Media Releases

July 22, 2010

Celebrate The Year of the Métis at Discovery Harbour’s Métis Day Bo’jou Neejee Event

The dynamic culture and heritage of the Métis people will be celebrated at Discovery Harbour with the fifth annual Métis Day Bo'jou Neejee Special Event on Saturday August 7.

2010 has been declared The Year of the Métis, and Discovery Harbour’s event will give visitors a chance to learn about Métis culture through lively music, activities, demonstrations, and displays. Discovery Harbour has a strong historic connection to the Métis people who were part of the military migration from Drummond Island to the original Penetanguishene base in 1828.

Music has always been a big part of the Metis Day Bo’jou Neejee event and this year’s talent will be exceptional. Back from performing at the Vancouver Olympics and fresh from Orillia’s recent Mariposa Folk Festival, the Métis Fiddler Quartet, renowned for their mastery of both traditional Métis and Native old-style fiddle playing, will grace the outdoor stage. New this year will be the Métis dance troupe “Jaime and the Jiglets” plus The Capital City Toe Tappers. Both groups will be sure to please crowds with their energetic jigging and fancy footwork! Traditional fiddler Alicia Blore will perform her upbeat tunes, and local favourite La Famille Lefaive will share their repertoire of Franco-Ontarian music and songs.

Many activities and exhibits that share and showcase Métis culture will be part of the Métis Day Bo'jou Neejee event. New this year is KAKWA, traditional artisans from Saskatchewan. KAKWA has participated in many programs and exhibits including at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., and the group’s crafts are displayed in private collections in Asia, Europe and across North America. KAKWA will demonstrate stone tool making and horse-hair and silk embroidery. Additional artisans will showcase finger weaving, a traditional skill used to create the famous Métis ceinture fléchée, as well as moccasin making, freehand beading, rug hooking, dot painting, and traditional drawing. Other exhibits include the ancient technique of fish scale artwork, candle, bannock and basket making, and presentations of the traditional Métis Michif language.

Throughout the day, visitors can also enjoy a Voyageur Encampment and historic games, birch bark canoe display, quill pen writing, and historic blacksmithing demonstrations. A horse-and-wagon ride will be offered to transport visitors from the Admission area to event activities. Food will be available in the events area.

The fascinating and fun Métis Day Bo'jou Neejee event is at Discovery Harbour on Saturday, August 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is one of the greatest attraction event values on Georgian Bay: just $6.00 for adults, $5.00 for seniors, and $5.25 for students (with student ID). Youth ages 6-12 are $4.25, and children ages 5 and under are free. For further information please call (705) 549-8064.

Discovery Harbour is operated by Huronia Historical Parks,
and is an Attraction of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

Media Contact:
Bill Brodeur
Coordinator,
Marketing and Media Relations

Archives

July 7, 2010

Playford Players to perform at Discovery Harbour on July 17

The Playford Players will perform their enchanting music at Discovery Harbour on Saturday July 17, providing traditional musical ambience to the picturesque marine heritage site.

The Playford Players are composed of guitarist Philip Corke from Burlington and hammer dulcimer player Roland Packer from Hamilton. They have performed their blend of traditional instrumental music at a wide range of events throughout Southern Ontario since 1982. Having met while studying composition at Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music, they began writing eclectic arrangements of traditional English, Irish and Appalachian tunes for hammer dulcimer and guitar. Eventually their sound expanded with the addition of mandolin, bowed psaltery and Irish bouzouki, and by composing original material to complement their traditional repertoire. Their resulting blend of folk, pop, jazz and classical styles has been described as "light, bright, lilting music that sets the toes, and the soul, tapping."

Philip Corke and Roland Packer of The Playford Players are looking forward to their first appearance at Discovery Harbour on July 17. "The 19th century ambience of this picturesque historic site will provide a wonderful background for our performances. We will enjoy sharing our unique settings of traditional music with visitors at this famous marine heritage site”, they noted.

