Music Session Concert at Gravenhurst's St. James Anglican Church May 23rd

Photos by Rob Currie

PREVIOUSLY CANCELLED MUSIC "SESSIONS" EVENTS RETURN NEXT WEEK TO GRAVENHURST

THANKS TO ST. JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH, MUSIC EVENINGS RETURN

     THERE WAS A TIME, WHEN SONS ANDREW AND ROBERT, HAD THEIR HEARTS SET ON BECOMING PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY PLAYERS. I MADE ROBERT CRY ONCE, WHEN I POINTED OUT, THE ODDS OF HIM MAKING THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE, WERE AT BEST, TEN MILLION TO ONE. MAYBE HIGHER. "BUT DAD, YOU SAID I COULD BE ANYTHING I WANTED TO BE." I HAD TO ACKNOWLEDGE, I ONCE, OR TWICE MADE THIS STATEMENT. "I DID SON, BUT SOMETIMES, WE GET CARRIED AWAY AS PARENTS, CHEERING FOR THE HOME TEAM, AND MAKE PROMISES THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP," OFFERING A MODEST APOLOGY, FOR TRYING TO BOOST HIS CONFIDENCE. "YOU'D MAKE A GOOD HOCKEY PLAYER, BUT YOU SHOULDN'T LIMIT YOUR OPTIONS. YOU MIGHT MAKE A GREAT ACCOUNTANT, OR A LUMBER SALESMAN TOO," I SAID. KNOWING RIGHT AWAY, OF COURSE, THAT BY HIS FROWN, THAT BY THIS TIME WAS CUTTING INTO MY SOUL, THIS WAS NO CONSOLATION, TO A KID LOOKING FOR MY SUPPORT; NOT A BAIL-OUT OF A PREVIOUS PROMISE. HE'S BEEN REMINDING ME RECENTLY, OF THE OTHER PORKY I TOLD, WHEN I PROMISED HIM, I'D TAKE HIM AND HIS BROTHER TO THE HOCKEY HALL OF FAME. I'LL BE IN THE RETIREMENT HOME, AND HE'LL STILL BE RAGGING ON ME, ABOUT THAT BROKEN PROMISE. I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO DISCUSS DISNEY WORLD.
    OUR FRIEND, ROGER CROZIER, OFFERED THE BOYS WHATEVER THEY NEEDED, TO REGISTER AND GET EQUIPPED, TO PLAY MINOR HOCKEY. WE ALL WORKED WITH ROGER WHEN HE LAUNCHED THE CROZIER FOUNDATION, BACK IN THE MID 1990'S. ROGER WAS ORIGINALLY FROM BRACEBRIDGE, AND HIS FOUNDATION, WAS DESIGNED TO HELP LOCAL YOUTH SUCCEED WITH THEIR AMBITIONS, IN SPORT AND ART, BY REMOVING FINANCIAL OBSTACLES. THE CITIZENS OF BRACEBRIDGE, PITCHED IN, AND HELPED ROGER ADVANCE HIS JUNIOR HOCKEY YEARS, FROM BACK IN THE 1950'S, AND IT CONTINUED INTO THE FIRST YEARS WITH THE DETROIT RED WINGS. HE KNEW THERE WERE HOMETOWN FOLKS HE COULD COUNT ON, IF THEY WERE NEEDED FOR ANY REASON. SO ROGER KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE, GROWING UP IN A SMALL TOWN, AND FACING THESE SAME ECONOMIC OBSTACLES. SO HIS FOUNDATION WAS TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT HELPED HIM ACHIEVE HIS GOALS. WE APPRECIATED ALL THE KINDNESSES HE BESTOWED, BUT THE BOYS FOUND THEIR COMFORT ZONE IN THE PURSUIT OF MUSIC, MORE SO THAN ON SKATES. HE WAS HAPPY FOR THEM NONE THE LESS.
