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 I love my operas bigger than life, bold and passionate. I love my plays about operas bigger than life, bold, passionate and hilarious.

Lend Me A Tenor, which has just opened at Upper Canada Playhouse, and runs until August 24, is all of the above, and then some.

Ebullient characters, impossible mix-ups, outrageous lines, and some of the best laughs you will experience in a theatre this summer, Lend Me A Tenor is simply great fun. Director Donnie Bowes’ eight man cast is dynamic,  all of them easily able to deal with both the frantic pace of the play and its demands on their acting stamina.

The story is set in 1934, in a hotel suite near the Cleveland Opera House where Italian opera superstar, Tito Morelli, is scheduled to give one performance only of his most famous role, Otello.

The Opera House has a lot riding on this show. Manager Henry Saunders has wilting shrimp hors d’ouevres, a full stage crew, back up singers, a chorus line, an interfering opera board and 1,000 paid patrons in search of a spot of culture, in place, awaiting the arrival of the great Morelli. 

To add operatic overtones to the plot, the temperamental tenor arrives several hours late for his Cleveland engagement. He has grossly overindulged in train food, and  adamantly refuses to attend a dress rehearsal. His nerves, he proclaims, are playing up. He will need some medication.

He gets a little more than he expected.

Sheldon Davis performs ‘Il Stupendo’ the tenor, as a character whose ego appears to be only slightly smaller than Luciano Pavarotti’s girth. Morelli’s fractured English and his habit of flinging himself dramatically all about his hotel room, swiftly sets the outrageous mood of the play…and also sets off audience howls.

Davis is priceless in the bombastic role. Yet he still manages to bring out his character’s sympathetic side. It is not easy, even for Morelli, to be hounded by a fickle public, and to exist out of suitcases. (“I live in hotels! If I have children they gonna look like bellhops!”) 

Perhaps that is why Tito’s relationship with his long-suffering wife, Maria (Susan Greenfield, having a wonderful time in the role), is tempestuous, and very, very funny. They don’t talk these two. They shout. They gesture. They threaten.

“Someday you gonna wake up in you bed, you gonna be a soprano!”

“My wife, she’s-a crazy! Shutta up yourself!”

Witness to the Morelli domestic outbursts is Max, Parris Greaves, the harried Cleveland Opera assistant manager and its general “dogsbody,” as the insufferable Henry Saunders (Ed Sahely) describes him.  Ordered to keep the womanizing Tito “on a leash” until performance time, Greaves’ Max soon finds himself drowning in Machiavellian cover-ups. Especially when it appears, early in Act I, that ‘Il Stupendo’, in a fit of remorse, may have actually done himself in.

“It was acknowledged that Tito sang like an angel. Apparently he wanted to prove it,”  an enraged Saunders says acidly. The Cleveland Opera manager  now faces that greatest of all theatrical calamities – returning ticket money!

Someone must put on the Otello costume and sing the opera. And who better than Max, who actually knows the role? (So what if he’s never sung outside his shower.)

The plot complications fly thick and fast, to the audience’s evident delight. Soon there are two Tito Morellis on the loose in Cleveland, and one of them has slugged an unforgiving cop. 

Into this comic buffet, toss Maggie, Max’s on-again, off-again fiancé (played with wide-eyed naiveté by Liz Gilroy) who is desperate for a “wider experience,”  preferably with the great star. Stir in the formidable head of the Opera Guild, Julia (Patti Kazmer), who is also Tito ‘stage-struck’, and a most unexpected fashionista. (“How do I look?” Saunders: “Like the Chrylser Building.”)

Blend in bellhop Doug Tangney (who can set the audience giggling just by walking on stage) complete with his camera, his autograph book and his running feud with Saunders.

And finally, spice the whole feast up via the sultry Diana (AnnaMarie Lea), who is only too ready to do “whatever” it takes to get to the Met stage  ‘a la Tito’. 

However, as she later hilariously observes, at a crucial moment, there does seem to be rather an overabundance of Titos in the hotel suite! (“I’ve been two timed before, but never with so much flair!”)

The laughs are loud and long throughout the entire play. Bowes has also punctuated certain actions on stage by the introduction  of some  unexpected and quite inspired bits of real opera. Bravo!

Incidentally, be prepared to be bowled over by the vocal talents of Davis and Greaves – what a pleasure to hear them!

