At the beginning of this month, I reported that a number of the re-enactors taking part in this past weekend’s Battle of Glengarry event had volunteered to hold an “education day” for middle school children on Friday. It was a perfect tie-in to the Canadian history module the students would be taking this year.
Before the summer break, the Museum had received written and verbal confirmation from four local schools that over 300 students would attend. Based on this commitment, 60 re-enactors and 10 volunteers took time from their busy schedules to come to Dunvegan a day early… for the sake of the kids.
Do you know how many school children turned up in the end? Just TWENTY-FIVE! When asked why the school officials and teachers reneged on their promise to attend, the schools offered excuses ranging from solidarity with the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario work-to-rule campaign to the Franco-Ontarian 400th anniversary and the fact that some of the parents who volunteered to monitor the students on the bus trip lacked official police checks. (I was told that the school officials deemed these same “unapproved” parents trustworthy enough to shepherd the kids to the International Plowing Match the day before.)
When I asked Marlie Tilker, chair of the GPM Board, for her reaction, she replied, “What an incredible waste of an opportunity!” And she’s right. It’s also a terrible example to set for young students when it comes to honouring one’s word.
Goodbye Catherine
For those who may not have heard, Catherine Harriet McIlwain (nee MacCrimmon) died peacefully at the Maxville Manor on Monday, September 21st surrounded by her family. Catherine and her late husband, George, used to live on a Dunvegan East farm directly across from her brother, Harold MacCrimmon, and his wife, Janet.
For the most part, we all look at family, friends and acquaintances through the lens that best represents our experiences with the individual. Catherine McIlwain was no exception.
Like many Dunveganites “from away,” my most frequent point of contact with Catherine was postal in nature. On Monday, November 2, 1998, the pair took over the rural mail delivery for Dunvegan’s RR #1 and #2 from Bev and Evelyn MacQueen who had been delivering the mail since 1968.
Up until a few years ago, rural mail delivery (at least in Dunvegan) wasn’t strictly a business. It was more of a “calling.” Yes, the Royal Mail got delivered… through fair weather and foul. But the Dunvegan mail drivers I knew always went that extra mile. And Catherine and George carried on this tradition, transporting — albeit informally — envelopes, small parcels and the like between folks up and down the route as a “community service.” Catherine also played a vital role in helping to maintain Dunvegan’s community spirit by delivering, out of the goodness of her heart (and no doubt in contravention of every Canada Post regulation), flyers and bulletins for the Recreation Association, the Women’s Auxiliary, the Pioneer Museum and the like.
But as I reflected on my memories of Catherine, the one that really stuck out involved sweet corn. For decades, Catherine and her husband were the neighbourhood go-to spot for fresh-picked cobs of goodness. Every summer, folks up and down the road kept careful watch over the power pole in front of their farm, waiting for the “Corn For Sale” sign. I haven’t a clue what variety they planted; the McIllwains guarded this secret with their lives. All I know is that it was an all-yellow strain — none of this insipid Peaches & Cream stuff — and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I can still see Catherine and George at the Church’s annual Chicken BBQ shucking their gigantic cobs and boiling them up in a big iron pot over a fragrant open fire.
But as powerful as this image is, it pales in comparison with the scene I would stumble upon from time to time when I stopped by Catherine’s to grab a dozen or two. There, Catherine and George would be with their old cast-iron corn sheller clamped to a table. The first time I saw this contraption in operation, I was astounded. With a simple turn of the crank, it would strip kernels cleanly from cobs, to fall into a bowl ready for the fall canning season. Some day, I hope to find one of these strangely elegant machines. And when I do, I will think of Catherine each time I gaze upon it.
My sincere condolences to her brother, Harold MacCrimmon, her children, Greg McIlwain of Maxville and Allison Sweeney of Lanark and her grandchildren, Brandon and Brittany McIlwain.
Fish and fellowship
Steve Kaluta, who lives but a few farms to the east of here, recently got back from a Boys Weekend Away fishing trip to Cedar Cove Resort on White Lake near Pakenham. Accompanying Steve were his son, Mike, and son-in-law, Jeff. From all accounts, the trio had a great time.
Steve et al caught bass, good-sized perch and numerous sunfish. “But all of those went back,” says Steve. “Needless to say, we did our share of laughing until it hurt. We ate our fill of fish. And we even brought some home.”
Belated Birthday Wishes
While I lack any details on how the milestone was celebrated, I do know that last Saturday was Aiden Burgess’s birthday. When husband, Ben Williams, stopped by to pick up the menus I printed for the DRA food concession at the Battle of Glengarry event, he let slip that he was off to construct a hazelnut torte for the party. Lucky girl. Many happy returns, Aiden.
Bullwinkle sightings
When Terry and I moved here from Lakefield oh so many years ago, deer sightings were a rarity. In fact, wildlife of any kind made itself scarce… aside from wall-to-wall groundhogs, skunks and raccoons. When one “saw a deer”, it was a noteworthy occasion.
Then, over the years, the deer population bounced back with a vengeance (along with the ticks they walked in with). Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see herds of 25 or 50 grazing on the corn and soybeans that our local farmers so kindly plant for them.
Last week, I relived those long ago “there’s a deer” moments when I encountered not one but two moose in the immediate Dunvegan area. I spotted the first early Tuesday morning as it loped across County Road 30 just south of Kim and Donnie Raymond’s house. Then, the following day, I came across another trying to make up its mind about crossing the road a touch east of Bruce and Lynn MacGillivray’s laneway.
I both cases, it was a bull moose with a small rack. It might have been the same animal or two separate specimens. Nevertheless, after years of motoring through Algonquin Park hoping against hope to spot a moose, it was a treat to see one here in our “backyard.”
“I Promise to do my best…”
If you have a young daughter (or granddaughter), have you ever considered introducing her to Girl Guides? The Girl Guides experience enables girls to be confident, resourceful and courageous… and to make a difference in the world.
While there isn’t a “unit” in Dunvegan (apparently they’re not called “troops” anymore), there is one close by and it’s holding an Open House tonight Wednesday, September 30th at 6:30 PM at the Church on the Hill, 36 Kincardine St. East in Alexandria.
For more information please go to www.girlguides.ca or call Iris at 613-525-0893. They’d love to see you there!
Invitations from the Glengarry Curling Club
As Dunvegan has long been a hotbed of curling activity, I have two invitations from the Glengarry Curling Club on Alexander St. West in Maxville. The first is their “Wine & Cheese Registration Night” on Thursday, October 15th from 7 –- 9 PM at the curling club. The club, which was established in 1953, has a new promotion this year. If you introduce a “new” curler to the club and he or she signs up for the entire curling season, you will BOTH receive $50 off your membership!
The second event is a “Car Rally and Spaghetti Supper” to be held on Sunday, October 18th. Tickets are $30 for the Rally & Supper… or $20 for the supper only. What a wonderful way to spend a mid-Fall Sunday afternoon getting to know the county back roads! For more information, call Janice at 527-5346 or email djblaney@sympatico.ca. I’m told the tickets will be at Scotiabank in Maxville this week!
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