    THAT WAS UNTIL I SCRAPED UP ENOUGH MONEY, TO BUY BOTH OF THEM STARTER GUITARS FROM PRECISION MUSIC, IN BRACEBRIDGE. I HAVE OFTEN WONDERED WHETHER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASIER, TO HAVE BEEN A HOCKEY DAD, LIKE MY FATHER WAS, HAULING EQUIPMENT AND TEAM-MATES TO GAMES ALL AROUND THE REGION; OR WHAT SUZANNE AND I TOOK ON, AS ROADIES, TO ADVANCE THEIR MUSIC OBSESSION. LIFTING A COUPLE OF HOCKEY BAGS IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE, VERSUS HAULING AMPS, SPEAKERS  AND GUITARS TO AND FROM VENUES. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN EASIER ON ALL OF US, IF THEY HAD GONE ON WITH HOCKEY, BUT I THINK THEIR LEVEL OF ENJOYMENT IS PROBABLY THREE TIMES GREATER, IN THEIR CHOSEN LINE OF WORK AND PLAY. BUT ALONG WITH BEING A ROADIE, AND A HANGER-ON, HERE IN THEIR PRESENT MUSIC STUDIO, I GET ALL THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS ON THE ENTERTAINMENT FRONT, BEFORE THE PUBLIC, (IN MOST CASES). SOMETIMES PROMOTERS AND THE BANDS THEMSELVES, APPEAR ON THE COUCH BESIDE ME, AND THE SHARING, OVER COFFEE AND COOKIES, BEGINS IN EARNEST. I THINK SUZANNE AND I BOTH FEEL LIKE WE ARE PARTNERS IN THEIR MUSIC INDUSTRY, VERSUS BEING A MOM AND POP REPRESENTATION IN THE STANDS, AT HOCKEY GAMES. WHEN A JAM BREAKS OUT IN HERE, WITH SOME OF OUR NOTED MUSICAL FRIENDS, FROM ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY, WE ARE NOT USHERED OUT, BUT ACTUALLY WELCOMED TO THE INNER SANCTUM. I DON'T THINK EITHER OF US WOULD HAVE BEEN WELCOMED INTO A HOCKEY DRESSING ROOM, WHERE ONE OR BOTH SONS WERE GETTING WORDS OF INSPIRATION FROM THE COACH.    I GREW UP LIVING AND BREATHING HOCKEY. BUT I HAD NO PROBLEM AT ALL, WHEN ANDREW AND ROBERT ASKED THAT MONEY FOR HOCKEY GEAR, AND REGISTRATION, BE DIVERTED INSTEAD, TO THE KIND PROPRIETORS OF PRECISION MUSIC INSTEAD. THE LUMLEYS HAVE BEEN SOURCES OF INSPIRATION FROM THE BEGINNING, AND DESERVE RECOGNITION; ESPECIALLY FOR THEIR OUTRIGHT GENEROSITY, WHEN, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY WELCOMED THE LADS TO PLAY WHATEVER INSTRUMENTS THEY WANTED TO TRY-OUT, AS LONG AS THEY KEPT THE VOLUME DOWN, AND TREATED THE INSTRUMENTS WITH CARE. WITHOUT KNOWING IT, THEY BECAME MENTORS, AND THEY ARE, IN LARGE PART, THE REASON THE BOYS WENT INTO BUSINESS IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO THE EXTENSION INTO CONCERTS, HAS ITS SEED BACK IN THOSE DAYS AS WELL.
    
     WHERE TO BEGIN! IT'S BEEN A FRENZY OF ACTIVITY ALL TOLD. FIRST OF ALL, WE NEED TO OFFER A LITTLE BACKGROUND, FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD TO CANCEL OUR MUSIC NIGHTS, HERE ON GRAVENHURST'S MAIN STREET. IT HAS BEEN AN AWKWARD AND FRUSTRATING COUPLE OF MONTHS, TRYING TO REVIVE ANDREW AND ROBERT'S "SESSIONS" EVENTS, THE SMALL SCALE MUSIC SOCIALS, WE BEGAN INITIALLY, IN THE REAR STUDIO OF THE FORMER MUSKOKA THEATRE BUILDING, WHERE WE HAVE OUR VINTAGE MUSIC AND ANTIQUE SHOP.
