Uxbridge Information & Events

Habitat For Humanity Day - Monday, October 5, 2009

Last Year (2008) 35,532 REALTORS^® who donated funds to the Realtors Care Foundation helped enable the foundation to donate over 1/4 of a million dollars to shelter related charities in Ontario. The support of 18 Ontario real estate boards and their members who participated in the various campaigns to raise funds for the foundation helped make it possible to donate money to shelter based charities that included; women's, youth's, and men's shelters, Habitat for Humanity in several areas throughout Ontario, Out of the cold programs, hospices, Community Living and many many more.

The Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) foundation works to support shelter related charities throughout Ontario in their efforts to provide emergency and permanent housing solutions. It is estimated that approximately one third of the homeless in Canada are aged 16 to 24 that's about 65,000 young adults with out a place to call home.

The Realtors Care Foundation invests 100% of all funds donated through an endowment fund and uses only the income from the fund to support these worthwhile causes, This means there will be funds avialable not only for this generation but for generations to come.

October 5th, 2009, the first Monday in October

The United Nations has designated October 5th 2009 as World Habitat Day with the desire that we will reflect on the state of our communities and the basic right to adequate shelter for all.

One does not need to visit a third world country to see that Poverty and Homelessness are often found hand in hand.

Raising the Roof, a national charity dedicated to long term solutions to homelessness, states that approximately one third of the homeless in Canada are aged 16 to 24 that's about 65,000 young adults with out a place to call home.

Raising Awareness

They are trying to raise awareness of, the Hidden Homeless, the four out of five homeless Canadians who do not live on the street but in church basements or abandoned buildings, in cars or on someones couch. Many of these are children, some are seniorswho can not afford conventional housing on their fixed incomes, others are adults with full time low paying jobs.  Raising awareness links are to short (mp3) radio spots that really hit home.

With roughly 80% of the homeless in Canada being identified as The Hidden Homeless here are 10 Facts about the Hidden Homeless and 10 Things You can do to help

What else can You do

Contact Habitat For Humanity in your community and volunteer or determine what it would take for a group from your club, church or social network to help build a family a home.

There is a Misconception that the people who get a Habitat House do not have to pay for it

Remember the recipients of these home are not getting a hand out but a hand up.
They pay for the house based on its appraised value when completed

 

Find out if your community's development plans include affordable and accessible housing, become an advocate for such housing if necessary.

Donate to local agencies that are working to help the homeless and or the disadvantaged in your community.

By helping to provide a Hand Up Not A Hand Out
We are helping people with dignity.

I would Challenge each and everyone to reach out and touch someonebe it as close as a neighbour going through a hard time to some one half way around the world.  Your assistance can vary from donating to a local food bank, a local shelter, to travelling halfway around the world to help, educate, rebuild housing destroyed in a disaster, or offer aid and assistance. we can all do just one do at least one thing, then the world will be better for it and so would we.

No longer will I sit on the sidelines and watch
as a suffering world revolves around me.

Some time this week or early next week the Colours in Muskoka and Algonquin Park will reach their peak.

The Algonquin Park Fall Foilage Colour Report indicates that the colours are currently near their peak and will reach the peak in 7 to 10 days with under 20% of the leaves having fallen at this time and currently just under 70% having changed colour. The report also provides information on the best places to view the many coloured coat of fall leaves. A Map of the 56 K highway 60 Corridor provides details on all the popular spots along the route

Water Front Living

One of our road trips this past summer took us into the community of Baysville. Baysville is located at the outlet to the Lake of Bays and was a wonderful stop along the way. The day we were there was very busy with displays of vintage boats and cars that brought back memories for many, especially Barrie's mom who was traveling with us that day. We listened as she reminisced about Barrie's Grandmothers days in Muskoka and the different steam ships she worked on.

