After a yearlong restoration that fascinated many of us in Town who watched the transformation taking place,the Tremont will celebrate it’s Grand Re-Opening on September 17th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and YOU are invited.

Here is what owners Rick and Anke Lex have to say:

“Built in 1889 by John McCormick as a 24 room hotel, the Tremont is one of the last remaining 19th century hotel buildings in the Collingwood Heritage Conservation District. The building survived a major fire in the 1920’s leaving burn marks still visible on the pine flooring.”

“After a yearlong restoration, the Tremont is now home to the Bay School of Art, the Tremont Cafe and the Elihu Book Room, as well as artist studios and live/work spaces. The building incorporates sustainable and environmental measures, along with heritage preservation.”

“Three facades of the building underwent a historically correct restoration and are protected by a conservation agreement. The Tremont’s south wall and roof garden, is inspired by Viennese painter and architect F. Hundertwasser. We are grateful to the many people who played a part in saving the building. A heartfelt thanks to the skilled trades and crafts people who brought a wonderful and positive energy to the project. Also, many thanks to the community – your encouragement and support have been wonderful. Finally, thanks to the Tremont tenants for their trust and faith in the project from the beginning.”

And they said it couldn’t be done. Congratulations Rick and Anke for proving them wrong and for teaching us all a lesson on how much heritage matters.   Having watched you over the last year, I have seen your passion.  I know how much you care and now, you can justifiably swell with pride at what you have accomplished.

The $4.3 million facility will be a 20,000 square foot facility housing nine classrooms, an e-lab, two computer labs, a multi-functional health sciences lab, a student lounge and a community room.

I also hear that small business incubation activities will be provided as well which makes great sense for the future economic growth of Collingwood and region.

It is expected that the new building will accommodate 250 full-time students and more than 3,000 part-time students annually and is scheduled to open for classes in the fall of 2011.

The building is being constructed on a 10-acre site donated by developer John Di Poce whose company is behind the new planned industrial park at the corner of Poplar Sideroad and Raglan Street.  It is also made possible by a $4-million contribution from the Community Adjustment Fund of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

It’s a small market but offers everything you’d expect ~ from local produce and hormone-free meats to lotions, flowers and hand crafted items. My purchases this week-end included home-made chicken perogies, hand-formed pork sausages with dried cranberries and pistachios, organic mixed lettuce and honey-cream corn.  I also finally picked up a one-of-a-kind, beautiful pottery travel mug I’ve been coveting.

Wandering around, you run into friends, acquantainces and cheerful, chatty vendors.  Giant sunflowers dot the booths and the smell of lavendar and Ashanti coffee hang in the air.  Yeah, I like the vibe too.

The Collingwood Farmer’s Market operates from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Saturday from Victoria Day through to the labour Day week-end.  For the next four weeks or so, I’ll be down there for at least two hours a day staffing the Wordstock  booth.  Come on down and say hi!

While I was stopped (for a full six minutes) due to traffic back up from the bridge work, I noticed some remarkable works of art mounted to the construction fencing.  There doesn’t seem to be any information anywhere about the artists but I suspect they may be the work of some students?  The paintings are insightful and beautiful.  Thanks whomever you are.

While many locals flee the town for this week-end, I’m sticking around to take in a few events.  It’s really quite surreal to see a bunch of, generally, older men with dyed black hair, real or fake sideburns dressed in sequined pant suits on just about every block downtown.  Equally interesting are the many visitors who come to partake of the fun- grannies in poodle skirts, people in Elvis sunglasses and almost everyone wearing beads or a  lei.  The streets are jammed all week-end with various events and a marketplace that overflows with kitsch and memorabilia.  You can hear Elvis music through-out the Town and even many, many blocks away.
 
My favourite part is chatting with the tourists who come for this event.  I love to hear their thoughts about our Town and how much they are enjoying this.  Love him or not, Elvis brings a very large number of really nice folks into town for this week-end every year and that is always a good thing.

So have fun folks, shake it up, dance in the streets, sing along, worship and enjoy our town.  We’re glad you are here.  Thank you.  Thank-you very much.

P.S.  I was just about to post this when I got an email from a new client who is coming up to view homes tomorrow.   It seems Elvis is contagious.   His message is priceless:  “Thanks Marg for the clarification. Sometimes I get all shook up with numbers, and especially around all you hard-headed women. Thanks again for not being cruel to a heart that’s true and remember we got a lotta livin’ to do. See you tomorrow.”

Sometimes, nature is right on your own door step.

Last night, this wee baby came knocking on our door.  Really – s/he was literally knocking with it’s two front hooves on our door!  In case you are wondering, we live in-town in a built up nieghbourhood.

Oh, deer

The organizer for the evening is my new friend, Silann Kaduc who is a talented local artist and former restauranteur.  Silann describes the evening as an avant-garde performance that celebrates words in all their forms of expression.  She cites an example of a poet and a mime performing together in an interactive way.  While she refuses to divulge all the details (even to the steering committee!) she explains that she doesn’t want to reveal the full show outline in order to create dramatic impact for the audience.  We do know that planning for the gala has involved many people such as Frank McNulty of JBG Productions, Steven Thomas of Theatre Collingwood and singer-songwriter, Romney Getty.

The role of emcee for the show will be shared by Barbara Weider and Denis Mildon who both have a long history and association with the arts in Collingwood.  They will be the thread that ties the entire evening together as they bring to life the evolution of literary arts in Collingwood.

Based on what I’ve heard, I suspect tickets for this show will sell out. Cost is just $25.00 including all taxes and surcharges with reserved seating.  Tickets are now on sale on a first-come, first-served basis.  You can order online www.wordstockcollingwood.com or by calling the Town events department at 705-445-9463 on that date.

For the first time in over 100 years, Collingwood residents are about to get their waterfront back.

The new master planned, Shipyards development is located at the northern tip of Hurontario Street in downtown Collingwood.  The main street has been extended alongside the former launch basin right to Georgian Bay and includes a lovely public promenade.  There is a 7 acre green space with an open-air amphitheatre facing the water as well as pedestrian and bike trails around the site.  Access will become official today – July 1st when Official Greetings for Canada Day will be held at 6 pm at the amphitheatre followed by fireworks over the Harbour at dark.

Developers FRAM Building Group and Slokker Real Estate Canada have revitalized this former brownfield site into an award-winning waterfront community that has been recognized for its environmental efforts.  It was named best large-scale project by the Canadian Urban Institute at the 2009 Brownie Awards.  The 40 acre site will include about 600 homes; some already occupied and many more are now under construction.  The site spans 1,400 metres of waterfront along Georgian Bay and will also feature a clubhouse, shops and restaurants.

As I wandered around the pristine site that has yet to see the effects of human activity, I couldn’t help but wonder what people would have to say when they see it for the first time.  Sometimes it feels to me that people complain far too much in this town – maybe that is human nature.  But when I look at this grand new site, the almost complete new First Street and the revitalization results in the downtown, I think we have much too be very thankful for on this Canada Day.