backstagecapitol.com

Norfolk Has Talent: norfolkhastalent.ca

Compass Theatre: compasstheatreproductions.org

Ian Downie, Jerry Franken © Daniel G. Wiest

Open Daily 11 am -12 pm211 Main Street, Port Dover

519.583.3251

refi ned dining live entertainment three tiered decks

Specializingin Homemade

Port Rowan fashion boutique Cashmere & Cobwebs is one of Norfolk County’s prime locations for destination shopping, a term that describes shopping for entertainment, instead of the mere procurement of goods.

Owner Cindy Vanderstar reports that there are now 10 boutique or specialty stores in Port Rowan, along with a growing restaurant industry. Vanderstar envisions her community gradually having the same reputation as Niagara-on-the-Lake. “We’re all working together to make Port Rowan a success,” she said of her fellow shopkeepers. “No one here competes with each other. We know that in order to be successful, we need to cooperate and provide a high-quality experience for our visitors.”

Vanderstar is also a real estate agent and the president of the Long Point Country Chamber of Commerce. She describes Cashmere & Cobwebs merchandise as “affordable quality.” Bead sandals are popular, and at $22 per pair, she has the lowest price in Ontario. She is also a Red Coral distributor, and says that the jewelry line is her top seller.

Vanderstar enhances the shopping experience at Cashmere & Cobwebs by providing complimentary coffee and sweets for her guests, and playing music. “I want people to love my store,” Vanderstar said.

Port Rowan’s quaintness is underscored by Vanderstar’s clarification that her store is in fact “around the corner from downtown,” and not part of the official downtown area. In her community, half a block is a significant distance. “I have regular customers and high-calibre tourists that make a point of travelling from large cities to shop here year round because they know that they’ll have a great time, regardless of their objective,” Vanderstar said.

OPEN FORBUSINESS

“We’re allworking together

to make Port Rowana success.”

Cindy Vanderstar

Summer Arts AdventureSummer Arts AdventureSpend your summer

creating!to register call519-428-0540

SUMMERSUMMERfestivalfestivalPort Dover

arts crafts antiques pre-loved books

2014

Visit us online @ portdoversummerfestival.com

Join UsAugust 16 and 17, 2014

Saturday 10am - 6pm

Sunday 10am - 5pm

The third weekend in August is always a special time in Port Dover. The Port Dover Summer Festival, or Art in the Park as it is commonly referred to, has been attracting thousands of visitors on this particular weekend for over 40 years.