Review-Mirror

By Margaret Brand The Review-Mirror Westport's third annual heritage festival filled Bedford Street with ven- dors and visitors last Sat- urday including Canada's first Prime Minister Sir John A. MacDonald and his wife Lady Agnes. The presence of Cana- da's first prime minister was but one of the echoes of the past on Saturday including Rideau Lakes town crier, Parks Canada's blacksmith Don MacKay and his forge, a British army officer and an open house at the Rideau and District Museum. A committee of volun- teers, including members of the municipal heritage committee organized the event which included chil- dren's activities, displays by local historical soci- eties from Bedford and Elgin as well as informa- tion and sales tables from a number of community organizations. The day was also an opportunity for some good old fashioned commerce for a number of artisans and local farm producers who brought their wares for the one-day market which this year was spared the heat of the inaugural festival and the down- pours of last year. "Everyone has learned to bring a tent. They've learned they need some kind of cover," said festi- val chair Jackalyn Brady. The street was not with- out musicians who includ- ed The King of the Swingers, Romaria,The Square Fair Fiddlers and The Chem Chiks. Brady was pleased with the festival which kept its scale within its volunteer and financial resources. "We wanted to keep it fun and easy. We don't want to get too big too fast," she said. Westport, Ont. www.review-mirror.com Thursday, June 25, 2009 Vol. 116, No. 26 $1 (95¢ plus GST) REVIEW MIRROR Our 106th year serving the North Leeds area THE Our 115th year serving the North Leeds area 1-613-273-2100 1-877-268-8247 bryan@rideau.net www.thecottageguy.com Affordable Quality Furniture For Every Room Mon. - Fri. 9AM - 5PM Sat 9-5 • Sun 11-4 96 Perth St., FREE DELIVERY Elgin, Ont.K0G 1E0 (613) 359-5290 250 Lombard St., Smiths Falls (613) 283-8000 www.jamesfurnitureandflooring.ca FLOORING KITCHENS BLINDS 250 Lombard Street SMITHS FALLS 613-283-8000 ZZZMDPHVIXUQLWXUHDQGÀRRULQJFD • Free Estimates • In-Home Consultations • Professional Installation 63073 •Free Estimates, •In-Home Consultations •Professional Installation COBURN REALTY Westport TERRY BRYAN Sales Representative P P e e t t a a l l s s & & P P r r e e s s e e n n t t s s F F L L O O R R I I S S T T 29 M a i n S treet, E l g i n , O n t ario ( 6 13 ) 35 9 - 5572 1 - 8 0 0 - 377 - 77 20 Sir John A. Macdonald and Lady Agnes Macdonald (aka) Brian and Renee Porter) had a little dance with music from the Fair Square Fiddlers at the Westport Heritage Fes- tival last Saturday. Photo by Margaret Brand Call 359-5660 53 Main St., Elgin CASH & CARRY • DELIVERY & SETUP AVAILABLE Continuing a 30-Year Tradition Serving North Leeds Call 359-5660 53 Main St., Elgin GET READY FOR THE SUMMER HEAT WITH 10,000 BTU Air Conditioners •Whisper Cool Design •24 Hour Timer •Energy Saver Mode $ 399 95 $ 349 95 8,000 BTU duncan s RADIO and TV Canada Day in North Leeds Canada's birthday is something to celebrate and communities across the region, across the province and across the nation have organized an array of festivities. Canada Day marks the creation of the Dominion of Canada through the British North America Act on July 1, 1867. In North Leeds, live music, children's games, parades, birthday cake and fireworks will be part of the mix of events taking place. See page 8 for more. Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands Mayor Frank Kinsella wants the Federal govern- ment to invest in infra- structure to get traffic moving into Canada and over the Hill Island Bridge. Kinsella would like the United Counties to push for action on changes which would see border times reduced. He thinks the town- ship's border point would be an ideal place to devel- op a new model for border crossings with the devel- opment of new secure identification for crossing. "They want to foster people going back and forth with NEXUS. If you are ever going to design a prototype-why not set it up in the Thousand Islands. The Americans are making major improvements. Why not the Canadians invest- ing in the Thousand Islands?" he said. Kinsella thinks faster times through the border; better infrastructure could move traffic from border points to the west down the 401 and onto the Thou- sand Islands. "Eventually, hopefully you could create jobs. There are all kinds of spin- offs. We have vacant land. Just think about the distri- bution centres which would be established in the area," he said. 'Sir Paul' in Westport for Children's Wish event Saturday Paul McCartney, or at least the most celebrated tribute band playing the music of Sir Paul, is com- ing to Westport June 27 for a concert and show. The McCartney Years, fronted by London rocker Yuri George Jan Pool, is an all ages production that includes such songs as Maybe I'm Amazed, Live And Let Die and Can't Buy Me Love, says John Pringle. The event at the West- port Community Centre, organized by John Pringle, will benefit the Children's Wish Foundation. The children's after- noon events, which run from noon until 4:30 p.m., include a Guitar Hero stage, bullfrog races, peanut butter and jam sandwich contests and a Toonie Bus Tour with three trips to Foley Moun- tain to learn a little and see a lot. There will also be face painters, a charity BBQ and music. Day passes, until 4:30 p.m.) are $2.50 per person or $7.50 for the whole family. The McCartney Years concert gets under- way at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $22.50 with group dis- counts available. Concert tickets also give you day access. Pringle can be reached at 613-273-8292 or at Jake by the Lake store in West- port. Mayor calls for better border wait times Festival brings community together

• Cover