     THE LOW KEY, TINY BUDGET EVENTS, WERE BEGINNING TO DRAW MORE GUESTS, THAN THE ROOM, WITHOUT MAJOR CHANGES, COULD HANDLE SAFELY, AT LEAST ACCORDING TO MUNICIPAL FIRE CODE REGULATIONS. AFTER A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION, IT WAS RULED BY THE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY, THAT MANY CHANGES WOULD HAVE TO OCCUR, BEFORE THEY COULD GIVE APPROVAL FOR MORE CONCERTS, EVEN THOUGH WE STILL HADN'T PASSED THE THRESHOLD OF THIRTY PEOPLE PER EVENT. WE WERE GETTING CLOSE ENOUGH, TO ANTICIPATE WE WERE GOING TO HIT THAT NUMBER, BY THE VERY NEXT EVENT. EVEN THOUGH THE EVENTS WERE BY DONATION, THE GROUP GETTING THE PROCEEDS, IT WAS STILL CONSIDERED "A GATHERING," AND THUS, SUBJECT TO STRICT FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS. THIS WOULD HAVE MEANT, INITIALLY, GETTING RID OF UPHOLSTERED CHAIRS AND SOFAS, THAT OUR PATRONS SEEMED TO ENJOY, AS IF THE VENUE WAS A LARGER SCALE RECREATION ROOM. WHAT WE PERCEIVED, WAS THAT WE WOULD BE FACED WITH A BARRAGE OF REQUIRED IMPROVEMENTS, THEREAFTER, AND COULD NOT JUSTIFY EITHER THE EXPENSE OR THE ONGOING RED TAPE, JUST TO HOST THESE NO FRILLS MUSICAL SOCIALS.
     WHAT CAME NEXT WAS A SHOCKER. EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE HUGE CROWDS TURN OUT, FOR THE CASUAL CONCERTS, WE COULDN'T HAVE ANTICIPATED THE HUGE RESPONSE THAT CAME NEXT; MANY PEOPLE RALLYING TO THE BOYS' DEFENSE, AND OFFERING THEIR ASSISTANCE IN ANY WAY, TO HELP US EITHER FIGHT TOWN HALL, OR FIND ANOTHER VENUE IN CENTRAL GRAVENHURST. IT WAS ONE OF THE LARGEST SINGLE DAYS AUDIENCES I'VE HAD ON THIS BLOG, AND ON OUR BUSINESS FACEBOOK PAGE, IT WAS TRULY EXHILARATING, TO READ THE COMMENTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE. WHILE IT WAS EXPECTED WE'D GET SOME COMMENTS, WE WERE CAUGHT OFF GUARD, BY THE RESPONSES OF PEOPLE WHO KNEW, FROM THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE, WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO DEAL WITH TOWN HALL, AND INSPIRE CHANGE WHERE STATUS QUO REIGNS SUPREME. WE HAD SO MANY SHARED STORIES OF WOE, THAT THE ONLY RESPONSE WE COULD MAKE, WAS "THEN WHY CAN'T WE CHANGE STATUS QUO IF IT KEEPS TRIPPING US UP?"
    I'VE COMPLAINED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST, AND BENT THE EAR OF ONE COUNCILLOR UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, ABOUT THE OUTRAGEOUS COSTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE NONSENSE, ASSOCIATED WITH TRYING TO RENT THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE; A PLACE WHERE BOTH ANDREW AND ROBERT WORKED AS SOUND AND LIGHT TECHNICIANS, UNTIL LAST MAY, WHEN THEY COULD NO LONGER LIVE WITH TOWN POLICIES, AND ON-SITE MANAGEMENT CHANGES. ANDREW WAS A FIXTURE AT THE OPERA HOUSE, AND IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION, TO PULL AWAY FROM A BUILDING AND A JOB HE ADORED. AFTER A DECADE AT THE OPERA HOUSE, ONE MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED EVEN ONE MEMBER OF COUNCIL, (IT IS A SMALL TOWN AFTER ALL) TO HAVE BEEN INTERESTED ENOUGH IN THE REDUCTION OF STAFF MEMBERS, TO HAVE STEPPED OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE AT TOWN HALL, AND ASKED WHY THERE WERE SO MANY SUDDEN DEPARTURES FROM THE OPERA HOUSE. DIDN'T DAWN ON THEM, I SUPPOSE.
