Three Great Entertainers, Three Great Shows

Don’t miss these spectacular performances!
October 1st
Dave Gunning in Concert-A Tribute to John Allan Cameron. Gunning will be accompanied by Allie Bennett, Jamie Robinson, Buddy MacDonald and Rachael Davis. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8:30pm. Show takes place at the Membertou Convention Centre with Cabaret seating, tickets are $25.00, tickets are on sale at the Membertou Trade And Convention Centre Box Office (box office hours 10am to 6pm) or by calling 1-902-539-2300.

October 22nd
Bruce Cockburn A Canadian Legend in Concert. The concert will take place at the Membertou Trade & Convention Centre in Sydney. Doors open at 7pm and show time 8pm. Tickets $40.00 for Reserved Theatre Seating. Tickets on sale at the Membertou Trade & Convention Centre's box office or by calling 1-902-539-2300. Box Office hours 10am to 6pm.

November 5th
The Rankin Family Acoustic Tour-Up Close and Personal at the Membertou Trade and convention Centre. Reserved Theatre Seating-$47.50/Gold Seating $59.00. Doors open at 7pm and show time is 8pm. Tickets on sale at the MTCC box office or by phoning
1-902-539-2300.

TOURISM IN RICHMOND COUNTY

The second Celtic Colours International Festival Concert to grace Richmond takes place on October 12th, in a community steeped in Irish Culture. Lower River Inhabitance was first settled many years ago by Irish immigrants. But why wait until the evening to start enjoying Celtic music when you can visit the Community of L’Ardoise for an afternoon of Sounds and Supper by the Sea from 1-5pm. Enjoy live music, songs, stories and interactive opportunities and a great lobster supper. Local fishermen, musicians and artisans will be on hand for an unforgettable experience. Then enjoy a lobster supper at the local lobster pound, this mouth watering meal includes a 1½lb lobster with down east style trimmings, at a cost of $30.00. Seating is limited for this very popular event, so reservations are highly recommended. For reservations and more information call 1-902-587-2202. Then head for “A Touch of the Irish”, the Celtic Colours event just 40 minutes away in Lower River. Those who enjoy music with an Irish flair will definitely want to take in this concert. The event has reserved seating and tickets are $25 and $20 and takes place at the Riverdale Community Center starting at 7:30pm. A Touch of the Irish has an excellent array of talent and it is as much of an Irish event as you will be able to find outside of Ireland itself. The lineup includes Irish fiddler Liz Doherty who comes from Donegal. She will perform with fiddler Louise Hunter, accordionist Jim Woods and guitarist Ian Carr. Also at the venue is Dublin based Sean McKeon and Liam O’Connor bringing Uillean pipes and fiddle. Also performing will be Maire O’Keefe with her repertoire of Irish and Cape Breton fiddle tunes, John Doyle an Irish American guitarist, and mixed in the group is our own Darrell Keigan who will be doing a beautiful variety of Irish songs for the concert. This fine mix of fiddle, guitar and vocals will have you believing you are in Ireland if only for one entertaining night.

Don’t let the fall of the final curtain end the entertainment for the evening, the “Kitchen Racket” is the place to head next. Here concert goers can enjoy the after hours Celtic Colours party “The Kitchen Racket”, where music will fill out the night from 10pm to 2am. This after hours party at the Bras d’Or Lakes Inn will run from October 8 to the 11th and October 13th to the 16th, and at the Dundee Resort and Golf Club on October 12th. Admission to the party is $5.00 without your concert stub from that evenings event or $2.00 with your concert stub.

There are lots of behind the scene activities connected to the Celtic Colours Festival that you might find interesting. During the concert series, the entertainers have volunteer drivers who have been working with the festival over the years. These drivers take the musicians to and from venues around the Island, but did you know that they also help sell the musician’s CDs at the concert venue and in return they get to take the first 10% of the cost of the CD. These generous
volunteers are not doing this for themselves, they use the funds raised from these CDs to sponsor a scholarship for young upcoming artists to help produce their first CD. Score one for Cape Breton goodwill created by this amazing festival and the people behind the scenes.

Another point of interest for all those who enjoy camping, whether RV or tenting. Battery Provincial Park in St. Peter’s has closed for the season as of September 13th. With the approach of the Celtic Colours traffic and seeing many RVs driving through the area now, my feeling is that the Park closes too early. I understand cutbacks, but the tourism industry is trying to encourage visitors to come to Cape Breton during the shoulder season and telling visitors when they come to St. Peter’s that the park has closed for the season does not help give our visitors the experience they are looking for. We are taking signatures for a petition to see if we can have the season extended until after Celtic Colours next year. If you would like to help drop in and sign the petition at the Visitor Information Centre in St. Peter’s or send an email of support to me at annmarieyorke@hotmail.com and I will forward it along with the petition. Let us help extend our shoulder season on the south side of Cape Breton.

