Miramichi Blog

Priceville Footbridge photo by James E. Stewart courtesy of the McNamee on the Mighty Miramichi Facebook group.

Sunday August 16th, 2009

8 - 11:30 am: Breakfast - Boiestown Lions Club
Prepared by the Lions Club

11:30 am – 1:30 pm: Golf Tournament - Open to registered guests of "Come Home to the River - McNamee 2009" at the Old Mill Pond Golf Course in Doaktown.

12 noon - 3 pm: Salmon and Fiddlehead Dinner - McNamee Recreation Centre
Prepared by Landmark Masonic Lodge members

1:30 pm: Open House - Former New Bandon School now the Women's Institute Hall
Tea and Coffee will be served

2 pm: Memorial Tree Planting and Time Capsule Placement

Late Afternoon / Early Evening: Interdenominational Church Service with participation from all the churches in the community.
Gospel Concert with a Corn Boil - Boiestown Fair Grounds.
Farewll chats.
The organizing committee will also hold a debriefing meeting and wrap-up.

For more information visit www.comehometotheriver.com

Labels: culture, event, festivals, Miramichi

**Calendar pictured right is sold out.

Saturday August 15th, 2009

7-9 am: Community Breakfast at McNamee Recreation Centre
Prepared by McNamee Pentecostal Assembly SOLD OUT

8:30 - 11:30 am: Country Market & Ball Games - McNamee Recreation Centre

12 noon – 1 pm: Lunch at Ludlow Recreation Centre
Prepared by Ludlow Recreation Council

12 noon - 3 pm: Open House at Former New Bandon School now the Women's Institute Hall
Tea and Coffee will be served

2 - 6 pm: Canoe Races from Ludlow to the Footbridge
Perley the Magician at Footbridge
Jam Session (Bring your musical instrument) at Footbridge
Hot dogs, hamburgers, pop will also be available.
Prepared by McNamee Pentecostal Youth Group.

3:30 pm: "We're Going For a Walk"
Parade of People from the Footbridge to Wilson's Homestead

4 - 6 pm: Storytelling at the Wilson Homestead

4 - 6 pm for both Option A and Option B: Dinner Option A Bean and Scallop at the Orange Lodge, Top of Stewarts Hill
Prepared by the Orange Lodge
Dinner Option B Turkey Dinner at McNamee Recreation Centre
Prepared by St. James Anglican Church. SOLD OUT

8 pm - 12:30 am: Night at the Museum 2 For Youth at Woodmen's Museum Boiestown. Limited Capacity.

9 pm - 1 am: Dance at Boiestown Lion's Club Sponsored privately

For more information visit www.comehometotheriver.com

Labels: culture, event, festivals, Miramichi

Friday August 14, 2009

10am - 7pm: Registration

12 noon - 1pm: Lunch at the McNamee Recreation Centre with Sandwiches, Sweets, Drinks
Prepared by St. James Anglican Church

2pm: Softball Games at McNamee Recreation Centre
Afternoon Tea & Homemade Dessert at the Wilson Family Homestead
Browse Handcrafted commemorative items by Ethel Wilson at the Wilson Family Homestead located in the "Big House"

4pm: Scouts of Canada BBQ Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Drinks

4pm - 6pm: Dinner at the McNamee Recreation Centre with Salad Plate
Prepared by the United Church of Boiestown

7:30pm - 10 pm: Country Jamboree at the McNamee Recreation Centre

For more information visit www.comehometotheriver.com

Labels: culture, event, festivals, Miramichi

Front book cover pictured right of limited edition (250 print run) Come Home to the River coffee table book.

These soft covered (in colour) books feature 200 pages of photographs and short stories including 60 pages of colour pictures and 140 pages of black and white photos. The book measures 8.5 inches by 11 inches with a perfect bind. It is a magnificent book containing picture and story submissions about this stretch of the Main Southwest Miramichi River and its people. The book includes photographs of community area schools, the footbridge, homesteads, work, stores, churches, families - just about anything and everything that depicts the past and present lifestyle in this area.

The price is $30 per book. (Shipping costs not included.) To obtain your copy, you must pre-order with your deposit of the full purchase price. Only 250 copies are available.