To add to the musical day, Discovery Harbour’s costumed staff plans to perform sea shanties and other traditional music on the historic site. Families can also enjoy fun hands-on activities including 19th century games, and on-deck demonstrations aboard the magnificent ships H.M.S. Tecumseth and H.M.S. Bee. Tea and lemonade will be served in the lovely Keating House, and a new exhibit entitled “Canada at Play” on loan from the Royal Ontario Museum can also be seen.

The Playford Players are at Discovery Harbour on Saturday, July 17. Performances will start on the hour beginning at 11 a.m. with the last performance beginning at 4:00 p.m. Performances will be in the North Visitor Centre on the historic site and are included as part of regular site admission. For further information call (705) 549-8064.
Discovery Harbour is operated by Huronia Historical Parks,
and is an attraction of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

Media Contact:
Bill Brodeur
Coordinator,
Marketing and Media Relations
Huronia Historical Parks
(705) 528-7692
Email: Bill.Brodeur@ontario.ca

May 14, 2010

Sainte-Marie among the Hurons and Discovery Harbour plan exciting year

Sainte-Marie among the Hurons and Discovery Harbour open this month to the public, offering an exciting series of programs, special events, and exhibits for the 2010 season. Both attractions are looking forward to another strong tourism season and to welcoming visitors from around the world to the Southern Georgian Bay area. Last year, the attractions had a 6% increase in visitor attendance.

At Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, hundreds of school children have been enjoying curriculum-related education programs since April; both Sainte-Marie and Discovery Harbour will welcome many more students during May and June. New this year, a special Education Program for schools will be offered at Sainte-Marie on June 21, in conjunction with the site’s National Aboriginal Day highlight.

Both attractions will offer a great line-up of Special Events for 2010. At Sainte-Marie, the colourful Aboriginal Festival Weekend runs June 12-13 followed by National Aboriginal Day June 21. Featuring over 40 outstanding artisans, the Thanksgiving Harvest Festival and Arts and Crafts Show and Sale returns on October 9-10, followed by the enchanting “First Light” Christmas event evenings November 25-26-27. “First Light” has been once again rated a
“Top 100” Event in Ontario for 2010. At Discovery Harbour, a special musical highlight is planned for July 17 featuring The Playford Players performing their unique blend of traditional melodies on guitar and hammer dulcimer. Now in its fifth year, the dynamic culture of the Métis people will be shared and celebrated at the Métis Day Bo’jou Neejee special event on August 7. 2010 has been declared the “The Year of the Métis Nation” to recognize and celebrate the Métis Nation across Canada. Haunted Harbour, a fun and spooky evening for the entire family, returns October 27-28.

Throughout July and August, both attractions will offer lots of fun hands-on activities for visitors, with Sainte-Marie featuring a new basket-making program, 17th century firestarting, historic clothing demonstrations, native games and storytelling, and 17th century cooking. Discovery Harbour will have a daily croquet activity, on-deck activities aboard the impressive historic replica ships H.M.S. Tecumseth and Bee, dockyard demonstrations including an all-new sawpit, sailor’s ropework, and 19th century cooking. The magnificent original Officers’ Quarters, dating to 1836, will also be open. Sainte-Marie exhibits include historically researched gardens on-site and a new “Seeds and Breeds” display in the visitor foyer. Discovery Harbour will install a new exhibit entitled “Canada at Play”, on loan from the Royal Ontario Museum.

Sainte-Marie among the Hurons is open seven days per week beginning May 17. Discovery Harbour is open weekdays May 25 to June 25, and seven days per week June 26 to September 5. For information call (705) 526-7838 or visit www.hhp.on.ca

Sainte-Marie among the Hurons and Discovery Harbour are operated by
Huronia Historical Parks, and are Attractions of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

High resolution photography is available for Media use; please see contact below.

Media Contact:
Bill Brodeur
Coordinator
Marketing and Media Relations
Huronia Historical Parks
(705) 528-7692
Bill.Brodeur@ontario.ca