What do a dame, anthropologist, former alcoholic and family historian have in common? They will all be gracing the stage at the 3rd Annual International Festival of Authors Markham on Friday, November 1, at the newly built Cornell Community Centre and Library. This year, the Markham Arts Council is thrilled to celebrate women’s literature with an all-female lineup of authors: Janie Chang, Lauren B. Davis, Dame Margaret Drabble and Nicole Lundrigan (hosted by Bert Archer). Janie Chang’s latest book, Three Souls, takes place in 1920s China and tells the story of Leiyin, a deceased young woman who revisits her memories to understand why she was denied entry into the afterlife. Exploring the concept of three souls: yang soul, yin soul and hun soul, Chang masterfully writes from Leiyin’s perspective, allowing the reader to embody the story as if it were their own. Three Souls was inspired by Chang’s grandmother, and Chang believes in the importance of family on her blog, stating, “...all family histories are precious, whether they go back two generations or 20. I began writing down our family stories because oral tradition is no longer enough to keep us all connected, in this day and age of mobility.” Lauren B. Davis’ novel, The Empty Room is a harrowing story that boldly explores the journey of a woman dealing with alcoholism. Davis, a recovered alcoholic, survived the disease but her two stepbrothers did not, committing suicide as a result of their alcoholism. Davis explains, “Alcoholics are not ‘those people’ they are us—complex, funny, smart, interesting, and talented—but they are at the mercy of a crippling disease of perception that takes no notice of gender, level of intelligence, or economic and racial background.” Dame Margaret Drabble, one of the most revered writers in the United Kingdom, returns with her latest book, Pure Gold Baby, following the life of a young student who falls in love with her married professor, becomes pregnant and has to raise her delightfully happy daughter on her own. Finally, Nicole Lundrigan, Newfoundland-born author whose previous book, Glass Boys received numerous accolades, will read from her fifth novel, The Widow Tree. The Widow Tree is a haunting tale about three youngsters who come across long-lost Roman coins while clearing vegetables from a government field in post-war Yugoslavia. After deciding to keep the coins, one of the teens goes missing, and disaster ensues. IFOA Markham is an event organized by the Markham Arts Council, a non-profit organization in Markham that focuses on supporting, promoting and fostering the arts in our community. Each year, IFOA Markham has been held in different locations across Markham. Visit www.ifoamarkham.wordpress.com for more details.

The Markham Concert Band, now in its thirty-sixth year, is one of the largest community bands in Canada. Band members, conducted by Doug Manning, are all amateur musicians and range in age from teenagers to senior citizens. Along with performances at the Flato Markham Theatre, the Band performs at many local festivals and events. The Markham Concert Band has earned the highest kudos at competitive festivals including the Ontario Band Association Festival.
The upcoming concert series at the Flato Markham Theatre has a variety of great music including marches, show tunes, jazz and light classical selections. The “October Pops” on October 20 will have your toes tapping with concert band music. Guest vocalist will be Sharon Smith performing some old standards including “Blue Moon”. They will also feature their own Clare Hillier Gonzalez performing “Clarinet on the Town”. “A Seasonal Celebration” on December 1 is a great way to get into the spirit of the holidays. There will be plenty of familiar Christmas and Chanukah classics, some sing-alongs from our friends at the Unionville Theatre Company and maybe a visit from Santa. “Favourites Old and New” will be held on March 2, 2014. This show will feature the winner of the MCB Trumpet Competition performing Haydn’s Concerto for Bb Cornet. Other selections include Sibelius’ Finlandia and a great medley of George Gershwin tunes. On May 4, 2014, “The Final Frontier” will round out the series. Star Wars Day will celebrate the music from space – Star Trek, Star Wars, Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” and more. Guest performer will be Ian MacLellan on the bagpipes. All shows are at the Flato Markham Theatre on Sundays and start at 2 pm. Season tickets are $72 for adults; $56 for Seniors/Students. Single tickets: $22 Adults and $17 Seniors/Students. Call the Theatre at 905-305-7469. Visit 
www.mcband.ca for more information.

Canadian rock icons appear back-to-back at the Markham Theatre. Markham Theatre will rock in October with a double header of homegrown talent: Roch Voisine and Gino Vannelli. The Canadian rock icons appear on October 23 and 24, respectively. International singing sensation Roch Voisine returns to Markham to perform his greatest hits. Since he released his first album Hélène, Roch Voisine has experienced rapid and dazzling success both at home and internationally with chart-topping hits such as “Kissing Rain”, “Higher”, and “I’ll Always Be There” in collaboration with award-winning producer David Foster. Today, Voisine celebrates over 25 years of making music with 22 albums to his credit, millions of records sold, and countless shows and world tours under his belt. Singer-songwriter Gino Vannelli makes his Markham debut. With over 10 million records sold along with a Grammy Award and multiple accolades, Vannelli has captivated fans around the world with hits such as “I Just Wanna Stop”, “Wheels of Life”, “Appaloosa”, “Black Cars”, and “Wild Horses”. A truly versatile artist, Vannelli’s first foray into classical music, “Parole Per Mio Padre”, earned him a performance with Pope John Paul and led to the release of his classical album Canto in 2003.
Gino Vannelli, October 23, 2013, at 8 p.m., Tickets: $84 - $79
Roch Voisine, October 24, 2013, at 8 p.m., Tickets: $79 - $74
Box Office: (905) 305-7469 / www.markhamtheatre.ca  

Whether by a vampire’s bite, a witch’s curse or merely a bad batch of pumpkin pie, if you’ve contracted a case of Halloween Fever this autumn, you needn’t look outside of Markham for your seasonal dose of spook and scare. From corn mazes to tractor rides to good ole’ fashioned trick or treating, there is no shortage of family-friendly fun around town in the weeks leading up to the year’s eeriest holiday on October 31. The season’s most popular attraction is, without a doubt, the annual Pumpkinland event at Whittamore’s Farm. The seven weekend-long fall-themed festival is packed with activities and shows ranging from a silo slide to a pumpkin cannon show. Whittamore’s Farm, the family-owned and operated host of the event, is anticipating anywhere from 30,000-40,000 people to pass through its Steeles Avenue East compound this year. Just as the fall season is a celebration of the harvest, a spokesperson for Whittamore’s said that the event itself will “harvest” family memories. “(Pumpkinland) is about family fun and unforgettable memories with your kids,” said Lillian Igel, manager of the Farm’s gift shop. “It caters to everybody.” Igel, who is in her seventeenth season at the Farm, expressed a personal fondness for the legendary Pumpkin Cannon Show by Farmer Frank (whom she describes as “a pretty good ham”) but promised that from the corn maze to the “Spooky Forest,” Pumpkinland offers something for everyone. This year, the festival will feature the new addition of the electronic Punchin’ Pumpkin Maze, where participants race to “punch” four pumpkin buttons stationed throughout a maze. For those looking for a bit more fright, Scaryfest at Markham Museum the weekend before Halloween is sure to spook even the bravest of Markhamites. This “ghoulishly grand” event is an all-ages costumed trick or treat party around the haunted halls of the Markham Museum. Whether trick or treating at a pre-Halloween event like Scaryfest or on the streets of Markham on Halloween night, police want parents and kids alike to focus on safety as well as fun. In that spirit, on October 26, York Regional Police will be hosting Halloween in the Village at the Safety Village in Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area. The event will feature safety tips from police officers onsite, as well as, of course, ample opportunities for kids in attendance to load up on candy. YRP will also have a haunted house in the Village for the brave at heart. Unionville BIA is also hosting a trick or treat event on the Sunday prior to Halloween.

Being older doesn’t mean not being able. It means living to the fullest, learning, and thriving while doing what you love. On October 21, seniors will perform for seniors at the fifteenth anniversary of the seniors’ Extravaganza at the Flato Markham Theatre, with an evening of musical entertainment that will leave the audience singing, dancing and toe- tapping as a variety of community entertainers take the stage. Concert Pianist Joan Andrews – at the age of 91 - will welcome guests with her music in the lobby before the show. A variety of fine senior entertainers will then perform, including a choral group, a soloist, three winners from Chartwell’s Senior Star - Canada’s most popular musical competition for seniors – as well as a group of dancing girls called Kick Up a Fuss Cloggers, sure to perk up the room with some great fun. The famous Town Crier of Markham, John Webster, will also perform for his ninth year in a row. For the second half of the show, Headliner Gordy Tapp, legend of Canadian radio and television, known for his acting in CBC television show Country Hoedown and the CBS television show Hee Haw, will present. Gordy is 90 years old. Tony Murphy, entertainer and playwright, is the producer behind the Seniors’ Extravaganza since its first event in 1999, The Year of the Older Adult. It is because of Murphy’s dedication to this project that it continues to today. And yes, ticket prices were and still are only $10. Several retirement homes and merchants within the community sponsor the anticipated event run by the City of Markham. Sponsors, including restaurants, drug stores, banks and travel agencies set up booths to inform seniors about their services during intermission and contribute to exciting raffle giveaways, every year, including a flat screen TV.
“The seniors are happy when we pick them up by bus from senior centres. We also supply them with refreshments and cookies before the show – free of charge,” Murphy says. “Many seniors have told me that they will never miss the Extravaganza as long as they are alive and that they will always come back. They say that you are never going to get a show like this anywhere else.” To purchase tickets contact Gail Leet at 905-887-6029 or visit www.markhamtheatre.ca for information.

