August 13th, 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion Committee: Thanks for the memories!

The 2008 Kincardine Old Boys & Girls Reunion, with all its revelry, fanfare and celebration, has come and gone but oh the memories it has left behind – memories that will endure and stay with us for years to come.

Did everything go off perfectly as planned – of course not! When you’re planning a party for 35,000 people, there are bound to be some glitches, which there were, but they will be improved upon for the next event. Nevertheless, the mandate of the reunion committee to provide the “best darn party ever” was certainly fulfilled and we are all very proud of the four days of celebration which took place from July 31 – August 4.

So many highlights, so many good memories!

The opening ceremonies at the bottom of Harbour St. at the flag pole on Friday morning set the tone for the entire weekend with the participation of local talent, the tribute to the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band and the special kinship among those in attendance. Everyone was there to celebrate the special link and attraction that draws everyone home at least every ten years, if not more often.

Anyone who was downtown on the Friday night has to admit that the atmosphere at the car show and later at the intersection of Queen and Lambton where live bands played atop of the Royal LePage Kincardine Real Estate building was just electric – talk about the power house of Ontario!

Friday evening also saw the Kincardine Idol Competition at the Royal Canadian Legion where 25 contestants provided an evening of fine home-grown entertainment as they sang everything from gospel to country to rock to show tunes, etc. etc. Brontae Hunter (10 + under), Stephanie Brown (11-16) and Jim Coverly (17 + over) won for their respective categories. The program, with generations of family members in attendance, took one back to an earlier time when people provided their own entertainment for each other instead of automatically tuning in to the tube or computer screen.

And while we are speaking of talent and entertainment, Tony Doherty, in charge of entertainment for the reunion, wants to extend his sincere appreciation to all of the entertainers, many of them local, who participated in the reunion. They definitely provided something for everyone.

Throngs of people lined Queen Street to see the Calithumpian Parade on Saturday morning which went on and on and on for well over an hour. The high school reunion at KDSS was a huge success with somewhere between 750 – 900 former students in attendance. The connections that were made there, literally across the decades, were heartwarming to see.

The Celebrity Fashion Show which raised $7500 for Kincardine Big Brothers and Big Sisters drew at least 2500 people, including supermodel Jessica Stam who was gracious, genuine and very humble as she told the crowd how pleased she was to be asked to participate in the show. Manuela Gameiro of Kincardine won the Stam bag.

Thousands and thousands and upon thousands of people attended the Shirt Tail Parade, which in terms of incidents was a very tame affair (It should be noted security and police provided excellent coverage over the weekend walking a fine line between exerting control where required and expertly managing the crowds).Revelers were there to enjoy the street festival atmosphere as they paraded down to the Connaught Park and although there were some questionable outfits here and there, or should we say lack of outfits, they were harmless enough, although admittedly, they may have offended some sensibilities, but once every decade…….

The bed races, blind canoe races, haunted house, redneck games, climbing wall, family fun day at the beach, etc. all drew large numbers of participants and the word on the street was there were just way too many activities to take everything in.

And a huge appreciation must go out to the green team from Chalmers Church who ensured that the reunion venues were kept clean. These volunteers clean-swept the various areas at least twice a day to ensure everything was spic and span. The reunion committee made a conscious decision to go green with the reunion and everything that could be done from the purchase of biodegradable drink tokens to the directive that all food vendors must use biodegradable containers was done. Consequently, the amount of garbage that is being directed to the landfill from this reunion is minimal, and definitely worthy of note.
And finally, one of the best displays of fireworks that this area has ever seen ended the four-day celebration Monday evening.

Although we have only touched on a few items in this column, the underlying theme was the same – people turned out in droves to celebrate the uncommon, unique qualities that make Kincardine home or one’s home away from home, and an even more special place to return to decade after decade.

It’s the stuff that memories are made of and the 2008 Kincardine Old Boys & Girls Reunion provided plenty of those. May you March On until 2018!

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

July 28th, 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Old Girls Reunion Committee: Buses have been provided for your reunion pleasure

By the time you read this column, we are literally going to be on the eve of the 2008 Kincardine Old Boys & Girls Reunion, ready to unfold four days worth of celebrations that will be second to none.

But first off, the reunion committee wants to assure everyone that Blinky, our much revered and venerated mascot - the ethos of who we are as a community - will indeed be proudly walking, side by side, with the Kincardine Scottish as they pipe, march and drum their way down the main street this Saturday evening. The Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band's 100th anniversary coincides with the reunion this year as you know, but getting back to Blinky. We weren't sure he was going to make it because rumour had it that a copy cat re-enactment of the famous Blinkynapping that took place 10 years ago was going to be repeated; however, anyone who saw Blinky marchin' on in the parade last Saturday night couldn't help but notice the secret service guys (not exactly incognito) assigned to Blinky in a matter of important local security on the home front. And they'll be no toying with these men in black. Blinkynappers beware! It isn't happening on the watch of the 2008 Kincardine Old Boys & Girls Reunion.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind as the weekend approaches. There are going to be throngs and throngs of people around, some street closures will be in effect and it's basically going to be one great big street festival that encompasses several localities from the beach to the main street to Victoria Park to the Pav etc. etc. Please use the buses that have been provided for the weekend. A onetime expenditure of $5 provides you with comfortable transportation for the entire weekend without the worry of parking. What could be easier? Please note that for those who aren't mobile enough to take the bus because of a disability, parking will be made available at the beach entrance. Simply notify the attendant at the barricade of your need for parking and you will be given a pass that must be returned when you leave the festivities. Check the local papers this week for information about bus bracelets, routes and schedules. This information will also be provided at Reunion Headquarters that will be set up at the Scougall Gallery on Queen St. Its hours of operation are from: Wednesday - Saturday from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. and then on Sunday and Monday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. We are also providing a registry for names and contact information at this location so that if you are looking for someone in particular, you can check the registry to see if they have yet signed in. So, let's get the word out to residents and visitors alike to use the registries.

If you haven't yet nominated a home or business for the Best Decorated Award for the reunion, please submit the name of your nominee to Nancy Telford, reunion secretary, by July 31. Ray and Sally Boileau will be judges the entries on August 1 and a whopping reunion thank you is extended to them.

Several folks took me up on my request for information about those coming home this weekend. Weekend visitors with Keith and Linda Drake will be: son Trevor home from LasSalle, ON with wife Kristin and their two children Owen (4) and Tatum (2); son Mike who was in London but is now back in Kincardine to stay with wife Amanda and son Carter; daughter Jillian of Barrie with husband Andrew Mills; Richard and Jo-Anne Watkinson of Belleville. Heather (Dymer) Martinson will also be home to visit with her mom, Mary Wilkinson of 1 Wilson Cresc. Kincardine. Heather can be reached at 519-396-6351.

And finally, please have yourself the best reunion ever and really embrace all of the different activities that this unique gathering has to offer. Whatever you chose to do though, please remember, "Good decisions make good memories!"

Welcome Home Old Boys & Girls!

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

July 25th, 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion Committee: less than two weeks to go

There's just less than two weeks to go until we let loose for the best darn party this area has seen in a long time and man do we know how to throw a party. Make sure you take a look at the schedule you will find this week in both local papers - take a good long look and then ask if we have missed anything. Honestly, there is definitely something for everyone at this reunion and the list of family activities - clowns, magicians, entertainers, face painting, kite boarding, jousting, family fun day, bed races, blind canoe races, redneck games, paint balling, rock climbing, fireworks, a car show on the main street preceded by a showing of the movie "Cars" at the Aztec Theatre and the list goes on and on and on. So much to do and so little time...believe me, you're going to have to plan well to get it all in. And while we are discussing activities, a trip to the Haunted House, which will be located on the second floor of the Bruce Bar & Grill, is an absolute must for all ages. Gord Kemp and his work crew, who obviously have a real flair for the macabre, will take you, in the words of our chair Laura Haight, on an expedition that is definitely designed to assault your senses as you cross over the bridge to the dark, dark side. Enter into this infamous den of iniquity if you dare!

