To View the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival Video on YouTube, search Skokie Pressure Point
GOOD TO HAVE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL BACK ON MAINSTREET, AFTER LAST YEAR'S UNFORTUNATE DEBACLE
SKOKIE MEMORABILIA GOES BACK TO THE EARLY 1970'S WHEN WINTER CARNIVAL GOT ITS OFFICIAL LAUNCH
There's no way, honest to God, a crusty old newspaper columnist, a war horse of the print media, like me, still having a lot of pent-up dislike for local government, harboring, beyond the grudge, a keen sense of the ironic, can avoid at the very least, a preamble paragraph or two, about a matter of recent history; chock-full of, by the way, amusing anecdotes, about why one should never, ever, cause upset an otter.
As I am bound by the historian's pledge, to "tell it the way it is", I just can't avoid recalling the debacle of the 2014 Winter Carnival's, difference of opinion, with both the local BIA, and the Town of Gravenhurst. You see, the business leadership, mounted a somewhat convoluted "no major Carnival events on the main drag" campaign, taken over to town hall, in order to stop Muskoka Road, our main street, from being closed for some of that year's Winter Carnival events. Which by the way is a tradition, dating all the way back to the winter days,(when Skokie was a young otter) that saw eager volunteers creating and maintaining a full ice surface for curling, (tended by Shorty Hachey, I believe), back in the early 1970's, when it was the original Muskoka Winter Carnival.
In the late autumn of 2013, the BIA petition, as wobbly as it was to most of us naysayers, found eventual council support, (not one of their finer moments as administrators), to concur, and thusly refuse the Winter Carnival use of Muskoka Road. The concession was it would be okay for "Skokie," the Carnival mascot, to amble, and even dawdle in Uptown Gravenhurst, as long as there was nary a barricade erected, to stop the flow of traffic; keeping in mind what that means in off-season Muskoka.
There was no surprise that the BIA command, would come up with something like this, even though the purpose of the Winter Carnival is rooted (yes, I mean rooted) in the long-suffering mission to improve the profile of winter-time activities, and the promotion of off-season tourism. Did I mention that it is run by volunteers? The surprising part, was that the councillors at town hall, succumbed to the BIA pressure, which by the way, was in no way representative of general membership (as members ourselves, we were never told of this initiative, and we would never have supported it, if that is, we had been asked to vote). As a result, most of the Winter Carnival activities, that had been on the main street, in the few years since its re-birth, after a lengthy hiatus, were shifted to The Wharf neighborhood instead. This even included removing the opening ceremonies from the Opera House square, where the ceremony had been held for previous Carnivals. The building we, the taxpayers happen to own, and finance, that only a year before, had been set-up with a main stage out-front, and an array of entertainers on-board, plus a ball hockey pad on the adjacent stretch of Muskoka Road, making it an exciting place to be; bundled-up folks, families, gathered rather pleasantly, on a cold February night, in beautiful South Muskoka. Last year, the historic Opera House, and central square, sat with lights out, unused, despite what it could have housed for the Carnival Committee. I can't blame the BIA for this, but rather Opera House management, which of course, is the Town's responsibility. Hard to imagine why such a highly charged, Uptown event, aimed at bringing more business to town in the off-season, would be considered an impediment to main street business over two and a half days. Considering of course, that the opening ceremonies were conducted after usual retail business hours, anyway, when traffic is calmed to a gentle roar.
Here's the good news of a bad news situation. The Town, obviously feeling some heat from last year's debacle, agreeing with the BIA directive, not to close Muskoka Road for Winter Carnival activities, has finally, and rightfully, sided with the Carnival Committee, and heralded Skokie's return to Uptown. It was a maddening situation for a lot of us Uptowners, last year, because we enjoyed having the Carnival activities on an otherwise pretty quiet street this time of year. More than a few of us in the retain community, did benefit from the extra people congregated Uptown, for this however brief period, and gosh, isn't that what it's all about? The reality is what it is; and this winter we have resolved those old issues, matters of sundry political nonsense, and irritating town bickering, and are looking forward to Carnival weekend, closed roads and all. Welcome Skokie! I applaud the Winter Carnival Committee for hanging in there, and righting a wrong.
