Rockport, a township located a few kilometers north of Gananoque, will be hosting its 30^th annual winter carnival from the 12^th to the 14^th of February. The yearly event will come with some new and special activities, as well as some challenges the entire family will surely enjoy.

And as always, this year’s winter carnival will feature a “New To You Table” where those in attendance can drop off clothes both new and slightly used, as well as other items that are not more than $30, this according to Lori Senecal, one of the event’s organizers.

The annual event will also involve a number of charities, one of which is the Gananoque and District Humane Society. A percentage of the carnival’s proceeds will go to the organization and the rest of the other charities involved.

Last year, the winter carnival raised $3,100 – a number organizers hope to top this year.

Other activities to check out include a book sale, a karaoke contest with great prizes, and a Male Sexy legs competition. In addition, an outdoor rink was created in the vicinity of the event grounds.

So what’re you waiting for? Rockport is just a short drive away from Gananoque. Mark your calendars and join the fun!

If you’re around the Gananoque area next month and are looking to exercise your creative muscles, then we’ve got a contest that you should definitely check out.

Pam Staple, town and cultural coordinator for Gananoque, recently invited all local artists, designers, illustrators, and pretty much anyone with a creative flair to come up with a design for themed street banners.

The new banners will be placed on lamp posts along King Street. Submitted artworks must of course be original, as well as specifically designed for the contest. The four banners must feature a theme that represents life in the Gananoque community. Designs must “speak” of water, the arts, our heritage, and our historical downtown district.

Designs and artwork can be submitted for consideration through a CD as a high-resolution JPG file. Artists and designers are requested to include all necessary information along with CD like name, address, and the like.

And if your artwork is chosen, you get to receive a gift certificate worth $500 from Wallacks Art Store

Not only do you stand a chance to win great prizes, you’re also helping Gananoque out. So what’re you waiting for? Get your creative juices flowing and design something for the community!

Gananoque residents had something fun to do before the winter season officially comes to and end in a few weeks time.

Taking place yesterday, January 16, 2010, was the yearly Winter Warm-Up, an event produced by the Gananoque & District Humane Society. The event started at 10 in the morning, and ended at around 2 in the afternoon. The TLTI Community Centre, which is located at Jessie Street, Landsdowne, played host to the annual festivities.

Participants were in for a lot of treats and surprises, as organizers put together a special library for bookworms, as well as treasure tables that were popular in previous years.

Furthermore, those who took part in the event had for themselves a sumptuous array of food that included coleslaw, chili, and a simple yet delicious selection of buns – coupled with tea, coffee, or dessert. In addition, Sigg’s baking took center stage, providing a wide range of pastries and breads.

Staff from the Gananoque & District Humane Society commented that the event was a big success thanks to community members who set aside money to donate.

Indeed, it’s a great way to make the most of the winter season that’s coming to a close.

Last 17^th of December, lead by Mayor Jim Garrah, the 100^th anniversary of the Canadian Navy kicked off on Water Street’s museum, Arthur Child. During the event, the mayor happily greeted the distinguished guests that consisted of local politicians, Branch 92 of the Royal Canadian Legion representatives, officers from the nearby Canadian Navy station at HMCS Cataraqui, and of course, veterans from the second world war themselves.

This starting of the celebration might be a little too early since it’s supposed to be on the 4^th of May 2010 however, Gananoque felt it had to start it as early as now to commemorate the Canadian Navy ship that has been named after the town, the HMCS Gananoque which is a Bangor class minesweeper.

The HMCS Gananoque’s biggest role during the second world war can now be found on a history book titled, “No Higher Purpose: The Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War”. On the book, it highlighted that the HMCS Gananoque was part of an attack on a U-Boat from Germany which occurred on October, 1942. This event forced the U-Boat to cancel its planned attacked on an allied convoy and it is now remembered as one of the most successful counters from the St. Lawrence campaign.

For Gananoque locals who are going solo on Christmas, there is no better place to spend a joyful dinner other than the one that Paddy O’Boyle and his group of around 50 caring volunteers has been preparing for approximately 8 years on the running now.

