Part 1: Christmas Sketches of Gravenhurst

CHRISTMAS SKETCHES OF GRAVENHURST - A TOWN WORTH KNOWING

WITH SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE MEANING OF CANADIANA

     For those who were following my blog, way back in the spring of this year, you might remember that my wife and I, who are both antique hunters, issued a very public challenge, to see who was the better collector, when it comes to being able to find iconic Canadian symbols. For example, those collectible pieces with emblems of "the beaver," a "maple leaf," or images (symbols) of the "Royal Canadian Mounted Police." Actually, we kind of opened it to any other symbol that is clearly identifiable as homegrown "Canadian," and that could have included maple syrup relics etc. I had a half dozen maple sugar molds but I sold them. We got the idea from a collector's book, entitled "The Maple Leaf Forever - A Celebration of Canadian Symbols," written by Donna and Nigel Hutchins, and published in 2006 by Boston Mills Press. The fabulously illustrated book details what collectors of Canadiana, depicting some form of nationally recognized symbols, have been able to acquire, ranging from vintage tin table-hockey players, to graphics, posters, advertising tins, games, business signs, collector plates, novelties, to folk art carvings of beavers, and maple leaves…… amongst about a million other items of iconic significance to our affection and pride, being Canadian. And of course, there are a lot of Canadiana collectors who are not Canadians, and who don't even live in this country. They just admire our national symbols…..and they like to visit our country to buy up these traditional icons. I've known many Canadiana collectors from the United States, especially in rare books. I've shipped a lot of Canadian history south and overseas, and although I hate to admit this……it averages to about seventy percent heading everywhere else but here. This has been a trend, for us at least, over about twenty years.

     The point for mentioning this, is that Suzanne and I did find, that for the first three months, we were able to go out, and by negotiating with second hand and antique shop owners, by sneaky and even underhanded means, acquire some pretty interesting bits and pieces of classic "vintage" Canadiana. I was clearly the front-runner in the early going, and our plan was to have had two showings of our finds; one being on Canada Day, on July Ist, and the wrap-up on New Year's Day. I can't explain this sudden change of availability, but our cockiness was very premature. The supply ran out almost instantly. It has never returned. The deal you see, was that we would each set out on a typical antique hunt, usually on Saturdays and Sunday, in the off season, and what each of us found, of an iconic nature, "beaver, maple leaf or RCMP," of good quality, and priced within our budget, would be purchased and added to our respective inventories. Which was, if everything went as it began, of enough volume to fill a small warehouse. I was going to need a slightly bigger warehouse, because my finds were twice as much, and of better quality. Of course Suzanne will disagree with this. The whole reason we wanted to do this, is to challenge ourselves…..as collectors, and of course, entertain you folks, by coming up with some fascinating articles of all shapes, sizes and purposes.

     What we found, was a lot of really poor quality products out there, much newer, and produced anywhere but Canada. I just couldn't bring myself to buy an RCMP decorative candy tin, that was made in some other country than our own. We were actually educating ourselves, about the differences of collecting pieces from the last 25 years, as compared to the those decorative items twenty-five years and older. Then we were finding a few more items made in Canada. Truth was, we found it necessary to go to antique shops specifically, to find Canadian-made products, often of more than fifty years of age, with those same iconic images. It kind of made us mad;  the fact our Canadian souvenirs, simply aren't made in Canada anymore. We did find a few exceptions, such as the small pottery canoes, made in the 1950's and 1960's, that advertised Canadian towns and cities, which were actually manufactured by potters in this country. So to round this long explanation out, we just dropped the whole thing, because we outrightly refused to spend money on iconic symbols of our country, made everywhere else but in Canada. So we didn't offer anything on July Ist, which was kind of disappointing, and as we continued hunting right up until this week, without luck, I confess, it is the first time in our marital bliss, that the usual cut-throat rivalry, between business partners, ended with a dull, uninspiring stalemate. We turned down thousands of really crappy souvenir and collectible Canadiana, that was offered to us, by kind dealers and second hand shop clerks, simply because we couldn't justify acquiring foreign made symbols of our country. If we had only been hunting the antique shops, and spending upwards of four to five thousand dollars, we could have come home with twenty or thirty major historic items each. Items, by the way, that would have not only held their value, but in time, increased in significance. Canadiana is a good investment generally. There's no shortage of iconic pieces for anyone who has a meaty acquisition budget. But as we stated in the opening foray, of the challenge, our interest was to buy cheaply. That was where we went wrong. If you want the good stuff…..the genuine Canadiana…..well sir, it's going to cost you!