Contact Viola O'Donnell Savage at (506) 459-3938 or via email at vhsavage@nbnet.nb.ca

Remember the Come Home to the River - McNamee event happens this weekend August 14-16. For more information and to register visit www.comehometotheriver.com

Labels: arts, culture, event, festivals, Miramichi, music, tourism

Closing Concert
Time: 6:00 P.M.
ADMISSION: $25.00, by reservation only, Weekly pass will also cover this show.
Location: Beaverbrook Kin Centre, 100 Newcastle Blvd
Featuring: Whoop Step & Driver (A History of the Miramichi Folksong Festival) Written by Bernie Colepaugh and performed by the Heritage players.
Sponsored by: Econolodge & City Square Restaurant, 365 Pleasant St., Miramichi, NB.

Labels: arts, culture, event, festivals, Miramichi, music

Noon Luncheon with live music
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Beaverbrook Kin Centre, 100 Newcastle Blvd.
Tickets: Adults :$12.00 Children : $5.00
Featured Music: 11:30 a.m. - singer - Robbie Currie from Halifax
12:00 Noon - singer - John Lordon & David Bunnell
12.30 p.m. - singer- BobMcCallum
Reservation can be made for the first seating only
By Phone: (506) 622-1780 or by
E-mail: bb2@sympatico.ca or ph. 506-611-1780
Sponsored by Rodd Miramichi River

Story Telling Workshop
Time: 2:00 pm
Location: Beaverbrook Kin Centre, 100 Newcastle Blvd.
Tickets: Free
Featured Music: Peter Pacey, Bull of the woods from Fredericton, N.B.

SPECIAL GUESTS
Ivan & Vivian Hicks, New Brunswick's ambassadors of fiddle music and 2008 ECMA winners, plus Robert Currie, Gerry Roberts, Steve Heckbert, Cathy Daigle, David Stone, Melanie Ross Breen, Elizabeth Smith, Peter Pacey, Wesley Jagoe,and Smith School of Highland Dance.

Time: 7:30 pm
Location: Beaverbrook Kin Centre
Advance Tickets:$12.00 At the Door: $15.00
On Sale at Books Inn, Bills Kwik Way - Stitching Post Bathurst
By E-mail at bb2@sympatico.ca or ph. 506-622-1780
Children under 12 with adult FREE

Jam Session
Following evening concert at the Black Horse Tavern, across the street from the Beaverbrook Kin Centre. For those 19 and over, bring your voice and your musical instruments or just come and enjoy the music.

Labels: arts, culture, event, festivals, Miramichi, music

A volunteer medical services team from The Moncton Hospital will once again be tending to the health care needs of concert goers at the upcoming Magnetic Hill Music Festival's AC/DC concert tomorrow on August 6.

"We are pleased to continue our collaboration with the City of Moncton in providing medical services during the Magnetic Hill concert series," says Donald J. Peters, President and CEO of Regional Health Authority B.

He says the city's construction of a permanent primary emergency building has improved the quality of care by providing a spacious, less noisy, dry and well equipped space for medical treatment and equipment. "We are very proud of the 140 dedicated volunteers that provide this service."

Medical services at the concert will include the primary emergency medical building and two secondary medical tents positioned on the perimeter of the concert site. The tents will be easily identifiable with flags bearing a red cross. During the concert, a team of easy to identify first-aide professionals and paramedics will patrol the crowd to help fans with their minor injuries or illnesses. An ambulance fleet and large gator carts that can transport stretchers will also be available if required.

"Our goal is to treat as many people as possible at the concert site to avoid overcrowding at The Moncton Hospital's critical care and trauma departments with minor injuries," says Carole Morey, Program Administrative Director Emergency, Neuro/Rehab and Internal Medicine for The Moncton Hospital.

"One of the most common types of health related illnesses that we see is related to the hot and humid weather and as a result mist tents will be available for concert goers to cool off." She says the mist tent provides a continuous cool, fine mist that lowers the skin and body temperature instantly when someone walks through the tent. "The mist tents provided at the recent Bon Jovi and other previous mega concerts were extremely helpful and aided in reducing health related illnesses."

"We want to ensure everyone stays safe and healthy while they enjoy themselves," says Dr. Gary Duguay, emergency medicine doctor and medical director for the planning committee. To make sure everyone has a positive experience, he has these helpful tips:

Monitor the weather forecast closely and plan accordingly, but remember this is the Maritimes and the weather can change quickly and drastically. Prepare for both hot and cooler temperatures, and rainy weather. Bring layers of clothing that provide good insulation and keeps moisture away from the skin.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Dehydration can occur quickly in hot and humid weather.

Each concert goer can bring a 1 Litre bottle of water into the concert but remember to bring fluids to drink while waiting for the gates to open.

Protect yourself from sun exposure by wearing a hat, sunglasses and applying sunscreen regularly. Wear light-coloured, breathable clothing and move into the shade when possible.