    INITIALLY FEELING DISCOURAGED ABOUT THEIR HOME TOWN, ESPECIALLY AFTER THEY HAD ORGANIZED DOZENS OF SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY FUNDRAISERS, AT THE OPERA HOUSE, IN PREVIOUS YEARS. TO PULL THEMSELVES OUT OF A TEMPORARY FUNK, IT'S WHY BOTH LADS DECIDED TO SPONSOR THESE "SESSIONS" EVENINGS, LAST SUMMER, IF ONLY TO KEEP THEIR HANDS IN LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT. WELL, IT WORKED OUT FOR AWHILE. BUT FUNNY HOW THINGS GO, AND WHY IT IS SO EXCITING, TO SEE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY, RALLY FORTH IN SUPPORT OF WHAT IS STILL IN ITS INFANCY. THE DIRECTORS OF ST. JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH WERE IMMEDIATELY RECEPTIVE, TO PROVIDING THEIR HERITAGE BUILDING, AS THE HOST VENUE FOR THE RE-ORGANIZED SESSIONS EVENTS, WHICH, WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT, WILL COMMENCE THIS MONTH, FRIDAY, MAY 23RD, AT 8 P.M.
    WE MUST, OF COURSE, COMMENCE THIS OVERVIEW, AND INTRODUCTION, BY EXTENDING A HEARTY THANKS, TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ST.JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH, THAT PICTURESQUE VICTORIAN ERA ARCHITECTURE, SITUATED ON A SHADY CORNER LOT, AT 191 HOTCHKISS STREET. AFTER ONLY ONE INFORMAL MEETING, WITH SEVERAL DIRECTORS, IT WAS CLEAR, THERE WAS ROOM TO WORK OUT AN AMICABLE AGREEMENT. OF COURSE, ANDREW, WAS LOOKING WELL BEYOND ONE BOOKING, AND PLANNING FOR A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHURCH DIRECTORATE. AS, BY THIS TIME, HE HAD GIVEN UP TRYING TO GAIN ANY CONCESSION, FOR COMPROMISE IN RATES, AT THE OPERA HOUSE. HE WENT INTO THE MEETING AT THE CHURCH, HOPEFUL, THEY WOULD BE RECEPTIVE TO HOSTING A SERIES OF CONCERTS, BEYOND THE ONE PLANNED FOR FRIDAY, MAY 23RD. BY THE WAY, ANDREW AND ROBERT GOT THE IDEA, ABOUT RENTING THE CHURCH, AFTER ATTENDING TWO CONCERTS IN OTTAWA, AT AN HISTORIC ANGLICAN CHURCH IN OTTAWA. THEY SAW PERFORMANCES BY DAN MANGAN, AND THEN, "THE WOODEN SKY." THEY WERE AMAZED AT HOW THE CONTEMPORARY MUSIC, AND THE ANTIQUATED INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH, BLENDED SO WELL, TO THE APPROVAL OF THE LARGE AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE. ROBERT WAS JUST TELLING ME ABOUT MANY SUCH MODERN-DAY RELATIONSHIPS, BETWEEN MUSICIANS AND CHURCH BOARDS, THROUGHOUT CANADA; SUCH AS MUSIC RECORDINGS IN CHAPELS, DUE TO THE EXCEPTIONAL SOUND QUALITY; AND MUSIC VIDEOS, BECAUSE OF THE AMBIENCE AND SPIRITUAL CALMNESS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS.
      WHAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN SEEN AS AN ACCEPTABLE FUSION, BETWEEN CONTEMPORARY MUSICIANS, AND THE RELIGIOUS SANCTUARY, HAS NOW BEGUN TO SHOW TREMENDOUS PROMISE; MUSICIANS FINDING AFFORDABLE ACCOMMODATION, TO PERFORM AND RECORD, AND THE CHURCH FINDING A NEW SOURCE OF REVENUE, TO HELP OFFSET COSTS OF OPERATION. AT A TIME OF SLOWLY DECLINING CONGREGATIONS, MANY CHURCHES HAVE LOOKED FOR COMPATIBLE WAYS TO EARN EXTRA FUNDS, BEYOND THE GENEROSITY OF THE CONGREGATION AND BEQUEATHS. ROBERT ALSO REMINDED ME, THAT CHURCHES ARE ALSO BEING USED AS INSPIRATIONAL PLACES, TO HOST CD (AND RECORD) RELEASE EVENTS FOR MUSICIANS, AND SPECIAL GUESTS.
