New Fireside Chats to feature 200-year-old songs
Plus, learning in leisure and willow weaving
Trent Valley Archives (TVA) presents its new series, Fireside Chats, featuring a combination of words and music co-ordinated by noted musician Allan Kirby and his colleagues in the arts, culture and heritage community. The Chats take place Tuesdays, Sept. 24, Oct. 8, and Oct. 22 at 7:15 p.m. at TVA, located at 567 Carnegie Ave.
The Sept. 24 session focuses on academic song-collecting in the Trent Valley and the stories behind these folk songs, sung from 18251925 and collected by scholars Edith Fawke, Maude Kapeles and Niles Puckett. Kirby will give the presentation while singers Rob Cory and Rob Niezen perform samples of the 200-year-old songs.
The Oct. 8 second chat focuses on documentary filmmaking capturing the history of rural Ontario. Filmmaker Nick van der Graff will speak about the methodology used while Kirby and Cory present the musical element.
The third and final chat Oct. 22 features stories and songs of the murder and mayhem found in rural Ontario in the 19th century. Musical accompaniment will be provided by Cory, Niezen and Kirby.
Each chat will be followed by a question-and-answer period with the presenters. Refreshments will be provided.
The cost is $20 for each session and tickets are required in advance. Purchase your tickets online by visiting trentvalleyarchives.com/events. For questions about the series or help purchasing tickets, email admin@trentvalleyarchives.com or call 705-7454404.
Learning in Leisure
Learning in Leisure’s fall season begins Tuesday, Sept. 24 and runs for 10 weeks. This member-run group offers interesting guest speakers on a wide variety of topics for those with a zest for learning and broadening their horizons.
Meetings are held from 9 a.m. until noon in the auditorium of St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church, located at 1140 St. Paul’s St. Each session has two guest speakers, with a coffee and cookie break between presentations to allow members and guests an opportunity to socialize in a friendly atmosphere.
Speakers and topics for the fall session include:
Sept. 24 Rick Stankewicz (The Past Year of Solar Eclipses); Sheila Burns (PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary).
Oct. 1 Alison Morris and Jeff Berthelette (OFAH Invading Species); Gavin Muir (Heard Not Seen: A Voice Actor’s Life).
Oct. 8 George Gillespie (board of directors, Peterborough Petes); Brenda Steed (Maple Syrup Production).
Oct. 15 Cpl. Andrea Gillespie (My Life in the RCMP); James Gillespie (Navigating Advanced Road Safety).
Oct. 22 Dave Ellis (Nature at its Best); Michael Newnham (conductor, What is a maestro and what do they do?).
Oct. 29 Lois Tuffin (Founder Volunteer Peterborough); Shelley Willis (Farm Life with Clementine James Acres).
Nov. 5 Pete Dalliday (Radio Host by Day, Sports Announcer by Night); Jennie Knopp (A Journey of Protecting Canada’s Northern Oceans).
Nov. 12 Kim Blackwell (Managing Artistic Director 4th Line Theatre); Altaire Gural (author of the play “Forgotten”).
Nov. 19 Celeste Scopelites (Director, Art Galley of Peterborough; 50 Years and Going Strong!); Jerry Ouellette (CHAGA Health and Wellness).
Nov. 26 Aimee O’Reilly (Hospice Peterborough in Our Community); Tina Thornton (The Journey of Care, YWCA).
The cost is $50 for the full 10 weeks or you can pay $7 and come as an occasional guest. Please luga-mug for the break.
Further information on the group and a complete list of speakers can be found by visiting learninginleisure.com.
Willow Weaving
The Seasoned Spoon Café at Trent University is hosting a Willow Weaving workshop, with Sammy from Bendy Farm and SAF on Sept. 23 from 5 until 8 p.m.
Learn to grow, prepare and weave with willow. Participants will create a small platter. Bring pruning shears if you have them, and wear clothes that can get dirty.
The cost is $5. Register here.
For further information email spoonvolunteers@gmail.com.
The Seasoned Spoon, located at Champlain College, 1600 West Bank Dr., is a non-profit, vegetarian, co-operative café committed to serving locally, and whenever possible, organically sourced food at affordable prices.