Acadian Roots

Visitors taking in the Celtic Colours Festival experience of "Acadian Roots" at the D'Escousse Civic Improvement Centre on October 11th are in for a treat. The concert will feature one of the Cape Breton Heritage Coast's most talented young fiddlers, Kayla Bona. Kayla hails from the picturesque village of L'Ardoise and, although only 18 years old, has been dancing from the age of 4, studying and playing the fiddle since the age of 7, and a member of the Cape Breton Fiddlers Association since 2002. She has been entertaining for quite a few years, performing at such prestigious events as the Royal Nova Scotia Tatoo in Halifax, as well as performing throughout Cape Breton at such popular venues as the West Mabou square dances, the Celtic Music Interpretive Center, and the Normaway Inn, just to name a few and has entertained alongside many well known Cape Breton musicians such as Rita MacNeil, Ashley MacIsaac, and Natalie MacMaster. This past summer, Kayla was hired by the Destination Richmond Tourism Cooperative to entertain visitors with her lively fiddle tunes and beautiful singing voice at various locations on the Cape Breton Heritage Coast, where she was a true ambassador for our Celtic music industry.

An Evening of Celtic Music

If you are looking for a traditional event which includes Celtic music, look no further. The Cape Breton Gaelic Society will present an Evening of Celtic Music at historic St. George’s Church, 119 Charlotte Street in Sydney on Tuesday night, September 28 at 8 pm.
The concert will feature Cape Breton style fiddle music, step dancing, Gaelic and Celtic song, Highland piping, and Celtic flute. For the first time this season we will be welcoming Heather Sparling of the Cape Breton Orchestra on flute as well as singer-songwriter Jo-Anne Rolls. Jo-Anne, a former CBC Atlantic songwriting contest winner is perhaps best known for her performances with the Rise and Follies of Cape Breton.
Tickets will be available at the door, ticket cost. $10.00.

Bird Island Boat Tour Extends Season

Great news for visitors wanting to see the mighty eagle. Bird Island Boat Tours out of Big Bras d'Or, who offer the "Eagle and Seal" tour from mid-August to September 21, has decided to extend its season to the September 30th. There are still lots of eagles and seals to be seen. They are also offering great rates on cottages, starting at $49.00 plus tax.

Lion's Club Holds Fundraiser for L'Ache

How would you like to spend a Sunday afternoon hearing great music by local entertainers and at the same time support a worthy cause? The L'Arche Variety Concert takes place at the St. Peter's Lion’s Hall in St. Peter's (1- 902-535-2482) on Sunday September 26th. The variety concert will begin at 2pm, with entertainment by Gordie Landry & Polly Fourgere, The Royal Bank Girls, Wendy Abbott, Rosie Sampson, Leah Campbell, Makayla MacNeil, Myles & Howard Davidson, Shiela Pottie, The Baratones, Russell Webb; with MC Joey Jones and sound by Wayne Bona. The concert is sponsored by the St.Peter’s Lions Club in support of the L’Arche Cape Breton Work Programs.

TOURISM IN RICHMOND COUNTY

The second Celtic Colours International Festival Concert to grace Richmond takes place on October 12th, in a community steeped in Irish Culture. Lower River Inhabitance was first settled many years ago by Irish immigrants. But why wait until the evening to start enjoying Celtic music when you can visit the Community of L’Ardoise for an afternoon of Sounds and Supper by the Sea from 1-5pm. Enjoy live music, songs, stories and interactive opportunities and a great lobster supper. Local fishermen, musicians and artisans will be on hand for an unforgettable experience. Then enjoy a lobster supper at the local lobster pound, this mouth watering meal includes a 1½lb lobster with down east style trimmings, at a cost of $30.00. Seating is limited for this very popular event, so reservations are highly recommended. For reservations and more information call 1-902-587-2202.

Then head for “A Touch of the Irish”, the Celtic Colours event just 40 minutes away in Lower River. Those who enjoy music with an Irish flair will definitely want to take in this concert. The event has reserved seating and tickets are $25 and $20 and takes place at the Riverdale Community Center starting at 7:30pm. A Touch of the Irish has an excellent array of talent and it is as much of an Irish event as you will be able to find outside of Ireland itself. The lineup includes Irish fiddler Liz Doherty who comes from Donegal. She will perform with fiddler Louise Hunter, accordionist Jim Woods and guitarist Ian Carr. Also at the venue is Dublin based Sean McKeon and Liam O’Connor bringing Uillean pipes and fiddle. Also performing will be Maire O’Keefe with her repertoire of Irish and Cape Breton fiddle tunes, John Doyle an Irish American guitarist, and mixed in the group is our own Darrell Keigan who will be doing a beautiful variety of Irish songs for the concert. This fine mix of fiddle, guitar and vocals will have you believing you are in Ireland if only for one entertaining night.