Markham families are in for a treat – and no small measure of tricks – this October at Flato Markham Theatre.
On October 10 at 8 p.m., NYs and TOs presents an evening of dance pieces designed to demystify contemporary dance. Sixteen dance artists from New York and Toronto bring their respective cultural influences to collaborative works that communicate ideas, provoke thought, initiate social change and rejuvenate the human spirit. With live music, voice and video, this youth-friendly presentation is sure to delight those with a burgeoning passion for the performing arts. This project was supported in part by the Inception to Exhibition 2013 Space Grant. TOES for Dance has received financial support, in part, from the Julliard School, Jonathan Madrigano Entrepreneurship Grant. Levitating high above a stage or making a goldfish appear from an iPhone is all in a day’s work for Jason Bishop, “America’s Hottest Illusionist.” On October 19, his “Paranormal Tour” will astound audiences with a dynamic magic show featuring exclusive large illusions, award-winning sleight of hand and “close-up” magic projected onto huge screens for all to see. And it’s all done to a rock/pop soundtrack and peppered with Bishop’s signature wit. 
Knees and Toes/NYs and TOs, October 10, 2013, 8 p.m., Tickets: $20 Adults, $5 Students
Jason Bishop, October 19, 2013, at 2 p.m., 
Tickets: $34-29, $100 Family 4-Pak
Flato Markham Theatre, 171 Town Centre Blvd., Markham
Box Office: (905) 305-7469 / www.markhamtheatre.ca

Award-winning Markham writer Douglas Smith is making the leap from short stories to novels with the publication this month of his first novel, “The Wolf at the End of the World.” Smith, who has lived in Markham since 1999, began to write and sell short stories in 1996. The first story he sold, Spirit Dance, about a reclusive shapeshifter caught in a struggle with corporate interests and government assassins, was a finalist for an Aurora Award in 1998. Though Smith went on to write many more short stories and publish three compilations of short fiction, he revisited the world and characters from Spirit Dance as the setting of “The Wolf at the End of the World,” which takes place five years later.
The novel centers around the character of Gwynn Blaidd, a shapeshifter who can take the form of a wolf, as he investigates a murder that took place near a controversial hydro dam and attempts to protect and clear the name of his former lover Leiddia Barker. Though Smith classifies most of his writing as “urban fantasy,” he incorporates many true-to-life motifs, such as environmental activism and domestic violence, which strongly anchor his stories in reality. Smith enjoys this type of writing, calling it “broader and more powerful” than standard fiction. “We can use the fictional world to hold up a distorted mirror to our reality and reflect it back on ourselves,” he says, explaining his motivation for writing urban fantasy. Smith, who sets his book in northern Canada and draws from Ojibwa and Cree mythology, says that this novel can shine a spotlight on the destruction of animal habitats more poignantly because the shapeshifting main characters are both human and animal. Smith, while new to novel-writing, is both a prolific and decorated short story writer. Spirit Dance is just one of the many stories of Smith’s that were nominated for Aurora Awards, which are Canada’s science fiction and fantasy awards. Additionally, the 2011 French translation of Spirit Dance, La Danse des Esprits, and his story Scream Angel have both won the national award. Smith has been nominated for many other awards as well. Before writing a full novel, he published three short fiction collections, Chimerascope, Impossibilia and La Danse des Esprits. While publishing these, he became more involved in the design, production and marketing aspects of the business, which helped prepare him for the process of releasing his novel. A few years ago, Smith decided to move from short stories to novel, explaining that, “My stories kept getting longer and longer. I think I was trying to tell myself something.” He chose to build his first novel out of the world he created in his story Spirit Dance because as a character-driven writer, he felt compelled to tell more of the story of those characters. “When I wrote that story, I was always intending to come back to that world and those characters.” He uses the Native mythology of the book to spotlight a worldview that humans are dependent on our environment, not masters of it. Smith is already planning to write more novels that highlight the need for humans to respect the environment as well as books that deal with related topics including the rising power of corporations. He plans to write a sequel to “The Wolf at the End of the World” eventually, but is currently tackling the first book in a YA trilogy set in Toronto. Smith notes that as a short fiction writer, his focus has been very traditional - getting words on paper. “You write it, you send your fiction out, and you just keep it in the mail until it sells,” he says, cautioning against authors becoming so involved in marketing their work that they don’t take the time to write. “The best way to promote [a novel] is to write the next book,” he adds, explaining that this is especially important when a reader enjoys the first book they read by a particular author. “The fans are immediately going to be looking for more of your work, and if you don’t have more, they’re going to forget you and move on to someone else.” As an IT executive for a large audit/tax consulting company, he describes his craft as “writing in your spare time, writing on planes, writing when you get a chance.” “The Wolf at the End of the World” will be published in both print and e-book formats, and is available for pre-order atwww.smithwriter.com.

Our very own Flato Markham Theatre is getting a facelift. On the renovation list: A new stage curtain, new seats, new carpets, and a new attitude about accessibility.
“When venues were built 30 years ago, they had different criteria,” Flato’s Markham Theatre General Manager Eric Lariviere says. “This is the first time we’ve had the opportunity to retrofit the theatre for accessibility.” And they’re not holding anything back. The new theatre will come complete with accessible backstage washrooms, staircase railings, and removable seats that can be replaced with wheelchair platforms. “This hybrid solution is great because it will sustain quality seating for all of our patrons,” Lariviere tells the Markham Review. In 2005, the Government of Ontario passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act with one goal in mind: To make Ontario fully accessible by the year 2025. Markham is committed to this goal, and in fact hired an accessibility coordinator even before the law passed. “Markham takes great pride in being a city where people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can participate and thrive. The Flato Markham Theatre is a shining example of how we put that commitment into action,” expressed Warren Rupnarain, accessibility coordinator for the City of Markham. Mayor Frank Scarpitti agrees, adding “we updated seating and enhanced front of house as well as backstage areas for greater accessibility. Our theatre is a centre for arts excellence across the region, and accessibility is a priority.” 
The plans are also in line with Markham’s Accessibility Design Guidelines. The mandate, which rolled out in June 2011, states that environments should be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. And the timing for the reno couldn’t be better. Set to be complete by early September, the new-and-improved Flato Markham Theatre will be ready for their annual gala, which will take place on the evening of September 27. Jose Feliciano, one of the most influential Latin artists of our time, will be headlining the fundraising event. More than 220 people, including Markham’s VIPs and sponsors, will enjoy cocktails and dinner in the theatre’s great hall before experiencing the man who is known as the “greatest living guitarist.” The event also includes a silent auction, with everything from gift baskets to sports memorabilia, ballet slippers and jewellery. “All in hopes of raising money to sustain the excellence of our programs,” says Lariviere, who has been with the company for almost five years.
“It’s a really cool season this year,” says Lariviere, a 25-year veteran in the entertainment and event management business. “We have some really major artists that have had a profound impact in their category of music.” The evening will kick off a spectacular season that includes performances by Jim Belushi and Menopause The Musical, to name a few. “We’ve made sure to include a great variety to reach out to Markham’s diverse community,” Lariviere says. “Our goal is to not only be accessible, but to be inclusive too.”

Main Street is set to get funky with the kick-off of the 16th annual Markham Jazz Festival this month. Venerable saxophonist Maceo Parker, well-known for backing up the likes of James Brown and George Clinton, will get Unionville hopping on a Friday night at the launch of the festival, in Unionville, on Aug. 16. “We will have more than 25 free concerts on three stages, including a licensed wine and beer garden at the McKay Stage,” said executive director, Linda Briggs. The free concert is the big-ticket event in a three-day festival put together by artistic director Michael Occhipinti. “The main thing I try to do is think a little thematically every year and try to do stuff we haven’t done the year before,” Occhipinti says. One such effort is turning the Varley Gallery into a major venue and, in particular, taking inspiration from the artwork on display there. Occhipinti was inspired by the exhibition, The Plasticiens and Beyond, a collection of avant garde works by Montreal artists. Trumpet player Dave Douglas, a New Yorker who was nominated for a Grammy Award this year, will serve as artist-in-residence for 2013 and will perform music inspired by the paintings, in the gallery on Sunday night. He will be joined at that show by Toronto violinist Hugh Marsh and an earlier performance, on Saturday, will see his quintet joined by Wailin’ Jennys vocalist Ruth Moody. Douglas will also host educational workshops with local residents and musicians. For Occhipinti, it’s important to maintain the festival’s character even as its profile grows, as well as to balance more eclectic musical choices with mainstream, crowd-pleasing fare. He says his favourite festivals are ones that are “small but ambitious” and travels around, cherry-picking what he likes from others. “We’re small, we’ve only got three days…I figure it’s a free festival; it’s a really good opportunity and with three stages I feel I can present different stuff. And if people don’t like what’s at one end of the buffet they can go to the other end of the buffet,” he says. This year’s buffet kicks off formally the night of Aug. 15 with a show by Denzal Sinclaire and Elizabeth Shepherd. Other artists performing at the various stages along Main Street over the weekend include the Jazz FM Youth Big Band, guitarist Lionel Loueke, the Richard Whiteman Quartet, multi-instrumentatlist Waleed Abdulhamid and the Brazilian stylings of Tio Chorinho. The festival was once just a great annual event for the community but now the audience is growing every year, and drawing more visitors from across the GTA. “I always feel like it’s a work in progress,” Occhipinti says. “But it has the identity I’d like it to have. I think we’re on the way.” For the complete line-up, schedule and other information visit markhamjazzfestival.com

The people of Markham Little Theatre (MLT) have crafted a solid name and reputation for themselves over the group’s 48 years, delivering inspired performances night after night. Their reputation should only be enhanced after a run of Trying, the directorial debut from Stewart Granger. The story by Joanne McCelland Glass is inspired by the real life experiences of former Chief Justice for the Nuremburg Trials and Attorney General of the United States Judge Francis Biddle. Biddle, who in the last years of his life began his memoirs, found himself without required direction until his complicated and colourful life intersected with a much more simple, young and decidedly unworldy secretary Sarah Schorr. The simplicity and moral courage she possesses, while not exactly welcome, allows the blustery and domineering judge to gain back his moral bearing and lost self respect. Director Stewart Granger is not a stranger to the Markham stage and first auditioned and won a part in the group’s recent presentation of Gaslight. The “psychopathic husband” role he played may not have made him a hero in that play, but Granger found himself impressed with the people around him and they made him want to stay and do more in Markham. “When I got here,” he relates, “I found a thriving theatre troupe. At Backstage, on the Markham Museum grounds, they make their own sets. The prop department could create the set dressings for at least 40 shows... Not to mention the awards they’ve won over the years. Just check out the THEAs” --referring to the yearly awards presented by the Association of Community Theatres of Central Ontario (ACTCO) to deserving stage groups. The MLT presentation of Trying runs at the Flato Markham Theatre from September 11 to 14.
Performances begin at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Theatre box office or through the MLT website at www.markhamlittletheatre.ca