      SO KNOWING CANADIAN MUSICIANS, WHO HAVE ESTABLISHED GOOD WORKING RELATIONS WITH COMMUNITY CHURCHES, IN TORONTO AND OTTAWA, ANDREW AND ROBERT THOUGHT ABOUT APPROACHING THE LOCAL CHURCH BOARDS, TO SEE IF ANY OF THEM WOULD BE INTERESTED IN COMMENCING A SIMILAR ASSOCIATION, FOR A LONG-TERM CONCERT SERIES. THE FIRST BOARD THEY APPROACHED, WAS FROM ST. JAMES. THEY HAVE HAD SIMILAR INTEREST SHOWN BY OTHER LOCAL CHURCHES, SINCE OUR ARRANGEMENT WAS MADE WITH THE ANGLICAN CHURCH. THIS IS INCREDIBLY ENCOURAGING, BECAUSE BOTH BOYS HAVE A HUGE INTEREST IN PROMOTING THESE SMALL, AFFORDABLE CONCERTS, AND YOU NEVER KNOW HOW THIS COULD BRANCH OUT IN THE FUTURE. WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY. CRAWL BEFORE YOU WALK. FACT IS, ANDREW WENT FROM CRAWLING TO RUNNING, AS A CHILD, AND THAT'S NO BULL. NO ONE COULD BELIEVE IT. SO I EXPECT HE AND HIS BROTHER WILL BE OUTREACHING CONSTANTLY FROM THIS POINT; AND EVEN IN THE PAST WEEK, WE'VE RECEIVED DOZENS OF MUSICIAN REQUESTS, ASKING US TO BOOK THEM FOR ONE OF OUR UPCOMING "SESSIONS" SHOWS. IT'S TO BE EXPECTED THEN, THAT THEY ARE A LITTLE OVERWHELMED BY THIS SHOW OF SUPPORT, AND WILLINGNESS TO TAKE A CHANCE ON THEM, TO HOST A GOOD EVENT. THEY HAVE BEEN BUILDING QUITE A REPUTATION IN THIS REGARD, SO WE ARE ALSO GETTING SOME PRETTY IMPRESSIVE REQUESTS, FROM SOME EXCEPTIONAL CANADIAN INDY ARTISTS, WHO WANT TO COME TO GRAVENHURST TO PERFORM. AND THEY'RE WILLING TO LINE UP, TO BE INCLUDED IN THE ROSTER. THESE ARE ALL PLANNED AS LOW BUDGET, AFFORDABLE EVENINGS OUT, SO OUR ENTERTAINERS KNOW IN ADVANCE, THE FINANCIAL REWARD WILL BE MODEST. IT HASN'T DISCOURAGE ANY OF THEM TO THIS POINT.
     ANDREW AND ROBERT ARE BIG SUPPORTERS OF THE INDY MUSIC SCENE, AND IT WILL SHOW, IN THE ACTS THEY INVITE TO PERFORM AT THE COMING SESSIONS EVENTS. WHEN YOU HEAR THE STATEMENT, "IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC," THIS MIGHT AS WELL BE THE OPENING PARAGRAPH OF THEIR RESUMES. HECK, THEY WERE HOSTING NEIGHBORHOOD MUSIC CONCERTS, WHEN THEY WERE KIDS, AND DIDN'T EVEN OWN A BEATER GUITAR. AND THEY WERE NEVER THROWN OFF THEIR OBJECTIVE, DESPITE HAVING POOR TURN-OUTS FOR THEIR BACKYARD EVENTS. THEY'D JUST PLAN A BETTER ONE, WITH MORE HOME-MADE INTERESTS, FOR THE NEXT SATURDAY AFTERNOON. EVEN BEFORE THEY GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, THEY WERE BOTH PERFORMING AT OPERA HOUSE VARIETY EVENTS, AND THEY WENT ON TO ORGANIZE MANY FUNDRAISING CONCERTS, WITH MUSICAL FRIENDS, AND THEIR GUITAR STUDENTS, TAUGHT FIRST, AT OUR HOUSE; AND THEN IN THE SMALL STUDIO OF OUR FIRST MAIN STREET STORE-FRONT. THEY AREN'T HAPPY UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING UPCOMING, LIKE A CONCERT. AND THIS HAS BEEN THE RAW EDGE, MOST RECENTLY, AS THEY HAVE STRUGGLED TO FIND A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT FOR OUR OWN STUDIO, TO GET BACK IN THE MUSIC PROMOTION ENTERPRISE. IT'S NOT A BIG MONEY MAKER FOR ANYONE, BUT THEY WOULD RATHER BE DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THAN JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE. EVEN THEIR WORK, HERE AT THE SHOP, IS NINETY PERCENT RECREATIONAL. I'VE OFTEN NOTED THIS, IN THESE BLOGS, THAT WE HAVE TOO MUCH FUN AROUND HERE, TO CALL IT WORK AND EXPECT A PROFIT. WE ARRIVE THERE ANYWAY, BUT AS FAR AS BEING EXHAUSTED FROM OUR LABORS, NAW, WE'RE JUST PLEASANTLY TIRED. SO RUNNING THESE VENUE EVENTS, AFTER A DAY IN THE SHOP, SHOULD EXHAUST THEM, BUT BY EXPERIENCE, THEY'LL BE PLANNING OUT THE VERY NEXT SHOW, EVEN BEFORE THE CURRENT CONCERT HAS WRAPPED-UP. AND WHEN I ASK THEM IF THEY'RE HAVING A GOOD TIME, AND ENJOYING THE INTERACTION WITH MUSICIANS AND GUESTS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER; FOR ME TO KNOW, ALL IS GOOD AND EXCITING, AS FAR AS THEY'RE CONCERNED.