Bowes has staged a classic, thoroughly wonderful comedy for the third play of the season.  Plan to spend time with Il Stupendo and the mad cap characters of Lend Me A Tenor. As Tito would say, it’s all “molto bene”!

Contact the Playhouse at 613-543-3713 for tickets.

[…]

 

The veterans of Team Magee brought home their third consecutive “King of the River” title  as they took first place in the 44th Tubie Festival Race, August 3, 2014.

A return to the traditional race format, with crafts leaving from Arlor Haven Campgrounds and rowing to the Morrisburg Beach, saw Magee’s “Black Beauty” take an early lead in the field of seven tubies. “We were ahead all the way down the river,” said skipper Gary Magee. “It was a good race.”

“Black Beauty” and her crew of Gary, Jaime Notman, Stephanie Crowell, Sheri Halpenny, Mark Hayward and Mario Del Ricco pulled their Tubie on to the sand, to the cheers of a large crowd gathered at the finish line, in a time of 26.47 minutes. 

The second place team was also made up of river veterans. “Back in the Saddle With Our Paddles”, Team Barclay, came out of the water in 29.15 minutes. “I think we were the oldest people on the river today,” laughed rower Laura Barclay. “We’re exhausted.”

Taking third honours was the team skippered by Matt Laurin, who came ashore in 31.09 minutes.

To the delight of the crowd, the two craft contending for fourth and fifth spots turned the race into a real battle in the final stretch. 

Nose to nose all the way to the sand were the teams led by Josh Biemond and Corey Cassell. 

In a flurry of paddles, and the rush to get their crafts and crew completely out of the water (as per Tubie rules), the judges ultimately decreed that the Biemond Team was fourth, with a time of 34.00 minutes, and the Cassell Team fifth, with a time of 34.01 minutes. 

Coming in sixth place was the Gareth Cochrane/Jesse Swank craft and crew, with their time logged at 37.25 minutes. 

This 2014 Tubie Race definitely had its share of drama.

The Sage Barclay/Christyn Veinotte Tubie, turned turtle in the river about three quarters of the way along the race route. 

“We saw one of our tubes slipping,” said Veinotte, “then there was this big bang. The next thing we knew, our wood cracked, and we were all dumped overboard. It’s a bit of a blur after we hit the water.”

Spectators could see the South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services boat (which tracked the race from start to finish) rush to the stricken craft. However the crew of 10, all wearing life preservers, waved off the rescuers and boats offering to tow them.

Instead, the crew swam the remains of their tubie all the way to the finish line. 

When they finally hauled the  battered craft out of the water, 45 minutes after they started the race, the Veinotte/Barclay crew was met with loud cheers from the waiting crowd and congratulations from their fellow competitors. 

“I think we just wanted to finish with some pride,” a tired Veinotte said. 

First place in the 2014 race took home $400, second place, $250, third place, $150, and fourth, fifth and sixth places $50 each.  

The 2014 Tubie Festival, organized and run, for the first time, by the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce, was praised by all who attended the events as an unqualified success. 

“It was really just an amazing weekend,” said both Geraldine Fitzsimmons and Grace McDonough from the Chamber. “In the end, even the weather co-operated with us. The Tubie committee and our Board members from the Junior Bs, Lois and Kevin Casselman, really did an outstanding job. 

We had over 450 people at the outdoor dance, where One Night Standards was a big hit. We even had an unexpected but great fireworks display Saturday night, as Waddington, New York, was celebrating its Old Home Week. And our South Dundas community really came out to support the Festival.” 

The popular 44th Tubie parade took place on Saturday, August 2, at one p.m.

Despite the humidity, crowds lined the Morrisburg streets to cheer for the colourful and highly individual floats and their riders of all ages. The theme for this year’s Festival was “Splash”, in honour of the Splash Pad fund raisers hope to have started work on by fall.

Judges definitely had a hard time choosing winners among the Tubie floats, but finally made these choices.

First place, Disney on the River,  was created by the Morrell Sisters, sponsored by Classic Cuts and Lakeshore Massage Therapy. Second place was Splish Splash, the Veinotte/Barclay float. Coming in third was Matt Laurin’s Tubie Splash. Fourth was the Chamber of Commerce entry, Tiki Bar. Coming fifth was the Splash Pad Committee’s Splash Cash, while sixth place was given to the Domanko Tubie Colourful. 

[…]

Five years after the federal and provincial governments announced that they would grant $18 million to South Dundas to fully fund construction of a new waste water treatment plant in Iroquois, the plant is up and running and producing the highest quality effluent for discharge into the St. Lawrence River.