Legendary actor, singer and dancer Gene Kelly once remarked that “You dance love, and you dance joy, and you dance dreams.” To Kelly—and anyone else immersed in the world of dance—the art is a language of its own, not merely a source of entertainment. From Fred Astaire to Michael Flatley, most have marveled, as spectators, at dancers, but few have taken the leap—or jeté, as Mr. Kelly would likely say—into actually tearing up a rug themselves. One local dance school has been working to change that by bringing the art of dance into a social context for empty nesters looking to get out of the house and try something new. The Thornhill-based Toronto Social Dance School has been operating for 13 years with the mandate of “Teaching the world to dance, one step at a time.” For founder and president Glen Michael, social dance is a disciplined activity, but also one that allows participants to escape from worry and focus on experiencing the music. “What we teach is just for people to get on the dance floor in a setting where there are other people on the dance floor learning and trying the same things,” said Michael, who has been a full-time dance instructor since abandoning his work as a consultant in 1997. Michael oversees the team of seven instructors who run the Toronto Social Dance School’s numerous year-round programs. In addition to private lessons, they offer a quicker and more customized experience for participants. The school offers programs with progressive skill levels, as well as casual, drop-in “Dance Parties” throughout the week. If you think you have two left feet, Michael says not to worry. The school hosts classes for people at every imaginable skill level. For those who choose to pursue social dance, as opposed to international—or competitive—ballroom dancing, the top priority is simply to have fun. Self-consciousness is one reason that someone may shy away from group dance lessons, but Michael said that a more prevalent misconception by prospective students is that everyone must bring their own dancing buddy to the class.
In reality, no partner is no problem. Even though it takes two to tango, the school has far more students registering as singles than as couples, which Michael says allows people to socialize, as well as hone their growing dance skills with a wider range of individuals. Though some students are looking to get involved in social dance to prepare for an upcoming wedding or work event, Michael says that most get involved simply for the thrill of trying a new activity. For those in that boat, he encourages trying the waltz first. “The waltz is the mother of all dances,” he said. “It’s the best way to create a foundation for people who want to later learn other types of dances.” Michael himself has a soft spot for the foxtrot, however. “I love the feeling of the music,” he says. “Dance really flows, and I love just taking that step and moving with the music.”

The popular free concert series at Unionville Main Street bandstand has been wowing the crowds on some beautiful summer Thursday nights featuring a diverse group of Canadian performers who know how to move a crowd. Tight musical performances combined with overflow crowds have made for a very special vibe that would certainly bring the roof down – if there was one. But the stars above the bandstand do seem brighter by the time the music finishes. If you haven’t experienced a night at the bandstand, you’re in luck. You can still catch some great music before the series wraps up Thursday August 29.
Bill Dawson, founder and lead organizer of the series is excited after hearing the bands that have performed so far. “Thursday Nights at the Bandstand is a great series that only gets better each year” he said. Referring to many groups with local roots, he adds, “The local component is an important part of what we try to do. Talent is everywhere and we have so much within our community”.
But while he is happy that the series is a success again, he is also quick to note that it is not just due to his own efforts but a host of others as well, offering his thanks “to our sponsors, contributors and supporters who provide the funding and support that has allowed this series to achieve the success it has.” The Tone Dogs are up August 15, followed by RikkiNicks on the 22nd and Brass Transit August 29.

As an integral part of its corporate philosophy, Kylemore Communities is committed to lending a hand to charities and non-profit organizations. Throughout the year, the company hosts events that reflect this spirit. Over the past five years, Kylemore’s annual charity golf event has raised over $500,000 in support of charity and non-profit organizations.
They are preparing for their sixth annual golf tournament, to be held Aug. 21 at the Angus Glen Golf Club. Tickets are still available for the event which kicks off at 6:30pm with a full course dinner and eclectic mix of entertainment. Last year’s event raised $100,000 for local charities. “This is always such a great day ... Each year our trades, consultants, suppliers and many residents come out and help us to raise funds for charity,” says Kylemore Communities’ President Patrick O’Hanlon. Since 1997, Kylemore Communities has been creating some of the Greater Toronto Area’s most desirable communities and homes of lasting value. In 2013, Angus Glen Community received the prestigious “Places to Grow” Community of The Year – Low-rise Award from the Building Industry and Land Development Association. For an overview of Kylemore Communities visit www.kylemorecommunities.com
Call 905-887-5799 for tickets and information.

What do a still-vibrating adult toy, a pen, a knife, a cucumber and a live bat have in common? They’re all objects that Kate Richardson has helped remove from people’s bodily cavities. And they comprise an entire chapter in her new book, Confessions of an Operating Room Nurse: 50 Shades of Green, in which the Unionville resident describes the life of an operating room nurse the only way she knows how—with humour. “I like to make light of everything,” the first-time author tells the Markham Review. “The day always goes faster when you’re having fun.” Richardson worked as a nurse in and around Toronto for more than four decades, but it was very early on in her career when she decided that she had to write a book about her experiences. “I always felt that people just don’t understand what we do,” Richardson says. “I wanted to tell our stories so badly.” One of her favourites? The time she was working with a gorgeous male surgeon, 20 years her junior, and everything went wrong. After strapping their hip-replacement patient to the fracture table, the 99-year-old flung herself off of the bed, and proceeded to dangle from her feet. Moments later, a piece of medical equipment ripped off the wall and started blowing around the room. And if that wasn’t enough, when Richardson went to wipe the sweat from the surgeon’s brow, she accidentally rubbed his contact lens out of his eye. Funny stories aside, writing a book about a group she calls the “ladies of the night” wasn’t easy. After leaving a journal in the staff room so her co-workers could contribute with anecdotes of their own, the 64-year-old mother of two sat down to write her memoir. “But I don’t know how to type,” she says in a telephone interview, “so I wrote it all out in long hand.” The result is a clever account—all true, all hilarious—of a day in the life of one of the health care system’s unsung heroines. But, needless to say, the OR isn’t all fun and games. And accidentally stabbing herself with a needle or having to work on the weekend pales in comparison to the tragedy she’s witnessed. The one night she remembers all too well is when a father and his 12-year-old son came into her operating room after a motorcycle accident. They each lost a leg. Still, Richardson hopes that her manuscript will encourage more nurses to opt for the OR. “The best part about the job is looking after the patients before an operation,” she says. “They’re always really nervous, so I make sure to distract them and make them happy.” Now retired and loving it, Richardson has spent the last few months tending to a broken ankle at her Unionville home, calling in favours from her nurse friends on a regular basis. Confessions of an Operating Room Nurse: 50 Shades of Green is on sale now. Learn more at 50shadesofgreenbook.com.

For 37 years, Dick Clark’s American Bandstand was a mainstay in the music industry. This summer, Markham will once again channel that spirit with Unionville’s Thursday Nights at the Bandstand series. Thursday Nights at the Bandstand is a weekly no-charge concert series at Unionville’s Millennium Bandstand that runs from June to August and showcases a different musical act each week, ranging from local to international. Apart from talent, the only thing that the 13-weeks worth of musical guests have in common is nothing at all, which is to say that variety is the spice of nightlife. “From blues to jazz to funk to soul to vintage hits and classical guitar, award-winning musicians bring their unique sounds to life on the Millennium stage,” read a release from Unionville Presents, the organization that hosts the series. Of the artists slated to perform this year, several have Juno nominations and awards under their belts. On August 1, classic rock and R&B cover band North of 7 will kick off the final month of the series. The Markham-based band was booked to perform last year, but found itself upstaged by a rainstorm that forced organizers to cancel the evening’s festivities. Band members are looking forward to taking the stage this year, especially because of the event’s community focus. “The fun part is that we get to play in front of our friends,” said Mike Allum, lead guitarist for the band. “The community supports these shows.” When it comes to the Thursday Nights series, the community has definitely stepped up. Nearly 30 organizations ranging from local business to the City itself have joined as sponsors. For businesses in Unionville, it presents a great opportunity to liven up the already bustling Main Street. “Thursday Nights at the Bandstand adds a great vitality and energy to the street,” said Judi McIntyre, executive director of the Unionville BIA. “The quality of the bands is outstanding and always draws a big crowd. Unionville really does have something for everyone.” The appeal of Unionville is something that Allum has seen first-hand. A 20-year resident, he also ran a business on Main Street for several years, where he saw strong community support for Unionville’s offerings. “Main Street holds its charm,” he said. “It’s this thing that we’ve tried desperately to hold onto in the community and so far we’ve been successful.” When North of 7 takes the stage, they’ll be playing popular tunes from the 60s and 70s. Allum identifies legendary artists like Joe Cocker and Van Morrison as musical influences for he and his band mates, who are industry veterans themselves. “We all have professional careers behind us, musically, but it’s unrealistic today to make a living in the music industry,” said Allum, who works full-time in facilities management for the Toronto District School Board. “Everyone in North of 7 is in their mid-50s. We’re no spring chicken act, but we deliver a good show.” When the band formed in 2004, its rehearsal space was Allum’s home, unsurprisingly located just north of Highway 7. Nine years later, it’s far from being a run-of-the-mill garage band. Headed up by frontman Neil Laird, the seven-piece band features vocalists, a brass section, a keyboarder, and bass guitarist, as well as Allum on the electric guitar. “It’s fun for us, but we take the music very seriously,” he added. “Producing a good song, a good sound and a good show is where the fun comes from. We deliver quite a punch.”