Don’t let the fall of the final curtain end the entertainment for the evening, the “Kitchen Racket” is the place to head next. Here concert goers can enjoy the after hours Celtic Colours party “The Kitchen Racket”, where music will fill out the night from 10pm to 2am. This after hours party at the Bras d’Or Lakes Inn will run from October 8 to the 11th and October 13th to the 16th, and at the Dundee Resort and Golf Club on October 12th. Admission to the party is $5.00 without your concert stub from that evenings event or $2.00 with your concert stub.

There are lots of behind the scene activities connected to the Celtic Colours Festival that you might find interesting. During the concert series, the entertainers have volunteer drivers who have been working with the festival over the years. These drivers take the musicians to and from venues around the Island, but did you know that they also help sell the musician’s CDs at the concert venue and in return they get to take the first 10% of the cost of the CD. These generous volunteers are not doing this for themselves, they use the funds raised from these CDs to sponsor a scholarship for young upcoming artists to help produce their first CD. Score one for Cape Breton goodwill created by this amazing festival and the people behind the scenes.

Another point of interest for all those who enjoy camping, whether RV or tenting. Battery Provincial Park in St. Peter’s has closed for the season as of September 13th. With the approach of the Celtic Colours traffic and seeing many RVs driving through the area now, my feeling is that the Park closes too early. I understand cutbacks, but the tourism industry is trying to encourage visitors to come to Cape Breton during the shoulder season and telling visitors when they come to St. Peter’s that the park has closed for the season does not help give our visitors the experience they are looking for. We are taking signatures for a petition to see if we can have the season extended until after Celtic Colours next year. If you would like to help drop in and sign the petition at the Visitor Information Centre in St. Peter’s or send an email of support to me at annmarieyorke@hotmail.com and I will forward it along with the petition. Let us help extend our shoulder season on the south side of Cape Breton.

Rendez-Vous Cap-Breton

This news just in from the Fortress of Louisbourg on an exciting historical presentation taking place at St. Patrick's Church. Sounds like it should be very interesting.

The Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site of Canada is pleased to participate in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality French Arts and Culture Festival, "Rendez-Vous Cap-Breton."
Beauty and order were ideals for all arts and crafts in 18th century Europe and France was a centre of arts and culture. From a table setting to a fine painting to a garden, the French found ways to express these ideals.
In addition to the "fine" arts, many regions of France had their own unique traditions of music and dance which could be found in the cosmopolitan streets of colonial Louisbourg. From theatrical works to folk songs, rich tapestries to homespun fabrics, the traditions and innovations of a culture are expressed through its art. Thus, through the art of France and New France, we learn their stories.
Join Parks Canada staff at St. Patrick's Museum, 87 Esplanade Street on Friday, September, 24th and Saturday, September 25th as costumed interpreters demonstrate the art of bobbin lace making and 18th century music. Artifacts and reproductions will be on display and a Fortress drummer will give a presentation on the role of drummers and fifers in the 18th century military. Hands-on displays will allow you to try your hand at quill writing and 18th century games.
For more information, contact Monique Cantin at 733-2280, ext 3425 or Monique.Cantin@pc.gc.ca.
_______________________________________

Le lieu historique national de la Forteresse-de-Louisbourg est heureux de participer au festival des arts et de la culture français de la municipalité régionale du Cap-Breton, Rendez-Vous Cap-Breton.
Au XVIIIe siècle, la France occupait une place prépondérante au cœur des arts et de la culture d’Europe. La recherche d’un idéal de beauté et d’ordre inspirait les arts et métiers d’arts. De la mise du couvert sur une table jusqu’à une peinture de grand maître en passant par l’agencement d’un jardin, les Français trouvaient le moyen d’exprimer cet idéal.
En plus des « beaux »-arts, les diverses régions de France avaient toutes leurs propres traditions de musique et de danse qui se retrouvaient dans les rues cosmopolites de Louisbourg coloniale. Que ce soit dans des pièces de théâtre ou des chansons folkloriques, dans de superbes tapisseries ou des tissus artisanaux, les traditions et innovations d’une culture s’expriment à travers son art. Ainsi à travers l’art des gens de la France et de la Nouvelle-France, nous apprenons leurs histoires.
Parcs Canada sera au musée de l’église Saint-Patrick, 87 rue Esplanade, Sydney, les vendredi et samedi, 24 et 25 septembre, de 11h à 16h. Vous pourrez y voir des artéfacts, des reproductions et des animateurs en costume qui démontreront l’art de la dentelle aux fuseaux et la musique du XVIIIe siècle. Un animateur en costume de tambour parlera aussi de son rôle et de celui de sa musique dans le monde militaire de l’époque, lors de trois présentations : 13h, 14h et 15h. De plus, vous aurez la chance d’essayer l’écriture à la plume d’oie et des jeux populaires à Louisbourg au XVIIIe siècle.
Pour de plus amples renseignement, veuillez contacter Monique Cantin, 733-2280, poste 3425 ou monique.cantin@pc.gc.ca