Published with today's blog, is some previous editorial material I composed, several years ago, in support of the Winter Carnival Committee. I put together some historical references to how the original Muskoka Winter Carnival began, in the early 1970's, as a District wide festival, big in the region's three towns. We have some of the early memorabilia in our Muskoka collection, and you can see some examples published with today's blog, and on Suzanne's "Currie's Antiques" facebook page; with a few items in recognition of the Carnival, she dutifully knits each year. You will also find a link to the "Skokie Song," (YouTube video) from a few years back, that our boys had a hand in creating. The song and video were written and presented to the Winter Carnival Committee, which we are glad to see is still being utilized as a promotion. Last year the band that performed the song, for two years previous, refused to participate, to protest the town's decision to send the Winter Carnival events down to the Wharf.
Our family has been collecting Muskoka memorabilia for decades; some of it for sale, other souvenir and special event collectables, are used routinely for displays at the shop, for promotions, and for purposes of blogs and facebook features. You could fill a football-field-sized warehouse, floor to ceiling, with what can be considered Muskoka souvenir memorabilia; that is, if you were to start with the earliest keepsake pieces, likely dating back to the late 1870's, when tourism was putting down secure roots around the Muskoka Lakes; when the early tourist accommodations were being constructed, and the region was being marketed as a great and healthy escape from city life. Even while the Muskoka pioneer period was continuing, recreation and tourism was being promoted abroad, in a still largely wild district. Initially, the target group for these early tourism promotions, were the hunters and anglers, as clearly recognized with publication of books like "The Sportsman's Paradise," and many magazine feature articles, pointing out the high points of visiting the frontier, despite what the pioneers were discovering as hardships and disadvantage.
Since those first modest tourist accmmodations, and shanty-style cottages (hunting and fishing lodges), on the shores of our regional lakes, Muskoka has been promoted around the world, many, many times over, as a great escape, full of recreational and health benefits for one and all. Why do you think Muskoka had so many Tubercular Sanatoriums; Gravenhurst in particular. This was considered a "health restorative" locale, something that had carried over from the very early days of tourism promotion, to the Victorians, eager for adventures, and the cure for the maladies of the modern world. Is it any wonder, that opportunists figured out, early in the relationship, that printing the word "Muskoka" or the name of the resort you were staying at, on a ruby glass cream jug, for example, would attract interest? Doll up the design, and attract more attention, generating more income for the hotel, steamship company, train line, or resort. Muskoka in this regard, was like any other recreationally popular region, in North America, with admirers who would plunk down a couple of bucks to own a souvenir to remind them of their stay, and the fun they had playing in Muskoka. How about a milk glass canoe-dish, with "Gravenhurst, Muskoka" beautifully scripted in gold lettering on the side? A nice engraved sterling silver spoon possibly? A lot of communities had these souvenirs, as were sold to them, in bulk, from entrepreneurs in the business of pushing advertising collectables. Now considering that Muskoka's tourist industry began in the 1870's, as an economic force to be reckoned with, up to an including the present, do you doubt that we could fill a huge warehouse full of promotional this and that?
In the early 1970's, the Muskoka Winter Carnival needed all kinds of marketing gimmicks, to kick the gate wide open, to make the week-plus long event, an international success. This wasn't just a regional project, but a provincially supported initiative to help promote winter tourism for the entire district. There were a lot of heavy weight political supporters of this fledgling carnival, and some pretty substantial commercial promotions, from the beer industry for one thing. A number of years back, I sold a substantial promotional sign, meant for placement in a storefront, that showed a snowmobile being operated on a trail, in company of a major beer company logo on the top side, advertising the Muskoka Winter Carnival. Each year, there were new glass mugs created, for a wide array of Winter Carnival beer-related events, with such names at the "Kin-Hutch," and "The Sluiceway," but I'm not sure which service club staged this community get-together. There were Winter Carnival toques and pins, and even a plush "Skokie," which you can see in one of today's companion photographs. There were Winter Carnival ribbons, handed out to event winners, and lots of brochures, if you happen, (as possibly a Muskoka collector), to be interested in ephemera (paper nostalgia). There are hundreds of examples of special events in this region, since the 1800's, having been acknowledged and celebrated with an array of souvenirs.