At more than 200 acres, Whittamore’s Farm lays beside the Rouge River Valley in Markham. It’s plenty of space to enjoy pick-your-own fruit and vegetables, a farm shop, a petting zoo and wagon rides. Located on Steeles Avenue East, the farm has been in the Whittamore family since 1804. Great-grandfather Joe Lapp (circa 1890) worked the same land that the family works today. From the 1920s to the 50s, Frank J. Whittamore sold vegetables door to door in Toronto, and in 1952, Frank’s son Gilbert bought a 50 acre farm in southeast Markham. The farm produced vegetables that were sold at the Toronto Food Terminal and local markets. Gilbert married Evelyn Lapp, and together they ran a pick-your-own berry farm in the 50s and 60s. Their sons now run one of the largest farm shops in the province, and host almost 200,000 visitors every year. Owner Frank Whittamore says there’s “a lot of different technologies that we didn’t have 20 years ago” to grow vegetables. The fall crops like melon, cucumber, eggplant, and tomatoes, are now grown on a plastic mulch, he explains. A plastic bed is laid on top and the plants grow through the plastic, with a trickle line of irrigation. It suppresses the weeds, retains the moisture and “actually gets things growing a little faster, letting the heat in.”
Starting in late June and open daily, Whittamore’s has strawberries to pick, and green peas, radish and zucchini for sale. Early July brings fresh raspberries, and late summer brings sweet corn and tomatoes. Frank notes that strawberry harvesting has changed over 20 years because now they can grow in mid-May right through to October. Twenty years ago it was just a June and July crop.
Over their decades of experience the Whittamore family have become expert farmers, capitalizing on new research on growing fruits and vegetables in the harsh Ontario climate. “We’re growing two types of strawberry, June Bearing – what people are used to – those berries set their fruit buds in August and September, when days get short and nights cooler.” The one that they now use is called Day Neutral, also grown in Florida and California. “They don’t care about the day length, they set their growth [based] on temperature.” In addition, technology allows for a­­ir conditioning in the field, to lower the temperature by 20F degrees by sprinkling water on it.  From the point of view of food safety, the crops, “don’t like pond water on them; that’s why we avoid using overhead irrigation.” Whittamore’s pick-your-own area has no entrance fee, but families can pay to enter the Fun Farm Yard and to go on wagon rides. Open daily from May to mid-September, kids can play in a sand box, visit animals, play at milking a cow and goat, and pretend to be a cowboy on the two-storey tree fort or Strawberry Mountain. Based on the thousands of families that have visited the farm, Frank has found that, “the older generation love to pick the vegetables. [In the] Fun Farm Yard lots of younger kids like the sand lot; older kids really like the Strawberry Mountain, an area where the kids climb up the red tube they can slide down.” The farm also hosts birthday parties and school tours. Homemade pies, tarts, preserves, honey and maple syrup are available in the bakeshop. For more information, 905-294-3275 or www.whittamoresfarm.com.

From Morgan Park in Markham Village to Bruce’s Mill in Stouffville, there is no shortage of outdoor green space to enjoy in York Region. With the summer well underway, whether you are in need of a mid-day escape, or you endeavour to plan the perfect family picnic, you shouldn’t need to look far. In fact, you might not even need to get in your car. Tucked away in the middle of the city a mere stone’s throw from Main Street Unionville is the aptly named Toogood Pond Park. At 33.3 hectares (82.3 acres,) the park that surrounds Toogood Pond is a quaint and picturesque locale within which some say you can feel as though you’ve left the city entirely. According to one poster on the travel website, Yelp, the park “brings Anne of Green Gables imagery to mind.” The man-made walkways and natural trails that run through the park make Toogood an appealing destination for seasoned trail-walkers and novice strollers alike. Recently, Toogood Pond Park was the subject of a large-scale revitalization project that involved sediment removal from the pond, as well as restoration of the shoreline and planting of fresh trees and shrubs.
Though Bruce’s Mill isn’t officially a part of Markham proper, the Stouffville conservation area draws many visitors from Markham through the year, especially during its month-long Maple Syrup Festival in March.
In the summer months, it is a popular destination for picnics, nature hikes, and even the occasional wedding. A spokesperson for Toronto and Region Conservation, the authority that manages many of the Greater Toronto Area’s parks, says that although people should enjoy these natural spaces, it is also important to respect them. “People have become better about not littering. We get some, but it’s surprisingly rare,” said Doug Miller, Senior Manager of Conservation Parks for the TRCA. “[Dogs] are a constant challenge though. A lot of people are very respectful and will keep their pets on a leash, but unleashed dogs are still a problem that exists in our parks.” Of course, it would be impossible to look at Markham’s outdoor offerings without mentioning the city’s largest park, Milne Dam Conservation Area. The 123-hectare (305-acre) behemoth of a park features 2.3 kilometres of walking and cycling trails, as well as a unique array of local plant and wildlife. And, of course, fishing in the Rouge River.
Earlier this month, the park played host to the City of Markham’s Canada Day festivities. Located just off of Highway 7 east of McCowan Road, Milne Dam Conservation Park is one of the area’s most diverse nature preserves. A major contributing factor to this is the park’s wildlife, according to John Procenko, a local realtor familiar with the neighbourhood. “The bats are in full force diving for bugs, and catching a glimpse of the many deer that live [at the park] is a real possibility,” Procenko wrote on his website. “Bird watching is also a popular activity at Milne as it’s been a stop off for migratory birds over the decades.” When doing anything outdoors, it’s important to remember safety, according to Miller. “From a visitor’s perspective, people need to be aware of the sun and heat, and safety in that regard,” he warned. “West Nile Virus is another thing that people need to keep in mind. Most areas are very safe for the public, but everybody should have a cell phone…to use if someone injures themselves while hiking on a trail.”

There’s nothing like enjoying freshly grown vegetables plucked from local farmers in the middle of the summer. One local farm offers an eclectic mix of fresh foods – and homemade pies! - as well as an exciting outing for the kids.
Besides the fresh food, the farm is also the place for kids to learn and have fun. Children ages 8 and up can come on weekend mornings and help care for the farm animals. Farm educators are also available on weekends to answer questions. Wagon rides, pedal karts, mazes, a sandbox and farm animals are available for entertainment. Since 1972, Jim and Leslie Forsythe have been growing vegetables in Markham. Today they continue to provide family fun and fresh food for a great summer experience. Forsythe Family Farms began as cash crops, and soon turned into fresh veggies brought to market, and pick-your-own fields. Originally the farm was at 14th and McCowan, moving to Kennedy Road in 1986. Due to the hard work of the Forsythes and their sons, the farm has grown and now includes strawberries, peas, tomatoes, squash and pumpkins, in addition to animals, wagon rides and an “enchanted” forest.
That forest is home to summer adventures for the children. “We have a twenty acre woods, and ten of it is a nature walk,” says Leslie Forsythe, who runs the farm with her husband Jim. “In order to keep the younger children enticed and involved we have a trail along the way, with storybook readings, like Little Bo Peep and Little Red Riding Hood. They’ll look for Bo Peep. It’s a nice nature walk.”
Besides their main location, they also sell at farmers markets in Whitby, Oshawa Center and Markham. Open from May through to Christmas, they are open every weekend and open on weekdays starting in mid June for strawberry season. The farm celebrates all things honey during the August holiday weekend. Dubbed “Celebrate Honey”, the farm has their own beehives. “What we do is have different activities linked to the senses, and what we’ve done is linked in activities about bees,” says Leslie. That includes honey samplings, and songs about honey taught to the younger visitors. “We have a honey focus that weekend and feature different honeys like Spring Blossom honey, and Wildflower honeys.” The farm has hosted school groups for 20 years, especially in the spring, and often hosts camps during the summer. It is also a popular destination for birthday parties, giving parents the option of having a fully scheduled and catered birthday party at the farm, or a do-it-yourself affair. As proponents of the growing trend to eat local produce, Forsythe only sells their own, and other Ontario-based fruits and vegetables. They offer a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, in which people can register for weekly boxes of produce and meat for 18 weeks, at either a family of four size or a smaller size for a couple or small family.
In addition to produce, the farm sells pasture raised beef, pork, chicken and turkey, and free run omega-3 eggs. They also sell Ontario greenhouse vegetables, potted herbs and bakery goods. More information: 905-887-1087 or 
www.forsythefamilyfarms.com.

Douglas Gardham followed his dreams and turned it into a book, The Actor -- about following dreams. Gardham first found his love for writing, “far back in grade school”, enrolled in university creative writing courses, and has continued this passion.
The Actor was inspired by the James Cameron film, Titanic. After walking out of the theater, Gardham asked himself, “what if a person …. knew that they had another desire, picked up, and went to Hollywood to become an actor?” That’s when he finally put pen to paper in 1998 to write The Actor. While writing the book, Gardham had a full time job and a family. “Most of the time, I had to find space and time,” he said, adding that meant waking up at 5 am just to write two pages each day. The Actor begins with a young man named Ethan Jones, who just landed a lead role in a major motion picture. One of the messages that Gardham hopes to impart with the book is, “trying to find the purpose of what it is we are supposed to do.”  Although he maintains that his book is a work of fiction, he attributes ideas from events that happened during his formative years in Markham. Gardham moved to Markham with his family at age of six. He went to school at the James Robinson Public School in Markham and continued his education at the Markham District High School. He then left Markham for Carleton University in pursuit of a degree in engineering. Harkening back to his youth, he recalls being inspired by teachers Alexandra Semeniuk and Mr. Lewis, who taught him to keep sentences short. Gardham also accredits the parts of the book that mentions acting to his high school theatre arts teacher, Jane Mills. The musical references of the book come from Peg Clark, who taught him in conservatory piano. Gardham also thanked his coaches and mentors in sports for inspiring some of the figures in his book. One of them was a former little league hockey coach, Peter Solomon; and his former coach and now-owner at Al Dente restaurant in Markham, Shaun Kelly. When asked how he felt as an allusion in Gardham’s book, Kelly responded, “it’s nice that somebody thinks of you as having played a little part in his life.” Gardham also thanked his father for teaching him work ethic and discipline, and his mother for her view of the arts, making fiction as his “vehicle of writing.” As to what’s next, Gardham has now left his job in the field of engineering to focus on his own dream. “It’s very surreal,” he says, “it’s a real thrill.” He is currently working on the continuation of The Actor.