TOURISM IN RICHMOND COUNTY

The Celtic Colours International Festival is only 16 days away. Do you have your tickets yet? Richmond County is very fortunate to have 3 of the Celtic Colours venues in the area and this weeks column we will look at the first event, "Acadian Roots" in D'Escousse, and some of the connected activities which will be taking place.
Before you head out to the venue why not visit the Acadian Community of Petit de Grat and include an Acadian afternoon of events starting at 1:30pm. Spend the afternoon in the cultural centre La Picasse. The event includes an informative tour of the centre, a demonstration on how to make stretch candy with yummy samples and, better still, take home the recipe to make over and over again. Take in a demonstration on how to make Acadian meat pie, a presentation on Isle Madame, souvenir photos, you can purchase advanced tickets. The cost is $35 adults and $25 for children which includes the meal, or $20.00 for just the meal. For myself, music always sounds better after a good meal, so enjoy an Acadian Meat Pie Supper starting at 4:30pm. The supper includes Acadian meat pie served with garden salad, tea or coffee and dessert, reservations are recommended. For more information or reservations contact Dora Samson-Boudreau at 1-902-226-0149 or email dora@lapicasse.ca.
“Acadian Roots” takes place at the D’Escousse Civic Improvement Center on October 11th, starting at 7:30pm and the show has reserved seating with tickets costing $30, $25 and $20. This year's concert features the excellent talent of Lennie Gallant. Gallant who hails from PEI and has long been known as a tremendous talent as a singer and songwriting and although many recognize him as an English artist, he has also released 2 French Albums including last’s year “Le Coeur Hante”. Another fine group of artists who will be performing is Vishten. This talented young group whose band has toured together for the last seven years, is made up of twin sisters Pastelle and Emmanuelle LeBlanc from PEI who have teamed up with Pascal Miousse and Louis-Charles Vigneau from the Magdelen Islands. Their music is a mixture of Eastern Canadian French, Irish and Scottish styles. The band of multi-instrumentalists and step dancers, incorporate fiddle, guitar, accordion, penny whistle, banjo, mandolin, and piano among others. It should be quite a performance. But that is not the last of the talent, along with these performers the audience will also have the opportunity to hear our very talented young Cape Breton entertainers, who although they may be young in age, have quite an amount of experience behind those years. Kayla Bona, Allie Mombourquette and Meagan Burke and Joel Chaisson will keep the audience tapping their toes and moving to the beat as they combine the fiddle, piano, guitar and step dancing with a vocal or two. The Acadian Roots will be rocking at the D’Escousse Civic Improvement Center for sure.
If you are fans of some of our Celtic entertainers go to www.tourismspotlight.blogspot.com and vote for your favorite Celtic performer and check out our daily events calendar as well as what items of interest are taking place around our island.

Sailing off the Banks of St. Peter’s

From the deck of the Visitor Information Center in St. Peter’s, I took a moment to capture some folks enjoying a sail on the Bras d’Or Lakes during the last few days of summer. No better place to be for sure.

Harvest Home Shines in Baddeck

Where can you take in Celtic Music, and Mad Science Fun and a Farmers Market you ask? why at the Alexander Graham Bell Museum of course!!
Something has just come to my attention that may interest visitors to Cape Breton. Parks Canada is hosting Harvest Home tomorrow, September 18th, at the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck. Harvest Home will take place from noon until 2pm. Most of the events will take place outside on the museum grounds; tents will be set up for the Farmers’s Market Garden Produce and Crafts, the old style games and Canteen services. For the enjoyment of all those in attendance, Rachel Davis will entertainment with Celtic Music.
The “Mad Science Fun” portion of Harvest Home will take place inside the museum where there will be Bubbling Potions, Volcanic Lava, a Dancing and Shivering Coin, and a Taste of Pure Carbonation with a big BANG ending! For more information of Harvest Home call 1-902-295-2069.

