Milestones and memories

  Liberal Candidate for Stormont-Dundas–South Glengarry, Bernadette Clement, officially launched her campaign in the beautiful Russell Manor gardens, here, Sunday afternoon. Despite the extreme heat, Liberal supporters were out in good numbers to throw their […]

 

Stuart McLean is a nationally known radio broadcaster, humourist and author. 

During his outstanding career, McLean has won an ACTRA award, the Rooke Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching, Research and Writing, Trent University, the Canadian Authors Association Best Non Fiction Book, 1993, the Canadian Author’s Association and Jubilee Award, 2004, and three Stephen Leacock Memorial Medals for Humour, 1999, 2001 and 2007. 

But Stuart McLean is probably best known, and loved, by generations of Canadians, for creating Dave and Morley, characters whose zany misadventures are often featured in his long-running CBC production, The Vinyl Café.

This January 28-29, 2012,  Stuart McLean is bringing his hit CBC Vinyl Café production to Upper Canada Playhouse, according to artistic director, Donnie Bowes.

Stuart McLean and his crew will be taping two live programs at the Playhouse in front of two sold out audiences. 

McLean, in his very distinctive voice, during the show, will narrate tales of Dave (who makes a living running the Vinyl Café in Toronto), his wife Morley, their children Stephanie and Sam, their friends, and the people in their neighbourhood. 

Dave keeps a juke box in his living room and the motto of his  record business is “We May Not Be Big, But We’re Small.” 

Each story performance by McLean is a complete tale in its own right, affectionate, often nostalgic,   gently humourous, as Dave and Morley cope with the quirks of daily life. 

These stories on air, and their appearance in a series of books and audio books, have won McLean millions of fans since the characters’ premiere. 

The Vinyl Café features essays, fiction and music. McLean is noted for introducing new Canadian musicians. Café episodes often begin with McLean reciting a description of the venue and the community in which he is appearing (Morrisburg) and end with his signature signoff “I’m Stuart McLean, so long for now.”

Which stories he will be sharing during his taping in Morrisburg are not yet confirmed, but audiences can hope that some of McLean’s beloved seasonal tales, Dave Cooks the Turkey, Christmas with Rasheeda and Ahmeer, Morley’s Christmas Pageant and Dave on the Roof may be in the line-up. 

While tickets are currently sold out for the The Vinyl Café, contact Upper Canada Playhouse at 613-543-3713 for additional information. 

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MORRISBURG – Happy Face Nursery School is patiently waiting to gain occupancy status to the two classrooms at Morrisburg Public School that will be home to their new Morrisburg location.

“Construction is a bit behind schedule,” said Cheryl Firlotte, executive director with Happy Face Nursery School and Child Care.

Although they were hoping to be ready to open September 3, Firlotte now hopes that they will be able to open by mid September.

“Morrisburg is a priority for Happy Face and for the Ministry,” said Firlotte.

“This centre, here in Morrisburg, is going to be a really nice centre,” she said. Happy Face will be operating six centres in SD&G once this Morrisburg centre is opened this fall. 

Community need is what brings Happy Face to Morrisburg. 

“There is really nothing like this available in the area,” said Firlotte. “This area has been identified as needing child care for some time.”

The Morrisburg location is a day care facility. This new location is a partnership between Happy Face, the Upper Canada District School Board and Cornwall Child Care Services.  

Happy Face at Morrisburg Public School will have room to accommodate 15 children in the toddler program and 16 children in the pre-school program. Toddlers are aged 18-30 months and pre-schoolers are 30 months to kindergarten age. 

“Response, so far, has been fantastic,” said Firlotte. When it was announced earlier this year that Happy Face was coming to Morrisburg, about 50 per cent of the available spaces filled up right away. They are holding a registration night August 29, 4-7 p.m. at Morrisburg Public School. 

Happy Face follows the Ontario Early Learning Framework of play-based learning with literacy and numeracy embedded in the every day curriculum. 

The Morrisburg location will be staffed by four qualified early childhood educators.

The facility will feature two classrooms, a kitchen, office and storage space. Each room has its own washroom and there are two outdoor fenced yards, one for each age group for outdoor play.

The site will be open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Meals and snacks are provided. The cost is $32 or $35 per day, depending on the age of the child, with subsidies available.

“This will definitely fill a real need in this community,” said Firlotte.

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