Another event we would like to highlight this week is the performance of CALEDON - Scotland's Three Tenors. They will be performing at the Kincardine Knox Presbyterian Church on August 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available through the KSMF box office at 519 396-9400, Jerome Flowers, Kincardine's Scottish Shop and at Dalton Pottery in Ripley.

We have now finalized the bus routes and to repeat last week's instructions, transportation bracelets for the buses, which will run all over the north and south sections of town, are $5 for the entire weekend. They are available at: Books & Beans, Kincardine & District Chamber of Commerce, B & W Appliances, the Tourist Information Centre, Darcie's Variety and Fincher’s Leisure World. Buses will also go to Point Clark, Ripley and Tiverton with pick-ups at the lighthouse, arena and Kwik Way, respectively. Routes will be posted in the local papers, at key locations along the routes and at Reunion Headquarters which will be located in the Scougall Gallery from July 30 - until August 4. The hours of operation extend from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Wednesday - Saturday and from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Sunday and Monday.

In other reunion news, there was quite a stir for a few moments on the main street last Thursday when the Ontario Power Generation Environmental Headquarters made its way slowly down the main street. Thanks is extended to municipal employees who were on hand to transport via a forklift the little hut with its living, breathing walls made of drought resistant Sedums, from the 6th of Kincardine down the B-Line to its home in the heart of reunion territory on Harbour St. behind the Bruce Bar & Grill. Volunteers will be giving away 500 Carbon Offset Cards from the hut, courtesy of OPG, which will facilitate the planting of two trees from every card in a local planting program in partnership with the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority. OPG's environmental headquarters will also be the focal point for environmental crews who will keep the town looking spic and span. Little robots from the First Lego League and KDSS robotics will be utilized in these initiatives so come down and see Green in action.

And please, Remember! Good decisions make good memories!

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

July 16th, 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion Committee: Spreading the message- Reunion information overload

You know we are getting closer to the reunion because people are starting to ask lots of who, what, why and where etc. We want to make sure everyone is suffering from reunion information overload so we will be providing lots of information in various forms and venues to the point of saturation, we hope!

As we have said, the wheels on the buses will be going around and around, all over the municipality in all three wards and out to Point Clark and Ripley as well. Bus bracelets are available at Books & Beans, Finchers’ Leisure World, B & W Appliances, the Kincardine & District Chamber of Commerce office in the annex and the Tourist Information Centre on Hwy. 21. Bracelets are $5 per person and good for the entire reunion. Information on the bus routes and schedule will be available in local papers on July 23 and 30 and brochures will also be placed at strategic locations throughout the municipality. For more information, please go to our website at www.kincardinereunion.org. It should also be noted that the schedule of events will also be found in the same locations.

In addition to all of the above locations, route maps and schedules will also be available at Reunion Headquarters which will be set up in the Scougall Gallery on the main street from July 23 – August 4. The headquarters will be open from Wednesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and then on Sunday and Monday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. We are also providing a registry for names and contact information at this location so that if you are looking for someone in particular, you can check the registry to see if they have yet signed in. So, let’s get the word out to residents and visitors alike to use the registries. Names will be in alphabetical order, as much as possible, for easy reference.

Reunion headquarters will also be featuring a historical display by the Bruce County Museum & Archives, and the museum is also hoping to collect some old newspapers. So if you have any you would like to donate, please bring them along.

There is going to be a high school reunion with a major meet and greet at KDSS from 2 – 5 p.m. Registries will be provided for graduates from the various decades to again facilitate the meeting of old friends.

And while we are talking about meeting old friends, if you know if visitors who are coming home and you would like their names mentioned in the column, please send them to me at marie.wilson@opg.com and I’ll get as many in as possible. Anyone who is attending the fashion show will realize that former Bervie resident Jessica Stam, who is now a model of international fame, will be home and at the fashion show during the reunion. Alan Boileau, a former KDSS student who is now a renowned relief (wood) artist with art in galleries all over Canada and the US will be home for the reunion. It should also be noted some of his pieces are on display at Victoria Park Gallery during July/August so make sure you include a visit to the gallery on your own personal reunion itinerary. How cool to have his pieces here at home for the reunion!

And we are also going to have 17 past celebrity agriculture & reunion queens home and in attendance at the Celebrity Fashion Show. Here’s the line-up so far: 1971- Ellen Holroyd (Elliott), 1974- Sandra Rackley (Peter), 1976 – Karen Smith, 1977- Julia Brown (Johnston), 1979 – Catherine Frook (Byle), 1982-Susanne Stapleton, 1983 – Beth Davy (Mowat), 1984-Beatrice Morrison (Bosiger), 1986-Karen Hofstetter (Rutledge), 1987-Tanya Stiver (Mowry), 1989 – Julie Avolio (Martin), 1991 – Elizabeth Overholt (Myall), 1993-Tracey Urguhart (Weber), 1994-1995 – Julie Robinson (Davey). And former reunion queens that will be present are: 1960- Myrna Queen (Macpherson) and 1970-Ursula Oltman.

To change the subject, the parade committee needs volunteers to stand watch at the barricades during the parade so if you can spare a couple of hours on Saturday, please call Kelly Lush at 519 396-9333. And speaking of volunteers, don’t forget volunteer orientation will be held July 17 at the picnic shelter in Dunsmoor Park at 7 p.m.

And finally, please check out the reunion website to pre-register for some of the events. We don’t want anyone to be disappointed. It’s sort of sad to be stuck on the sidelines when you really want to be in the middle of the play so register for the ball hockey tournament, register for the bed races, the redneck games, the blindfold canoe races…….

And of course, please Remember! Good decisions make good memories!

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

July 9th, 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion Committee: Kudos!

Kudos and more kudos are sent out to all those - staff, committee and volunteers – who presented the Kincardine Scottish Festival and Highland Games over the weekend. This event was replete with everything from detailed and effective organization to warm weather and sunny skies to a spirit of community and kinship that we are again, going to replicate in less than a month’s time with the 2008 Old Boys & Girls Reunion. It’s getting comfortably close, so close that all those last minute details are surfacing, which we need your help in putting to rest.

First oft though, before I forget (memory being what it is these days), let’s properly thank all of those from the west who put on a Warm-Up party in Edmonton on June 7. Special thanks to Jas Webster and Glen Gibson who organized an event for over 140 people. Mike, Carol & Jed Blake, Brad Kirkconnell, Heinz & Ashley Hyde attended from Kincardine and they were just bowled over by the western hospitality, the array of food which included fish, beef and chicken, not to mention the line dancing, which was the best. Of course, we all know where that western hospitality got its roots…….again, a big thank-you to all of you who made that party such a success!

And in order to ensure that our own home-grown party is a big success, we are utilizing hundreds of volunteers, but we are still in need of more. We are currently looking for people to work the bar at the pavilion from 8 p.m. – 1:00am on Aug 2 for the Lighthouse Swing Band and we also need people at this venue to work the bar for the Howling Dog Jazz Band from 2 – 5 p.m. on Aug. 3. If you can help out, please call Carol Blake at 519-396-5170.

Volunteers of a theatrical or better yet, twisted sort of nature, are needed to provide entertainment of a scary sort for the Haunted House which is going to operate on the second floor of the Bruce Bar and Grill through-out the weekend. If you have a desire to get in touch with the dark side, please call Gord Kemp at 396-3436 or 396-9677.

And we are also looking for former KDSS students who would be willing to work the registration tables and act as greeters during the High School Reunion which will take place on August 2 from 2 – 5 p.m. If you can help out, please call Marie at 368-5644 or 396- 6414 Ext. 4065.
A volunteer orientation will be held in Dunsmoor Park on July 17 at 7 p.m. by the picnic shelter.

The Reunion Quilt, donated by the Kincardine Sunset Quilters’ Guild, can be viewed at Books & Beans this week. If you haven’t purchased your ticket yet, head on down and check it out over a specialty coffee or smoothie.

