Gravenhurst Winter Carnival Music Complete!

GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL - A WHOLE LOT OF NOSTALGIA IN A NEW CENTURY PACKAGE

WHAT A GROUP OF CITIZENS CAN DO WHEN THEY DECIDE WINTER'S

WORTH INVESTING IN -

OFFICIALLY, SKOKIE, OUR CELEBRITY OTTER, IS 41 YEARS OLD THIS MONTH. POSSIBLY A LITTLE FRAYED AROUND THE EDGES, FROM THE RIGORS OF MANY ALL-WEATHER GIGS, IT'S STILL PRETTY PERKY FOR A MATURE OTTER. ADMITTEDLY, SOME OF THAT TIME HAS BEEN SPENT PACKED IN A BOX. THE ORIGINAL MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL, AFTER A CONSIDERABLE RUN, BEGAN ITS COLLAPSE QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO. THE VOLUNTEER POOL STARTED TO GET A LITTLE SHALLOW, AND EXPENSES AND INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS, TO OPERATE THE CARNIVAL, KEPT INCREASING YEAR AFTER YEAR. IT WAS A STRANGLEHOLD ON SKOKIE. THE WINTER CARNIVAL WAS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA FROM ITS LAUNCH IN JANUARY 1971. THERE WAS ONE ASPECT OF THE MULIT-TOWN EVENT HOWEVER, THAT ALWAYS BOTHERED ME AS A REPORTER, WHO COVERED IT FROM 1979 TO 1990. IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONE THING, A PIVOTAL CONSIDERATION, ORGANIZERS SIMPLY LOST SIGHT OF, FOR ALL THOSE YEARS HAVING THIS UNBRIDLED WINTER FUN.

GRAVENHURST HOWEVER, FOUND AN OPPORTUNITY WITH THAT MASCOT-IN-A-BOX, A FEW YEARS BACK, AND THE RESURGENCE OF CARNIVAL ENTHUSIASM SEEMS TO BE CATCHING. NOW THERE'S A NEWLY RELEASED THEME SONG, JUST FOR GRAVENHURST……AND SKOKIE ISN'T IN THE BOX ANY MORE. IN FACT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE SEEING A LOT OF THE OLD OTTER, AS THE CARNIVAL COMMITTEE BEGINS THE LEAD-UP PROMOTIONS. THE VIDEO TO ACCOMPANY THE WINTER CARNIVAL SONG, WILL FEATURE THE RAMBLINGS OF SKOKIE IN ALL THE FAMILIAR "OTTER" PLACES, HE USED TO VISIT IN GRAVENHURST, AND HE MAY EVEN PLAY A LITTLE ELECTRIC GUITAR WITH THE BAND "PRESSURE POINT," JUST TO PROVE HE'S READY TO ROCK AND ROLL!

HERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT COMMENTS, THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE FIRST PROGRAM OF THE MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL, PRINTED IN JANUARY OF 1971.

"THE MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL WILL ADD ANOTHER RECREATIONAL EVENT TO THE YEAR-ROUND CALENDAR OF HAPPENINGS IN ONE OF ONTARIO'S FAVORITE PLAYGROUNDS. THOSE OF YOU HELPING TO LAUNCH THIS FIRST MUSKOKA CARNIVAL ARE PARTICIPATING IN WHAT WILL SURELY BECOME A MOST SUCCESSFUL ANNUAL EVENT, RESULTING IN A LARGE BOOST TO ONTARIO'S WINTER TOURISM."

PREMIER JOHN ROBARTS, IN THE WINTER OF 1971, ALSO NOTED THAT "MUSKOKA IS GENEROUSLY ENDOWED WITH NATURAL AND MAN-MADE FACILITIES FOR WINTER SPORTS. THE PROXIMITY OF LARGE POPULATION AREAS SUGGESTS THAT THE MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL MAY ONE DAY BE RECOGNIZED AS A MAJOR NORTH AMERICAN EVENT."