In closing, I hope the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival is once again, successful in all areas of their enterprise; activities being well-attended, and the hard-working committee, and all the volunteers to pull the weekend-event together, come to feel the investment of their time, was well worth the effort. The kind of goodwill and feeling of accomplishment, that inspires them to carry on in the future. It really is a solid, well-meaning attempt, to draw attention to the advantages of winter-season recreation in South Muskoka. Just as the larger district Carnival was designed to create as regional "buzz", from inception in the early 1970's. So of course we support their efforts, which, truth be known, helps the business community a lot, at a pretty quiet time of the year.
From the Archives
NEW YEARS IN GRAVENHURST -
LEAVE IT TO THE HISTORIAN - 1971 PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL - IN EXCELLENT CONDITION
IT'S WHAT US HISTORIANS DO. COLLECT INTERESTING RELICS. I'VE BEEN BUYING AND SELLING MUSKOKA MEMORABILIA FOR MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS NOW. THIS ONE WAS KEPT IN MY MUSKOKA PAPER FILE, AND I'M GLAD I DIDN'T GET TEMPTED TO SELL IT. THAT'S THE CONTRADICTION OF BEING BOTH AN HISTORIAN, AND A BUYER AND SELLER OF OLD STUFF. YOU CAN'T KEEP IT ALL. OR AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT SUZANNE TELLS ME, WHEN I ARRIVE HOME WITH ANOTHER VAN-LOAD OF ANTIQUES ETC.
I WENT TO THE VERY FIRST MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL, BUT I WAS PROBABLY TOO CHEAP TO BUY THE FIFTY CENT PROGRAM. I THINK THIS ONE CAME FROM AN ESTATE AUCTION IN GRAVENHURST SOME YEARS AGO.
"The Muskoka Winter Carnival will add another recreational event to the year-round calendar of happenings in one of Ontario's favorite playgrounds," wrote Ontario Premier, John Robarts. "Those of you helping 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 tourist industry. 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. I congratulate those of you who have planned or are participating in this first Winter Carnival, and I wish you many exciting days of fun."
The Minister of Tourism, the Hon. James Auld, wrote, "I welcome this opportunity to extend greetings to those of you who are taking part in the First Annual Muskoka Winter Carnival. As Minister of Tourism and Information, for the Province of Ontario, I am always pleased to see local organizations taking a lead in actively promoting their regional tourist attractions. Muskoka is renowned for its many advantages during the summer months. It is indeed gratifying to see the development of organized activities in the winter season during which time Muskoka has a great deal to offer to the outdoor enthusiasts."
"It is with a great deal of pleasure that I extend a warm welcome on behalf of the District of Muskoka, to those of you who are participating in the first annual Muskoka Winter Carnival. You will find that all the traditional pleasures of winter enjoyment are easily accessible in Muskoka, which ranks with some of the finest vacation areas. To date the emphasis of our tourist industry has been placed on the summer months. 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."
The above letter of introduction was written by the first chairman of the new created District of Muskoka level of government, Milton A. Tibbett.
What you can also see, from the first three letters published in the souvenir program, is that the emphasis was on boosting tourism, creating a national and international buzz, and maybe, just maybe, getting our cottage owners to insulate their cottages, so they can enjoy winter activities…..just like they do in the summer season. Keep in mind, this insulating-the-cottage plan, has created problems of its own, due to increasing road maintenance demands which increase each year, as does the budget for winter road maintenance. I'm digressing. But what you don't see, in the first three letters, is anything that would suggest how great it would be if local families would come out as well. It was a "given" right? Well, not really. Who will be putting on the Winter Carnival? Where will the volunteers come from, to fill the roles of big show operators? It was designed as a tourism promotion.