Once again, the village people are coming together for a weekend of song and dance. The Markham Village people, that is. This month marks the 36th installment of the 2013 Markham Village Music Festival, Markham’s annual celebration of the city’s artistic offerings. Organizers of the volunteer-run festival are keeping with their longstanding tradition of hosting the event at no cost to the public, instead relying on funding from all three levels of government, as well as funds raised from business sponsorship and vendors. Though the funding issue presents challenges for the organization, it is not without a silver lining, according to one of the festival’s long-time organizers.
“Every year, we have to re-present our case as to why we’re worthy of funding,” said Keith Thirgood, who co-chairs the festival committee alongside his wife. “It forces us to be creative, because sometimes granting organizations want to see us providing variety and evolving. It forces us to be on our toes and provide something different every year.”
The major change in this year’s festival has been a reevaluation of the event’s purpose and focus. Thirgood admitted that this change came about by accident.
“As an organization, we consciously tried to reach out to all potential markets,” he said. “I’ve looked at how we cover the various bases and I don’t want any one section of the family to be left out.” In spite of that, Thirgood said that a lot of local musicians and bands were “grumbling” about the festival’s lack of relevance to younger Markhamites, and its lack of inclusion of homegrown singer-songwriters. Harnessing the power of social media, the festival committee invited 20 local music-makers to one of its meetings, and shifted course to make the event even more inclusive. One of those lobbying for change to the festival was Kevin Ker, a songwriter who runs the local music booking company, Epidemic Music Group. “The addition of the North Stage changes things,” said Ker, who is working with the festival committee for the first time this year. “Our focus [at Epidemic] is on original music and the craft of songwriting. I don’t think it’s something that’s been fully explored and celebrated in previous festivals, but now there is a huge flux of original musicians from Markham doing well.” Specifically, Ker referenced the success of Juno-nominated alternative rock band Three Days Grace, whose former lead singer, Adam Gontier, grew up in Markham, as well as electronica duo Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker. The result of this change is a festival that will encompass five separate musical stages and upwards of 40 individual acts. These will range from children’s music to adult contemporary, including a number of ethnic artists.
Regardless of the changes that the festival has undergone in the past year to expand its demographic reach, there is no denying that the festival is a force to be reckoned with in the Markham arts community. “The Markham Village Music Festival has been a staple of the music scene here in Markham for more than a decade and with each passing year the calibre of music and musicians gets better and better,” said Helen Argiro, executive director of the Markham Arts Council. “This is yet another testimony to the diverse range of extremely talented artists we have working and living in our community.”
www.markham-festival.org for more information.

The Flato Markham Theatre has a gem of a plan for the upcoming theatre season. The 2013-14 Diamond Series was unveiled at the theatre, the stage of which was turned into a dinner theatre where media and town officials could hear about the performers coming to town, and even hear some of them plying their wares. “What better than music and entertainment to bring cultures together. It’s one language everybody understands,” councillor Carolina Moretti said of the diverse array of artists who will come to town starting in the fall and through the new year. The theatre’s patrons love that diversity and it’s the leadership provided by council that allows the theater and local culture to flourish, theatre manager Eric Larivere said. Amidst the talk, the stage was ceded to some of the performers who will headline the new season. Pianist and songwriter Jim Brickman played radio hits “Angel Eyes” and “My Valentine” on the theatre’s Steinway grand piano. He will tour with Toronto resident Luke McMaster, with whom he collaborated on the new song “Good Morning, Beautiful.” Before their performance, the two told the Review “creating a live experience is about treating it like a theatre, not a concert,” and having a conversation with the audience. Royal Wood is coming off a strong year that was capped by a Juno nomination for adult alternative album of the year. He dazzled on both the piano and guitar but is set to spend the summer in Ireland, relaxing and writing a new album, the material from which he hopes to feature when he returns to Markham next February. While 2012’s “We Were Born to Glory” was a more elaborate production, he thinks his new album will be more stripped-down and intimate. “Right now I’m shedding a skin,” he says. “With this next one I want to capture something honest … I want to be even more rough, do lots to live off the floor and capture everything on tape and have that be the take.” The 2013-14 season kicks off Oct. 2, with a performance by folk favourite Buffy St.-Marie and wrap in April 2014 with the theatre performance, Trudeau Stories. In between you can expect a wide variety of music — from Al Jarreau to the Blind Boys of Alabama and local soul singer Jully Black — to comedy, from Jim Belushi and the Just For Laughs Road Show — and special performances, like Menopause: The Musical and the Royal Moscow Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty. The holidays will also be celebrated in style with favourites Leahy returning, along with shows by Colm Wilkinson and Darlene Love. Subscriptions, packages and single-show tickets are now on sale at 905-305-5985 or by visiting markhamtheatre.ca

Since he was just three years old, Kristian Alexander’s family began taking him to classical music concerts and ballet performances, where they were sure to have seats close to the conductor. “For me it was just magic watching the conductor making wonderful sounds with his hands,” he recalls. By the time he was five years old, the musical muse came calling, and he decided to tell his mother of his ambition to conduct orchestras. “From that moment, it is all hard work – a lot of music lessons, countless hours of practicing and constant learning up until now.” There was no looking back, and now, forty years later, Kristian Alexander - the founding music director of Kindred Spirits Orchestra, and artistic director of the Markham Contemporary Music Festival – is gearing up for yet another string of concerts in Markham. Among his rich dossier of musical experiences, Alexander has conducted orchestras across Ontario – including at Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto and Roy Thomson Hall – as well as in Montreal, Germany and Bulgaria. He has won many awards in various forums internationally. He was voted thirteen years ago by more than 2,000 conductors and music directors across the globe to represent Canada on the Board of the Directors of the Conductors Guild, an esteemed institute in his field. Alexander has also been a mentor for many young musicians and conductors through various positions he has held at the International Baccalaureate Organisation in England, the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, the International MusicAcademy, the Canadian Conservatory for Music and Arts, among several others. And of course, founder of Kindred Spirits Orchestra. “I am always excited when there is an opportunity to create an organization where people can get together and engage in meaningful activity,” he said of the Orchestra which he created in 2009. Since then, he has received more than 400 bids from musicians to join. “There are a lot of excellent musicians in York Region who are always looking to join orchestras and play …the best part of being part of the orchestra is working together with highly qualified musicians who have the passion for music and several years of experience playing in various orchestras. Bringing out the best they can offer, motivating and inspiring them, as well as creating environment where every musician can excel and develop – these are the favourite things.” In coming weeks he and the orchestra will continue their performances in Markham, and as they prepare for their concerts, Alexander explains that deciding on the compositions isn’t always easy. “Choosing a répertoire is a complex process. The pieces that we play have to be accessible for the level of the orchestra, stimulating for the musicians, attractive for the new audience, educational for the core audience, versatile in genre and style and representative of various ethnical and linguistic backgrounds,” he says. “It takes a lot of research and time to put together a balanced concert season.” He must be doing something right—in the next calendar year he’s back several times, and to be sure, our community will come back to hear the sounds of the Spirits. More information about the Kindred Spirits Orchestra www.KSOrchestra.ca More about Kristian, www.KristianAlexander.com

Move over Ol’ McDonald, there’s another farm: Lionel’s Farm in Stouffville. As the weather starts to get progressively warmer, taking the kids outdoors for a farm experience will have them smiling, as generations of children have before.
The petting zoo is open every day from May to December, and is open to the public, with no set fee, although they ask for donations. The zoo includes donkeys, llamas, deer, goats, sheep, rabbits, peacocks and more. Blair Purcell, the general manager of the farm, says what youngsters enjoy most are the “different animals, the variety and the opportunity to be able to feed the animals- and to get to them,” he says. “At the Metro Zoo, the animals are so far away, they can’t get close, and there’s no opportunity to touch them but with us, that’s exciting for kids.” For toddlers and younger children, the stand-outs are the little furry friends, bunnies, sheeps and infant llamas, he says. “We raised a lot of them there, so we have quite a few babies.”
Their barn includes a heated place to eat, a play castle, rock climbing wall and toys, and they have an outdoor petting zoo. They also have 150 horse drawn carriages, sleighs and buggies on display, from the 1800s and early 1900s. They have hosted wedding, film productions and corporate events.
Birthday parties and events make up the bulk of their business, and can take place at the farm or at your own home. According to Purcell, children are most surprised that the animals at the farm don’t always look like the ones seen on TV or in books. “They don’t know sheep come in different colours or styles! They’re stereotyped into a certain kind and think that’s all there is,” he says. “Same with our deer – people just think of reindeer, but ours are European deer, like Bambi. Kids are enthralled and they had no idea there were other kinds of deer out there. They’ve seen the pictures and the pictures are different.” Lionel Purcell bought a farm in Scarborough in 1950, and married his wife Rita in 1956. They managed the farm together, and bred Shetland Ponies, in addition to Lionel working in real estate and Rita working at the Book Society in Scarborough. In the 1960s they began hosting birthday parties and school tours to visit the farm and ponies, and began offering their ponies for use at community events. Their farm became a home for unwanted pets, which formed the foundation for the petting zoo. The farm was moved to McCowan Road in Stouffville in 1981, as housing in Scarborough was expanding northward. The farm’s collection of carriages, buggies and sleighs began as Lionel’s hobby, and became sought after for weddings, parties, retail store displays and the television and film industries. Some of their carriages have been in the “Anne of Green Gables” movie, and television productions like “The Road to Avonlea” and the late Nova Scotia chanteuse Rita McNeil’s Christmas Special.

Looking for a fun, unique way to spend time with the family and catch your own lunch? Burd’s Family Fishing isn’t so far away, where you can pull fresh trout you caught yourself straight from the water. Established in 1965, Burd’s Family Fishing offers rainbow trout fishing in Stouffville for both amateurs and professionals. “The legend goes,” says Chris Tymon, owner since 2005, “that Don Burd had a fish pond and a couple of guys just came in one day and asked if they could fish there.” The rest, as they say, is history. Under Tymon’s management since 2005, the business hopes to become the largest source for Rainbow trout fishing in Ontario. Located on six acres of park-like land, with two man-made half acre ponds fed by a natural spring, the spot entices young and old. “Every demographic from young children up to seniors has a great time,” says Tymon. “From beginners to seasoned anglers, it’s a good place for the family because it’s a guaranteed catch.” There’s an average of 4,000 trout swimming during the fishing season. The average Burd’s trout is two pounds, and 18 inches in length, and range from one to 15 pounds, says its website. No fishing license is required when fishing at Burd’s, making the experience simple and easier for a family weekend activity. “Staff are in all day, so it’s hands free or hands on, whichever you choose. Some fish have been in the pond for years, so there’s a chance they’ve evaded being caught and you could catch a really big one,” says Tymon. Rod and reel rentals are available, and bait is free (including worms, roe and corn). Fish cleaning and packing on ice is also included. Visitors are welcome to bring picnics, or buy food from the concession stand and BBQ cart. The grounds are wheelchair accessible, and public washrooms are available.  