Wear comfortable shoes as concert goers will be walking and standing for long periods of time. Also consider the terrain you will be walking on at the site.

Use common sense, listen to your body and respond appropriately. Drink responsibly and prepare for a safe ride home.

Remember to assign a meeting spot with your group early on to ensure no one gets lost during or at the end of the concert.

Remember to eat to avoid becoming weak.

And most importantly have fun!

Labels: culture, event, festivals, health, wellness

Frye Festival Celebrates 10 Years in Style


The Frye Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary! The Festival will begin its celebrations today by unveiling the line-up for the 2009 edition, which will be held from April 17 to 26 in Moncton, NB. Canada's only, bilingual, international literary festival will bring together world renowned authors with audiences of all ages in a bilingual celebration of words.

Founded in honour of the famous literary critic Northrop Frye, the Frye Festival attracted over 16,000 attendees in 2008 and over 80,000 since its inception. This event receives its financing from all levels of government, generous corporate sponsors and individuals. The Frye Festival is managed by two employees who are supported by over a hundred volunteers.

"Ten days of festivities, ten days of wonderful discoveries, ten days to celebrate words and literature. What better way to celebrate the tenth year," said Stefanie Wheaton, Executive Director of the Festival. "We want to thank all those who have supported us from the very beginning and those who join us each year. Thanks to the public and our generous sponsors, the Frye can create these unforgettable moments between authors and readers."

There is truly something for everyone at this year"s Festival. Heading the tenth anniversary celebration is Jane Urquhart, author of five award-winning books: The Whirlpool, Changing Heaven, Away, The Underpainter, The Stone Carvers, and A Map of Glass. Urquhart will be joined on stage by Wayne Johnston and Miriam Toews for an evening featuring the best of Canadian literature, hosted by the Globe and Mail's Martin Levin. Wayne Johnston is best known for The Custodian of Paradise, his fictional account of former Newfoundland Premier Joey Smallwood and Miriam Toews is the celebrated author of A Complicated Kindness (winner of the Governor General's Award) and The Flying Troutmans.

On the francophone side, the famous French novelist Alexandre Jardin, well known for his successful Roman des Jardins and who just released Chaque femme est un roman in 2008 will be attending. Also attending is journalist, writer, columnist, and television director, Jean Barbe, creator of the weekly publication Voir and of the Montreal cultural newspaper Ici. His most recent novel, Le travail de l'huitre, was published in October 2008.

The Frye Festival is Canada's only officially bilingual literary festival. Every year thousands of New Brunswickers meet face-to-face with some of the brightest literary minds of our times. The Frye Festival has hosted winners of all the major international literary prizes bringing globally renowned literary talent to New Brunswick communities. Tickets for the 2009 edition of the Frye Festival can be purchased from the Greater Moncton ticketing network. For more information on the Frye Festival and its program, go to www.frye.ca.

Must-see events

The Frye Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary in style with John Ralston Saul and Antonine Maillet, in an evening extravaganza on Friday, April 17. The Festival is planning another special evening with Alexandre Jardin, an excellent and intriguing French author. In addition, the public will be able to discover some of the best young writers in the province, hosted by Governor General's Award winning poet Serge Patrice Thibodeau and Gerard Beirne, UNB's Writer in Residence.

This year, the Antonine Maillet-Northrop Frye Lecture will be given by Monique LaRue, a novelist and literature professor at College Edouard-Montpetit. The title of the talk is "Between Two Books: the Writer's Time." She has published numerous novels, articles, and essays, such as La Demarche du crabe, for which she received the Grand Prix du Journal de Montreal in 1996, and La Gloire de Cassiodore, for which she received the Governor General's Award in 2002. The lecture will take place at noon on Saturday, April 25, at Moncton City Hall.

The film-writing workshop, a very popular annual event, will be hosted this year by the New Brunswick scriptwriter Tony Sekulich. Let's not forget, the traditional Soiree Frye, the many workshops, the Night Howls hosted by Paul Bosse at the Caveau, and the Frye Jam back by popular demand with Les Paeens and their guests. The official opening of the Frye Festival will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday April 17, at Moncton City Hall.

The importance of promoting literature among young people

The School Youth Program is a vital component of the Frye Festival that seeks to encourage students to discover the magic of reading and the written word. From April 17 to 26, the Festival will offer youth from schools all over New Brunswick the opportunity to interact with authors in their classrooms. Last year, more than 10,000 pupils met authors face to face, totalling 180 school visits. Over $6,000 was donated in new books to participating schools and the Festival gave $4,200 in prizes to writing contest winners and their schools. The traditional KidsFest - with its games, contests, author readings, and writing workshops - will take place on Saturday, April 25, at the Moncton Public Library.