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM, JAMES AULD SAID THAT "HOLIDAYS IN A WINTER SETTING HAVE BECOME MORE POPULAR DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS. AS A RESULT, NEW AVENUES TO PROMOTE WINTER ACTIVITIES MUST BE DEVELOPED AND ENCOURAGED. THE MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL IS ONE SUCH VENTURE. THE ORGANIZERS ARE WELL AWARE OF THE MANY HOURS OF PLEASURE THAT MUSKOKA OFFERS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THIS CARNIVAL WILL ALLOW THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO LEARN FOR THEMSELVES, THAT MUSKOKA IS TRULY A VACATION LAND FOR ALL SEASONS."

THE FIRST CHAIRMAN OF THE NEWLY CREATED DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA, MILTON TIBBETT, FELT THAT, "THROUGH THE MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL, THE MANY PLEASURES OF THE MUSKOKA AREA DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WILL BE PUBLICIZED TO EVERYONE'S ADVANTAGE. IT IS TO BE HOPED THAT THE MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF ENCOURAGING SUMMER RESIDENTS TO WINTERIZE THEIR COTTAGES AND TO PROVE TO THE VACATIONING PUBLIC THAT MUSKOKA IS THE PLACE TO ENJOY A WINTER VACATION."

MY OLD NEWSPAPER BOSS, FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA, MAYOR OF HUNTSVILLE, AND 1971 CARNIVAL CHAIRMAN, HUGH MACKENZIE, NOTED THAT, "IT IS OUR HOPE THAT YOUR EXPERIENCES HERE WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK TO MUSKOKA IN THE FUTURE AS A PLACE TO ENJOY ALL OF YOUR WINTERTIME RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. WE HOPE TOO, THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SUMMER COTTAGES IN THIS AREA, WILL LEARN THROUGH THIS CARNIVAL, OF THE GREAT POTENTIAL FOR WINTER FUN THAT MUSKOKA HAS TO OFFER, AND, THAT THIS WILL ENCOURAGE YOU TO WINTERIZE YOUR SUMMER HOME. WE TRUST YOU WILL DISCOVER A FRESH, NEW AND EXCITING MUSKOKA, DURING THE TIME THAT YOU SPEND WITH US." IT WAS HUGH HOWEVER, ONE OF FOUR TO INTRODUCE THE CARNIVAL, WHO DID WRITE THE LOCALLY SENSITIVE INVITATION, "WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY WILL FIND SOME ACTIVITY SUITED TO THEIR OUTDOOR INTERESTS DURING THIS WEEK OF FESTIVITIES."

If the re-vitalized Gravenhurst Winter Carnival, can learn anything from the protocols and mission statement of the former three town Muskoka Winter Carnival, circa 1971 onward, it will be gained by finding out where it all started to go wrong. What knocked the otter of its paws? In 1971, likely with the impetus of provincial recreational grants……I'm only guessing here, Skokie was created as a slick "Otter-kind," with a big tourism tag attached to his furry hind-quarters. From what you can read, in the bulk of editorial welcomes, contained in the 1971 official program….which by the way cost fifty cents, it's clearly the case, the local population wasn't the primary target of the "big show." It was the mistake that kept on-giving, (but mostly taking away) and the reason it eventually faltered, unlike similar independent events in Port Carling and Port Sydney……that did one thing right after another, to earn their multi-decade success story. "Don't forget the local population." In 1971 it was largely expected, the local population would be glad to welcome tourists to Muskoka in the off-season. Would be delighted to serve as bartenders, log sawing monitors, race officials, polar bear dip attendants, and well, the human body beneath the Skokie fur. While locals weren't excluded, they weren't exactly invited with open arms to join the festivities. Hugh Mackenzie came the closest to actually inviting Muskokans to their own party. But it certainly wasn't the mission statement of the event, and that's clear, in the content of the official carnival welcomes, including one right from the office, of the Premier of Ontario.

In the past two years, the organizing committee of the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival has impressed me, because it seems much more community-oriented as a mainstay of operations. While certainly not a closed event, where tourists are discouraged from attending, it seems to be running opposite to what the Muskoka Winter Carnival set about to do, when its tradition began, that January in 1971. As a long serving member of the local press, it was the same focus each year, and frankly, you could see this play for tourism appeal, causing local citizens to lose interest generally…..and in all towns it became harder to get volunteers. That's not hard to understand really, because it was all about bringing money to Muskoka, and recognition to Ontario's off-season tourism attractions……and not really about giving the local population something nice to look forward to, during a tough Canadian winter. They saw themselves as helping the business community to profit, but not benefitting the community dynamic itself. What about local families? What about the kids? Our own? Couldn't we have something special for our own population to enjoy too. It's not as if we aren't hospitable to all comers, because we are….and that's a proven fact since tourism began in the 1870's in this region of Ontario. But there are times, when we forget how hard our population works, to serve the tourism economy, and how little respect is shown for all their efforts.

