A train that crushes your problems, art on paddles, and artists in windows are all part of Culture Days

Got problems? Let Crazy Train crush them into oblivion. The activity, just one of dozens happening in the Huntsville area for , invites you to write your troubles on a piece of broken pottery and bring it to the Rotary Village Train Station at Muskoka Heritage Place to have it crushed on the track by the Portage Flyer.

This ‘Crazy Train’ – the Portage Flyer – will crush your problems during Culture Days 2017 (Photo: Muskoka Heritage Place)

Culture Days is a national event that “celebrates the artistry, creativity and expression that reflects the mosaic of Canadian culture” with free activities and demonstrations in communities across the country.

“This is the eighth year we are participating in this nation-wide celebration and every year it continues to grow, from a very modest seven activities in 2014, to 68 well-attended events in 2016,” says Teri Souter, the Town of Huntsville’s Manager of Arts, Culture and Heritage. “This is inspiring, and goes to show how important culture is to the fabric of our community.”

Souter notes that 2017 has been a banner year for culture in Huntsville.

From the Métis Rendezvous at River Mill Park for National Aboriginal Day, to the culmination of celebrations for the 100^th anniversary of Tom Thomson’s death, to the time capsule placed in the Swing Bridge Master’s Cabin and the Canada Day 150 Decades Parade, there’s been much focus on our culture and heritage this year.

That theme will continue in some of the Culture Days activities.

“Our mayor challenged council earlier this year to take part,” says Souter, and several heeded that call. Three councillors and the Deputy Mayor are all doing tours: Huntsville Deputy Mayor on Stage at the Algonquin Theatre, Huntsville Councillor by a Lock at the Brunel Locks with Councillor Dan Armour, Huntsville Councillor by a Dam Site at the Port Sydney dam with Councillor Jason FitzGerald, and Huntsville Councillor on Fire at the Utterson Community Hall with Councillor Det Schumacher and local firefighters.

There are also artists creating new works in Main Street windows, arts and music activities to try, cultural presentations to attend, and more. The number of activities available are due in large part to the efforts of volunteer Pam MacKenzie. (Read an earlier story about Pam here.)

“Everything with Culture Days is always free,” says Souter. “It’s a great thing to bring your kids to, bring your family, bring guests up. Generally during the last weekend of September, the colours are at peak or close. It’s a real chance for the community to celebrate itself. I look forward to this event every year.”

Culture Days kicks off with a flag-raising and opening ceremony at Huntsville’s Civic Square in front of the Algonquin Theatre at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, September 29. Later that day, the Algonquin Outfitters Tom Thomson Paddle Art Contest culminates in a live event at the theatre, with proceeds from the associated online auction supporting the Town of Huntsville’s reserve fund for the future acquisition of public art and Oxtongue Lake for Arts and Culture.

Some of the entries received in the Algonquin Outfitters Tom Thomson Paddle Art Contest

“Culture is in everything we do. It’s in the food we eat, it’s in our traditions. Collectively what we do is our culture,” says Souter. “I really want to thank the community for an amazing 2017 so far in Huntsville. We’ve had some good ideas and we’ve had a lot of partners help us carry them out, and we are fortunate that we have so much to celebrate culturally.”

Help continue that celebration during Culture Days from September 29 to October 1. Visit culturedays.ca for activity details and check back regularly for new additions.

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