Also, if you are planning your reunion itinerary, take the time to go and see "Kincardine Calls", which is definitely Kincardine culture at its best. Details can be viewed here.

And as we get closer to the reunion, we need to remember that safety in all things is paramount! The reunion committee really wants to remind one and all that when it’s all said and done, we want to look back at the 2008 Kincardine Old Boys & Girls reunion with fond memories that will last us through until the next big event in 2018. Remember! Good decisions make good memories!

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

July 2nd, 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion Committee: Less than a month to go!

With less than a month to go before this unique community on the shores of Loch Huron opens its arms in a huge “Welcome Back” to thousands of old girls and old boys, we don’t really have anything new to report, as you would expect at this point in the grand scheme of things. The blueprint for the reunion is in place and the grand design is unfolding with the passing of each day, which brings us closer and closer …..

So now is the time to really dig in for those final preparations and as we said last week, we need to make our municipality really look like it’s ready for a party so let’s get working on those reunion colors. Sandy Liddle, our official keeper of the bunting, is hosting another colour party at the Kincardine Davidson Centre on July 3 from 6 – 8:30 p.m. to assemble more of the reunion bunting and blooms to keep pace with the demand, which we know is going to be just huge. Sandy is also accepting orders for bunting and rosettes so please give her a call at: 519 396-7067. And if you have a few hours to spare on July 3, grab a pair of snips and head on over to the Davidson Centre. And of course, a big thank-you is extended to Sandy for taking this on.

Sandra Reid, our event co-ordinator, wants to remind everyone to check out the slate of events on the reunion website because several of the activities do require pre-registration, and we don’t want anyone to be disappointed. Also, there is still a demand for volunteers to assist with the haunted house and some of the other activities, so give Sandra a call at 519 396-5277.

Volunteers are also going to be needed to help staff the Reunion Headquarters, which is going to be held at the Scougall Gallery – surrounded by graphic, visual images of Kincardine’s history and heritage, the gallery will provide a most apt setting in which to hand out information about a celebration which is very unique to Kincardine. So, if you have a few hours to spare to chat and mingle with people, call Marie Wilson at 519-368-5644 or email marie.wilson@opg.com to get on the schedule. It’s a great opportunity for someone who just wants to meet people. And you never know who might cross that doorstep at reunion time.

We are also trying to gather items for the KDSS reunion to be held on Saturday from 2 – 5 p.m. so if anyone has yearbooks or special memorabilia that they are willing to put on display for a couple of hours, please call Marie.

Just a note about the opening ceremonies which will be taking place down at the flag pole at the bottom of Harbour Street on Friday at 10:30 a.m. Erin Netzke has put together a program, which encompasses a number of elements such as youth, the Kincardine Scottish, the Kincardine Community Singers, etc. to reflect the wonderful diversity of our municipality. Make sure you attend the official opening. It won’t be boring, there won’t be scads of speeches, and it is definitely going to be a crowd pleaser!

And while we are talking about crowd pleasers, make sure you check out Kincardine Calls – details are on the website and this home-grown play, back by popular demand, is definitely a must-see.

Well the reunion is definitely risin’ and we are MARCHIN’ ON!!

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

June 23rd, 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion Committee: volunteers needed for little house of horrors

Some of you will be enjoying a long weekend, while for others, there will be a day off on Happy Birthday to Canada Day which is of course July 1. The big news for all of us is that the countdown is on and the next long weekend - the August Civic long weekend - marks the celebration of the 2008 Kincardine Old Boys and Old Girls Reunion. Can't believe it's this close, but of course we are MARCHIN' ON.
 
By now you have all been to our website, so you probably have a fair idea of the numerous activities that will be packed into the four-day plan for this extravaganza of an event and I would encourage you to keep checking that out as we get closer and closer and closer.....
 
And as you can imagine, we need volunteers to help us out with many of the activities and although the support we have received in this area to date, has just been overwhelming, we still have need of more volunteers for various functions. For instance, there's a lot of hard work going on right now to transform the second floor of the Bruce Bar and Grill into a little house of horrors (read carefully), and so saying, we are going to need actors to provide some of the chills and thrills. So if living on the dark side appeals to you, please give Sandra Reid a call at 519 396-5277 or email her at: ksreid@bmts.com.
 
If the haunted house doesn't quite do it for you, Sandra is also in need of volunteers for the recyclable races, blind fold canoe races - Andy Burgess where are you? Just kidding, but if you're going to be around Andy........Also, a number of able bodied men and women are required for the set up and take down of chairs at the Kincardine Legion to be utilized during the Kincardine Idol. More details about places and times are available on the website, but if you are interested in any of these activities please call Sandra. And if you're a high school student, what a fun way to earn some of those volunteers hours. 
 
We are continuing to sell quilt tickets so if you haven't purchased a ticket yet, and there are still scads left, please go on down to Fine Table and Bed, (Rose Wiggermann) at 738 Queen Street  - right beside Baxter's Row Fashion  (Sue Austin).  Both of these businesses have kindly offered to act as depots for quilt tickets. Remember, the draw for the quilt will be made on Sunday at the Celebrity Fashion Show down at the beach. And speaking of the fashion show, we now have 17 queens from past fall fairs and reunions who are going to be in attendance at this event. There are 1200 purses sold to date; there will be 1500 numbered purses available for the “Stam Bag” draw. After that it is standing room only with tickets at the gate for this venue. Between the fashions, the appearance of super model Jessica Stam and the draw for the Stam Bag as well as a performance by Madviolet, not to mention the gorgeous location down by the water, there's no doubt those little paper purses definitely pack a lot of value.
 
A final word about our colours - we're starting to see more use of the bunting - Check out The Coast and ScotiaBank - but we suspect once the Kincardine Scottish Festival and Highland Games wraps up, we'll be seeing a whole lot more. It's going to be a sight with all of those storefronts and businesses dressed up in their Reunion best with the red, green and blue.
 
And speaking of colours, good luck with your celebration of the red and white this weekend, but Boy oh Boy we know what's coming.....Happy Canada Day!

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

June 16th, 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion Committee: Reunion by the Numbers

2008 marks the 160th year since the incorporation of the municipality which was then the Village of Kincardine. The Reunion this year will be the eleventh, the first of which was held in 1907. 2008 also marks the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band. Currently there are 45 regular members of the Kincardine Scottish with their membership swelling every Saturday night in the summer with alums returning to Town or visiting pipers just joining the ranks for the day. The route the Scottish takes down Queen Street to Quinn Plaza and back again represents about 1,620 paces.

There are 10 members of the 2008 Kincardine Reunion Committee, most of whom chair one of 7 sub-committees constituted to organize various elements of the weekend. Even then there are committees within those committees tasked with particular events, like the Callithumpian Parade and the Reunion Golf Tournament. All in all there are 54 people who have taken on some direct responsibility for the success of this years Reunion.

The balance of the 75% of dance tickets released earlier this year are available for purchase at the Kincardine Tourist Information Booth. The remaining 25% will be released just in time for the weekend. Locations and times will be announced in mid-July. We are pretty proud of the fact that each of the 16 bands playing at the Reunion has a local connection to Kincardine. The dances will be held at one of 3 venues; the Beach, The Pavilion and Victoria Park. All in all our licensed areas exceeds 105,000 square feet.

We hope to have upwards of 30,000 people come to Kincardine this August. If you want to be one of the 800 volunteers, there’s still time, and you can do it by sending an email here stating which area you'd like to help out in as well as your contact information. .

We would encourage everyone to enjoy as much as you can or dare to that weekend. With over 100 performances, productions, games and gatherings we know that there is something to tickle your fancy whether you are 8 years old or 88 years young. So take 10 minutes … visit the website….and make your plan of attack.

Only 42 days to go!

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

June 9th, 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion Committee: please take the bus!