What started as a fun way to get Unionville’s Main Street up and dancing is fast becoming a summer tradition. This spring marks the kick-off of the fifth season of Thursday Nights at the Bandstand, a series of 13 free concerts for the whole family. The series was launched by Bill Dawson who was working with the annual Unionville Festival when he saw the opportunity to put some extra money to good use with a summer event. He started with a few concerts in July but has since expanded the plan into a summer-long event. “The purpose of the whole thing is to use the bandstand,” he says. “I love music and music is loved by most people.” Those people have been coming out to the beautiful gazebo bandstand but also spending time strolling and shopping in the historic district. In a few years Dawson has already seen local restaurants getting booked early as audiences try to park themselves on the nearby patios early. Dawson says he tries to mix-up the line-up, ensuring there’s something for everyone and this year’s concerts bring back some favourites from 2012 and some new acts. Classic rock fans will be able to enjoy tribute bands including Pretzel Logic (Steely Dan), Hotel California (The Eagles) and Rikki Nicks (Fleetwood Mac). If you want to get up and dance to some rhythm and blues and soul you can check out the local teachers who make up the Blackboard Blues Band, Jeanine Mackie or Fathead. Guitarist will aim to set the night alight with his “guitar of fire” and the Carpet Frogs, who also happen to be Burton Cummings’ back-up band, and bill themselves as the country’s premier party band.

On May 20, Victoria Day, Markham Museum will be one of 30,000 institutions around the world hosting events to celebrate International Museum Day, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the importance of museums to society.
Each year, the International Council of Museums, the organization that runs International Museum Day, designates a theme for the year. In previous years, themes have spanned from tourism to globalization. This year’s theme is (Memory + Creativity) = Social Change. At Markham Museum, this theme is a particularly pertinent one that has been driving its research and exhibits since refreshing its approach to programming four years ago. “The theme for 2013 is very much top of mind with any community-focused museum,” said Cathy Molloy, Museum Director. “At Markham Museum, we…specifically address issues of being relevant to the current community. The way we’re doing that is by examining how we relate to our environment and the whole world around us. We really are an international community here in Markham.” International Museum Day has been actively growing and expanding globally since its inception in 1977 and is presently observed by museums in over 120 countries. Markham Museum has been participating since the 1990s.
For Markham, the day presents a great opportunity for the city’s museum to showcase its offerings to the community. On May 20, the museum will be opening select exhibits and hosting several family-centered activities to “introduce the community to the museum.” This will include a new construction exhibit currently en route to Markham, as well as a paper-making activity that will let children get their hands dirty and take home their creations.
The museum will also use the occasion to unveil its new rain garden, a native planting garden made possible by a partnership with the Markham Environmental Sustainability Fund and the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority. Invitations for the rain garden opening have been extended to a wide range of Markham VIPs, including Mayor Frank Scarpitti and the city’s councillors. International Museum Day is a useful tool in drawing attention to the work that local museums like the one in Markham do on an ongoing basis, but it is the responsibility of each institution to evolve and educate its audience in a relevant and meaningful manner. For Molloy, that means finding commonalities between different cultures to demonstrate the similarities between people with different origins. “International Museum Day helps people understand the importance of museums,” said Molloy. “It’s about celebrating where we all came from—the culture and the life experiences that have led us to where we are. Museums used to be about names and dates of famous people and battles, but internationally, museums are changing to become more about human experiences.” Molloy is encouraging families to take the time to visit the exhibits that will be open, as well as to enjoy the 25-acre property, which is equipped with picnic tables and washroom facilities for those wishing to bring a picnic.

If you are an artist, singer, dancer, writer, photographer, or musician, the Markham Teen Arts Council would like to hear from you. The group of youth, who are always looking for talent, have been active in promoting the arts among the public and peers. Markham Teen Arts Council hosted their annual art show recently at the Mckay Art Gallery, which over three days saw some 600 visitors. The show featured a variety of artwork, all created by local teen artists. The event, say organizers, aimed to provide Markham teens with an opportunity to showcase their talents, express themselves and gain exposure. There were about 30 teens who submitted art, according to Mona Babin, director of the Markham Arts Council. The Markham Teen Arts Council, founded in 2008, is the youth division of the Markham Arts Council. “The teens were very organized, from the planning to the setting up and working the schedule,” Babin said. “As for the quality of the art -- if you didn’t know this was a teen art show, you wouldn’t guess it was… and many of the Main Street visitors came to see the artshow. The teens were proud, as they should be, and welcoming.” Ivy Chen says,”I started because my family is really art oriented. It’s a great form of expression-lets you see things differently around you.”
Babin, who has been on the Markham Arts Council Board for almost three years, attends their bi-weekly meetings, helps open doors to community members, and mentors the co-chairs. She adds that she coaches them on an ongoing basis. “Without a doubt, I would say this year’s executive is the strongest ever,” she said. “Our co-chairs are true leaders and have energized and enabled their team to deliver results.” The biggest challenge is that turnover is high, however, as those involved move onto college or university. But the group and its director have high hopes that a younger group will be groomed to take the reins. “We have managed to reduce the turnover by ensuring we recruit from all grades, from grades 9 to 12, and provide each executive an opportunity to make a difference by managing an event and showcasing their skills. For example, a painter would be in charge of the visual arts project.” This year’s team “really shined” she said, with their “social media plan” as a result of an e-newsletter sent monthly to members, also their reaching out to nearly 2,000 people via Facebook. Their new website received close to 50,000 page views since the fall. Other events the group have planned are the annual concert at the Crosby Memorial Arena in Unionville with local bands and youth talent from across the region. As well, the annual WordUp! event, with submissions in short stories, poetry and spoken word. www.markhamteenartscouncil.com/

Writing poetry is an attempt at capturing moments. Memories. Things we know we will never see or experience again- feelings we want to relive in all their glory, or all their pain. It’s why we play old songs, why we read the same books over and over again, why we watch the same films- to suspend that moment in time- that poetic moment, that defines and encapsulates who we are and who we were.
Spring is a time for renewal and reflection, a day when we can gather our memories from the past and bring them out into the sunlight. It is an opportunity to look back on the poetic moments of our life, and to create new ones. So how do we find poetry in every day life? Perhaps it’s in the way that our children hug us, or how snow reflects the moonlight. Perhaps it’s sitting in the garden with a cup of tea, reminicing about our university days. Poetry is everywhere, and in everything. All we have to do is look. And once we find it, we can do so much with it. Some of us write it into existence and some of us create from it. Judith Livingston, renowned visual artist and workshop faciliator, collects poetry through images. She has stacks of intricate paper from all over the world, some of which she uses to fold into poetry pockets. Poetry pockets are little gems that can fit into someone’s pocket to brighten their day. When you unfold one, it contains words of inspiration, like the whimsical quote, “ Poetry is the art of creating imaginary gardens with real toads in them” (Marianne Moore). Livingston loves books. She finds old library books and breathes life into them with creativity and skill. One winter day, she came to the Markham Arts Council office and brought a handful of books she has been altering. One book opened to a random page filled with butterflies, another contained a detailed labyrinth with a secret peephole. It was as if the author’s words were spilling out of the page, onto the reader’s hands and lap. It was no longer about reading a book, but participating in it.
And that’s the true beauty of poetry. It finds it’s life in the hands of its readers- the ones who look for real toads while walking through imaginary gardens. Want to learn how to create poetry pockets, boxes and altered books? Hear local poets read? Contact: Sheniz Janmohamed, Poetry Workshop Facilitator and Arts Adminstrator of The Markham Arts Council 905-947-9054, info@markhamartscouncil.com *The Altered Books Workshop takes place at the Varley Art Gallery on April 7th and 14th 2013 (12-4pm). The Found Words: A National Poetry Month Celebration (readings and altered book exhibit) takes place on April 21st, 2013 at the Varley Art Gallery (2-4pm). Visit www.markhamartscouncil.com/alteredbook for more details.

The Sunshine Boys may be about a couple of grumpy old men, but the Markham Little Theatre’s upcoming production aims to be fun for the whole family.
The community company has become a home away from home for performers like Terry Browne and his wife, Michele. “It’s been a second family to us,” Terry Browne says. He has now been back with the company for more than 30 years but only after a long time away from the stage. He’d been a performer as a youngster but gave up on it, partly because remembering lines was never his forte. He stayed on the fringes for a while, watching Michele act in several plays with the company before dipping his toe back in the waters. After 20 years as a sound operator and designer he decided his personal project one year was to get back out in front of an audience and he did just that, with a 30-line part in Harvey. The acting bug bit and he hasn’t looked back. Now he’s handling lead roles, like Willy Clark, the aging vaudevillian urged to reunite with his estranged partner, Al Lewis, played here by Carl Gambacourt. Ali Adatia is the nephew trying to keep the battling comedians together and Val Martinez, Sarah MacDonald, David Haddad and Jaime Morgan fill out the rest of the cast. The Neil Simon play has become a classic over the years and is best remembered for the film starring George Burns and Walter Matthau. Jack Klugman, Woody Allen, Peter Falk and Alan Arkin are just a few of comedy legends who have played the lead roles of Lewis and Clark over the years.
While Browne has seen snippets of other performances, he says his general rule is to avoid them at least until he’s found his own take on the part.
The Sunshine Boys also brings back happy memories on at least two fronts for him. First is his early career doing vaudeville shows in Montreal, a brand of snappy jokes and corny lines upon which the play looks back fondly. Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs was also one of Browne’s first plays with the Markham Little Theatre and he got the opportunity to play husband to his own wife on stage and work with young actors that went on to perform on TV shows, like Degrassi. Competing for audiences’ attention in the current climate is always a challenge for community theatres, Browne says, but with more than 40 years of history, the Markham Little Theatre is just part of the local family. The Sunshine Boys is on stage from April 24 to 27 at the Flato Markham Theatre. For tickets and information 905-305-SHOW or visit markhamlittletheatre.com.