Among the list of children's authors, the Festival will feature Sheree Fitch, one of Moncton's most loved authors. Sheree will do it all - from school visits, to workshops, and even an appearance at KidsFest! Other authors on the children's roster are Lesley Livingston, a trained thespian whose spoken word performer, broadcast journalist and musician Nova Scotia and Alain M. Bergeron, author of more than 100 children's books.

Labels: arts, festivals

More than Salmon Coming Back to the Miramichi River

Seven river communities stretched along this part of the Miramichi River in New Brunswick have banded together in planning the largest homecoming reunion ever to be experienced in the area. Come Home to the River festivities are planned for August 14-16, 2009 in McNamee.

Reminiscent of Wilf Carter's song, "I've been everywhere man, traveled everywhere man, …I've been everywhere," it seems the settlements of McNamee, Carroll Crossing, O'Donnell Town, New Bandon, Ludlow, Porter Cove and Priceville should have been included in that song. People from these communities past and present along with those who have ever visited have standing invitations to attend.

"The homecoming will have something for everyone from youth to seniors," said Lorne Amos the chairman of the committee. The planning committee has started to plan events around gospel concerts, ball tournaments, a craft show, canoe trips and races, walking excursions and dances. There is no doubt of course it will include the Footbridge. This 630 foot long pedestrian bridge that spans the river between McNamee and Priceville has linked the community since it was built. It holds memories for everyone since a tragedy in 1939 that touched everyone's life in this close-knit community. Amos said, "The committee has already started to work and after two meetings people from as far away as Vancouver, Toronto, Detroit and even as far as Amman, Jordan are making plans to attend."

The impetus for Come to the River began as a topic on a Facebook group created by Irva Larsen one of the committee members. "The McNamee on the Mighty Miramichi Facebook group has over 250 members and it is expected there will be over 500 people attending the homecoming," said Larsen. The Volunteer Coordinator is Euphemia O'Donnell-Black. Volunteers who wish to be involved with Come Home to the River – McNamee 2009 are invited to contact O'Donnell-Black at 506-369-9105 or through email aeblack@nb.sympatico.ca.

The Miramichi Trail part of the NB Trails system that extends from Astle to Quarryville runs for 75 kilometers along the Miramichi at this point and is a favourite activity for both summer and winter.

Labels: event, festivals

Green Festival This Weekend

This Labour Day weekend do something green! ECMA award winning country band, The Divorcees take the stage with 30 other groups covering music genres ranging from folk and blues to rock and jazz at the first annual Green Festival being held near Clairville, NB, from 10am Saturday August 30th until 6pm Monday, September 1st.

Enjoy the great outdoors, catch some live music, buy natural products from local artisans and learn about practical and affordable eco-friendly energy and consumer choices, all while the kids have a blast in a supervised play area featuring bouncy castles, games, face painting, pony and hay rides. With over 100 acres of onsite camping available you can plan to enjoy a few cold ones at the beer garden, catch even more live music, sleep over and do it all over again the next day.

Advance tickets are $10 per person per day, $25 for a 3-day pass, kids under 16 $5 per day, and children under the age of 5 get in free. At the gate it's $15 per day, $35 for a 3-day pass, and $7 per day for kids under the age of 16. Buy your tickets online here. Tickets are also being sold at various locations throughout the province, for a detailed list visit www.thegreenfestival.ca.

Going green is affordable! Plan to enjoy a family fun day out AND save money! For a detailed list of bands, vendors, weekend highlights and directions to the festival site visit The Green Festival online at www.greenfestival.ca.

Labels: event, festivals

Miramichi's FatKat Animation Part of Frye Festival Workshops in Moncton

Aspiring writers can study their craft with the masters at the 2008 Frye Festival.

Workshops, led by such literary celebrities as award-winning novelist and screenwriter Russell Banks, headline Moncton’s annual celebration of words, April 23-27.

These unique learning experiences will be offered to students of various genres, from poetry and playwrighting to storyboarding and screenwriting.

The festival’s workshop series begins with a two-hour class on playwrighting, presented by Shediac playwright Don Hannah, at Théâtre l’Escaouette, April 24, at 9 a.m. Registration fee is $15. St. George writer Robert Rayner will deliver a workshop for adults writing for children at the Moncton Library that afternoon, starting at 1:30 p.m. Cost to participate is $10.