Late mayor Charles Barkley played a key role in securing this funding, which he knew about before his death June 17, 2009. 

The new plant has been running for 1.5 months. It took about two years to complete construction. Monday, July 28, construction and government officials gathered on site to celebrate its completion, and tour the new $18 million facility that provides a secondary treatment process, which improves the quality of wastewater effluent. 

MP Guy Lauzon spoke fondly of Barkley and his determination to make government officials aware of the need for this much needed project that the small community of Iroquois could never afford, at Monday’s completion event.

“For years, I don’t think there was ever a time when I saw Charles that he didn’t mention this project,” said Lauzon, who still remembers the emotion of the official funding announcement event that took place three days after Barkley’s funeral. 

The final project cost was $18,062,067. The governments of Canada and Ontario each contributed $9 million, with South Dundas providing the remaining $62,067.

South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds spoke about the importance of that funding for this project. He explained that if the sewer users of Iroquois had to foot the bill for this project under the traditional one-third funding formula, the new plant would have cost each user $8,500. “We need to really recognize the importance of this grant. It is a big savings to the users of the Iroquois waste water treatment plant,” he said.

The new plant is currently operating at about one-third of its total capacity.

Not only does the upgraded plant better protect the environment and ensure the health and safety of local residents, its increased capacity allows the Municipality of South Dundas to treat sufficient wastewater to support future growth.

“Without our partners, this would not have happened,” said Byvelds.

The new Iroquois waste water treatment plant is fully automated, but can be run manually, if necessary. It features UV disinfection and has a storm water tank to allow the storage of storm water in large rain events to avoid over taxing the system and virtually eliminating the possibility of ever having to bypass the treatment process.  

Project contractor was J.C. Sulpher Construction.

Ian Kemp, supervisor of water and wastewater operations for the Municipality of South Dundas is happy to report that the new plant is running extremely efficiently. “The product we are producing here is exceptionally good,” he said. He explained that by Ministry of the Environment standards up to 200 e.coli per 100 ml is allowable. “This has two,” he said holding up a 100 ml sample of clear water, the product being discharged from this plant.

[…]

Splashdown is only days away. Organizers of the 44th annual Tubie Festival can hardly believe it’s Tubie time already.

“Bringing back the good old days of Tubie has been fantastic for us, as organizers,” said Geraldine Fitzsimmons, manager for the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce, which took over organization of the decades old event just this year.

This year marks the return of the ‘marathon’ style race, which will feature one race only, from Arlor Haven campground in Mariatown to the Morrisburg Beach.

Fitzsimmons says that the work of Kevin and Lois Casselman, in guiding this new committee through the organization process has been key, and the committee can’t thank them enough, as well as those at Arlor Haven for allowing the use of that site as a launch point for the race.

The committee feels that the move back to the traditional race has created a real buzz around this year’s event around the community.

The parade, featuring participating Tubie crafts, and their plays on this year’s theme “It’s going Tubie a Splash” takes place Saturday, August 2, at 1 p.m., and follows the same route as year’s past, parading along Lakeshore Drive to Augusta Street, Fifth Street, Main Street. 

The dance, featuring local band, One Night Standards, takes place under the stars Saturday night, at the Morrisburg waterfront between the Docksyde, the washrooms and the Lions shelter.

The race starts Sunday, August 3, at noon at Arlor Haven in Mariatown. The title of ‘Kings and Queens of the River’ goes to  the first team to paddle their way to the Morrisburg beach.

“The president of the Chamber of Commerce, and the whole Tubie Festival Committee are really glad that we have taken on the Tubie Festival. It is such an important tradition for South Dundas,” said Fitzsimmons. “We are all ready for a party this weekend.”

The committee is already planning for the future of the Tubie Festival and has some ideas on how to continue to build the event next year, and beyond.

[…]

The passing ships aren't the only spectacle attracting visitors to the Iroquois Locks. Visitors and Photographers are quite taken by the majestic beauty of this osprey family. Osprey mature at two years of age. In youth, their eyes are orange, and then they become yellow in adulthood. Ospreys often next upon man-made structures, and have a high nest fidelity, often returning to the same nest after migration. They mate for life, and are devoted parents. This nesting platform was erected a few years ago when a nest had to be moved from a crane structure. The parents are often seen, keeping a watchful eye from the nearby crane. The young are full-grown at six weeks and leave the nest at 8-10 weeks for their first flight.