     I was looking out the window, here at Birch Hollow, this morning, trying to get moving on that elusive first paragraph, for my new series of Gravenhurst Sketches, which I promised to being on this last day of November 2012. It was shortly after sunrise, and after two cups of coffee, I had watched a beautiful pre-winter morning illuminate the snow-covered Bog across the road. I looked out at the cluster of stately maples, thick, venerable old pines, and leaning birches, with the light and shadow contrasting the snow to the border cedars, and I thought to myself, what an absolutely breathtaking scene it all is……..so powerfully alluring and yet subtly mysterious; a place of gentle solitude, yet a deep bubbling pool of inspiration. And I began writing what I felt at that moment, about home and region, and what a pleasure it has been, for all these years, to have had this same vista rising to greet me each morning, of each season of the year. The panorama that has always given something curious of nature to study, and patiently watch through the days and weeks, and has never once, since we arrived here in Gravenhurst, left me without motivation at this keyboard. I can remember the painful hiatus, in so many other residences, when I found myself without any interest to write even a single sentence. I look out upon the woodlands at first light, and I wander the paths through the bog at mid-day, and stand looking over the lowland before turning-in, the dog and I, and I offer my humble thanks to God, for allowing me this precious experience, this wonderful day; these splendid hours of pure enjoyment of our hinterland.

     I turned to Suzanne this morning, and informed her, that I had found the ultimate Canadian icon we'd both been searching for; "our town," I blurted, as if just awakening to the reality we live in one of the most naturally significant regions in Canada. "How could we have missed this?" I asked. "Gravenhurst is a town full of iconic Canadiana; in the forests, on, and around the lakes, in the countryside, and in the history of the town itself. It's all here. We're surrounded by Canadian symbols, and attitude……, so basically, as I thought about it first……I win."  Suzanne replied, "You're a cheater." And, "You said we had to be able to buy it, to have it count." With a smile on my face, and a wee wink of the Irish eye, I said, "I paid our taxes……so therefore, I am a partner constituent in our hometown!" Well, as I am accustomed to, she laughed, and her laugh made me laugh, and I think the cats were laughing too. Over a couple more coffees, and pancakes with yes……real maple syrup, Suzanne agreed with me, that our wonderful little hometown was full to overflowing with lots of Canadian symbols……not ones imprinted on ashtrays or coffee mugs, cups and saucers, or on playing cards……but a part of everyday life, such that we hardly notice just how nationally imbedded our lives have become. I'm reminded how wonderful it is to be Canadian, when I look out at this snow-laden wetland, this morning, and wonder if Canadian landscape artist A.Y. Jackson, or Tom Thomson, might have found it a significant scene to sketch; with its beautiful maples backed by towering pines, and shouldered by those beautiful, storied birches that beckon poets to create analogies.

     On a drive uptown, and along side-streets and small lanes, we took a few extra moments on the way to work, to see the other reminders of Canadiana, we are so fortunately exposed…..but most often ignore as the commonplace of living here. It's when you start pondering, the unique qualities of our town, for a project like this, that it all emerges so charmingly…..historically, and at times, we both got a little misty-eyed, because it can become almost overwhelming…..this national obsession……for the good of course; when you realize what our district possesses in natural resources, and offers in opportunity. We drove to the shore of Lake Muskoka, and Muskoka Beach, and the scene by mid morning, was stunningly beautiful and beckoning. The trip along the winding, forested trail of Muskoka Beach Road, with its lowlands and pastures, and the famous cathedral maples, is an adventure in solitude……but as much, an odyssey of discovery. This is our home town. The mix of urban life and country living. The amalgamation of what is naturally beautiful, and what is historically relevant. A place of rare enchantments, and a locale of stunning actuality. It's where we live. Where we work. The town where we attend church. Where we shop, stop to chat, sit in coffee shops with friends, dunk donuts, and carry-out hot pizzas fresh from the oven. It is the hometown where several newborns have just helped increase the population. It is the place we come together to curl, and skate, and play hockey…….watch and cheer our hockeyists, and the place where we gather for community suppers and for special entertainment. It is the hometown in which we awake each morning, through each day of our vibrant four seasons, and it's where we arrive back, at the end of the day, to hang our caps, and settle for an evening supper; and maybe then a comfortable seat by the hearth…..or television, for a quiet time before retiring to bedlam. We will ponder our coming weeks, appointments we have to keep, plan out our agendas, prepare to go to work another day…..and think about the donation we have yet to make to the food bank, and the money that will be donated to the supper club, or the Salvation Army, to help the less fortunate. There will be, of course, thoughts about the coming Christmas holidays, and the raging good cheer……that if we think about…..is with us all year…..just slightly subdued.

     My Christmas Sketches of Gravenhurst, will thusly, reflect very closely, the vestiges of Canadiana, so charmingly ingrained in the way we live our lives…….the way we function as stakeholders in this amazing little town, tucked between the lakes and woodlands of South Muskoka. This series of articles, is as much a tribute to Canada, as it will be to our hometown. It will, I think, give us all a little bit to rekindle, this Christmas, as to how special it is……to be iconically Canadian…..and the real life players, in the ever-evolving novelty, and vibrant actuality, of the real life performance of "Our Town."

     I hope you will join me for this month-long tribute to our fine little town, and this great big lovable country, many of us have taken for granted for far too long. Politics aside, this is a Christmas celebration. With a Happy New Year attached neatly on the end.

     Thanks once again, dear friends, for visiting this Gravenhurst blog. We'll keep the fire roaring in the hearth, and an open place on the bench beside…..for whenever you can return to Birch Hollow for a visit.

We're all friends here…..despite our politics.