Don’t miss renowned Canadian Fiddler, Scott Woods and his band, this fall at the Grace United Church.

Scott and his band will be pulling into Gananoque to deliver a live presentation of their brand new 2013 Christmas show called, Scott Woods Country Christmas, a masterful two-hour performance that features old time fiddle & country music, seasonal songs, inspirational stories, sensational step dancing, trick fiddling and more.

The fast paced and uplifting show will delight audiences of all ages.  The show also includes special appearances by 13 year-old step dancing sensation Amanda MacInnis and Guitar Virtuoso Steve Piticco.

Scott Woods is z multiple Canadian Open and Canadian Grand Master Fiddle Champion.  He is known affectionately throughout Canada as ‘The Flippin’ Fiddler.’

The  Scott Woods Country Christmas will take place at Grace United Church, 120 Pine St in Gananoque on Friday November 29th at 7pm.

Advance tickets are only $20 for adults, $10 for kids 12 and under and kids 5 and under get in free.  Tickets are on sale now at Grace United Church Office; This, That & Everything or call toll free 1-855-SCOTTWOODS (1-855-726-8896).  Too good to miss!

Have you ever wanted to join a drum circle? Experience some of Canada’s great works of art? Be the star in your own film? Take a salsa dance class? Whatever your passion or curiosity, indulge it during Culture Days, Canada’s annual countrywide celebration of arts and culture, returns to Kingston from Friday, September 27 – Sunday, September 29, 2013. With over 50 events to choose from over the 3-day weekend, there’s something for everyone. Create. Participate. Celebrate. www.culturedays.ca

The fun starts at 9am, come discover your community.

Come and participate in the Community Nativity Carol Sing taking place at the Town Park Band Stand on December 20th from 7pm – 8pm. Let the warmth of the community overtake the chill of the air while celebrating the season! There is something about hearing the sound of Christmas Carols that ignites excitement and joy. The holidays are all about tradition and doing things as a family, so why not begin a new tradition and bring your family and friends to Town Park.

If you would like to participate contact Paddy O’Boyle oboyle@1000island.net or debdonaldson@bellnet.ca or phone 613-382-6700.

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.

As of July 15, 2009, the Gananoque Police Service is proud to offer a brand new online method of completing a criminal record check. While residents of Gananoque Ontario can still get a criminal record check the old way by visiting the police precinct themselves, authorities says to the public that the new online service will be more convenient and faster. The Gananoque Police Service performs the online check, but instead of you waiting ten days for a paper response, myBackCheck sends you your results electronically via the internet. This process usually takes place in a span of only two working days. More importantly, the new online method costs the same as the old one; $30.

myBackCheck service makes the process safe, fast and simple. All you have to do is register an account and order your criminal record check. Results are submitted to you in your own account, and sharing the criminal record check with the party requesting it is easily accomplished by selecting their name from a drop-down list, very similar to paying your bill via your online bank account.

You can log on to http://www.backcheck.net/gananoque/ and begin the process.

The Gananoque Police Service assures the public that getting a criminal record check in person is still very possible. This can be done by heading down to the Gananoque Police Station during office hours, Monday to Friday and furnish two pieces of valid identification with photos and a birth certificate.

Welcome to www.ExploreGananoque.com. Our local business directory and information on local events will be available soon.