Russell Banks’ film writing workshop is among event highlights on April 25. His class begins at 9 a.m. at the Théâtre l’Escaouette and is a joint presentation of the Frye Festival, Enterprise Greater Moncton and Film New Brunswick. Cost is $35. To guarantee your participation, pre-register now by calling 506-859-4389 or emailing workshops.ateliers@frye.ca.

Jo-Anne Elder and Paris poet Jacques Rancourt will co-present a creative writing workshop in French that afternoon beginning at 2 p.m. at l’Alliance française, while Nova Scotia poet Peter Sanger will deliver a poetry workshop in English at the same time at the Moncton Public Library. Registration fee for both events is $10.

On Saturday, April 26 St. John’s poet Mary Dalton and Montreal poet and novelist Rachel Leclerc will lead poetry workshops in English and French, respectively, at the Moncton City Hall and the Dieppe Public Library, beginning at 9:30 a.m. with a $10 charge to participate.

And we can’t forget our youngest writers! Local cartoonist Eric Dyke will present a Creative Comics workshop in English and Diane Léger will present a Creative Writing workshop in French. Both workshops are for 8 to 10-year-olds and will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Moncton Public Library. Both are free.

Workshops continue that afternoon with a presentation on chaotic creativity by members of the South East New Brunswick Chapter of Professional Writers Association of Canada at the Moncton Public Library, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Cost to take part is $10.

Miramichi’s Fatkat Animation will share the tools of the animation trade during a storyboarding and writing workshop at Mad City Comics, starting at 2 p.m. The fee to register is $15.

To register for these workshops, call the Frye Festival office at 859-4389, email workshops.ateliers@frye.ca or check out all the details at www.frye.ca.

Labels: arts, event, festivals, workshop

10th Annual Miramichi White Gold Festival
February 8th to 10th, 2008

All Weekend
Ice Sculptures
Queen Elizabeth Park
CCFCC chefs of New Brunswick will have 35 Ice Sculptures on display beginning Friday.

Friday, February 8th

7:30 pm White Gold Dance Show,
Beaverbrook Kin Centre
Featuring the Nelson Doyle Dancers. Free Admission.


Saturday, February 9th

11:00 am Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 10
Hosting the 4th Annual Jackie Chambers Memorial Dart Shoot
Three person teams (must have at least one woman). Cost: $30/team – register at 11:00 am, play at noon – call 622-2161 for information.

12:00 noon Smelt Fry
Chatham Head Rec Centre
Cost: $7.00, all you can eat plus dessert
12 noon until 5 PM.

1:00 pm Smelt Fry and Children’s Activities
Flo’s Hide-A-Way
Smelt fry 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm. All you can eat for $7.00.
Children’s scavenger hunt & snowman building contests.
For further information call 622-0680.

1:00 pm White Gold Cake & Entertainment
Northumberland Square
Cake and refreshments will be served and entertainment provided at Center Court, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Sponsored by
Northumberland Square Mall Merchants

6:30 pm Newcastle Rotary Club’s Chinese New Year’s Dinner
Beaverbrook Kin Centre
Cash Bar at 6:30 pm, Dinner at 7:30 pm, attire is casual. All net proceeds go to Camp Rotary (for special needs for youth and adults) at Grand Lake.
Tickets are $30 per person of which $15 is considered a charitable donation. Contact: Herman Koops 623-8744.

7:30 pm Master Hypnotist “Cyrus”
Hypnotic Phenomenon Tour at James M. Hill Theater.
Cyrus explodes on the stage with an amazing high energy, power packed Comedy stage Hypnosis show you will ever see!
Show time at 7:30 pm (doors opening at 6:30 pm). Tickets $15.00 adults, $12.00 students. Tickets available at Bill’s Quik Mark, or phone 773-3162.

8:30 pm White Gold Dance
Miramichi Civc Centre
Music by Jakebreak. Doors close at 11:00 pm Tickets $10 each available at Jean Coutu (Newcaste), Bill’s Kwik Way, City Argo and Kingston’s Convenience (Douglastown)
Sponsored by
Miramichi Valley Snowmobile Club

9:00 pm Royal Canadian Legion, 385 Pleasant Street
White Gold Dance –music by Don St. Coeur & Peter.
Admission $5.00, everyone welcome.


Sunday, February 11th

6:30 pm White Gold Dinner/Concert – Official Closing of White Gold Festival
Beaverbrook Kin Centre
Tickets by reservation only $25.00 each, call 622-1780 on or before February 3rd. Sponsored by 51st Miramichi Folksong Festival & C.U.P.E. Local 865.

Labels: festivals