The wheels on the buses come reunion time will definitely be going "round and round" thanks to Mark Yalden, our more than capable Ways and Means co-ordinator, who is also very young so you know what that means 10 years down the road. But, that's a topic of conversation or another day. At the moment, Mark and his crew are carefully putting a plan together to ensure that the logistics of the 2008 Kincardine Old Boys & Old Girls Reunion, a massive undertaking in anyone's books, unfold exactly as they should. It's up to them to ensure that we have fencing - snow and Moduloc, extension cords, a power supply for the various venues, chairs and tables, garbage and recycle bins, stages, track lighting, scaffolding, parking facilities, Johnny on the Spots - (they'll be no excess watering of flora and fauna) etc. etc. As you can imagine, Mark's think and do list for this reunion is quite lengthy, and then some, but the work has been planned, co-ordinated and he is ready to work that plan - work it, work it and work it some more.

But let's get back on track with the bus, which is the direction we were heading in before we took a small detour. Yes, there will of course be bussing during the reunion. We aren't going to get into too many specifics at this point because it's too soon, but be assured we will have buses running throughout the town of Kincardine on various routes, and there will be buses coming from Tiverton, Ripley and Point Clark with satellite parking provided. Wrist bands (a one-time fee of $5) will be available for the weekend and the reunion committee really wants to encourage everyone to take advantage of this public transit opportunity. Hop aboard a Ross Young Special. It's good for the environment, good for the reunion and most of all, it's good for you!

It should be noted that while you are on the bus, you are no doubt going to enjoy seeing the town all decked out in our reunion colours of red, blue and green. Volunteer Sandy Liddle is heading up the effort to make sure the town is properly dressed for the big day, and so saying, she will be selling reunion rosettes and bunting at the Bruce Bar & Grill this Wednesday and Thursday from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Three rosettes and 15 ft. of bunting sell for $25. Anyone who has ordered bunting can pick it up during this reunion bunting blitz. A big thank-you to Sandy for taking this project on.

Now that we have pretty much finished our round of reunion parties (the last one took place in Edmonton on Saturday), we are selling what is left of the remainder of our original cache of tickets for the various venues. These tickets are now on sale at the Kincardine Tourist Information Centre located at 1802 on Hwy. 21 just north of town across from KTTPS. The booth is open Monday - Saturday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 a.m. and on Sundays and holidays from 11a.m. - 4 p.m. Tickets are sold out for the Western Warm-Up party as well as the Saturday night at Reunion Tent, but tickets are available for all of the other venues - so if you are still hoping to secure some tickets before Reunion Weekend, check out the tourist booth.

Laura Haight, reunion committee chair, reports that the Toronto Warm-Up party did Kincardine proud with about 150 party revelers who connected with each other in a spirit of kinship to generate some hype for what will definitely be the best darned party ever. And, what could be more Kincardine than Dark Angel who was on hand to provide their trademark blues so familiar to Kincardine ears. A big thank-you goes out to all those who supported this initiative as well as to those who were involved with all of the other warm-up parties in London, Australia, Edmonton and Kincardine. Congrats on a job well done! We're sure all of the good karma and kinship inspired from these events will find its way to the shores of Lake Huron come July 31, and endure until..........the next big event comes around, and around and around.

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

June 2nd, 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion Committee: 20 Years of Driftin’

We are at a point now in our communications where we are really getting down to the brass tacks of it all (anyone who knows the history of this expressions – it comes to mind once in awhile, but I have no idea why) where we are really zooming in on specifics as opposed to generalities. Surely by now, everyone is aware that Kincardine is hosting the 2008 Old Boys & Old Girls Reunion from July 31 – August 4, and if you don’t know, it’s time to listen up. Last week’s column talked specifically about a number of events that require pre-registration, and we are extremely pleased to note that column drew a response from several organizers of events who would like a few inches devoted to their particular event. Fantastic! Love that two-way dialogue. So, if anyone out there would like to utilize this column to get the word out about anything related to the Reunion (within reason of course), please feel free to email Marie Wilson at: marie.wilson@opg.com.

So continuing on with our theme of making sure you pre-register for specific events, please note we want to invite all card-playing seniors to the Davidson Centre on August 2 and 3 for euchre and shooter respectively. Euchre will be held on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. followed by shooter on Sunday at 1 p.m. These events will be held in the Senior’s Room and all players must be registered as a team of two by July 30 at 4:30 p.m. with the Davidson Centre Office. The cost of registration is $5 per team and all of the money collected will be given back as prize money. For more information, please call John Kesteloot at 519-396-5402. Thanks to John for this write-up.

A big thank-you is also extended to George Allison for submitting this write-up on 20 years of Driftin’, and by the way, congratulations to the Drifters Car Club. We have so much to celebrate this summer – no wonder it is going to be such a humdinger of a party! The Drifters Car Club of Kincardine will be celebrating their 20th anniversary this year by holding 20YEARS OF DRIFTIN’ - a special car show on Aug 2. This car show will be held at the Elgin Market Public School in conjunction with the other special events of the Reunion 2008 Saturday schedule. The show will run from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. but the show car gate will open at 8 a.m. to allow display vehicles, vendors and services to be in place early so as not to conflict with parade traffic. More specific details of the car show will be forthcoming as the date approaches. The Kincardine Drifters Car club is however pleased to now announce the introduction of Valve Cover Racing as a feature event at the car show.

Valve Cover Racers are cars created from automotive engine valve covers. Wheels are affixed to the covers which allow them to roll down a measured incline. All motion is provided by gravity. The cars are usually painted in bright colors and may involve graphic designs. Most often the wheels are salvaged from Inline skates or perhaps skateboards .The rules call for the diameter of the wheels to be 6 inches or less. There are also length, width and weight restrictions. The official rules will be posted on the Reunion 2008 web site.

Two age classes will compete for a first, second and third place trophies, under 14 and 14 to 18 years of age. Adults may also compete and other car clubs are expected to race their official entries. This is great opportunity for grandfathers or fathers to get creative with their children or grandkids .It could also be a great inexpensive project for scouts, cubs or big brothers or other groups. What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than to rummage around an auto wreckers looking for that perfect valve cover.
For additional information concerning Valve Cover Racing contact George via Email at valvecoverracing@hotmail.com

It’s a wrap for this week, but let’s keep the info flowing through those pipes. And speakin’ of pipes, we’re Marchin’ On!

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

May 26th, 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion Committee: pre-register, pre-register

Party, Party, Party – it never ends. We’ve just barely got the Davidson Centre back to normal after a most successful 2008 Kincardine Old Boys & Girls Warm-Up Party held there on May 18 (you know the one where Brad Kirkconnell lost his nose but gained an extra finger – balance is everything) and a few weeks before that we were celebrating in London, and now the next stop for our reunion train is the Big Smoke. Yes, for all of you who are serious, dedicated and committed to your pre-reunion training program, get ready to lay another training brick this Friday night at the Balmy Beach Club, located at 1 Beech Avenue in Toronto. Party tyme is 7 p.m., and if you would like to get on that Reunion Train, just give Brad Kirkconnell a call and I’m sure he can find you a seat- just don’t shake his hand.

And now in other reunion news, as we get closer and closer to Reunion Weekend, you may want to take a few moments and really study the schedule of events because several of these require pre-registration. And not everything is held over Reunion Weekend either. Our answer to the Amazing Race is being held on July 1 at 9 a.m. and this event, which consists of 12 teams of two, is going to be more fun that you can ever imagine- and trust me, you can’t even begin to imagine some of the Tomfoolery that your are going to be a part of. So for all of you diehard, live on the edge, extreme types out there as well as those who just plain like to be challenged from time to time, check out our website and get registered for what will be a truly amazing experience.

There are also a number of reunion events that require pre-registration such as: the Kincardine Idol, which is inclusive of all ages, a seniors’ euchre tournament, a three on three hockey tournament with various age categories, a volleyball tournament, blindfold canoe races, a senior shooter tournament and recyclable bluebox races. The information for all of these events can be found here.