Images by Terri Laurin

 

[…]

It’s 1934, Cleveland, Ohio, the Grand Opera House. 

Tenor Tito Morelli’s appearance, for one performance only, will be the greatest coup for the management, for the Opera Guild, and for opera fans since the Cleveland Opera first opened its doors. Everyone, from the hotel bellhop to the socially prominent president of the Opera Guild, is keyed up with excitement and desperate to make a good impression on the great man. This is Cleveland’s cultural chance!

And of course, it is all going to go spectacularly and hilariously wrong! 

Upper Canada Playhouse’s new show, Lend Me A Tenor, opens July 31 and runs to August 24.

“This is a farce in the truest sense of the word,” said director Donnie Bowes. “Something goes wrong very early, and people make fateful decisions that also go wrong. In just a few moments, everything changes dramatically.”

The play, by Ken Ludwig, was revived on Broadway in 1989, and received nine Tony Award nominations. It has remained enormously popular with audiences world wide, and also with actors who perform in it. 

“This is truly the best written farce I’ve ever been in,” said cast member Liz Gilroy, who will be playing Maggie, a star struck young woman quite “crazy about Tito.”

Patti Kazmer, who takes on the role of Julia, the elegant if “rather pushy” president of the Opera Guild, agrees. “This really is a classic comedy.”

Bowes has brought together a multi-talented cast of eight for this third production of the Playhouse  summer season.

In the lead, as ‘Il Stupendo’ himself, is Sheldon Davis, who has acted the role in other productions, and once, some years ago, at the Playhouse. He was asked how he keeps a familiar character like Tito fresh and alive.

“Actually we find ourselves mining what was there before,” Davis said. “It is such a funny, funny play. The qualities and thoughts of the characters are all in a shoebox in our minds, and we bring them out and blow the dust off. And new people always create new energy and a new dynamic for the play.”

The actors are having fun with their roles.

Susan Greenfield is Maria, Tito’s volatile wife, who is very jealous of his attraction to women. “I also need to be constantly aware of my Italian accent,” she laughed.

Parris Greaves is Max, the harried assistant to the opera’s manager, desperate to ensure that all goes well, and doomed to see that all goes wrong.

Playhouse newcomer Ed Sahely is the slightly overbearing opera house manager, Henry Saunders. He wants a theatrical hit, no matter what he has to do to get it.

AnnaMarie Lea is Diana, a soprano scheduled to play Desdemona to Tito’s Othello. But what she wants is to get out of Cleveland and on to the grand stage of the Metropolitan Opera: she is prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve that ambition.

Rounding out the cast, as an idol worshipping Bellhop, is Doug Tangney. Like just about everyone else in the play, the Bellhop is determined to get close to his ‘hero’, the great Tito, no matter the circumstances.

John Thompson has designed a  colourful period set for this production. “He’s had a lot of experience designing period shows,” said Donnie Bowes, “and has incorporated the trims and architecture of the 30s in the set pieces. It’s striking.”

To a person, the actors rave about the costumes created by Alex Amini for the Playhouse’s Lend Me A Tenor. 

“Alex just has a wonderful sense of us and our characters. She creates beautiful costumes,” said Patti Kazmer.

“Alex has ‘dressed’ 70 shows this season alone,” Bowes said. “She works closely with the director and later with each actor, offering various costumes and various qualities to enhance that character. Every costume is completely unique.”

With a beautiful set, striking costumes and a cast of lovable, rather mad and certainly hilarious characters, Lend Me A Tenor will definitely be a Playhouse hit. 

For tickets, contact the Playhouse at 613-543-3713.

[…]

 

 The Morrisburg BIA organizers were pleased. The more than 20 vendors in attendance were pleased. Local Morrisburg businesses were pleased. 

And the hundreds of people who took in the 16th annual Antique Festival, July 19-20, in Morrisburg, were very pleased with the wide and interesting variety of antiques and collectibles they could explore, evaluate and purchase over the two day event.

“It’s just been fantastic.” said Grace McDonough, BIA co-ordinator. “Hundreds of visitors came out to Antiquefest over the two days. The exposure for our local businesses and our community was phenomenal. While they were here taking in the antiques, people also got to see our Village and all things it has to offer.” 

The vendors, who came from Ottawa, Madoc, Montreal, Gatineau and locally, praised the event.