Visual Art Series

From the Celtic Colours International Festival web site, comes this line up of events for the Visual Art Series being held on the Cape Breton Heritage Coast section of Cape Breton.
On October 8th, he following three events will take place: All About Quilting @ the Causeway, will be held at the Historic Church of St. David's, Port Hastings from 9:00AM to 7:00PM. Admission is free to the public. A Quilt Show and Sale of traditional and contemporary quilts made by Cape Breton Quilters will be displayed at the Historic Church of St. Davids. The local Quilt Guild invites you to join them at their Quilting Bee which is happening on site. There will also be hands-on activities including demonstrations of magic pillowcases, machine quilting, "stack & whack" placemats and napkins, rabbit pincushions, crazy quilt embellishing...you can watch or try out these demonstrated craft projects, there are kits available, and you take home a free pattern. Contact: Barb MacIntyre at (902) 625-1546 or emailbarbsquilts@ns.sympatico.ca. This event is hosted by Strait Area Quilters.
Learning to Draw / Learning to See, will be held at the J. Franklin Wright Gallery at Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre, Port Hawkesbury from 1:00PM to 3:30PM. The admission is $20 which includes supplies. Learning to draw requires learning to see. By taking advantage of right brain strategies, we'll cover concepts of line and form as well as negative and positive space, using pencil, charcoal and erasers. Exercises will include blind and modified contour drawings, open and closed shape drawings, an upside down landscape and a proven shortcut for drawing faces. All supplies are included. Instructed by artist, Marc Brzustowski. Registration can be done through the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre Box Office 8:30 - 4:00 weekdays or by calling the box office at 1-902-625-2591 Contact: J. Franklin Wright Gallery, Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre 1-902-625-2591. This event is hosted by Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre.
Exhibit: Living in a Painting, Celebrating Cape Breton Island en Plein Air will be held at the J. Franklin Wright Gallery at Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre, Port Hawkesbury on October 8th, from 4:00PM to 9:00PM as well as on the following dates October 9th from 10:00AM to 4:00PM, October 12th from 4:00PM to 9:00PM, October 13th from 4:00PM to 9:00PM, October 14th from 4:00PM to 9:00PM, October 15th from 4:00PM to 9:00PM and on October 16th from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. These events are free to the public. The Island of Cape Breton is astonishingly beautiful; the landscape is as rich as the culture. This special exhibit features paintings created by renowned visual artists Christopher Gorey, William Rogers, Kyle Jackson, Liam O'Maonlai, Lynda Lou MacIntyre, Patsy MacKinnon, Marc Brzustowski, Nancy MacLean, Joanne MacDonald, Carolyn Burns, and Tom Ryan. All of these pieces were selected from those created during the Celtic Colours en Plein Air 2009, an event in which the artists painted outdoors amid the spectacular scenery during last year's Celtic Colours festival. In this case the painting was done during three "Paint Outs" in Inverness, Meat Cove, and Sydney. The artists submitted the works they created, and from them the pieces for this beautiful exhibit were chosen. This exhibit launches the 2010 Celtic Colours en Plein Air event, wherein Paint Outs will be held in Lake Ainslie (Saturday October 9), Louisbourg (Monday October 11), the Top of the Island (Wednesday October 13) and Iona (Friday October 15). Artists will then submit their pieces to choose 2011's exhibit. Contact: Yvette Rogers at 1-902-562-6700 or 1- 902- 578-2497 yvette@celtic-colours.comor J. Franklin Wright Gallery, Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre at 1-902-625-2591. This event is hosted by J. Franklin Wright Gallery. On October 11th, Celtic Colours en Plein Air: Louisbourg Paint Out, will take place at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, Louisbourg from 10:00AM to 5:00PM. The admission for this event is $15 or $10 if you register for more than one Paint Out. Celtic Colours en Plein Air is a series of outdoor painting events wherein visitors and locals alike will have the opportunity to view Plein Air Painters at work in the picturesque autumn landscape. This Paint Out takes place in at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic site, where the past comes alive through the restored stone and wood buildings and pedestrian streets. Artists may also paint in the charming fishing village of Louisbourg. Anchor artist Steven Rolls. Artists can participate in up to 4 Paint Outs, and they can submit the work they create to be evaluated for a Major Exhibit in Celtic Colours' Visual Art Series 2011. Each Paint Out takes place in a community where Celtic Colours concerts are happening nearby, and there are a wide range of Cultural Experiences to take in. For a painter, the Island of Cape Breton is a gift. Its landscape is beautiful and diverse, from rolling farmlands and colourful hardwood trees, to stone boulder cliffs and windswept pines, to dramatic folds of mountains plummeting down to sandy beaches. The Celtic Colours International Festival is the perfect way to enjoy it, as the music and the culture are as beautiful as the landscape. This event is not a workshop, so there is no instruction, and artists are required to bring their own supplies. Contact: Yvette Rogers at1-902-562-6700 or 1-902-578-2497 or email yvette@celtic-colours.com. This event is hosted by Celtic Colours International Festival.
October 14th, the Local Artisan Display and Sale will take place at St. George's Channel Hall in St. George's Channel, Richmond County from 10:00AM to 5:00PM. There is no admission for this event. Display of Artisanal crafts and hand made items presented by local crafters. This sale is a rare chance to see creations by people who do not often have their work exhibited. Contact: Dawn Haloun at 1- 902-345-2242 or email dawnmarie1045@hotmail.com. This event is hosted by St. George's Channel Hall.