And, of course, no reunion worth its salt would be complete without the ever popular bed races and this reunion isn’t lacking in anything. So, we want to throw a challenge out to various businesses, service clubs, sports team, etc. to make a bed and challenge someone else to race against you. We would like to see the Bull Dogs challenge say, the Walkerton Hawks, the Bank of Montreal coined with the Royal Bank and what about The Coast against The Beach and on and on and on. The more teams the merrier, and as we all know from our not too distant memories of the Ripley Bed Race experience, there isn’t anything more entertaining, especially when a wheel falls off or a steering wheel fails to deliver the right direction, than bed races. Anyway, get your team together and pre-register. The event will be held on the main street for all to view and enjoy.

And hey! What about that brand new mural on the South Wall of Stedman’s? Have you seen it yet? If you haven’t, take a stroll and get down there and feast your eyes on the work of local artist Normand Comeau. It was time for a change don’t you think? I mean the rebel without a cause thing, though powerful and dramatic, wears thin after a while and Normand has done an admirable job of creating a new look and sense of ambience for our special celebration. And I would remiss if I didn’t properly thank Mark Yalden and his crew who did a lot of behind the scenes kind of work to get the mural hung proper. I understand there were several last minute directives, which Mark took quite good-naturedly, so a big thank-you to Mark and all those who helped.

So what’s the key message from this week’s column and the operative word…Pre-register, Pre-register, Pre-register!

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

May 12th, 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion Committee: painting it green

It’s this weekend – the Kincardine Old Boys & Old Girls Homegrown Warm-Up Party will be held at the Kincardine Davidson Centre from 6 p.m. – 1 a.m (Please note the bar doesn’t open until 7 p.m.). If you haven’t got your tickets yet, they are available at The Kincardine News, Baxter’s Row Fashion, Snip ‘n Clip and from reunion committee members. Come on out and enjoy the entertainment of local stand-up comic James Ramage and hypnotist Jeff West and then get yourself into high gear and overdrive so you can dance to the music of Left Turn Clyde until the wee hours of the morning. And for those of you who don’t make up your mind until the last minute or are waiting to see what so and so, and so and so, are doing before you make the big commitment, don’t despair. With 1,000 tickets printed, there are bound to be more than enough to go around, and you will be able to pick them up at the door. Sunday night at the Davidson Centre – it’s going to be a shindig to remember and what a great way to begin the 2008 summer season!

And something else we want everyone to remember is the fact that the 2008 Old Boys & Girls Reunion is a GREEN event. That means the principles of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Refuse will be in full force throughout the four-day event. Carol Blake, as our Green Queen and Environmental Host with the most, will ensure that our impact on the environment is as small as is humanely possible and then some. All products such as cups, plates, cutlery and napkins that will be utilized during reunion events, including the warm-up party, are biodegradable. Even our beverage tokens, material generously donated by BI-AX International Inc. out of Wingham, are made out of a corn product that will eventually be mulched and returned from whence it came to enrich the soil. As you can imagine with 50,000 cups and 40,000 tokens, not to mention everything else, there is going to be quite a bit of mulching, not munching, going on when all is said and done.

In an effort to help promote greater environmental awareness the reunion will also have a living environmental headquarters, courtesy of OPG who has sponsored this initiative, located on Harbour Street. The headquarters will be constructed of living plants using Elevated Landscaping Technology. Volunteers will be passing out carbon offset cards that promote the planting of trees, in conjunction with the Saugeen Conservation, as a means of offsetting carbon emissions. Green Clean-Sweep Teams – volunteers who will ensure the town is kept tidy and free of rubbish during the reunion – will be working out of the living environmental headquarters and it should also be noted that volunteers will be assisted in their endeavours by robotic helpers, put together by members of the First Lego League & KDSS Robotic teams, who will be assisting with keeping everything green and clean.

Make no mistake though, when the reunion is over, we will be able to tell you exactly how many bags went to the landfill and that’s a fact worth repeating.

In other reunion news, we have secured a venue for the high school reunion. It will be held at – well obviously good ole Kincardine and District Secondary School – on Saturday, August 2, 2008 from 2 – 5 p.m. Once the warm-up party is out of the way, a meeting will be held for all interested volunteers, but now that we have the school – the rest will fall into place. Ah, good ole school days, school days…….

See you Sunday at the Warm-Up. The reunion is risin’.

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

May 9th, 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion Committee: 455 rosettes and counting…….

Four hundred and fifty-five rosettes – do you know have any idea how much cutting, folding, wiring and fluffing of bunting it takes to make that many rosettes? Some of us who have failed miserably at the art of trying to keep all those layers of static electricity-charged layers of material in place while patiently folding the swath over and under in an accordion pattern can only be extremely thankful that there are those who are much more patient and nimble-fingered. And when it comes to being thankful, kudos to Sandra Reid who organized the May 1 bunting party at the Davidson Centre where about 35 volunteers worked in harmony to create our bountiful supply of reunion blooms.

A huge thank-you is also extended to Sandy Liddle who has volunteered to take charge of the kilometres and kilometers of bunting that are going to be used to paint the entire municipality in the reunion colours of blue, green and red. She will be taking orders for bunting and rosettes from her home at 396-7067, and she will also have a booth set-up for orders at the Kincardine Warm-Up Party to be held at the Kincardine Davidson Centre on May 18 from 6:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. Fifteen feet of bunting and three rosettes will sell for $25. Sandy also has plans to decorate the ice cream stand downtown in front of Quinn’s Plaza just to give us all an idea on how far 15 ft. of bunting and three rosettes will actually go. And speaking of bunting, it’s anticipated that there will be another party to make even more rosettes because although 455 sounds like a lot, once we start decorating, we’re going to need a whole lot more of these very special reunion blooms. More on this later. Watch the papers and the website.

In keeping with the eclectic nature of the 2008 Kincardine Old Boys & Old Girls Reunion where we are trying to be all things to all people, we are putting together quite a list of events and activities, many of which you have already heard or read about, and will hear lots more about in the future as we go forward.
Sports of course are a huge part of the Kincardine culture – yes, sports can be part of a culture as well as art, music, the pipes, theatre, dance, literature etc. etc. – let’s not be snobbish. Anyway, we are hoping to get a few challenges going in terms of a baseball game between the South and the North as well as soccer and rugby matches. If anyone is interested in participating, organizing or mulling some of these ideas around, please give Sandra Reid a call at 519-396-5277.

It should also be noted that we are still working on trying to get a high school reunion organized. We do need volunteers so if you can help out, please contact Marie Wilson at 368-5644 or 361-6414 Ext. 4065.

Our next big event is of course the Kincardine Warm-Up party on May 18 so make sure you get your tickets either from reunion committee members, The Kincardine News, Baxter’s Row Fashions or Snip ‘n Clip.

The Reunion is risin’!

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

April 29th, 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion Committee: Warm-up parties in London and Australia

Two down and three more to go – warm-up parties that is and although both were very different venues, both were extremely successful in generating just the right kind of reunion spirit that brings them home from all corners of the globe every ten years to reconnect and renew those ties that bind that can only be found at the Kincardine Old Boys & Old Girls Reunion.

About 200 attended London’s warm-up party on April 26, which had two very distinct groups in terms of demographics. Myrna Queen (nee Macpherson), no stranger to organizing warm-up parties with several behind her, used her connections to get a lot of her friends and acquaintances out – many with lots of reunion experience, while on the other hand committee member Jeff Gordon who doesn’t have quite as much life experience as some, ensured that a large contingent of the 20+ crowd were in attendance so it made for an excellent mix. And, we definitely know who is going to give Myrna a break and organize the warm-up party for the 2018 gathering.

Members of the Kincardine Scottish traveled to London to provide their traditional brand of entertainment, and to the delight of a number of Arva Optimist Club members who were holding a silent auction upstairs, Reunion Chair Laura Haight cajoled band members into going upstairs to play to unsuspecting Optimists so the silent auction wasn’t quite so silent. Nevertheless, their performance was much appreciated and as Laura noted, several knew of the band and you could hear a buzz throughout the room as several made a point of telling their neighbours about the Kincardine Scottish who parade through Kincardine’s downtown every Saturday night……And with 100-year history behind them, we aren’t surprised!! Kudos to everyone who made it to the party and special thanks to Carol Blake who provided an excellent power point presentation for the event, Laura Haight for doing the door prizes with her own brand of style, the Kincardine Scottish and organizers Myrna Queen and Jeff Gordon as well as the rest of the organizing committee.