This little gem caught our eye as we had spent a portion of our honeymoon on a houseboat on the Trent Canal near Lakefield and Peterborough. Our houseboat, being rather conventional, was not as compact as this nor as cute

With a permanent population of 3,000 and seasonal population of 18,000 the township of Lake Of Bays is a popular Muskoka retreat for many. The Township consists of the former Townships of Franklin, Ridout, Mclean, and Sinclair/Finlayson and is one of six area municipalitie within the District of Muskoka 

Family Fall Festival

The Historical Centre presents this years annual Family Fall Festival on Sunday September 27th from 1pm to 4 pm

Upon arriving at the grounds, every child is issued his or her own passport for use at the various activities. These passport's will be stamped at each of the stations and a full passport at the end of the day will be rewarded with a special prize.

Some of the interesting and fun activities that will take place at the activity-stations scattered throughout the Museum grounds include:  a farm chores challenge, horse drawn wagon rides, pumpkin painting (You take the finished pumpkin home), stilt walking pioneer craft activity (You take the finished craft home), and of course the ever popular face painting, rope-making and run the printing press.

Light refreshments and musical entertainment add to the 'flavour' of the afternoon.

With the Museum sitting on Quaker Hill overlooking the town remember to dress for the outdoors. A family family oriented fall activity for all to enjoy an afternoon of healthy outdoor fun celebrating the traditions and activities of the fall season.

Admission is $4.00 per child or $10.00 per family and includes everything except your refreshments.

While there take in the Gateway to the Greenbelt Exhibit an educational exhibit showing the contribution of the green belt to our quality of life here in Ontario

The Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts - Week 2

Saturday lunch-hour concert
Sept 26th - St. Pauls Anglican Church
"Magoo and Saunders" Two well known local artists with a wealth of talent and a variety of instruments. Sure-fire fun and entertainment for everyone.

Juried art show & kids art show
Town Council chambers, Uxbridge.
Ongoing until Sept  27 - 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Books and Authors night
Three of Canada's acclaimed writers Nino Ricci, Bonnie Burnard and Ray Robertson, read from their works, and talk with MC Ted Barris and the audience.
Sept 24th Music Hall, 8 pm

Swinging 40's Cabaret
Swing, Dixieland,jazz, some 40's nostalgia - with clarinetist Peter Randell and his Gents of Swing, featuring Carol Gibson and Sharon Smith

Sept 26th, 8 p.m. at the Uxbridge Music Hall
Tickets $25 includes refreshments (with cash bar)
Tickets available at: Presents, Presents, Present and Blue Heron Books, in Uxbridge, or at the door if available.

Sculpture Carving in the park
Starts Sept 28, Centennial Park, Uxbridge

Photos from last years symposium

Summers End Fall Beginnings

As I watched our Grandchildren play on the beach in the last week of summer vacation I could not help but feel that summer was drawing to an end

Sitting on the beach to watch the sun set the air was suddenly cooler

Were the Ducks huddled together for warmth or just a family gathering

There is hardly a ripple on the water as the boats are quiet now.

Fall with a coat of many colours has definitely arrived.

The Matthew House Team is participating in the Scotia Bank Waterfront Charity Run in Toronto

This weekend I am participating in the Scotia Bank Charity Run in downtown Toronto, in the 5 k walk.

Matthew House is one of my favorite charities, it is a small shelter for refugees in down town Toronto, that welcomes refugees who arrive with nothing but the shirt on their backs and no where to turn. You may have heard me talking about it, sharing some of the amazing stories. I have met so many wonderful people from many different countries since I became involved with Matthew House.  Our core value is to offer ‘hope at the end of the refugee highway', by offering shelter and food, completing confusing refugee application papers, medical and counseling referrals, orientation to life in Canada, assistance in finding apartments, offering monthly drop-ins, and summer camp. It has been my pleasure to be on the board of directors of this unique charity for several years now.

You too can make a difference in the life of a refugee take a moment and sponsor me as I walk?  Just follow this link. You will find it easy to go on line, safely give your donation and receive an emailed tax receipt right away. 

Climate Change

We are all affected by the climate change, Global warming keeps us hotter in the summer, with less snow at Christmas, the seasons are just not the same.  In July we had rain almost every day, my daughter counted only 5 beach days in the entire month.

