What are you doing beside watching the snow fall and trees bending in the wind? I write this on December 29 when we are having another major weather event. I will leave it to friend Bill Caulfeild-Browne to talk about our weather this month. The point I want to make is; when it’s not stormy and it’s safe to be on the roads, there is a myriad of things to do on the Peninsula.
The Press has three pages titled “Service Directory & Information Centre”. Under “Regular Meetings, Fun & Games”, the weekly schedule is printed listing almost all of the activities one could participate in throughout the peninsula. And then there is a section, “Special Events” noting extra activities happening in the next week or two.
These “regular” listings are in fine print and if my eyes caught them all, there are 28 activities happening in Tobermory, 25 in Lion’s Head, 6 in Wiarton and 1 in Stokes Bay. At least 5 have participants involved online. Volunteer opportunities are not listed but if you have the time, there are many organizations which would welcome your involvement to assist others within our community.
The population of Northern Bruce Peninsula has been slowly growing over the last 20-30 years or so, as folks retire and want to live in our special part of Canada. As well, a few folks move here to work or start their own business. Our numbers are adding to the population of the many families who have lived here for generations. If you are one of these “recent” arrivals, or have not yet made an effort to be involved in more than weather watching and TV, I encourage you read these pages.
Many of the people who come to live in our community bring unique interests and skills with them and they are willing to share their talents and knowledge. They have either started or supported the existing activities within our community. Over the years these activities have become a very important part of the lifestyle we share here. Many of these activities are held in well used facilities: Community Centres, Churches, Legions, The Meeting Place in Tobermory and the Friendship Club in Lion’s Head. Check these pages for times.
For example, looking at Wednesday, this is what is happening in Lion’s Head: The Peninsula Swans meet at the Legion on first Wed, the Tea Time Quilters meet at the U.C., there is a Writer’s Workshop at the Friendship Club, the BP Environment Group meets at the Anglican Church on the 1st Wed, a Euchre tourney is on at the Friendship Club, and there is a Lions Club dinner 2nd and 4th Wed at the Swan Lake Legion.
Tobermory sees the Coffee Club solving some world problems at the Community Centre (Mon and Fri too), the Tobermory Quilters are at the Light & Life Chapel, the Tip of the Bruce Woodcarvers make shavings at the Community Centre, the Tobermory Muses muse at the U.C., the NB Truth & Reconciliation group gathers at The Meeting Place.
In Wiarton there is music and dancing with the Afternoon Jamboree at the Legion and darts there in the evening.
Online, early in the morning, you can Yin & Yang Yoga.
And this is just one day of the week. Line dancing, rug hooking, Tai chi, darts, meat draws, more yoga, trivia, live music, karaoke, films at The Visitors’ Centre and many other activities can be had on other days. There should be a little something for everyone near your home. The unique thing is that activities might be associated with a specific location; but the participants can come from anywhere on the peninsula. For example, the Men’s Breakfast meets once a month at the Tobermory Community Centre but there are some gents who come from the Oliphant area.
If you have an interest or skill that is not represented by any of these activities noted, think about starting your own group.
I suspect that at each these activities, participants would welcome new members and provide any instruction on how to join. And if I may, I would mention the carvers in Tobermory (Tip of the Bruce Woodcarvers) to which I belong – if you want to learn how to use gouges or knives to shape a piece of wood (and some woods are easier to work on than others) or learn pyrography (wood burning) or even how to add colours of different media to wood, we have members willing to share knowledge and work with you. We meet 11:00am – 2:30pm at the Tobermory Community Centre. For further information, contact our Chief Carver Stan McLellan at 519 596 2495 or myself at 519 827 7813. All are welcome.
And let’s not forget the not-so-public activities that abound: the jam sessions where family and friends gather around in the living room or garage and play instruments, some of which may have been handed down over the years, like grampa’s fiddle or uncle’s guitar. There might even be an instrument made by a local luthier. Or neighbourhood parties where board or card games are played: cribbage, euchre, canasta, crokinole, backgammon, rummoli, darts and pool to name a few.
I would encourage everyone to think about joining friends and neighbours at the activities that abound in our community. Not only do these activities help pass the time, but they create bonds within members of the community.
Many people say that a neighbour is a friend not yet met.
John Currie