“We love this venue, love the tents, tables and chairs provided for each of us, all free of charge, and the support we received from the BIA,” said Brian Wildsmith of the Almonte Antique Market.

“I love it here,” said vendor Claude Gauthier of Crysler. “This is one of the nicest shows I’ve been to. And we’ve seen lots of visitors.

The BIA also sponsored a Vendors Breakfast at the Basket Case on Sunday, attended by MP Guy Lauzon, warden Eric Duncan,  South Dundas deputy mayor Jim Locke and councillor Evonne Delegarde.

The Antiquefest offered furniture, art, art deco, jewelry, china, glassware, toys, signs and a large selection of unusual and interesting collectibles. Some dealers on site were willing to appraise articles brought in by visitors. The crowds were steady over both days.

“It has been a great event,” McDonough said. “And I can’t stress enough the support and help the Morrisburg BIA, which sponsored Antiquefest, received from the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce. We created a really good impression of our community. Already 15 vendors have committed to next year’s Antique Festival. The weather,” she added, “was perfect too.”

[…]

 

It might have been raining in areas around the Iroquois air port, but overhead, Sunday, July 20, the weather was perfect. Nearly 700 people, including pilots and passengers from 50 planes and two helicopters, arrived in Iroquois to enjoy a breakfast served up by volunteers from Ross Video.

John Ross was very pleased with the level of community support. He was equally appreciative of the hard work done by all the event volunteers, whether directing planes on to the field, acting as air traffic advisors, or working behind the stoves, during a day which began well before the first aircraft touched down.

“Our Ross Video people were fabulous,” Ross said.  “We streamlined our kitchen service this year and it worked out very well. Even better, Cherie Scott has agreed to head up our kitchen team. The township also installed six high current outlets on the site, and what a difference they make for food preparation.”

Planes flew in from many directions. Michel Boucher of Embrun, landed his kit-built Mosquito Helicopter, and drew an immediate crowd. So did Luc Thibault of Lachute, who arrived in a 330 pound, hand-made yellow Hummel Bird. “They have a good breakfast here, and my refrigerator was empty,” he laughed, as he answered dozens of questions from the crowd. 

A Chipmunk tandem cockpit 1949 deHavilland demonstrator, owned by Iroquois resident Reagh Simpson, flown by Jean-Pierre Chartrand and David Murray, also drew a great deal of interest at the Fly In. “This particular plane is actually written up in deHavilland’s official history,” Simpson said.

Also taking part in the very successful Fly In day, were over 50 vehicles belonging to the Golden Gears Car Club. Visitors made it clear they really enjoyed the combination of planes and cars at the event. 

“We had fewer planes this year,” John Ross said, “but lots of area people came out to help support our Iroquois airport. The community is wonderful. This has been a very successful day.”  

[…]

MORRISBURG – For the first time, South Dundas officials have made public the final cost of the South Dundas Municipal Centre project. 

The final tally is just over $5 million.

The final numbers were presented at the July 15 regular council meeting, where council decided on the details of how the project will be financed.

“Five million dollars is a lot of money. However, no project gets done without the extras that needed to be done,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds. 

“Renovating an old structure such as this is a challenge for those involved, but I believe that what we have is worth it. In the end, we have used an old building and brought it back to life to serve the community with a new clinic, library and municipal offices for years to come.”

According to South Dundas chief administrative officer Steve McDonald’s report, the total project cost of $5,001,693.54 included the construction cost of $4,266,690. 

That number was originally expected to come in at $4.1 million; the $3.9 million contract approved by council, plus the $200,000 contingency.

Adding on to the actual construction cost were; some major changes in the project, due to unforeseen structural conditions ($87,000), some additional masonry work ($18,000), miscellaneous minor changes ($28,000) and $40,000 worth of required changes to the clinic space, that council approved.

On top of the construction costs were; $464,000 worth of professional fees for project management, architecture and engineering, $33,000 worth of required studies, $17,000 worth of insurance, $20,000 for the electrical service, $5,000 of miscellaneous expenses and $30,000 interest on the construction loan.

Of the professional fees, including project management and architecture, Mayor Byvelds reported they came in at roughly 11 per cent, which is below the average for work of this nature. “Our other major infrastructure projects all come in the 15 per cent range,” he said. 

Also included in the project cost was the $165,000 purchase of the former St. Lawrence Medical Clinic location in Morrisburg, which was renovated into a new home for the Morrisburg library, with some office space which is being rented to the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic.