In real estate our climate has changed too, a year ago with the change in the economy the market changed,  No longer could we predict when the buyers would start calling and wanting to buy their new dream house. We used to be able to count on the market being strong in the fall, slow down for Christmas, pick up again in February and carry on through the spring, our strongest market.  No more, this year continues to unwind in its own unique unpredictable way.  It is writing its own story, even as the local market continues to climb, we are experiencing periods of days with not one sale across the board.  Where will this end? 

Hopefully as the stock market continues to climb, the job market will return to acceptable levels, and the housing market will take off fully again.  Now is the time to buy with interest rates so very low, money is almost free! That too will change, but those who locked into these ridiculously low mortgage rates will be laughing for years to come.

Take Advantage Of The Current Climate In Real Estate Check Out The Listings On My Listing Web Site Let Me Find You A Home To learn more about what housing options Uxbridge has to offer; be it condominium or detached homes, in town or rural communities, country homes, estates or farms just give me a call or THE BEST WAY TO CONTACT ME   I will respond ASAP However I do not answer when driving or when with Clients

Summer Memories - From Our Summer Retreat

Staying in touch with my inner self,
spending quality time with my grandchildren
and looking after my clients.

Summers End

Grandchildren Hand Feeding The Deer Off The Back Deck

You really can have it all it's a matter of balance.

You have to love today's technology. This past weekend we were visiting with some friends at our summer hideaway when they commented on the different sounds emanating from my cell phone. Some of those sounds announced an incoming email or a text message, some were pages from the office, a direct phone call or a call forwarded from our home phone. Here I was enjoying some personal time relaxing in Muskoka and I was still able to keep in touch if it was important.

On our last vacation up in the Collingwood area a new client reached me by texting me from my website. After finishing our dinner I responded and the lovely young couple will be moving into their new home next month. They are still amazed that a person of my vintage can and does keep up on all the modern technology as most of our business was conducted using email and texting.

With today's tecnologhy you can operate from almost anywhere. With call forwarding, paging, cell phones, texting and high speed Internet it no longer matters if you are in your office, in your car, at the beach, or out of the country you are still reachable and can still look after your clients.

The main reason I keep my PDA on and with me is that I may just relax a bit too much on the beach or hiking with the grand kids and forget to check, I really need the little beep to keep me in line. It usually only takes a few minutes to respond immediately, then I can get back to whatever captures my attention at the moment. 

While you are out touring our wonderful country side taking in the fall colours you may decide you would like to join us on a more permanent basis and move to the Uxbridge area. I would be more than pleased to assist you in relocating to our fine area. Search For A Stay-Cation Home Of Your Own On My Listing Web Site Or Let Me Find You A Home To learn more about what housing options Uxbridge has to offer; be it condominium or detached homes, in town or rural communities, country homes, estates or farms just give me a call or Text Me

24 Years In The Making Uxbridge Studio Tour The Highlight Of The Uxbridge Celebration Of The Arts .

The Uxbridge Studio Tour is a self guided tour of 30 artists in their homes and studios, located in the beautiful Town of Uxbridge and as well as the surrounding hamlets of Claremont, Goodwood, Sandford, Victoria Corners, Port Perry and Sunderland. Enjoy our beautiful countryside, the art work of sculptors, photographers, painters, ceramists and potters, silver and goldsmiths and multi disciplinary mixed media artists.

With 30 local artists opening their studios and galleries this year as well as hosting 28 guest artists its no wonder it's recognized as one of the best studio tours in Ontario. The tour provides an opportunity to see some great paintings, photography, ceramics, fabric art, sculpture and much more.

The studio environments encompass all that Uxbridge has to offer with some located on large country properties and others in smaller spaces in town. You will traverse our hills and vales from Sunderland and beyond in the north to Claremont in the south with Uxbridge right in the heart of them all. Pack a picnic or enjoy a feast at one of the many local restaurants, but whatever you do plan to make a day, or two, of it.