Although some might recognize the School of Rock as the name of a movie starring Jack Black, there really is a school of rock, and the first one in Canada is in Markham. Founded almost 15 years ago in Philadelphia, School of Rock has become one of the hottest international franchises, inspiring kids to not just learn music, but to play it with style. Not surprisingly, then, that at the recent opening, there was loud music, jam sessions and a good time as would-be stars shared space with established musicians like Justin Hines and members of iconic bands like April Wine, Lighthouse, Allman Brothers and other top acts.
Run by Markham couple Henry Teitelman and Shelly Davine, the school “takes students from the lesson room to the stage”, according to its mandate. Along with teaching guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals, the school is combining weekly private lessons with group band rehearsals, preparing students for performance in an authentic concert setting from day one. The approach is fundamentally different from the typical Conservatory approach to music which stresses theory and technique before performance. First on the School of Rock agenda is having fun, with the assumption that that keeps kids motivated to stick around and learn more about the theory that underpins the music.
They also have a new adult School of Rock program at the Markham location.

It isn’t painting in broad strokes to say that by the summer you could be holding onto a sculpture or print of your very own making, even if you’ve never tried it before. Starting this month, the Varley Art Gallery is offering a series of eight-week art programs for adults, teens and children alike. The programs, which run until June, cover a broad spectrum of artistic schools ranging from drawing to photography to sculpting and everything in between. There are also a number of specialized art therapy programs for autistic children and those with Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder.
For budding painters, the gallery is offering courses in acrylics, watercolours and oil painting, as well as the more specific arts of portraiture and landscapes. Other programs include printmaking, which is described as a “lost and misunderstood art form,” as well as photography and pottery. According to a gallery spokeswoman, the programs are designed to target those new to the visual arts, as well as those who may have gotten their brushes dirty before. “Appealing to the curious beginner and the experienced artist alike, the Varley Art Gallery offers a broad range of courses in a fun and supportive studio environment,” says Heather Hogan-Cherniak, Communications Specialist for the Varley Art Gallery in an email. “Whether you are a beginner and have never picked up a paint brush or are an experienced artist looking for a creative outlet to keep your skills sharp, the gallery has something for you.” All courses are taught by professional artists and experienced instructors and teach participants not only how to use the mediums they need to, but also how to harness passion and inspiration to sculpt, sketch or snap until their blank canvass becomes a work of art. Students are also granted access to the newly expanded gallery spaces at the Varley. The new space was the result of a $1.4 million donation in 2008 by the late Wallace R. Joyce. “The newly expanded gallery spaces [offer] an excellent environment for learning,” says Hogan-Cherniak.
For Markham artist Katharine Harvey, it was a community art program that sparked her interest in the field she has now immersed herself in as a career.
“These community classes provide a fabulous opportunity to meet like-minded people who are also interested in the arts, to compare notes with them and form a new camaraderie. This way, you don’t feel like you are creating your work in a vacuum,” says Harvey, whose work has been featured around the world. “The Varley Gallery is providing this important community facility for people to come together with a common interest.” Each of the adult programs costs $183.06 for the eight-week-long course. The programs for children and teens range from $80 to $153. Participants are also responsible for their own supplies. The gallery’s current exhibition is Canada on Canvas, a 130-year celebration of Canada’s art that includes works by renowned Canadian artist Emily Carr, among many others. Information about fees and registration for the Varley Art Gallery’s programs is available at 
www.VarleyGallery.ca.

It’s a month of endings and beginnings for the Flato Markham Theatre. April arrives with a bevy of diverse shows to close out the 2012-13 season and will end with the first news of what’s in store for 2013-14. “From now until the end of the season there’s a great variety and diversity of artists,” theatre manager Eric Larivere says. Fiddling favourite Natalie McMaster is coming back to town April 17 and 18, and an afternoon show was added for impressionist Andre-Philippe Gagnon on April 20 after the evening show sold out. Comedy fans can check out the Just For Laughs Roadshow, featuring Darrin Rose and features Mark Watson, Modi and Wil Sylvince on April 16. An April 19 show features the unique solo ukulele stylings of Jake Shimabukuro, and Larivere promises, “If you come to one of his concerts, you will never look at a ukulele the same way.” Providing quality entertainment and serving the diverse Markham community is something Larivere enjoys doing each year. “The good thing with our patrons is that our core audience is incredibly savvy and actually choosing all kinds of things,” he says. “If there’s one common denominator in the core audience it’s that they like to have a little bit of everything.” While something like ballet is always sure to bring out audiences, and South Asian acts also attract a crowd, Larivere observes that even a recent show by Air Supply was populated by a multi-cultural audience reflective of the growing city. “You really had Markham in the theatre,” he says. An announcement about the 2013-14 season, reflecting that diversity, is set for April 30 but Larivere is able to give some hints of what lies ahead.
Practically a Markham tradition at this point, Leahy will bring their family holiday show back to the theatre at Christmastime. In addition to usual favourites, like ballet, there will be an expanded jazz series, more great Canadian artists and up-and-coming names that will already be familiar.
Lariviere is also excited about a Broadway comedy he has just confirmed for next year but if you want to know more you’ll have to wait, and keep your eyes on the stage. For more information 905-305-SHOW or visit Markham.ca.

Markham resident Alex S. C. Hsu, a computer scientist-turned-artist and recent immigrant to Canada, was recognized in The New Yorker magazine’s Eustace Tilley 2013 contest. Two of his 11 entries to the contest were chosen to be featured on the New Yorker web page and app, and one, “Eustace Tilley in Gangnam Style,” won a reader’s choice award. Hsu, who lives in Markham with his wife and 5-year-old son, discovered The New Yorker’s cover art contests after reading about New Yorker art editor Francoise Mouly on the BBC website. In 2012, Mouly ran an unofficial New Yorker cover contest on her Blown Covers blog. Hsu submitted art to the contest twice. After Mouly shut down the Blown Covers contest, Hsu decided to try his hand at the official Anniversary Issue cover contest. Each year, the New Yorker’s Anniversary issue includes a variation on the original 1925 cover, a gentleman looking at a butterfly through a monocle who has come to be known as Eustace Tilley. Since 2008, the magazine has invited artists like Hsu to submit their own takes on Tilley. Hsu’s “Eustace Tilley in Gangnam Style” features Tilley dancing the Gangnam Style dance with King Kong and the Statue of Liberty. “Coded Age” is closer to the classic New Yorker cover, but Tilley’s hat and shirt are patterned with a bar code, the butterfly is replaced with a QR code, and Tilley himself is holding what appears to be a smartphone. To make his art, Hsu uses graphic design tools that he developed himself, including publicly-available software as well as his own “secret arsenal” of otherwise-unavailable tools. Hsu’s computer science background makes him acutely aware of both the benefits and limitations of computer-drawn art. “The best illustrations and pictures are still done in a relatively traditional way,” he says, noting that many top artists will, at minimum, sketch and outline their art by hand, before using computers for coloring and texturing. He cites his experiences developing drawing applications when he says, “the best input devices are still far from satisfactory. The best-working tablet is no match for the feel of a simple pencil on paper.” Hsu taught in universities in Hong Kong for many years, developing a computer program called Expression that allows artists to create graphics with hand-drawn quality using a computer, which he says won a number of awards before being acquired by Microsoft in 2003. Though Microsoft retained Hsu to work on their version of Expression, Hsu was unhappy with how he says they handled the software, so he left the company in 2007.
“Having financial security and free time, I would like to explore my artistic side as well,” he says of the time after leaving Microsoft, when he began to make animation shorts for TV programs in Hong Kong. However, his experiences at this time provoked a general dissatisfaction with Hong Kong society in general, and he began looking for places to emigrate with his family. Hsu and his family considered life in New Zealand, joking that as the place where the Lord of the Rings movies were shot, it sounds “marvelous and romantic.” However, after visiting and feeling unwelcome as Asian immigrants, Hsu and his family considered Taiwan, but eventually discarded that option, too. The years where Hsu’s family moved around trying to find a permanent home were disruptive to his art, he explains, but since settling in Canada in 2011, he’s been able to focus on sculpture and drawing, as well as his aspiration to write and illustrate children’s books. Hsu explains that his education and skills made him eligible to immigrate to many countries, but he didn’t initially consider Canada because of its popularity as a destination for Chinese immigrants. “Because of my personality, I tend to avoid doing what other people tend to do,” he says “If we knew Canada was like this, so welcoming and friendly,” he says, “we would obviously choose to come right here, on first try.”

March Break is here at last, and that means that finding ways to entertain the kids for the week has become priority one for Markham parents. The Markham Museumhas an answer to this conundrum with its weeklong March Break Mania program.
March Break Mania is a series of family-oriented drop-in activities geared towards children aged 12 and under. The program runs from noon until 4 p.m., with each day having its own theme. The themes range from “Fabric Fun” to the enigmatic-sounding “Geocaching Exploration”, “Transportation,” “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” as well as “Energy and Movement” also on the agenda. However, no matter what day people decide to attend, the museum promises that it will be a good choice.
“It’s fun, there are educational elements, and there are great hands-on activities,” says Enzo Greco, Rental and Events Coordinator for Markham Museum. “It’s pretty interactive and it brings out the explorer in every child.” Greco says that he has worked with the programming team at the museum for nearly two months to put the March Break program together. Among the activities planned for the week are throwbacks to Markham’s early year that encourage kids to learn about blacksmithing, using a proofing press, and even utilizing textiles to make clothing.
Children who attend won’t just be watching—they will be actively participating. From how to shoe horses to converting a paper pattern into an article of clothing, each of the five buildings open during the week will share a different part of history in a “touch and learn” setting. The Wilson General Store, one of the five buildings, will not only focus on how antique cash registers processed transactions, but also how shopping has changed today with the discontinuation of the Canadian penny. “It’s that connection of history to what’s happening today,” says Greco. He also promises that all of the stations, while unique, will have the common thread of being both fun and hands-on. One of the most unique fixtures of this year’s March Break Mania is the museum’s modern spin on a classic treasure hunt. Participants of the program on Friday will have the opportunity to participate in a geocaching exploration, which is a fancy term for a treasure hunt that uses a GPS-like device called a geocache machine in lieu of a map. “It’s a GPS adventure. Staff have plotted areas on the [museum] site and they’ve left items there for kids to find,” says Greco. “They’ll go around, find the item and plot it. It’s treasure hunting with technology—it’s fun.”

