Musicians in The Same Boat

Cameron Cromwell played a rockin' blues guitar.

Musical events at the Oakdene Centre in Bear River usually happen once a month. It’s a great chance to get together with friends and to enjoy an evening of live entertainment for a mere six dollars (with a $10 membership).  This year Larry is on the Board of Directors for the Bear Rhythm Music and he designs all of their posters.

Larry's poster design.

Last weekend we went to the monthly coffeehouse at the Oakdene Centre.  It was much more than a musical performance.  A group of area musicians and friends have banded together to present music with a strong social message. Their musical styles are as diverse as their origins, so there was everything from African drums to Irish ballads to Acadian folk songs and Mi’kmaq music. 

Patrick brought his hand crafted drums. He even cuts down the trees.

Together they celebrated their love of music and shared with the community a message about economic and social equality, and self-sufficiency within coastal communities.

Many musicians are in "The Same Boat"

Terry Farnsworth, one of the last hand-lining fisherman in Nova Scotia, talked to us about the struggle of fisher people in coastal communities to preserve their way of life. Part of their battle is with corporations who want to strip away both fishing and natural resources that are the life blood of coastal communities.  He told us about a conference he had attended online with his counterparts in South Africa who are also trying to create a sustainable way of life that includes many of the original skills of the fisher people in South Africa.  And then he played a couple of tunes on his guitar. 

Drummer Patrick Jarvis gave a high energy performance by playing several of his handmade drums.  He carves them from oak, birch, apple and other woods and he finishes them off with a drum of goat skin which apparently is very thin and very strong – more so than deerskin which he also uses. Usually he will choose his tree and cuts it down when it is still in leaf.  When the leaves have dried out, he knows that they have drawn much of the sap from the tree and then he can begin carving.  Here is Patrick playing a tune for us.

Jeanne Doucet-Currie is an Acadian singer-songwriter who writes about the history of the area. One of her songs was a ballad about a legless fellow who was found on the shores of Sandy Cove in the 1800’s.  He was never able to communicate with the people who rescued him and the rumors about his origins grew over the years.  Jeanne put it all together in a wonderful song called Jerome.

There were more wonderful performances that I haven’t touched upon in this post. You’ll have to go to an event or invite them over. It was a true celebration of music, diversity and human fellowship.

Wanda St. Louis sings beautiful Celtic ballads.

This group of friends who will bring song, dance, drama, cultural workshops, and storytelling to your community. call themselves The Same Boat Traveling Coffeehouse.  Check out their website. http://bridgebuilding.wordpress.com/

From the Group's Website

They fired us up so much that afterwards a group of us headed down the hall to our studio for a couple of hours to wind down with a glass of wine and some more stories.

Enjoying the Experience.

Dealing with Cabin Fever Between the Snow Storms

Today we were snowed in again. I went for a a walk outside and the flakes were thick and fluffy. The snow is supposed to continue all night and tomorrow we’ll get ploughed out.

The snow fence helps keep snow from blowing back onto the long driveway.

We must get in the habit of parking at the end of the driveway when we know a snowstorm is coming. We can sled the groceries etc the 500 feet down the driveway to the house. The road we live on is ploughed regularly, although the hills from here to town are very roller-coaster-like which makes me a rather white-knuckled passenger.

Thank goodness we had the good sense to have a little studio party last night. It was a very last minute event. We invited people with only 2 days notice. I guess we weren’t the only ones with cabin fever, because the vast majority showed up! 

The snow stopped long enough for our gathering.

The advantage of get-togethers here in Bear River is that most everyone already knows each other and so there are already lots of shared terms of reference and shared experiences. It’s like people are continuing the long conversation they’ve been having for many years.

Stories are passed down to the next generation.

It also means that people are well aware of any new person(s). In a small community, this can be pretty exciting. A new person means new stories to hear and to share. Not everyone is a skilled or comfortable story-teller, but everyone is an eager listener.

Larry and love the energy that friends bring to the studio.

That shared experience thing makes me feel sometimes like I’m part of an extended family. Even when people mention someone I haven’t met, chances are I’ve heard them referred to by someone else so I ‘get’ the reference. It seems to me that Bear River is just the perfect sized community for me.

Last night people talked about their challenges in their studios, the challenges with their chickens adapting to indoor life because of the snow, renovations, the eternal quest for a warm, affordable heat system, the need for funds to keep the community owned buildings going in Bear River, the hope that young people will find their way to Bear River like they did in the early 1970s.

In the background Larry shows his latest silversmithing creation to a neighbour.

Many people figured that we had the power restored at our new/old house (we did!) because several had seen large NS Power trucks driving through town on Friday. Hallelujah!

The power company gave us a new meter.

This morning I woke up feeling happy. I looked out the window and the snow was coming down fast and thick. I felt like I could handle another snowstorm or two, or more. Bring it on.

The snowmobile pants, jacket and fur hat are from Frenchy's. Total cost:$15

As long as we can intersperse the snow storms with gatherings of friendly souls, I’m certainly up for it.

Fun in the Village

Did you ever go for a drive through the countryside and think:

Wow, this sure is beautiful, but soooo isolated. I wonder what people do out here for fun?

