Posted on July 22, 2014 under Storytelling with 3 comments

Beth Latwaitis, Aida Arnold and David Miller

 

 

“I have an idea.”

And with those few words, a twenty-six year conversation began between David Miller and me.  David and his wife and soul mate, Aida Arnold, arrived in Antigonish in 1988 to open a McDonald’s restaurant.

I was on Town Council at the time and had three small children.  A fourth was soon to follow.  McDonald’s quickly became a magnet for families, especially families with youngsters like ours.  David and Aida became engaged in the community almost instantaneously.  And we are all the better for it.

Sometimes you have to step back from the forest to see the trees.  They saw the great potential that Antigonish town and county had at their fingertips, right from the word go.  And they have both been bringing ideas, energy and enthusiasm to many worthwhile endeavours since the day they landed here.

Aida was one of the driving forces behind “Communities in Bloom”.  Just walk around town and see all of the beautiful flowers hanging from posts and buildings, or overflowing from boxes adjacent to shops and stores along the Main.

During the recent street fair held in the downtown core, I was talking with an old neighborhood friend who spends her summers here.  Aida happened by, and once introductions were made, my friend said that in all her travels, the McDonald’s in Antigonish was her absolute favorite.  I don’t think it was because of the fries.  Their fries are always the best, whichever outlet you go to.

No.  It wasn’t the Big Macs either.  Our local McDonald’s franchisees festooned the interior of their building with local art and brought it to life with beautiful and unique landscaping outside.  I agree with my friend.  I have never been to a McDonald’s that was more esthetically pleasing or welcoming.

For many years I heard David talk about the local cultural scene.  He was always passionate in his support of actors, musicians and all manner of artists and artisans.

And, he had a dream.

On many occasions he asked me “What can we be doing to promote the area?”  Recently, he answered his own question with the creation of the Antigonish Art Fair.  While he will point out, in his self-effacing way, that many others were responsible, he was, and is, the driving force behind this bold new initiative.

The Antigonish Art Fair has begun with a series of five “Art in the Park” events, showcasing the immeasurable creative richness of our community.  The idea is to turn Antigonish into a cultural mecca; a not-to-miss destination for art tourism.

The Fair was launched a few weeks ago.  I had a bird’s eye view of the proceedings, acting as Master of Ceremonies.  The event was held at Chisolm Park, on the banks of the Brierly Brook.  Staring out from the gazebo, I could see dozens and dozens of artists showing their works.  There was a children’s corner and lots of tasty food from around the world. The dignitaries cut the ribbon and moments later, David’s dream unfolded like the first flowers in spring.

We were entertained by an eclectic mix of entertainment on the stage at the gazebo. Everything from very young Highland dancers, to a fire eater and belly dancers.  Chisholm Park is named after the late Mayor, Colin Herman Chisholm.  As I watched the belly dancers, I smiled, wondering how Collie Herman would have enjoyed this particular exhibition.  He would have thought it was just fine.

The Antigonish Arts Fair is up and running.  We are thankful for David’s vision and unbridled enthusiasm.

Stealing a line from McDonald’s, “We’re lovin’ it”.

Thanks, David.

 

Posted on July 19, 2014 under Storytelling with no comments yet

Cabot Links Golf Club

 

 

Coming from the mainland, you exit the Causeway and make a sweeping left turn onto Route 19.  It is one of the most scenic drives in the entire province in any season not starting with the letter “w”.   Before you have reached top speed (90 KPH), you pass through Troy.  I have often thought I should pull over and look for Helen and the horse.  Creignish, Long Point, Judique and Port Hood are all potential stops along the way, each steeped in tradition and some of the best tea and biscuits that one can find.

The beautiful village of Mabou can easily be mistaken for Brigadoon if you arrive there early on a misty morning.  I have to fasten my seat belt securely while passing the Mull restaurant, lest I leap out on the fly for a piece of warmed chocolate pudding cake, with a dollop of whipped cream on top.  I am ever hopeful that they serve this in heaven.

Once I see the Strathlorne Nursery I know I am getting close.

For some unknown reason, I have probably spent more time in Inverness than any single community on the Island.  The romance began in the early 1970’s.

A number of my classmates at St. F.X. were from Cape Breton, and a handful hailed from Inverness.  I had passed through the town many times over the years on my way around the Cabot Trail but never had reason to pause for more than a pit stop.

That is, until I encountered the Ryan clan.

I accepted an invitation to come down for a weekend retreat.  No, not that kind of retreat.  This getaway consisted of booze, beaches and broads …. Broad Cove, that is.  We pondered the mysteries of life at one of the Ryan cottages, perched high on a hill.  I remember it being windy and I believe that this is where I heard the expression “three sheets to the wind” for the first time.  So windy, in fact, that we tacked to a neighbor’s cabin when the beer started to run low.