I support the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival, precisely because I see it as a community-inspired event, "for the community," and organized by citizens who are proud of their home town and home region. It shows. It may be the true success of revamped protocol, that guarantees this smaller version, of the former Muskoka Winter Carnival, succeeds in building a bigger and better legacy. In 1971, I would have expected that the Winter Carnival would have been aimed at the local population as the first consideration. Why not? I would have expected then, by the second, third, even 10th Winter Carnival, that there would have been the common sense, amongst organizers, to make sure our communities were truly, passionately onboard, and feeling good about the inclusive nature of the winter fete. Fun for one and all. Not just fun for some. And that the primary incentive behind the festival, was to generate a "local" tradition……a blend of excitement and commerce, from the locals, willing to invest in their home towns, in the enchanted glow of the winter sun. But the mantra from 1971 never ceased. It was a tourism venue. An allure for bored urbanites, for cottagers, with winterized abodes, to come out and enjoy the winter festivities. And yes, the stalwart locals were supposed to staff these tourism-generating venues. For decades the mission of organizers, was to one up the Quebec Winter Carnival, and out-class Ottawa, and its legendary canal-skate. It was stated, as such, on the eve of the very first Muskoka Carnival Event…..that it could become the "most exciting Winter Carnival in Canada." Well, folks, it didn't. Not even close. The missing component? The support of the community. Not just those with a vested financial interest in a tourism spike. All citizens who called Muskoka home. I can remember people saying to me, when I was working on carnival stories, "It's not for us. It's for the tourists." We all knew it. We just didn't put it in Herald-Gazette editorials. Instead we opted for the status quo approach, and ran full page photo spreads, to show how successful the carnivals were……and every year it was the same thing. But the carnival committees were simply adopting the format from that first event. The organizers were local citizens, caring, dedicated, generous folks, who just carried on, from year to year, unfortunately ignoring what was eating away at the foundation of the program.

The volunteers of the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival need the support of the community first. If they keep the event full of hometown values, they will build up a new tradition, and will eventually earn the coveted status, achieved by winter venues in Port Carling and Port Sydney, that continue to thrive in a tight partnership with the community. There's more to Muskoka than tourism. We need to be kinder to the folks who reside here year round…..who raise families here, and who are often neglected here. Folks who would love to be invited to a party. People who would love to join a good neighbor movement, to build a better, stronger, more dynamic home town. The Winter Carnival Committee is moving in this direction, and I'm so abundantly pleased that the Town of Gravenhurst is playing a strong supporting role in the re-development of this wonderful tradition…….that got Skokie back out of the box.

I believe in this "for the community" "home town" initiative so much, I asked my musician sons, Andrew and Robert, if they would consider composing, and performing a new-age song for the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival committee, as an act of volunteerism, to support their hard work bringing back some winter magic to Gravenhurst. As their relative, Brad Veitch and wife Bonnie, performed their Winter Carnival Song, back in the 1970's, I thought the young homeowners should also give it a shot today. And with lead singer Dani O'Connor, guitarist, Aaron Binder, and guest singers, Jon O'Connor, and Ray Parsons, Robert and Andrew came through with, what I believe, is a "new beginnings" song, to herald this year's Gravenhurst Winter Carnival. The talent for the song and video……all local. There's a lot more where that came from.

I think the committee volunteers deserve a lot of credit for carrying on this tradition, and we hope this song will help raise some interest from all corners of the community and beyond, to join Skokie for a heck of a weekend in late February. As a reporter, I admit it, covering Winter Carnival wasn't my favorite assignment. I never dressed appropriately. My feet were frozen, fingers frosted, and camera seized up. This year, I'm going to dress for the occasion…..Otter-like.

You can check out the new song by clicking on……. http://youtu.be/BdQWgg-W3qk

Coming soon, will be a Winter Carnival video to accompany the music. I'll let you know when it makes it to YouTube.