It’s something that I used to wonder about when I lived in the city, so I thought you might be interested to know what Larry and I do for fun, when we’re not ripping down plaster or gardening.

I’ve mentioned before in this blog about the wonderful music nights here in the village. Last night a local group called Windsong played.

Greg Peck and Rose Meuse

It is so cool to go to events that showcase local musicians. My enjoyment is enhanced when the performer has a personal connection to the community and is able to make that part of the performance. The First Nations Mi’kmaq community in Bear River  lived in this region a few thousand years before France and England colonized this continent. The musical group Windsong weaves Mi’kmaq history and stories into their songs.

The coffee house seats up to 50 people and like every other social activity and event in this community, it’s all run by volunteers.

Nathan Waterman and Krista Peck

Because we know so many of the people who show up, it can feel like we are sitting in the living room of a friend. It’s a great chance to catch up, to say hi, to drink Fair Trade coffee and to eat home-baked goodies…..all for a donation. The entrance fee is less than $10, so it is an affordable evening that nurtures the local community in every way. Not only does my financial contribution pay the musicians who perform, a part also goes towards rent at the Oakdene Centre, the community-run centre where we maintain our art studio.

Take shoes from Frenchy's and add sparkles. Viola!

Last weekend we went to a costume halloween party. Many of the party goers walked there…another advantage of a small town.

Some flew in by broomstick

The week before there was a dance with fiddle music and an auction to raise money to pay for heat at the Oakdene Centre.

Bidding up for a good cause

Lots of people bid on items and I came home with a collection of antique bottles that will feel right at home in our new house. I also am the proud owner of a lovely hand-made doll by local craftswoman Carol Little. The doll depicts Gabriel Dumont, a Metis leader who led the 1885 Battle of Batoche, a defense of local government by Saskatewan Metis against the encroaching British colonialists. Gabriel will come to our new house to remind us of the passion behind a community’s need for self-determination.

A few days before the auction/fundraiser, Bear River film maker Tim Wilson screened his latest NFB film, Griefwalker. Tim had just returned from the Montreal film festival where the film was premiered. Here in Bear River, it was shown at the Bare Canvas, our local art gallery cooperative.

Simone and Tim Wilson prepare for the screening

The room was packed with 100 people and the discussion that followed this film spilled out into the community and entered many talks I had with friends all through the following week.

This Tuesday, an informal group of Bear Riverites will carpool to Annapolis Royal to see the movie Up the Yangtze. This film is part of the King’s Theatre fall program.

In between there are potlucks with fabulous food.

Yum, yum!

There are also a host of other social events that happen here that I haven’t been to like church suppers, and Royal Canadian Legion dances.

What all of these have in common is that people take the initiative to create opportunities to get together, to entertain and feed each other, and to exchange ideas. Mostly if there is an entry fee, it is just enough to cover expenses. It is probably like this everywhere in small town Canada, but even after a year living here, it is still very novel for me. 

The many events would not be possible without the level of volunteerism that exists in small towns. People give of themselves every day and apparently it’s always been a norm here.  

Building on Stilts getting some TLC

I honestly cannot see at present any evidence of federal or provincial community funding here which is such a shame. Many of the public buildings in town are in bad need of repair or upgrading. There is still no municipal water source in town and we don’t even have our own local government representation. Bear River doesn’t exist as a legal village. Instead, the river that flows through town divides us into 2 counties so there are even separate garbage days and different norms for how to separate the recyling. This artificial construct of 2 counties makes it even harder for Bear RIver to present a united voice that impacts with political entities.

To their credit, both Digby and Annapolis Counties have at times combined efforts for Bear River. As well, there are residents here who fear that village status would create a new level of local government that would raise taxes.

Still, I’ve heard people joke MANY TIMES about the idea of declaring Bear River an independant republic. After all, many feel we are in a forgotten valley, not even in cellphone range. Kind of like a rough-around-the-edges Shangrila.

Behind the Oakdene Centre

I am so glad to be able to attend cultural events here but I don’t think it’s fair that there is no government funding that trickles down to these events or to the fabulous buildings that house them. In the past 10 years Nova Scotia has given up most of its youth to toil in the Albertan oil fields. I have an idea. Maybe the Albertan government could spot us some money to paint the back of the Oakdene Community Centre. I wonder what Gabriel Dumont would have to say about that.

If you feel like sending a donation to the Oakdene, please send your cheque/check to

The Oakdene Centre Fundraising Committee
c/o Robbie Bays
Bear River, Nova Scotia
B0S 1Bo

Book Launch at the Oakdene

Tonight we were treated to a moving book launch by Kate Story. She has just published her first book, Blasted and read to us for over 1/2 an hour. She also brought with her 2 musicians who did a great job of setting the mood for her reading.

The reading was in the Oakdene Centre and once again it was great to share it with so many friends in the community. Kate is currently on a cross-Canada tour with her book and we were fortunate to have her make the trek here. This is a small taste of her performance.

Next weekend there will be another reading/event at the coffee house. When it rains, it pours! Maybe this really is the centre of the universe.