Evergreen Hospice of Markham-Stouffville may not be the first charitable group that pops into your mind on a daily basis, but it is one that hundreds of people are grateful they have access to at the most challenging times in their lives and those of their loved ones. Since 1989, Evergreen has been a beacon for those individuals and families seeking supportive care to deal with a life-threatening illness, death, bereavement or other life-altering issues. While the organization is continually stretched for resources, it has managed to provide a growing variety of vital services which are available to the community regardless of financial situation, religious or cultural affiliation. Its list of expanding programs includes services geared to seniors, adolescent support services, special programming for children in grades 1 to 8, in-home assistance for patients and caregiver support.  the services provided strive to accommodate family schedules and work in conjunction with an individual’s medical and nursing teams. “Each client is assessed by our Social Worker for grief issues or by our Nurse when there are physical health issues. They make the call, with family consent, as to whether we match them with a volunteer for supportive visiting, offer them the “Evergreen Living Room” activity program, arrange for further support from Community Care Access Centres (CCAC) or other outside agencies, or register them in a support group.” Last year alone, Evergreen Hospice assisted over 460 clients and their families and provided support to 185 volunteers. Referrals come to Evergreen through a number of avenues. Friends, neighbours or members of a faith group, all may contact Evergreen on behalf of someone in need. Many clients come through the CCAC who provide OHIP supported health care services, as well as through discharge planners in hospitals, community social workers, palliative care unit staff, the regional Hospice Palliative Care Team, physicians, community nurses and even from their volunteers. “The client and family members themselves can also contact us directly. We’re here to help, not to create barriers,” says Jan Pearce. While the more serious issues in life tend to occupy much of Evergreen Hospice’s staff time, they are also not above having a little fun once in a while – especially if it means being able to raise funds for their services. Fashion for Compassion, a “Divalicious” night out on May 14th is a perfect example of this. On tap will be great food, fashion, raffles and a lot of fun. When asked what ticket-holders can expect, Event Chair Colleen Cugini replies that, “it will be a fun filled evening of food and fashion celebrating the Diva in all of us. This is a wonderful opportunity to gather the girls together for a night out while supporting a worthy cause. The evening includes dinner, fashion show, Silent & Live Auctions, raffle and a few Divalicious surprises.” When asked what programs will benefit from the event, Fund Development Coordinator Rebecca Simkin states, “Since Evergreen only receives about 20% of its funding from government sources, the other 80% of our budget must be raised through contributions from individuals and businesses in the community. This event represents a large part of that effort, so, in a way, all of our programs benefit. We never want to turn anyone away or ask them to wait. In fact, many of our clients simply cannot wait!” For more information about the Fashion for Compassion event at Le Parc, call 905-472-5014.

When was the last time you took your shoes off to observe a painting by Emily Carr, Lawren Harris or Jean Paul Riopelle? Now is your chance. Every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. through the month of March until April 4, The Varley Art gallery will be hosting art-inspired yoga classes lead by Lynne Stewart, studio owner of Sol Pilates and Yoga. “For me, it’s always been about bringing communities together in a safe space,” says Stewart. “Recognizing a response to your environment is an important thing; listening to your body’s response to paintings (helps) you to move through it.” Each class will feature a different painting or set of paintings from the Canada on Canvas exhibit. On long-term loan from the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the exhibit features a private collection of pieces that span about 130 years. It includes landscape paintings by the Group of Seven and pieces by abstract painters from Quebec. “You normally wouldn’t be able to see these any other way,” says Cheryl Rego, public programs coordinator for The Varley Art gallery. “What’s really unique is that depending on the theme of the exhibit, the yoga session will change.” The first class featured the soft and watery landscape paintings of Maurice Galbraith Cullen, Marc-Aurele Fortin and John Hammond. High ceilings and soft track lighting enhanced the spaciousness of each room and the silent gallery lent itself to moments of reflection and expansion, while participants stretched and breathed deeply through a series of yoga poses. “It’s a unique way to take our mandate and explore it in a new way,” says Heather Hogan-Cherniak, communications specialist for the Varley. “Art and yoga inspires and invites participation and discovery. (These) classes are designed to be accessible, relaxing and fun.” As part of the company’s community outreach mandate, Whole Foods Markets has partnered with the gallery to provide participants with an assortment of fruit and drinks after each class. “It just seems like a natural fit,” says Hogan-Cherniak. “It goes hand and hand with both of our missions,” says Christina Dallimore, marketing and community relations representative for Whole Foods Market. Participants will also have a chance to win a gift basket courtesy of The Varley Art gallery and Whole Foods Markets. “Part of the program is that you get to journey through the gallery as you do yoga,” says Rego. In June 2012, the gallery completed an expansion project made possible in part through the donation of $1.4 million by Wallace Joyce. Upon his death in 2010, he donated a large part of his private collection the gallery. “We have holdings of over 500 works,” says Rego, “because of the addition we have more opportunities to show more of our collection. Our goal is to connect art to your everyday life and we’re always striving for more.” Contact The Varley Art gallery to learn more about this creative way to revitalize your get-fit resolutions, meet like minded people and discover some great Canadian art. To register, call The Varley Art gallery at 905-477-7000 ext. 3261 or send an e-mail to iofficers@markham.com. Classes cost $5 and there will be no session on Thrusday, March 14. The Varley Art gallery is located at 216 Main St. in Unionville.

Autotuned voices, lip synching and gyrating dance steps may sum up the top music performers, but Natalie MacMaster remains the real deal, wowing audiences around the world. The award-winning Cape Breton fiddler performs her own music and even manages to step dance when she’s not tapping her toes. Inspired by her uncle, Buddy MacMaster, and other fiddlers, her three decade long career has been awarded by multiple gold albums, two Grammy award nominations, two Juno awards, eight Canadian Country Music Awards, as well as 10 East Coast Music Awards. She was also named a member of the Order of Canada in 2006. Her latest album, Cape Breton Girl, was released in 2011, and pays tribute to her hometown of Troy with traditional Celtic song mixed with her vibrant personality. She describes her town as an area “full of culture.” Her latest book, Cape Breton Aire, was written with Pulitzer Prize winning Eileen McNamara, and includes her perspective on her hometown. She has also performed with the likes of internationally renowned Yo-Yo Ma, Faith Hill, and Luciano Pavarotti, and has appeared on the Tonight show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. Another one of MacMaster’s accomplishments is performing at Carnegie Hall. She called this experience, “a highlight,” and an “extremely exciting moment,” of her career. In addition to performing in 100 shows each year, MacMaster is also a wife, a mother of four, and an author. On balancing life’s priorities, MacMaster tells The Markham Review, “I don’t have any system, I just go where I’m led.” In addition to being an author, she and her husband Donnell Leahy host a summer camp called the Leahy Music Camp in Lakefield, Ontario. “I just love that camp, I hope that camp happens until I die,” she said. MacMaster will perform at the FLATO Markham Theatre, April 17 and 18. Tickets can be purchased through the box office by calling 905-305-SHOW (7469) or visiting www.markhamtheatre.ca.

Legendary bebopping jazz artist Charlie “Bird” Parker once said, “Don’t play the saxophone, let it play you.” His advice has rung true for generations of jazz musicians. This includes Juno-nominated jazz singer and songwriter Laila Biali, who performs at the Flato Markham Theatre on March 21, as part of the theatre’s Jazz Divas series. “Laila Biali is one of the most promising jazz pianists and vocalists of her generation in Canada—I am looking forward to her Markham debut as part of our Jazz Divas program,” says Eric Lariviere, Flato Markham Theatre general manager. Biali’s concert in Markham is part of a three-date Ontario tour that also includes stops in Ottawa and Hamilton. Though it is billed as a jazz concert, Biali promises many “surprises” beyond her vocal and piano performance. “I can’t give them away!” she says in an interview from her home in New York, laughing. She admits that there will be an unconventional instrument or two used in the concert, however. Biali, 32, is without doubt a jazz artist, but her arrangements of classic and contemporary songs along with her use of multiple musical styles—and instruments—in performances and recordings place her in a category of her own. “It’s one thing to be able to become a master [of piano],” she says, “But it’s another to pick up some of these different instruments and discover a new flavour or fun new colour to existing repertoire and new arrangements.” Biali’s affinity for jazz music started after watching the late Canadian jazz/blues musician Jeff Healey perform at the now closed Montreal Bistro in Toronto, where she studied music at Humber College after moving from Vancouver. “I remember being stunned as I watched him perform on solo piano. Not only jazz standards and traditional jazz, but stuff by Bjork and Radiohead,” she recalls. “That was my first experience of somebody who was taking pop repertoire and bringing them into a jazz context without compromising the original songs.” Her latest album, Live in Concert, was recorded from a sold out performance last year at Toronto’s Glenn Gould Studio. It features original tracks and jazz standards, as well as self-written arrangements of non-jazz classics by artists like Joni Mitchell and Tony Bennett. Despite having a Juno nomination and several jazz awards, Biali is most proud of her career’s longevity rather than any of her awards. “What I’m most proud of is that I’m still doing this, even with the various changes that have happened with the music industry over the past years,” she says. “Sitting here in New York with my family, I’m continuing to try to balance the necessities of life with a career in music.” She also points to having had the opportunity to perform with revered artists like Sting and Chris Botti as proud moments in her career. The former has said to have spoken very highly of her talents and skills. Biali’s March 21 concert in Markham will feature a new twist that she hopes will challenge her artistically and make the event more exciting for her fans: something called, seriously, the Request-O-Matic. “What we’re doing for the first time is inviting people to join our Facebook page or email any requests they might have from existing repertoire and even songs we’ve never tackled,” she says. “I love being challenged and if people have something they really want to hear, from any genre, I’m willing to give it a shot.” “We’re refining this as we go,” she says with a chuckle.