The Christmas dinner prepared by O’Boyle’s group has been bringing the warmth of Christmas day to around 130 locals who are on their own. These people have been enjoying the annual dinner held at Kindsmen Hall, on 400 Stone Street North.

There are even meals being sent out to those who are celebrating Christmas alone but are unable to leave their homes for some reason. This just goes to show the community’s committed to sharing the holiday with everyone who is living alone.

The Christmas dinners are usually packed with everything a normal family Christmas dinner has complete with turkeys, ham, and an array of vegetables and even desserts.

For this year’s Christmas dinner, everyone can start coming at the venue from 10 in the morning. Dinner will be served at noon and everyone can expect the singing of Christmas carols with a keyboard accompaniment.

For more information on this Gananoque Christmas dinner, one can get a  hold of O’Boyle through 613-659-4077.

Christmas is in the air and the town of Gananoque certainly doesn’t want to be left behind! For the holidays, Gananoque’s sidewalks and streets were transformed for the town’s “Christmas in Gananoque Moonlight Madness”, a one night event which happened in Downtown Gananoque (right smack in the middle of King Street E) on the 4th of December, last Friday.

A mini-event called “Heat in the Street” (which happened on the same day) had townspeople coming in for a night of shopping from 6 to 10 in the evening; picking from the many offerings local merchants had for sale. Not only that, visitors were able to “fire up” their shopping night, as they sampled the different kinds of chili prepared by locals and restaurants in the area!

Flowing food and drinks, store specials and sales, and horse drawn wagon rides all made for a night of fun and entertainment, perfect for the season.

If you plan on coming over to this quaint and close-knit community, don’t worry about missing out on this event! Gananoque has other sights and attractions, and a visit to the town always warrants for a trip to the Thousand Islands. After all, you don’t want to miss out on why it’s called the “Gateway to the Thousand Islands” right?

Watch out for more Yuletide treats from Gananoque before the year ends. Come on up and spend the holidays here.

For the holiday season, the picturesque town of Gananoque Ontario will hold the Gananoque Santa Clause Parade with the theme, “Christmas around the World”. The parade is set to take place in Downtown Gananoque Ontario on the 28^th of November, 2009.

Spectators are in for a blast as the parade brings entertainment and magical fun with lively music, colorful and artful floats, a special international flare for this year’s parade and lots of surprises for families and other spectators, both young and old. Don’t forget that the festivities are for a cause, so please bring along a non-perishable food item to add to our local Food Bank!

For first time visitors, the quaint little town, which has a long history, is situated in Leeds and Grenville County, Ontario. With a stable population of around 5000 townsfolk, the town contains some beautiful sights that draw in plenty of visitors each year.

Locals and tourists alike, the Gananoque Santa Clause Parade is a yearly event of lights and festivities that is assured to bring nothing but pure Christmas delight to the young ones, and even the young at heart. With the presence of Saint Nick – a character that needs no introduction wherever you may be on the planet – on these yearly visits, families get closer and nights get warmer guaranteed!

For the holidays, drop by the beautiful town of Gananoque Ontario. You’re guaranteed to have a memorable experience with the fun kicking off at 6:00 pm so bring along your winter gear and a smile because the event will cost you nothing but time.

Just recently, the Royal Canadian Legion announced the start of the Annual Poppy Campaign across the country. One of the places in full gear for the campaign is our very own town of Gananoque Ontario.

The legion has set aside close twice as many poppies as there are people in the town so there is plenty for everyone for sure.

Bill Beswetherick of the Royal Canadian Legion in Gananoque Ontario reports, “We live in a place with a population of 5,200 people, and we’ve got 8,000 poppies ready for distribution. I don’t know why that is, except people in Gananoque really appreciate their veterans and it seems to be like this every year.

We have orders for 146 wreaths to lay at the service, and that’s more than the number of businesses and service clubs we have in town.”

Gananoque Ontario will also have a formal ceremony to kick off its poppy campaign with special guest Bill Hale in attendance, a Second World War veteran and the son of a decorated war hero, who is set to present a poppy to MPP Bob Runciman.