The Carnival's first chairman, Hugh Mackenzie, wrote the last of the four "introductory" letters, and was the only one to mention "family," and that could be perceived as meaning local families were also welcome to attend. I'm sure this was his intent. "The Muskoka Winter Carnival Committee was formed in the summer of 1969 and has worked diligently from that date to the present, to provide what we anticipate will become the most exciting Winter Carnival in Canada. As you glance through this program, you will see that each day contains events for both the spectator and the participant. Each day is filled with social and recreational activities. Each day is filled with fun. We believe that every member of the family will find some activity suited to their outdoor interests during this week of festivities."
But Mackenzie, who would later become District Chairman, and then the Mayor of Huntsville, added the tourism cap to the introduction, writing, "It is our hope that your experience 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 that Muskoka has to offer, and, that this will encourage you to winterize your summer home. We trust that you will discover a fresh, new and exciting Muskoka, during the time that you spend with us. Once again, may I welcome you, on behalf of all of us who have been involved in creating the Muskoka Winter Carnival."
Undoubtedly due to provincial funding, grants, etc., and sundry other promotional advantages, the idea was to draw as many folks to Muskoka as possible during the winter season. It was a marketing strategy that had one giant hole in it! It wasn't aimed at pleasing the local population, as such. It was a combined business enterprise, that while undoubtedly a contributor of jobs and economic advantage, failed in the long-run because it maintained this "them and us" relationship throughout its history. It's not that Muskokans didn't attend, but they weren't the target audience. The whole fuss was, as the letters indicate, to encourage summer folks to give a "Muskoka winter" a try. Meanwhile, Muskokans weren't of much interest, accept as volunteers to staff the venues. They'd take our money, but we were not the preferred patrons. This was perpetuated year after year. To the point many area residents got tired of the tourism gimmicks, when in fact, from the beginning, the carnival should have been far more inclusive and welcoming to everyone…..whether you were packing money in that big wallet, or just a yocal looking for something to do. Hugh Mackenzie was the more generous of the four letters of introduction, and I think he was genuinely concerned about local participation……that made us feel somewhat welcome to the event. But it is clear this was an economic development issue, and what organizers were watching for, was the attendance data…….so where were these patrons coming from? Were cottagers part of the mix? To what percentage? Even then, they would have discovered, as they did for years after this, that it was the year-round residents that bulked out the three town carnival. It never became one of the best in the country, and I would venture to say, it wasn't even close. You just don't dislodge the Quebec Winter Carnival quite that easily.
The Gravenhurst Winter Carnival's rejuvenation, and Skokie's de-moth-balling, is very encouraging. I think this will be the third event of the re-birth, although I stand to be corrected. As I wrote in a number of blogs last January, I hope the Gravenhurst Winter Carnival Committee, and Town Council, will make this a "people" event…..a "family" fete; regardless of where patrons happen to be from; if they are of the tourist-ilk, or cottager population, day-travellers, or Muskokans, who call this place home 24-7. If there was an error with the Winter Carnival at its inception, it's that they didn't make it clear…..abundantly clear, that it was an event "FOR MUSKOKANS, BY MUSKOKANS, AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS INVITED TOO." It can be a tourist-friendly event, while still being aimed at pleasing the folks who live here year-round. It is the success behind carnivals in Port Carling and Port Sydney, that have been operating for ages, by catering to community interests. As it is expected the locals will be running it, why the heck shouldn't they be invited as the special guests. It doesn't mean other folks aren't welcome…..but that hometowners don't feel subservient to all others attending. There's more to life and times than catering to tourism. Back in 1971 this editorial would have been blacked out; the writer run out of town on a rail. Or worse.
From what I have seen so far of the Gravenhurst version of the Winter Carnival, over the past two winters, it is very much a hometown celebration……open to everyone, but big on local values and friendships. Kid friendly too! I like that.
I'll have more information from that inaugural program in tomorrow's blog. Join me.
Suzanne just bought some Skokie-colored wool today, to make scarves for the band members of "Pressure Point," to put them in the creative mood, while they're in the studio, coming up with a 2012 version of a Winter Carnival song, specially written for their hometown. Watch for updates.
Now I've got to listen to the ticky-tacky of knitting needles for the next month. Aye, but it's for a good cause!
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