     I MARVEL ACTUALLY, AT HOW MANY TIMES THEY'VE BEEN KNOCKED DOWN, BY CIRCUMSTANCE, AND MISADVENTURE, BUT HAVE ROUTINELY PULLED THEMSELVES BACK UP, BECAUSE THEY'RE STUBBORN LIKE THEIR IRISH STOCK; WHO LIKE LIVING IN GRAVENHURST, BUT ARE ABUNDANTLY AWARE HOW MANY OBSTACLES AND POLITICS, CAN GET IN THE WAY, OF RUNNING PUBLIC EVENTS. IT'S WHY NOW, IT IS SO ENCOURAGING TO THEM, TO HAVE FOUND THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, TO HOST THE SESSIONS EVENTS. FOR ONCE, THE OBSTACLES HAVE BEEN REMOVED, AND THERE'S GREAT WORK TO BE DONE IN THIS PARTNERSHIP. IT DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SELL-OUTS FOR EACH SHOW, OR THAT THEY WON'T HAVE UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, PREVAIL NOW AND AGAIN. BUT THE FALL MAY BE OF A LESSER DISTANCE, THAN THEY'VE HAD TO CLIMB UP FROM, IN PREVIOUS SITUATIONS.
     I HAVE BEGGED BOTH BOYS TO CONSIDER RUNNING FOR MUNICIPAL COUNCIL THIS COMING OCTOBER, TO MAKE CHANGES FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I TELL THEM FREQUENTLY, THAT THEY COULD REPRESENT THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF CITIZENS IN THIS TOWN, AND CHALLENGE THE OLD WAY OF DOING THINGS. MAYBE EVEN CHANGE ATTITUDES ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THE OPERA HOUSE, AND DEMAND THE FORMATION OF A BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHICH OF COURSE, IS ONE OF MY PET PROJECTS. LIKE MANY YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR TOWN, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY HAVE NO FAITH OR INTEREST IN POLITICS. EVEN THOUGH IT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS REQUIRED, THOSE MOST QUALIFIED CAN'T COMMIT TO A FOUR YEAR TERM, AND CAN'T SACRIFICE THEIR TIME FOR THE SMALL AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL RETURN. IT MIGHT BE A GOOD ASSIGNMENT FOR THE SEMI-RETIRED, BUT NOT FOR YOUNGER CITIZENS, TRYING TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES, AND ALREADY CARRYING SECOND JOBS. STILL, THEIR OPINIONS ARE MISSING, AND IT'S WHY THERE IS A DEEPENING CHASM BETWEEN TOWN HALL, AND THOSE OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION, WHO HAVE REMAINED HERE, TO RAISE FAMILIES. WE COULD MAKE SUCH GREAT CHANGES THIS WAY, BUT AS FOR MY BOYS, THEY WOULDN'T EVEN CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY. THEY LIKE THEIR MUSIC. END OF STORY.

Andrew Currie's Music will host the above performers at the first "Sessions" event at St. James Anglican Church in Gravenhurst on Friday, May 23rd. Tickets are available our shop on the main street.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO FEEL SMALL MEANS "DEFICIENT."