Every November, Poppies can be found on the lapels and collars of almost every Canadian in the country. Since its early beginnings in 1921, the Poppy has stood as a mark of Remembrance, a reminder to never forget all the brave Canadian who fought and fell for their country in past wars and military operations.  Other nations have also adopted the symbol to honor and pay their respects to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The Poppy is recognized as a “symbol of collective reminiscence” the world over.

Back to Canada, the Kingston Legion was busy gathering 80,000 of the Remembrance Day symbols bagged and ready for distribution to the public, which starts when two armored vehicles ply Princess Street at 11 in the morning, with people inside giving away the poppies to everyone in sight.

Canada’s Poppy Campaign comes at a very significant time with Canadian forces currently stationed in Afghanistan. This marks Canada’s first war since Korea, a bitter memory to most in the country and as veteran loving residents of Gananoque Ontario, we are all out to support the campaign again.

The Thousands Islands Family Health Network is gearing up for the provision of clinics in the Gananoque Ontario area for H1N1 vaccinations among the locals. The vaccine just arrived last week and Phase 1 vaccinations for high risk individuals will start early November.

“We were contacted by the (Leeds, Grenville and Lanark) health unit and asked to participate in the first phase,” Dr. Brian Hart said. “Everyone in this area is working together in terms of vaccinations.”

H1N1 Vaccine for Gananoque Ontario

High risk individuals in Gananoque Ontario include people with pre-existing disease conditions like heart diseases, chronic lung diseases, diabetes, cancer, HIV patients, kidney diseases and those with other conditions that may result to difficulty in breathing. Other high risk individuals are children below 5 years old and more than 6 months, health care workers, household contacts and health care providers of those who can’t be immunized, pregnant women up to 4 weeks postpartum and those living in rural areas remote from hospital care.

If you are one of the individuals mentioned above, you should visit your local health provider and ask about Phase 1 vaccinations. Although most people affected with H1N1 will get better without complications, Gananoque Ontario locals are still recommended to acquire the vaccine as some individuals may react poorly to swine flu.

It is also important to visit or call the local health provider once flu-like symptoms are felt like cough, fever of 38 C or greater, fatigue and significant muscle pain.

Dr Brian Hart said that exact dates and locations are still being confirmed but November 5 and 6 are the most likely dates for the high risk vaccinations. We can watch the next week’s Reporter or ask local health providers for the exact dates, times and locations. Phase 2 is scheduled after the provision of vaccines for high risk individuals so keep posted.

Operation Christmas Child officially started last October 23, 2009 and loving as we are, the residents of Gananoque Ontario and its surrounding areas in Kingston, Napanee and Westport are once again at the forefront of the activity.

Gananoque Ontario Joins Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child

Simply described as “Love in a Box”, Operation Christmas Child volunteers are now collecting thousands of shoeboxes in the Gananoque Ontario area filled with school supplies, small toys, hygiene items, clothes, ball caps, socks, sunglasses and other trinkets that children from lesser fortunate countries would benefit from. These countries include 15 nations throughout Central and South America.

Gail Shillington, regional coordinator of Operation Christmas Child, along with other volunteers is now calling on Gananoque residents to have their shoeboxes filled in support to Operation Christmas Child, which has been hand-delivering shoeboxes filled with gifts to more than 68 million children in 125 countries since 1993.

Making a difference

“These children have no hope and this brings some hope and shows that someone cares,” says Shillington who joined the Christian relief organization headed by Samaritan’s purse because she wanted to make a difference.

“Most of us never have the opportunity to do great things in a great way, but we all have opportunities to do small things in a great way,” she adds.

According to Shillington who had taken part in the delivery of the boxes in Nicaragua and Mexico, the smiles on the children’s faces and great appreciation from the parents are enough to motivate her and the other volunteers to keep on working for Operation Christmas Child every year.

It all started with 500 boxes, 5 volunteers and one church. Now, they have around 200 groups from churches, businesses, service clubs, families and 60 volunteers.

Collection dates

Everyone in Gananoque Ontario should expect Shillington and her volunteers to go around the area distributing the shoeboxes. Collection dates are from November 16-19, 2009 so mark your calendars to show you care.