Pending Hurricane Causes Beggar's Banquet to Close

Due to the pending arrival of Hurricane Igor next week, the Beggar's Banquet at the Point of View Suites has decided not to extend its season as planned. I look forward to attending this top rated venue next year.

Village on the Canal Documentary

This summer I had the opportunity to do on camera what I do on a daily basis, talk about St. Peter's and what the visitor should see while they are in our beautiful and historic area. Paul Bernard of Bernard Production Company was in the historic Village of St. Peter's in August to do a documentery on what a lot of us and visitors is one of the most beautiful locations on Cape Breton Island. He wanted to capture the essence of the village and why visitors find it so appealing.During the documentery Paul spoke to Rhoda Gillet of the Bras d'Or Lakes Inn, Judy Madden of Nicolas Denys Museum, Sarah Sampson of the Wallace MacAskill House Museum, Marion MacLeod-Stone of Glad Tidings, Gerry Gibson of The St. Peter's Marina and myself at the Destination Cape Breton Visitor Information Centre, and got our impressions as to why visitors come to the area. To view this promotional piece follow these links to:
part1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnk2vnqbUeo
part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-xQP79FW6Q
I hope you enjoy it.

TOURISM IN RICHMOND COUNTY

This year's tourism season is winding down but already operators and tourism associations are gearing up for the upcoming year. Beth Groom from the Village On the Canal Association and Joan Clannon from Destination Isle Madame Association will be attending the TIANS Best Practices Study Tour for the International Festival and Events Association Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. The conference will take place from September 15th to 17th. Groom and Clannon will attend the conference where they can share experiences with fellow festival organizers and obtain new and innovative techniques in the organization of festivals and events which can be applied and shared with festival and event organizers here in Cape Breton.

One of the new events that took place on the Cape Breton Heritage Coast that had a very successful year is the Beggar’s Banquet in Louisbourg. The regular season for this event was slated to end on September but, due to popular demand, organizers are extending the event for 5 more nights. Linda Kennedy of the Point of View Suites in Louisbourg has agreed to host 5 more nights of the Beggar’s Banquet during September and October, which is our shoulder season. The events will take place on September 22nd and 24th and October 1st, 8th, and 15th. This 18th century Dining Experience and Entertainment Venue was rated as one of the top notch new summer events on the Island and one that captured the interest of the entire family. So if you have not had the opportunity to take in this fun filled 18th century event there is still time.

Another event visitors and locals might be interested in is an exciting experience in culinary history. The Fortress of Louisbourg proudly presents a delicious way to experience Canadian history 18th century style. Join Chef Chantal Vichambre as she leads participants through 3days of workshops from October 1st to October 3rd, as she explores French Cuisine as experienced in the 18th Century Fortress of Louisbourg. Sign up for a one day workshop or for all three with Chef Vichambre and experience French cooking using both modern and open hearth kitchens. Space for the workshop is limited so register soon. Final day to register is September 15th, to register or for more information call 1-902-733-3552.

For updates on events happening on the Cape Breton Heritage Coast and items of interest from accommodations to Celtic Colours events and the best restaurants on Cape Breton and what best items on the menu from around Cape Breton island, go to my new tourism blog at www.tourismspotlight.blogspot.com. Until next week, enjoy the
beautiful scenery and the beautiful weather during your stay in St. Peter's.

Deal of the Day at Dundee

If you are travelling around Richmond County today and you are looking for an excellent accommodation to stay at, I just have to mention the Dundee Resort and Golf Club. Today they are offering a rate of the day of $79.00 for a standard room for double occupancy. They are also offering 1 round of golf with a golf cart for only $40.00 after 12pm. For this golf course that is a spectacular deal. While there you can enjoy their Wine & Tapas Afternoon special from 2-5pm at their Hilltop Café and tonight they have Jason Williams entertaining in MacRae’s Dining Room. This is an all round excellent deal, I wanted to share with you. Have fun. Let me know if you enjoyed your stay at Dundee. I feel confident that you will.