     In the antique trade, I modeled my first business after my hometown. Bracebridge in the 1970's, was a small town, with an interesting, traditional, historic downtown…..that oozed Muskoka ambience. It wasn't a giant trying to stretch out of its modest britches. It was a surprisingly content community, looking to improve its lot, but still generally satisfied with its inherent heritage and local traditions. So we put together a small shop that reflected hometown and district values. It wasn't a shop designed to be an "urban themed" venue, and I never once instituted a plan, to make it look like a shop you would find on Toronto's Queen or King Streets. Our shop was home-inspired, and our home at the time was the main street of Bracebridge. When the boys opened their vintage music shop, eight years ago, they did so with the utmost respect for their hometown. Gravenhurst. They did not design a business to look like a shop you would find on Bloor or Yonge Streets, in Toronto, and even though they have had huge access to shops they approve of, in Ottawa, (for example) when you walk through their shop doors today, you will find an aura of small town ambition, in one of the most beautiful regions on earth. We don't need to borrow anything from the urban experience. We hope the visitors to our shop, from the urban areas of North America, and Europe, will feel this commitment to our home town and region…..and the greatest compliment they could provide us with, upon leaving, besides "we'll be back," is to grace us kindly with the compliment, that they enjoyed the hospitality of Gravenhurst…..the small, friendly town it is……and without increasing in size by more than a half dozen souls every year.

     When I'm critical of the antique profession, it is because I love the industry. When I'm particularly frank, and a little scathing in my criticism about my hometown, it is also, because I am a passionate resident, who gets riled up by those who can't see the forest for the trees. I'd like to see the antique profession improve its standards and reputation, to appeal to more customers with fair pricing. I'd like to see my hometown leadership, understand, up close and personal, that no matter how much they might desire the kind of economic development, that grows "small" into "humongous," the truthfulness of the present tense, suggests we are wasting time, by not building upon what resources we have……making better, instead of dreamily pondering what it would be like to have a city plop-down where once, there was a charming but small town. It's really a matter of perspective. It's a foible of over-active planning, to miss the possibilities of home, gambling instead on the magic beans of "promise." To wander about the town, as I do, to see the town as it lives and works, in that old fashioned harmony, is the inherent prosperity of the historian. Despite all the kicks and punches it sometimes has to endure, from the critics, Gravenhurst seems to rebound with increased vigor. I pity those who dwell on the negatives, and who believe Gravenhurst is incapable of benefitting from lasting success and continued good fortune…..much as if we have never experienced either. That's not what this historian would write, if commissioned to overview its heritage.

     I will be very sad, one day, to arise in the morning, full of vim and vinegar, step out on this verandah, overlooking The Bog, and not see the calming essence of a small, rural community, rising to its daily challenges…….of work and enterprise, and good neighborliness, which after all, is a hallmark of which we should all be proud. There are truths about this small town existence that may lack flash and glory, to those who have urban expectations…..yet other signs are so warm and tangible, like the pat on the back and the handshake, and the glorious goodwill of trust and loyalty between community partners….of which we are all stakeholders.  I think it would be time to move on, if I came to distrust my hometown, as a place secretly moving to citydom without asking our permission….."our" being the folks who happen to like what legacy and tradition represent…..and not simply as we might be reminded by the local historical society, of a condition, once, long ago. Some times, me thinks, there are those of greater authority, who have lost their perspective about the spirited nature, and endearing qualities of living, working and friendship in a small town…..such that they actually begin preparing in advance, for something that never arrives…..and in the meantime, tragically miss the prevailing pleasantness of the rural climes on heart and soul. I worry you see, that by attempting to impose city values, because it seems like the progressive thing to do, the collateral damage on the way it is, will be much greater than anything progressive it might actually and eventually attain.

     I have lived as a small town antique dealer for my entire professional life. I have lived in a small town, seemingly forever, and what a charmed life I have led……and my family has benefitted from, for all these years, and generations, which for Suzanne and our sons, Andrew and Robert, dates back to the 1860's, and the Free Land Grants that opened up this region, to the rest of the world. You'll have to excuse us for being so protective of our region. It's obviously a family thing!

     Thank you for taking a few moments today, to join me for this hometown blog. Please visit again soon.