Give or take a few hours, depending on the time change, a warm-up party with 27 people in attendance was also taking place in Coff’s Harbour Australia with Reunion past chair Brad Kirkconnell. According to Brad, it was a bright and sunny day at 25 degrees Celsius, which was a welcome change to the previous 12 days of rain in the area.
“Ah, an omen of the BIG EVENT I reckon,” he said.

The Australian party stated with the usual Kincardine social hour followed by a traditional Aussie Barbie, which led to another social and ended with a presentation by Brad (thanks to Carol) to the group.
“All in all a great Kincardine day here in Oz”, Brad said.

In other reunion news, the registration for the golf tournament was a great success with people lined up long before the 10 a.m. deadline. Being a commonsensical sort, organizer Norm Gauthier let the people in, and it wasn’t long before the Kincardine Golf and Country Club was booked solid. There are still a few spots left at Ainsdale and Blackhorse, so if you are interested in signing up, please check out the golf tourney on the activity page.

And please don’t forget we have a rosette and bunting party on Thursday, May 1 at the Kincardine Davidson Centre from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Beginners welcome. The Reunion is Risin’!

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

April 22nd, 2008

First and foremost, before I forget, please make a note to go down to the SeeView Gallery on Queen Street and have a look at our unique Reunion Quilt, which has been created and donated by the Kincardine Sunset Quilters’ Guild with its signature blocks, which reflect individual aspects of Kincardine’s heritage and culture, while providing a window of insight into the community as a whole with a mere glance. We are selling 5000 tickets on this work of art with all proceeds earmarked for the many youth activities that will take place during the reunion. Although the quilt is currently on display at The SeeView Gallery – where it fits in perfectly with all of the many other exquisite pieces of stain glass art, etc., the intent is to move it around to various stores and public places, so if you would like to host the Reunion Quilt in your establishment, please give Marie Wilson a call at 519 368-5644 or 519 361-6414 Ext. 4065.

And speaking of youth activities, the reunion has them covered from the opening ceremony (most aptly and capably organized by Erin Netzke) where young people will be releasing biodegradable balloons with their art work/poems inside to the slate of wonderful fun and exciting activities that our event co-ordinator Sandra Reid has put together. We have rock climbing, paint balling, Clarol the Clown, a professional sand sculptor, family activities at the beach, Magician Sam Pearce, a ball hockey tournament, a Kincardine Idol contest with several categories that includes a wide range of ages, a Battle of the Bands, bed races, toilet races, a fireworks display, a Calithumpian Parade and lots, lots more. When we say this is a family event, it is a family event. And if you want more details, you know where to go: activities page

And speaking of events, if you are planning on hitting a few in the Kincardine 2008 Old Boys & Old Girls Reunion monster golf tournament, you must register this Saturday at the Kincardine Curling Club. Please see the ad in this week’s paper for all of the details, and of course, you can always check it out on our website, which changes almost daily as we speak.

Last weekend’s sale of tickets for reunion dances was extremely successful with the Saturday night venue in the big top selling out, while the Pavilion Saturday night dance is almost sold out. However, we do have 25 per cent of the tickets held back for a sale on Reunion Weekend so if you missed the last presale, you still have another shot at getting tickets.

And while we are on the subject of tickets, make sure you get your tickets for the 2008 Old Boys & Old Girls Reunion Warm-Up Party to be held at the Kincardine Davidson Centre on May 18 featuring local stand-up comic James Ramage, hypnotist Jeff West and Left Turn Clyde. In order to accommodate as many people as possible, the event will be held on the Davidson Centre floor, so come on out and be part of the Reunion is Risin’ revelry. Tickets are available at: Kincardine News, Baxter’s Row Fashions and Snip ‘n Clip as well as from your friendly reunion committee members: Laura Haight, Brad Kirkconnell, Nancy Telford, Darryl Burley, Sandra Reid, Carol Blake, Dave Patterson, Mike Yalden, Tony Doherty and Marie Wilson.

With all the great weather we’ve been having lately, it makes you realize that summer is coming and with it the 2008 Kincardine Old Boys & Old Girls Reunion!! YES!! Can you feel it!! I bet they feel it at the warm-up parties in London and Coff’s Harbour, Australia this weekend. The Reunion is risin’!!

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

April 15th, 2008

Well, we have a lot of ground to cover this week in more ways than one so it’s going to be a bit of a race to see if I can get it all in before I run out of my allotted words, but let’s just see what will be…..
And speaking of what will be – THERE WILL BE A HIGH SCHOOL REUNION as part of the 2008 Old Boys & Old Girls Reunion activities. I know the scuttlebutt is that we aren’t going to have one, but don’t you believe it for a moment! However, we are looking for volunteers to help organize and volunteer at the registration table so if you are so inclined, please call Marie Wilson at 368-5644 or 361- 6414 – Ext. 4065.

Next, now you have all heard about The Amazing Race, but let me tell you it has nothing on the list of unconventional, unimagined, unexampled and most definitely unprecedented list of challenges on our Kincardine Old Boys & Old Girls route which is going to be riotous to say the least. Our event co-coordinator Sandra Reid has put this course together. Sandra is a prankster and trickster from way back who loves to indulge in all forms of skullduggery so this event is definitely not for the faint of heart. But, if you think you have the right mix of mettle and moxie to dauntless go where no man or woman has gone before, then you need to sign up for this event. Either print a registration form letter from our website or call Amanda Matson at 519-396-4712 after 6 p.m. Deadline for registration is June 1. Please note this event will accommodate 12 teams of two (you register as a team of two) so once all of the registrations are submitted, 12 teams will be randomly chosen to be fair to everyone.

Now let’s switch gears to our Reunion Bunting and Bow-making Bee, which will be held at the Kincardine Davidsion Centre on May 1 from 6 – 10 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend this event where cutting, folding, wiring and for some of us who can’t fold properly - cursing, are the mainstay of the evening. Just kidding! It really is a great evening of kinship where you make your own fun, unless of course Laura gets on a roll with her jokes, which are both entertaining and free.

And here’s your reminder that registration for the 2008 Old Boys & Old Girls Golf Tournament which will encompass four golf courses – Somerhill Golf Course, Ainsdale Golf Course, Black Horse Golf and Country Club and the Kincardine Golf and Country Club – will be held April 26 from 10 a.m. – noon at the Kincardine Curling Club. The tournament will be hosted on July 31. What a great way to swing – into the 2008 Old Boys & Old Girls Reunion. (I know, bad!!).
And before I sign off for another week, don’t forget our Reunion Dance Ticket pre-sale which will be held at the Paddy Walker House this Saturday on April 19 from 10 a.m. – noon.

And don’t forget our warm-up parties. London and Australia are April 26, Toronto is May 30 and Edmonton is June 7.

And Kincardine’s warm-up party will be held May 18 at the Kincardine Davidson Centre from 6 p.m. – 1 a.m. Whew! Finished! Now that’s an amazing race, with nary a word left behind!

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

April 8th, 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion Committee: Driving it home to Kincardine

A golf tournament that encompass three golf courses with spots for well over 350 old boys and old girls will get the 2008 Kincardine Old Boys and Old Girls Reunion off to a driving success on Thursday, July 31. Some of you might remember that this golf tournament received some rather tailored marketing at our first fundraising event back in October during our fashion show. Our special events co-ordinator Dave Patterson gave the tournament a wee plug, to match his wee outfit, by modelling his version of what all the best dressed Old Boys would be wearing for the golf tourney. Tartan and tiny come to mind, but regardless of what you decide to wear –not that I’m suggesting you make any type of fashion statement on the golf course…… the point is if you are planning on participating in this popular athletic event, a pre-registration will be held on April 26 from 10 a.m. – noon at the Kincardine Curling Club. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact Norm Gauthier – the host with the most – who is leading the effort behind this event, or you can call Dave or check out our website at: www.kincardinereunion.org. Just remember to register and tell your friends.

