OUT and ABOUT with Seeker Chick Mai-Liis: visiting 5 events in a weekend – and who says nothing happens in Cornwall!

What 5 events are we talking about?

Eco Day, Focus Art Spring Art Exhibition, got my CAPE on, DJing at the Cornwall Curling Centre and stopping in at the Cornwall & Area Arts Hall of Fame Fundraiser dinner.

As the Summer gets closer, Wedding Season will soon be upon us and DJing will be in full swing so I am happy at the moment that I can visit many events in a weekend, so that is what I am doing.

As I drove into Cornwall this past Saturday (April 20th) morning I did see a few drops of rain on the windshield of my car and the sky looked a bit grey but the air felt nice and “fresh” and a perfect setting for the fourth Annual Eco Day, hosted by the City of Cornwall  at Lamoureux Park from 10am to 2pm.

For those who have never attended this event “Eco Day is family-friendly event that provides knowledge, tools, and encouragement to help the Cornwall community connect with nature and live a more sustainable life”.

I love this event because it is one of the events that signal the start of the Spring/Summer season even though by the time I started walking towards the bandshell it did turn a bit breezy and so there were many vendors holding down their tents as the wind picked up, which of course it always seems to down by the St. Lawrence River.

I only had a short time to look around but as I checked out the booths I gathered so much great information from City departments, organizations, clubs, and businesses to help us “learn about local efforts to promote environmental sustainability. There were also interesting demonstrations, my favourite being the one with the toilet to help save water when flushing. Live music was at the bandshell and interactive games and activities including Yafa Arts and Crafts where rock painting was happening. There were tree giveaways and I got some great advice from Transition Cornwall+ on what to plant that deer and rabbits don’t like as this Spring I am looking at planting out on our property. I left the booth with a raspberry bush as I was told no one will touch this. I guess we will soon find out!

At the Free bicycle safety tune-ups booth I found a young man with a very interesting invention – part bicycle and part skateboard that he had built himself, reminding me of some of the many inventions my youngest son Kristofer came up with in his younger days. One being a bicycle that was powered by a chainsaw motor – a little loud but definitely had good speed and power!

As I was leaving around 1:45pm it started raining but I managed to get back to my car just in time and continued to my second event of the day.

The 2024 Spring Art Exhibition took place on the second level of Cornwall Square. The show opened this past Thursday but Saturday (April 20th) was the Vernissage/Reception where we got to meet many of the artists behind the wonderful works of art.

Once again, as always when I visit a Gallery or a show, there were so many familiar faces and so many pieces of art where I immediately recognized many of the artists but there were also many new faces and styles and what I love about this show is that there is a whole section of wall space where the art of local high school students is showcased. I wish there would have been more of the students there to explain their art pieces, some of which have very deep meanings that reflect the very different lifestyles that today’s teenagers deal with compared to the seemingly simple world I experienced as a teenager before cell phones, Social media etc. 

This show continues next Thursday to Sunday. April 25th to 28th. Hours are Thursday and Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 9:30am to 5:30pm and Sunday 11am to 3 pm. Be sure to stop in as there are so many styles of art from over 30 local artists and students, adorning the walls and of course be sure to fill out a ballot with your favourite piece in the Focus Art Members section and the High School Students section.

After partaking of some veggies and dip and desserts that included awesome banana bread baked by artist Barbara Darling I left and headed to the Cornwall Curling Club where DJ Shellshock aka Sheldon Grant was setting up as we were DJing the end of their season Awards Banquet so I helped him carry some equipment in and then headed to event number three at the Benson Centre (located at 800 Seventh Street West, Cornwall) to get my CAPE on!

It was now close to 4pm and Seeker Junior Reporter Bella Grant (my step-daughter) had sent over a photo taken at 1:45pm this afternoon where there was still a lineup to get in. CAPE (Cornwall & Area Pop Event) began at 10 am that morning so if there was this kind of a lineup at 1:45pm I can only imagine that the lineup at 10am might have gone part way down Brookdale Ave!