Once grants ($10,000), recoverable funds ($8,400) and prior municipal funds committed to the project ($750,500) were factored in to the equation, the balance needing to be financed is just over $4.2 million.

Staff recommended that $200,000 of that come from the existing Morrisburg visitor centre reserve and from working funds, and that the remaining $4 million be financed through Infrastructure Ontario over a 20 year term.

Staff recommended, and council agreed to, a serial debenture as the total estimated repayment costs are about $200,000 less over the 20 year term of the loan. Council also asked that payments be made monthly to save a further $50,000 in borrowing costs.

In the first year, the Municipality of South Dundas’ loan payment will amount to almost $341,000. 

That number will decrease annually, when in 2034, the annual loan payment will be just over $207,000.

This council has set aside fund for the first year’s payment, which will likely come due under the next council. The annual payment that the municipality receives from the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic will also be allocated to the repayment costs.  

This long term debt payment is well within the means of the municipality, which has an annual debt capacity of $1.5 million.

The renovation of the South Dundas municipal Centre is complete, with a one year warranty. 

The only portion of the building that could need some work within the next few years is the roof of the library, which was not replaced as part of the project.

Byvelds pointed out that the cost of the project, was about $195 per square foot. “This figure is very comparable to any new project and demonstrates it was the right thing to do, “ said Byvelds, acknowledging the long-running debate of renovating versus building new. He pointed out that South Stormont’s new clinic build is about $218 per square foot.

“The building is affordable, adds to the asset base of South Dundas and I feel confident that once we get past this debate, we will look back and be amazed at how we did without such an asset in the past.” 

[…]

Tubie race competitors got what they asked for at a meeting hosted by the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce Tubie Festival organizing committee, July 10, at the McIntosh Inn. 

The meeting was held to help the new organizing committee gauge interest in the race.

“In the past, organizers would wait until the Friday night (of Tubie Weekend) to see how many competitors there would be,” said Kevin Casselman, who chaired the meeting. The new committee wasn’t comfortable with waiting until then, so they organized this preliminary meeting.

In addition to gauging interest, the meeting provided a forum for those planning to compete to share ideas, to ask questions, and to provide input.

Before the meeting started, Casselman told The Leader that if there was an appetite for change, the committee was willing to do what they could to facilitate the desired changes.

The main topic of conversation was the format of the upcoming 44th annual Tubie race.

Cole Veinotte suggested returning the race to its original format. 

According to Veinotte, the sprint format brought in a few years ago, has been keeping Tubie traditionalists away. He suggested that some of those traditionalists are likely to return should the original race format be re-instated.

Other competitors at the meeting agreed to bringing back the traditional format, where paddlers race their Tubie crafts from Mariatown to the Morrisburg beach.

Veinotte suggested the format change could alleviate some of the congestion at the Morrisburg dock, on a very busy long weekend, that this year will also be hosting the Renegade Bass fishing tournament series.

Immediately following the meeting, the Tubie Festival committee went to work on securing the Arlor Haven Campsite launch venue for the race Sunday, August 3. 

Monday morning, Casselman announced that they had successfully secured the Arlor Haven launch site for the 2014 Tubie race.  

Organizers have about 7-8 teams planning to participate. “We’re happy with that number in early July,” said Casselman. 

They continue to welcome more to build a craft to join in the Tubie fun.

As always, festivities kick off with a parade Saturday, August 2, and a dance that evening.

Organizers are planning to keep the traditional parade route in tact, even though a portion of it passes along an area of Lakeshore Drive which has been under construction. They believe the area will be paved in time for the parade.

Local talent – One Night Standards will play this year’s dance, which is planned for outdoors, at the Morrisburg waterfront however, there will be no big tent.

Tubie T-Shirts are designed and ordered. 

The 2014 Tubie theme – It’s Going Tubie a Splash.

This is the first year the Tubie Festival is being handled by the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce, who took over the event after the Morrisburg and District Lions Club announced that they would no longer host it.

“This is not something that a chamber of commerce would normally do, but it’s so important to the community, we didn’t want to see it disappear,” said Carl McIntyre, South Dundas Chamber of Commerce president.

“Nowhere else in the world is there a Tubie Festival. South Dundas has Tubies and we won’t let that go,” said Geraldine Fitzsimmons of the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s going to make for a great weekend,” said Casselman.

[…]