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

April 1st 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion Committee: Gearing up with our own homegrown warm-up party.

Guess what? We’re throwing a party before a party – a home-grown warm-up party as a precursor for the July 31- August 4 Kincardine Old Boys & Old Girls Reunion. It’s going to be held on May 18, from 6:00 p.m. – 1 a.m. at the Kincardine Davidson Centre. Now don’t go on about it being the long weekend and all. Think about the last 2 4 May weekend and the one before and the one before. Wouldn’t you rather be in out of the cold at the Davidson Centre either dancing up a storm (instead of being in one) or solving the world’s problems with the folks you know, rather than trying to do the cold, damp tent thing with bugs, leaks, etc. ?

And just look at what we are offering. For the $20.08 price of admission, you will be entertained by a local stand-up comic, a professional hypnotist and for your dancing pleasure – Left Turn Clyde.

Now, when it came to booking a funny man (or woman) for the show, we didn’t have to go very far. Our stand-up comic is our own James Ramage who hails from the Tiverton outback. James is currently finishing a two-year comedy writing program at Humber College and is a regular at Yuk Yuks in Toronto. He will be performing from about 7 p.m. – 7:20 - give or take a few laughs.

Jeff West, our hypnotist, provides “mile-o-minute laughter from beginning to end as he pulls out all the stops in an uproarious audience participation performance.” And it should also be noted that making sure the volunteers –for the brave and the bold only – have just as much fun as the audience without being embarrassed is a number one priority. You may be asked to become your favourite super hero, or imagine that the shoes around you are talking or you might even experience a trip around the world without ever leaving your chair – now that’s cost effective. Jeff will follow James at about 7:30 and again, leave or take a few laughs, will perform for about an hour and a bit.

After all of this laughing and exercising of the abdominal washboards, we should be ready for a change of pace with Left Turn Clyde who will get us movin’ and a groovin’ on the dance floor. And there will be food, door prizes and please note the bar opens at 7 p.m., not 6 p.m.

Dance tickets are available at our next PRESALE OF REUNION DANCE TICKETS, which we will be hosting at the Paddy Walker House on April 19, 2008 from 10 a.m. – noon. Note this is our second PRESALE OF REUNION DANCE TICKETS so if you missed the March 22 presale, this one’s for you! Please note tickets for the Western Warm-Up Party with the Breakwater Blues Band won’t be available until closer to the reunion.

Anyway, you may also get tickets for the Kincardine Warm-Up party from reunion committee members (see kincardinereunion.org for a complete listing), The Kincardine News, Baxter’s Row Fashion and Snip ‘n Clip.

And if any of you would like to volunteer to help us out with this event, please feel free to call Sandra Reid at 519 396-5277. She will be more than happy to add you to her list of merry men and women.

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

March 26th 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion Committee: Reunion quilt begins its tour this week

The March 22 presale of tickets for Reunion venues at the Big Top down at the beach, the tent in Victoria Park and smaller, more intimate gatherings being held at the Pavilion was a resounding success and certainly put a dent in our cache of tickets. Never fear though, there are still plenty of tickets left for all events, with the exception of the Western Warm-Up party being held at the Pavilion on July 31 with the Breakwater Blues Band. Those tickets sold out almost immediately, which is an indication of both the number of people that have a western connection as well as the fact that many want to take a trip down memory line with feet and the boys in the newly renovated pav – a throw back to another time perhaps. Anyway, all is not lost yet! Given the fact that we held back 25 per cent of all tickets, there will be more tickets available for the Western Warm-Up, along with lots of tickets for all other events at our next sale closer to the reunion. Watch our website and the local papers for future ticket sales. Oh and by the way, tickets for the fashion show can be picked up anytime at these participating merchants: Baxter’s Row Fashion, Corabelle’s, JB’s Lingerie and West Shore Clothing. And speaking of the fashion show, we just want to remind you the little paper purse ticket gives you a chance to win a STAM BAG, generously donated by world renowned designer Marc Jacobs for our Celebrity Fashion Show. If you want to see what a STAM BAG actually looks like, wander into Baxter’s Row Fashion on Queen Street where they have one on display.

In other reunion news, we need to mention that you are going to start seeing a Reunion Quilt on display at various events around town. You won’t miss this eye-catching work of art, created and donated by the Kincardine Sunset Quilters’ Guild, with its signature blocks that reflect elements of Kincardine’s heritage and culture such as the pipe band, the light house, the fish derbies, the sunsets, etc. etc. You have to see this testimony to everything that is Kincardine to really appreciate the creativity and hours and hours of work involved in its production. And speaking of seeing, the quilt will be on display for the next couple of weeks in the window of B & W Appliances on Queen Street, after which it will be going on tour at key venues where we will be selling tickets on a draw for the quilt, which will be made at the Celebrity Fashion Show on Sunday, August 3. We will keep you up to date on the progress of the quilt as it makes its various stops along the tour. And also note, the 2008 Old Boys and Old Girls Reunion Committee is extremely grateful and appreciative to the Kincardine Sunset Quilters’ Guild for their generous donation. We appreciate your work and talents!

For more information about the reunion, please check out kincardinerunion.org. It’s constantly being updated as we get closer and closer to the gathering!

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

March 18th 2008

From the 2008 Old Boys and Girls Reunion Committee: Celebrity Fashion Show

Carol Blake, a member of the Kincardine 2008 Old Boys and Old Girls Reunion Committee, has cut out by hand over 500 paper purses, already sold, that will act as tickets for the August 3 Celebrity Fashion Show featuring a guest appearance by world renowned super model Jessica Stam
The paper purses, Carol’s brainchild, are a tribute to Jessica who has a Marc Jacobs designer bag named after her. A STAM BAG has been generously donated to the Fashion Show by Marc Jacobs – arrangements courtesy of IMG – so the $5 paper purse ticket, in addition to giving the holder entry to the fashion show, also makes one eligible for the STAM BAG draw. And if the holder of the ticket decorates their purse (another brainchild of Carol’s), they are then eligible for merchandise that will be donated by participating merchants in the fashion show: Baxter’s Row Fashion, Corabelle’s, JB’s Lingerie, West Shore Clothing Shoppe and Rolz & Sassy (an innovative local company that specializes in drapery and shawls that allow you to fashionably and comfortably wear your baby).
And there’s more. Jessica has kindly agreed to make a guest appearance at the fashion show where she will make the draw for the STAM BAG, walk the local models out at the end of the show and present representatives from Kincardine Big Brothers and Big Sisters - Jessica’s charity of choice for this event – with a cheque for the proceeds.

And we’re not finished yet. That $5 purse also provides one with top notch entertainment featuring music from Madviolet; the duo made up of former Kincardine resident Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac. Madviolet will open the show from 1:30 – 2:15 p.m. and provide a resounding finish from 4 – 5 p.m.
And in addition to all of this, there will be a special appearance at the Fashion Show by a number of former Kincardine Reunion and Kincardine Fall Fair Queens. Twelve have been confirmed to date, but we suspect once the word gets out that there will be lots more. All former queens should check out the contact link for queens on the Fashion Show page of our website.
Obviously, these little purses are packing a lot of value, so for the time being and right up until the reunion, I think a number of us are going to be cutting and folding and cutting and folding………As Carol says, "it’s a labour of love", and with 999 to go, it’s obvious it couldn’t be anything else. For more info about the Celebrity Fashion Show or the Reunion, check out the fashion show page. Oh yes, and don’t forget our TICKET PRESALE for Reunion dances to take place this Saturday from 10 a.m – 2 p.m. at the Paddy Walker House! Talk to you next week.