Learning Opportunities Await you during Celtic Colours

Being from the area I personally take our Celtic music for granted. I am so lucky to be able to take in great talents such as Dwayne Cote, JP Cormier, Andrea Beaton throughout the year, playing at venues around the Island. But visitors coming to Cape Breton remind me just how fortunate I am as I witness their desire to take in our music and culture. It is amazing. And not only do we have the opportunity to hear the music but we have the opportunity through the Celtic Colours International Festival Organization to participate in workshops with the likes of Paul Davis, and Dwayne Cote who are willing to take the time to instruct us in the proper way to play such beautiful and traditional music. For those who would like to take this opportunity I am listing the "Learning Opportunities" available during the week of the Celtic Colours Festival here in Richmond.

Workshops for Beginner Tin Whistle will take place at the Bras d’Or Lakes Inn in St. Peter’s on October 10th from 1pm to 2pm and on October 13th from 2pm to 3pm fee $15.00 per workshop. Paul Davis instructs this workshop that includes an introduction and brief history, basic scales, and music suitable for whistles. Paul will provide a list of relevant resources, website, etc. and will give participants a CD of demo tunes at regular speed and slowed down to an easy pace. Maximum 15 participants, so be sure to book your spot.
Contact: Paul Davis at (902) 227-5207 or email paul@themusicofireland.com.
Hosted by Destination Richmond Tourism Cooperative Ltd.

Workshops for Beginner/Intermediate Class for Fiddle with Dwayne Cote will be held at the Bras d’Or Lakes Inn, at 10095 Grenville Street, St.Peter’s on October 11th, 12th, 14th and 15th, from 1-2pm. Cost for the workshops is $35.00 per workshop. Reknowned fiddler Dwayne Cote instructs this class tailored for Beginner / Intermediate players. The class will focus on Celtic fiddle techniques and tunes. Contact: Lisa White (902)849-6400 dwaynecote@gmail.com. Hosted by Destination Richmond Tourism Cooperative.

Workshops in Advanced Class for Fiddle with Dwayne Cote will take place on October 11th, 12th, 14th, and October 15th from 2-3pm each day. Fee for the workshops is $35.00 each. Dwayne Cote instructs this workshop tailored for the advanced player, focusing on Celtic techniques and tunes. Contact: Lisa White at (902) 849-6400 or email dwaynecote@gmail.com. Hosted by Destination Richmond Tourism Cooperative Ltd.

Workshops for Celtic Chording Techniques for Guitar with Dwayne Cote will be held at the Bras d’Or Lakes Inn in St. Peter’s on October 11th, 12th, 14th, and 15th from 3 to 4pm at a fee of $35.00 per workshop. Learn how to accompany Celtic music on your guitar, and utilize chording techniques. Instructed by renowned fiddler Dwayne Cote. Contact: Lisa White at (902) 849-6400 or email at dwaynecote@gmail.com. Hosted by Destination Richmond Tourism Cooperative Ltd.

Après midi Acadienne -- Acadian Afternoon at La Picasse Centre Communautaire Culturel, Petit de Grat 1:30 PM $35 adults / $25 children - includes meal. On October 11th spend the afternoon in the cultural centre La Picasse. The event includes an informative tour of the centre, a demonstration on how to make stretch candy with samples and recipe, demonstration on how to make Acadian meat pie, a presentation on Isle Madame, souvenir photos, and you get to finish it off with a meal! You can purchase advanced tickets here: http://www.lapicasse.ca/la_picasse/index.cfm?id=3799
Contact: Dora Samson-Boudreau (902) 226-0149 dora@lapicasse.ca Hosted by La Picasse Centre Communautaire Cultural.

A workshop for Scottish Country Dancing & Tea Social will be held at the L’Ardoise Community Centre in L’Ardoise on October 14th, from 1-4pm. Fee for the workshop is $10.00. Beginner and advanced dancers welcome to learn and dance basic "ceilidh" style Scottish Country Dancing from RSCDS (Royal Scottish Country Dance Society) members. Bring comfortable footwear. A mid-afternoon tea and social is included. Contact: Stan and Joyce Richards at (902) 345-0741. Hosted by Grou Tyme.