A must see is the work of the amazingly creative Viktor Tinkl who's home is surrounded by bizarre concrete aqua ducts, gargoyles, figurines and whimsical whatnot's. This stop alone could keep you and your children enthralled, entertained and amused for a good part of a day,

2009 Uxbridge Studio Tour Artists in their Studio's

Lynn Bishop, Douglas Boutilier, Shelly Burke, Carmel Brennan, Della Cavanagh, Ross Colby, Ann Cummings, Lynda Cunningham, Cynthia Cupples, Edward Falkenberg, Fly Freeman, Megan Jones, Lynne McIlvride Evans, Yvonne Meissner, Francis Muscat, Sharon Nielsen, Christl Niemuller, Vanessa Perry, Linda Lee Purvis, Saundra Reiner, Heather Rigby, Jean Pierre Schoss, David Swinson, Judith Tinkl, Viktor Tinkl, Gerd Untermann, Monique van Wel, Wynn Walters, Joan YeremaJay Yerema-Weafer

28 guest artists

John Barber, Carrie Chisholm, Daniel Colby, Francie Downing, Karen Falkenberg, Claire Falkenberg, Karen Franzen, Cathy Goldberg, David Greaves, Sarah Hall, Mary Hinton, Hanneke Koonstra, Constance Laing, Tom Loach, Kim Low, Joanna Malcolm, Mayta Markson, Andrew McIlvride, Nancy Newfield, James Pronk, John Pryce, Ruth Rodgers, Sherry Rossi, Lis Simpson, Linda Welch, and Ray Young

While you are out touring our wonderful country side you may decide you would like to join us on a more permanent basis and move to the Uxbridge area. I would be more than pleased to assist you in relocating to our fine area. Search For A Stay-Cation Home Of Your Own On My Listing Web Site Or Let Me Find You A Home To learn more about what housing options Uxbridge has to offer; be it condominium or detached homes, in town or rural communities, country homes, estates or farms just give me a call or Text Me

The Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts And Studio Tour

The Uxbridge Studio Tour provides a kick off event for the Celebration of The Arts. An open two-day (Sept. 19 and 20 10am to 6pm) invitation to visit the studios/galleries of 29 artists and their 30 guest artists. The tour is free, and visitors drive themselves, following the Studio Tour Map. This is wonderful opportunity to enjoy a local staycation destination

The Celebration of the Arts starts today Sept 17th with the Motley Theatre's dramatic live play reading, by Canadian actor Kenneth Welsh, of Neil Simon's "The Ginger Bread lady" at the Uxbridge Music Hall.

Sept 17, 8 p.m. at the Uxbridge Music Hall
Tickets $20 includes refreshments (with cash bar)
 

Christopher Chapman- Gala Event
Celebrating the art of filmmaker Christopher Chapman
An evening with the art of this preeminent Canadian Filmmaker - Oscar winner, Order of Canada recipient, and film pioneer.

Sept 19, 8 p.m. at the Uxbridge Music Hall
Tickets $25 includes refreshments (with cash bar)
 

Saturday lunch-hour concerts
Sept 19 - St. Andrews-Chalmers Presbyterian Church,
"Students of ..." Showcase four star students (2 piano, 2 voice) of local music teachers presenting a varied program demonstrating their unique talents and the richness of the musical training they receive.

Sept 26 - St. Pauls Anglican Church
"Magoo and Saunders" Two well known local artists with a wealth of talent and a variety of instruments. Sure-fire fun and entertainment for everyone.

Oct 3 - St. Pauls Anglican Church
"Duets" No strangers to the local arts scene, 4 vocalists (2 male, 2 female) will provide a mix-and-match repertoire of popular duets of all genres.

Juried art show & kids art show
Town Council chambers, Uxbridge. Sept 22 - 27 - 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Opening reception Sept 22, 7:30 pm

On September 27th Matthew House will be participating in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Charity Marathon for the third year in a row.

This year a number of former residents of Matthew House will be joining the team! Their goal is to raise $50,000. For those who feel a full marathon is to much there is also a half marathon and a 5 km run (or walk!) Something for everyone!

Every dollar you pledge goes direct to the charity of your choice the very small administration fee has been prepaid by the registrant or their sponsors.

We Need Your Support!

Visit the Team Pages to Sponsor a Runner! 