Marie Wilson
2008 Kincardine Reunion Communications Director

January 29th 2008

Well it just figures we'd launch a redesign of the site on a day when the weather is crazy and parts of Bruce County have no power! We're very excited about the new look! As websites grow they need to evolve and our old design just wasn't accomodating all the information we had to share anymore. We've made the site more interactive with rollovers and drop down menus, added more pictures, increased the information area on the pages and brightened the whole site up a little with lots of colour. We still have some kinks to iron out so bear with us over the next coupe of weeks. We will be updating the site more regularly as we're quickly approaching the Reunion weekend. Please check out the Activites Calendar to see what's lined up for the reunion already as well as the Volunteer page for how you can help. We hope you like the new design, and if you have any comments feel free to send them to me!

Amanda Goetz
2008 Kincardine Reunion Webmaster

October 27nd 2007

Night Terror number three. I now keep a clipboard and pen on the night table just in case I remember or come up with something that needs to be done. Every once and a while, though, I find myself absolutely unable to get to sleep because I keep running through “To Do Lists” over and over in my mind. The worst though is the dream where it rains for five straight days beginning the first day of the Reunion…oh the horror.

Laura Haight
2008 Kincardine Reunion Chair

October 23rd 2007

Winning door prize ticket numbers are posted on this website and at the Kincardine News. Door prizes can be picked up at the Coast Radio Station during regular office hours and, oh yeah, that Dance just made us $15,000!!!!

Laura Haight
2008 Kincardine Reunion Chair

October 21st 2007

We are all basking in the glow. The dance was great. Everyone had fun, Crown and Anchor kept people busy, the fashion show was a resounding success (thank you Kevin!!!), we bought enough beer for 600 people and ran out ten minutes before closing the bar, souvenir sales at the Mini Expo went great and Carol’s efforts to keep us green saw that we had only one bag of garbage that went to the landfill site (those liquorcups are made of fermented sugar and compost down). The dance had a real Reunion feel to it. Remember everyone that Moe ‘n the Lawn will be at the Big Tent during the Reunion next August….damn they sounded great last night.

Laura Haight
2008 Kincardine Reunion Chair

October 17th 2007

So I had some things to do this morning. I came back just after noon and checked my phone messages. It went something like this…You have 13 new messages…hey Laura was wondering if you had tickets to the dance…Hi I need 4 tickets for Saturday…This is your dentist calling, I need some tickets for the kickoff. Well it is official… we are sold right out. Incredible, amazing, fantastic, I am tickled.

Laura Haight
2008 Kincardine Reunion Chair

October 16th 2007

What could be more wholesome than a bunch of women getting together to make rosettes and assembling bunting on a Tuesday evening at the Bruce Inn? Well, I guess when two of the ladies decide they need to find a suitable male model for the tartan jock strap that will be featured in the Shirt Tail Fashion Show the wholesomeness of the occasion loses a bit….when they actually find one and he strips down and gives us a full preview, well trust me wholesome is no longer the adjective to be used. I can’t wait to see this on Saturday.

Laura Haight
2008 Kincardine Reunion Chair

October 11th 2007

Door prizes are starting to come in fast and furious and tickets are selling nicely. I needn’t have worried about the price. Marie is getting pretty excited about the shirt tail fashion show. I too think it will be a most amusing bit of entertainment.

Laura Haight
2008 Kincardine Reunion Chair

October 7th 2007

My husband’s parents leave for Florida every year at the end of October. They return in April. This has been going on since Bert (my father-in-law) retired thirteen years ago. The first couple of years they would come back for Christmas until that one year they came back, it started snowing on Christmas Eve and didn’t stop. They barely got back to Florida and that was the end of the In-Laws returning for X-Mas. A new tradition began though, one that we refer to as Thanksmas. My Mother-In-Law goes all out for this event and tries to really give it that Christmas feel. Carols playing, fake tree, mountains of individually wrapped gifts etc. etc. etc. This years Thanksmas was kinda different considering Thanksgiving weekend was probably warmer than the July 1st weekend but it was extra special this year since we got to meet our new niece. My brother-in-law and his wife completed adoption of a little girl from South Africa in September. Cute…you betcha’. Five months old and a bundle fun. Welcome to the family Zara!

Laura Haight
2008 Kincardine Reunion Chair


September 27th 2007

Plans for the October 20th Kick-Off dance are coming right along. Tickets have been printed and misprinted and have been distributed to various outlets around Town. Hope the $20.08 price doesn’t scare anyone off. When I compare it to a Stag and Doe it isn’t that bad since we’re including your door prizes and five bucks of gambling cash in the price.

Laura Haight
2008 Kincardine Reunion Chair

September 26th 2007

A few phone calls, made by a few people, to a few places makes it look like the RCMP Musical Ride will be in Kincardine in 2008! Not for the Reunion but hey it’s still pretty exciting. Keep your eyes open for details on this one. I saw the Musical Ride when I was eight years old at the CNE. For me it is one of those indelible childhood memories. If you haven’t seen this iconic piece of Canadiana you just have to when it’s right in your backyard.

Laura Haight
2008 Kincardine Reunion Chair

September 24th 2007

This last year we had been trying to secure the RCMP Musical Ride for a Reunion event. Unfortunately, earlier this summer the Mounties told us that the schedule had changed. The Ride would be in Ontario for only May and June in 2008 which just didn’t gel for the Reunion. Interestingly though, as I was about to leave the house this afternoon I got a phone call from Ottawa guaranteeing us a date in June. What to do.

Laura Haight
2008 Kincardine Reunion Chair

April 22nd 2007

It finally feels that winter may actually be behind us. The launch for the Reunion website occurs in three days and I find myself procrastinating just a bit. It is just far too sunny and warm to be sitting in my basement working on the computer. That being said, I work best on a deadline.

It was kind of an odd winter. Brad Kirkconnel, the Chair of the last Reunion, left for Australia around the end of November. Since he was going to be gone for four months I figured we’d have an actual schedule knocked out by the time he returned. Well, our December meeting was really just a Christmas social. January’s meeting got called off by me because there were several key items that were still floating out there waiting to be answered. February, well let’s just say having any meeting in February was pretty well screwed because of the weather. The schedule is still just sketchy but that will change very soon.

The beginning of February was also the time that we found out Rosaline Graham had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Ros was in charge of communications and as such had been perhaps the busiest member of the team, coordinating website, looking after logo development and making sure all things in terms of branding this event were done to a standard that can only be described as Ros’ standard. We lost Ros to the disease on March 19th 2007. Seven short weeks... it still feels kind of strange.

I know that Wednesday’s launch won’t be up to the defined “Ros Standard” but nonetheless the site will be launched and without her it wouldn’t be what it is. I hope somewhere she gets to appreciate every mouse click.

Laura Haight
2008 Kincardine Reunion Chair

July 21st 2006

I planned my wedding in about five months. That being said, I can’t believe that we are starting to plan for the 2008 Reunion two years in advance. Then again I wasn’t trying to get the RCMP Musical ride to attend my wedding. So here we are during the summer of 2006 in the middle of a heat wave starting to plan for the upcoming Reunion. Certainly, the sesquicentennial celebrations set a standard for all of us to aspire to and we are making our best effort to see that we get to that standard. Our motto (if there is one) is “Make this the best darn party ever!”. I have been astounded at the level of support and the number of ideas that have been sent my way since being appointed Chair in April. Ideas like, hosting movies on the beach, or setting up a splash park for the kids, providing balloon rides, installing a zip line in the ravine…. the list goes on and on, at this point nothing is outrageous, and perhaps everything is possible.

Obviously, this website is something new for the Reunion organizers. In 1998 the technology wasn’t really around to use the potential of the internet, but now we hope that the website will be a conduit for people to contact the Reunion organizers and provide their thoughts on how to make 2008 the “Best darn party ever!”. Check back on the Chair’s blog often and track what the Reunion committee is doing, send us your ideas if you have any and remember to pray for good weather the first week of August 2008.

Laura Haight
2008 Kincardine Reunion Chair