I always thought that the beach in Inverness was one of the finest in the province … and still do.  It now forms the backdrop to one of the most famous golf courses in the world: Cabot Links.  I’m not sure if John Cabot saw the enormous potential of this tract of land when he travelled to the new world in 1497.  But Ben Cowan-Dewar certainly did.  He and his team have created one masterpiece of a golf course with a second to open soon.  Could be a cliff hanger!

My in-laws, Dr. John and Toni, spent a decade in Inverness and that was a period when our trips up Route 19 became more frequent.  Our girls sang at the Crab Fest and we attended many parties on Lower Railroad Street.  We met some of the most pleasant and interesting people you can imagine and it still feels a bit like home anytime we happen to be passing through town.

I remember one party in particular.  There was a great singsong going on and I was playing my guitar.  A young man appeared with his parents and a few moments later I discovered what real talent looks like.   Matthew MacLennan, from just around the corner (Chimney Corner, to be precise,) dazzled me and everyone else in the room with his exquisite singing and playing.

I played Cabot Links last year.  I hadn’t golfed in eight years and it showed.  But I didn’t care much about the quality of my game.  I was more interested in seeing a little slice (or hook!) of paradise, right in my back yard.  Everybody who works at this facility exudes warmth.  While they may not have been experts in the golf and hospitality industries initially, that is something that can be learned.  You can’t teach people to be personable.  That’s “bred in the bone”.

I wish I could say that my knowledge base is expanding as rapidly as my waistline.  One too many burgers at the Coal Miner’s Café.

Beautiful beaches, great golf and wonderful people.  A perfect cocktail for the summer.

 

 

Posted on July 15, 2014 under Storytelling with 3 comments

When the chips are down

 

 

Life is one long series of trade-offs.

There are plenty of examples of people having to make tough decisions; taking the good with the bad.  The current economic environment has forced many Maritimers to find employment in the oil patch.  The good news is that with the right skill set and plenty of discipline you can make a lot of money there. If you have a trade then there’s a real bonanza to be had.  The bad news is that you have to live where the work is, with rents and home prices that are astronomical.   This leads many people to do the commute.  They are trading money for lifestyle.  When you have a family to support you may not have any other choice.

The baby boomers are retiring en masse.  Their large homes are now flooding the market, driving down prices in small town Canada.  Many of these same people are choosing to move to larger centres where they have better access to services, especially medical and recreational; but more importantly, their grandchildren are there.  They have lived most of their adult lives in the comfortable arms of small communities and now they are faced with the prospect of living in a high rise in the city, where their neighbor could possibly be a member of the Hell’s Angels (Hopefully retired! – Editor) Yes, pensioners who sell their homes and move to the city can eliminate repairs to their homes, snow shovelling and property taxes; but what are they trading these things for?

Nowhere are trade-offs more apparent than in a marriage.

Giving up the single life is a big transition. “Doing your own thing,” one of the big catch all phrases from the 60’s, takes a back seat to compromise.  It becomes a delicate balancing act that is mastered over time.

One person in the relationship may have been a neat-freak before tying the knot, while the other … not so much.  Ditto for finances.  Having a Scrooge trying to match wits with a spendthrift can be like matches and gasoline.  Everything hopefully reaches a state of equilibrium over time.

Sometimes, the scales of justice tip precariously in one direction or the other.  If you’re a man, you have to build up a lot of credits.  Some people refer to them as “man chips”.

Just the other day, a friend of mine was telling me about a recent shopping trip he took with his wife.  She was in search of a purse, your basic walking around town variety.  This was the day before my friend was due to play in the Kilted Golf Tournament.  You should know that this tournament is really an excuse for anybody of Scottish heritage or anyone with the nerve to wear a kilt, to hit the links.  But before they take their first swing, most participants hit the bottle.  Mercifully it is a one day tournament but it generally leaks into the next day and absenteeism at work is rampant.

I am not here to glorify overconsumption of anything.  Just stating the facts.

The search for the perfect purse would have pleased Marco Polo.  It was an epic journey.  Finally, mercifully, the ultimate handbag was located.  Before reaching the checkout my friend casually asked about the price.  “It’s on sale.  It’s only $250.”  He could feel his cerebellum moving from side to side as if he had been in the ring and had absorbed a hay maker to the head.  Just as he was about to utter something utterly contemptible (and stupid), a small voice inside him said. “Don’t say a thing.  You need to conserve all those man chips.  You might spend them all tomorrow at the golf course and the bar afterwards, not to mention a late night pizza at the Wheel.”  (Sounds like he’ll go through at least $250 by lunchtime … – Editor)

Men, take it from the experts.  Weigh all of your options when the chips are down.