"This year Matthew House hopes to have our largest team ever and raise double that of last year.  Our goal is to raise at least $50,000. Our team is now forming and looks like it will be the best ever.  We are very excited and pleased to welcome our former Matthew House resident Josiane Abougono to our team this year!  Josiane, a marathoner who came from Gabon in 2001 and stayed at Matthew House upon arrival has had a fantastic career as a runner  in Canada and last year ranked NUMBER ONE among women in the entire Canada Running Series!! Josiane has fond memories of her time at Matthew House and has always wanted to "give back" in some way to express her appreciation for the warm welcome she received at Matthew House.  In addition to Josiane, we are pleased to introduce Ayinadis Bedada from Ethiopia who is also a world class long distance runner and a very recent resident of Matthew House.  She likewise is pleased to run for Matthew House in hopes that any support she gains through sponsorships can be given back to Matthew House to benefit other newcomers like her.  We are thrilled to welcome these two world class runners to our team"

Please show your support for Matthew House
Visit our  Sponsors Page! to Sponsor a runner online and track our fund raising progress.
You can make a big difference!

Thank-you!

About Matthew House

Matthew House is a small shelter in central Toronto that welcomes and assists newly arrived refugee claimants who have come to the end of a long journey on the refugee highway.  Matthew House believes that God's call to "welcome the stranger" includes refugee claimants from all nations, irrespective of ethnicity. 

Since opening as a permanent home in August 1998, Matthew House has provided shelter and assistance for hundreds of newly arrived refugees who would otherwise have been homeless in Toronto.  They have come from more than 75 different countries including: Albania, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Angola, Burundi, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iraq, Liberia, North Korea, Rwanda, Somalia, Turkey and Zimbabwe.

Without ever advertising its existence,  Matthew House continually must turn away more than four times the number of refugees it welcomes due to lack of space. As a result, one of Matthew House's vision is that of encouraging, inspiring and assisting other groups in establishing their own shelters and ministries to refugees. To date, shelters in Fr. Erie, Windsor, Hamilton, Cambridge and Vancouver have been opened based on the Matthew House model. Currently other groups in places such as Ottawa and Montreal are also exploring the prospect of opening shelters for refugees.

As the vision is spreading, and the need for appropriate shelter continues, Matthew House Toronto has recently opened a second more long term, "transitional home" nearby and hopes to expand its current space even more to effectively carry out its programs.

The Cars Of Summer - For Lane Bailey, Fred Carver And All The Other Car Guys and Gals here in the Rain. As Barrie and I traveled around this Summer we took the opportunity to stop at every cruz or classic boat show we passed along the way. In Baysville Ontario we drooled over this front wheel drive 1930 L29 Cord Phaeton Sedan.

Scenes From The 2009 Uxbridge Fall Fair

We paid an early visit to Elgin Park today to avoid the hot sun and soak up the sights, scents and sounds of the Uxbridge Fall Fair. 

All Spruced Up For The Fair   Here's looking at you, kid!

All 644.5 Lbs

Now That Would Make A Lot Of Pumpkin Pies....lets toast the seeds!

"Giant" Puffball Mushroom Grown In Udora

The Bonner Boys Take a Dunking

To Benefit Local Charities

An Early Lunch From The Uxbridge Meat Merchant

Kicking up the dust

Remember when it was 10 cents a throw?

and

Kids Entertainment

You Put Your Left Foot In

Toy Drive Hand Made Craft Donations

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School Bus Rules, Regulations and Safety Tips

Uxbridge has a large rural population and busing to school on a daily basis is a way of life for many of our children.

The Labour Day weekend traditionally heralds a return to school with over 800,000 throughout Ontario riding a school bus to school.

Here are a few points to remember regarding school bus safety and the highway traffic act regarding school buses.

IT IS THE LAW

All vehicles traveling in both directions must stop when approaching a school bus with its upper red lights flashing. (the only exception is on a divided highway separated by a median if you are approaching the school bus from the opposite direction)

Penalties For Not Stopping

First offence $400 to $2,000 and six demerit points

Each subsequent Offence $1,000 to $4,000, six demerit points
and possible jail time up to six months.

Saftey Tips

Parents and educators are urged to Be bright - Think Right review school bus safety with their children and charges in the ten basic tips for school bus safety provided by Transport Canada.