The World is a Stage
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A very ambitious event calendar is now available for Annandale National Historic Site (ANHS) which offers all kinds of cultural events you are not going to want to miss. Get your calendars ready!
One of the most popular is The Lunch & Learn Series Because this four-part series of catered lunches and historical talks always sold out, they are offered either on Thursday or Friday from 12-2 p.m. Tickets are $25 each or $80 for a Series Pass. Filling up quickly, call 519-842-2294 now!!
Thursday, Feb. 23 or Friday, Feb. 24, 12 p.m. First in the series is a talk about “Lake Lisgar Memories” presented by Joan Weston. Joan’s family, the Westons, are an old Tillsonburg family that included stove manufacturers, doctors, and one was a mayor. However, she will be talking about our beautiful lake, beside which, she has long lived. Find out what was there before Lake Lisgar was formed.
Thursday, March 23 or Friday, March 24, 12 p.m. Second in the series is “Tillsonburg’s First Council” presented by Patricia Phelps. Discover when Tillsonburg became a town and why. How and why did E.D. Tillson become the first mayor? Who were the other people on the Council and what types of issues did they have then?
Thursday, April 27 or Friday, April 28, 12 p.m. is about our “Canadian Champions - The 1952 Livvies” presented by Patricia Phelps. Thursday, May 25 or Friday, May 26 at 12 p.m. Tillsonburg’s Livingston Industries Basketball champions also went to the Olympics!
The fourth and final in the series, you will discover the impact the fires and floods had on our community with the lecture “Tillsonburg Fire & Floods” presented by me. Did you know we have had a plane crash right in town? Train derailments? Learn who worked more vigorously to stop fires, the men or the women? You will enjoy many old photos of Tillsonburg in the Power Point presentation.
What will you be doing during the 150th Anniversary of Confederation, the formal beginning of our country? In honour of Canada’s Sesquicentennial in 2017, ANHS is hosting a series of lectures that examine how Tillsonburg’s citizens celebrated the milestone years of Confederation. The talks are being offered Wednesday afternoons at 2 p.m., and light refreshments will follow each talk by Curator, Patricia Phelps. Advance tickets are only $10 each. There is limited seating, so call now! They will start Feb. 15 with the Frist Dominion Day in 1867. March 15, April 12, May 17 and June 14 will be about the celebrations, which occurred ever 25 years after, until Canada 125 in 1992.
Our local artist and poets are going to enjoy Feb. 3 which starts the next exhibit in the Pratt Gallery at ANHS - 100 Poems About Flowers. It is presented by Oxford Creative Connections Inc. This exhibit features the Poems and Paintings numbered 51 to 75 from the series of 100 by Oxford County Artist and Poet Robyn Marie Butt. Running Feb. 3 to Apr. 2, 2017, with its Exhibit Opening soiree Friday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m. where you can meet artist Robyn Butt. Robin is a very talented lady, having been an arts critic, CBC radio dramatist, arts lecturer, and fiction, stage and screenwriter, as well as being a playwright in residence at several Toronto theatres. She has published books as poet, fiction writer & playwright, as well as articles & reviews. For the opening the admission is by donation with light refreshments.
Oxford Creative Connections Inc. and AHNS as also running a series of fun and interactive evenings where participants are encouraged to get in touch with their creative sides. All materials and instruction supplies, are included but there is limited seating. The first workshop is Distracted While Painting Abstracts Night, where you will free your creative mind and delve into the world of Abstract Painting.
The Tillsonburg and District Historical Society’s meeting will be Monday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. (early in the month because of Family Day) which will feature a special presentation by Matthew Scholtz on Sir John A. Macdonald, first Prime Minister of Canada.
What will you do with your family on Feb. 20? It is the Family Day Holiday! You will have choices, one of which Family Day at the Museum from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Join the volunteers and staff at the museum as they celebrate by taking part in the very popular Annual Scavenger Hunt or new this year, play a classic Canadian game in the program room. Did you know Crokinole, Rummoli or Yatzee are all proudly Canadian! Guided tours of Annandale House are offered on the hour, throughout the day as well. Free admission!
No reason to be board or have the February Blues this year; just get thee to the Museum!