Fortunately I was able to get in fast, Media Pass in hand and spent some time visiting vendors and admiring the costumes that visitors to this show wear. CAPE began nine years ago and I had no idea how many Pop Culture followers we have here in Cornwall and area. I caught up with the founders of this event, Carol and Randy Sauve back in March and had a great interview with them in the April print issue of the Seeker which you can also read here on our website at: https://theseeker.ca/2024/04/can-you-believe-its-almost-time-to-get-your-cape-on-april-20th-and-21st-at-the-benson-centre/

Each year this event gets better and this year there were many great celebrities present including Crystal Reed, Mikaela Hoover, Matthew G. Taylor, Mike Paterson and The Blumbergs. There were also many Cosplay booths and a Cosplay Costume Contest with fifteen categories that you could enter into. Check out one of the winners.

Of course there were also over 170 booths of vendors to check out and I talked to many local vendors who had a very busy and productive two days. Plus we can’t forget the many volunteers who help throughout “The CAPE Weekend”. Here are some of them but there were many more throughout the arena helping celebrities, visitors and exhibitors.

For more info about CAPE visit: www.cornwallpopevent.com

Saturday was a long one as we finished it by DJing at event number 4, the Cornwall Curling Club, keeping everyone on the dance floor till the wee hours!

Sunday of course, after a night of DJing, starts off a bit later than usual and I stopped by at the Royal Canadian Legion at 5pm where the Cornwall & Area Arts Hall of Fame Fundraiser dinner was being held. Again, there was a room full of many familiar faces and to the left of the hall was a wall of art which was donated by local artists for draws. Syd Gardiner and Lucy McCarthy with her orchestra entertained and the evening commenced with a few words from Rose Desnoyers, Chair of the Collective. Rose thanked everyone for attending the fundraiser for the Arts Hall of fame Gala that will be happening on October 26 and then she went on to tell us that the Collective for the Arts continues to work towards the creation of the Arts Centre and the committee for “Be the Link” under the leadership of Katie Burke has collected $1,386,886.95 in donations for the Arts Centre. One donation to note was from the Vagabond Theatre who have permanently closed their doors and donated the balance of their account of $1,300 to the fundraiser. This donation was presented by Dan and Sheila Youmelle.

The highlight of Rose’s speech, in my opinion, was when she announced that work on the Arts Centre will resume in May. I know I for one have been wondering when we will be seeing something happening at the old Bank of Montreal building on Pitt Street, so now we know. Then of course a wonderful (and very large) chicken dinner was served with draws taking place for the many works of art that were on display.

Here is some information about the Nomination Process for the 2024 Cornwall Arts Hall of Fame – which is now open. (Submitted by Rose Desnoyers).

Since 2015, the Arts Hall of Fame showcased the significant achievements of artists, supporters and builders in all the arts and recaptured the brilliant history and accomplishments of the artistic and cultural movements of the past; it has illustrated the great contemporary work our citizens are contributing locally, nationally and internationally. 

To date 70 amazing citizens have been recognized for their contribution. Among the inductees there are performers in theatre, visual artists, musicians, writers, dancers, an association and a business.

In 2023, 10 citizens and one work of art, the incomparable Quilt of Belonging, were inducted into the Arts Hall of Fame.  

The yearly gala is the pride of the Centre for the Arts Collective and the 2024 event will be held on October 26.  

Everyone is invited to submit the name of someone alive or deceased whose contribution in arts and culture is noteworthy.

Guidelines:

• No person can nominate himself or herself.
• Members of the public, members of the Committee for the Hall of fame, and community organisations may nominate an individual and/or organisations.

Nominating is a simple process requiring a biography of the nominee and 3 supporters of the nomination. The completed form can be mailed to or dropped off at the Benson Centre. The closing date for nominations is July 1, 2024.

The nomination form and guidelines are available at: www.cornwallartshalloffame.com