5 Extra Nights added by Popular Demand for Louisbourg’s Beggar’s Banquet

This tourism season’s smash hit event, the Beggar’s Banquet, will be offering 5 additional nights performances due to popular demand. The event has drawn rave reviews not only from single couples, but also from business and family groups. Due to the amount of interest and requests from guests to get the event going, Linda Kennedy, creator of the Beggar’s Banquet, has agreed to extend the season by 5 additional nights. Everyone who has commented at the VICs about the event has had high praise for all elements of the evening, from the selection of items on the menu to the content of the performance depecting the humor and entertainment of 18th century Louisbourg. If stars were awarded for this seasons events, the Point of View Suites Beggar’s Banquet would receive 5 out of 5.

ISLE MADAME 2011 CALENDAR - A Glimpse of the Past as We Look to the Future

As a fundraiser, the Isle Madame Lighthouse Preservation Committee will be selling a beautiful lighthouse calendar. The money raised by the committee will help to keep their 4 lighthouses on Isle Madame maintained. The calendars are on sale at L'Auberge Acadienne Inn at 2375 Hwy 206 Arichat. The cost of the calendar is $20.00.
Calendar Photos include: Grandique Light, Hawke Island Light, Ile Quetique Light, Cap la Ronde Light, Green Island Light, Mouse Island Light, Marache Point Light, Jerseyman Island Light, Crichton Head Light, West Arichat Pole Light, West Arichat Range Back Tower Light, and the Plans of West Arichat Front Tower Light and Glasgow Point Light as well as photos of some of the former lighthouse keepers and their families.
With Christmas approaching the calendar, which has some very nice pictures of the areas lighthouses and the families who operated them, would make a perfect gift idea for anyone who once lived on the Island.

VIEW OF RICHMOND

It has been an interesting week in Richmond dealing with Hurricane Earl and its aftermath. In the days leading up to Hurricane Earl, the Visitor Information Center in St. Peter’s had a steady flow of visitors coming to inquire where the storm would hit and what areas should they avoid due to the storm. We gave the information we had from The Weather Network and tried to alleviate their concerns as we helped them decide what direction they could take to be out of the worst of the storm. We were busy answering question from visitors on flight and ferry delays and what parks and attractions would be open to see to make the best out of their time here. During the later part of Saturday, the VIC in St. Peter’s had to close due to Earl.

In the aftermath of the storm, we were busy with many of the same questions visitors had before the storm. Visitors who were camping asked what was the situation with the Provincial Parks, were they open or when would they be open, and where were the ones that were open and were there any private campgrounds in the area that they could use instead. Battery Park closed as Hurricane Earl approached and remained closed through Monday due to downed trees and lack of power. The park was still closed on Tuesday with a power outage due to a tree laying on the wires in the park and with no assurance that service would be up and running for Wednesday, campers in the area had to leave much sooner than expected.

We were not the only area suffering problems due to Earl. Parks Canada sent out updates on Monday and Tuesday on services being offered at Fortress Louisbourg, due to a power outage caused by the effects of Earl. As a result of the lack of power, there was a reduction in services at the site on both days, with the site being open to visitors to tour the grounds, the Chapel and the Museum only. The animators were reduced and the restaurants on site were not open. Entrance fees to the Fortress were waved due to the reduction of service for those days. For photos of the effects of Earl in the St. Peter’s area check out my blog at www.tourismspotlight.blogspot.com

Experience the Flavor and the History of 18th Century Cuisine

From October 1 to October 3, you will have the opportunity to experience 18th century cuisine at its best. The Fortress of Louisbourg proudly presents Chef Chantal Vechambre, as she guides you through 3 days of fascinating and enjoyable culinary discoveries. And what better location for this program than at the historical site itself. She will share with participants the intricacies of preparing and serving a variety of 18th century cuisine as prepared in the Fortress’s Engineer’s kitchen. This is the perfect opportunity for you to practice the art of French cooking using both modern and open hearth kitchens. Experience the style, cuisine and the history of the 18th century Fortress during these three day workshops by registering by September 15 and enjoy the experience.

Originally from Paris, Chef Chantal Vechambre is certified in cuisine and pastry, chocolate and confectionary. Chef Vechambre resides in New Brunswick where she has her own consultant business, as well as offering courses in French cuisine and pastry. It is her research into culinary history which has lead to her collaboration with the team from the National Historic Site at Louisbourg to create exciting new recipes which will be used at their historic restaurants.

These culinary workshops are inspired by the recipes of 18th century Louisbourg and will feature the flavors of the colonial town such as bee ragout, fish soup, capilotade of cod, as well as 18th century pastries, breads, hot chocolate and desserts. Participants will receive a booklet of new recipes as a souvenir of the Fortress culinary experience.

Cost for the workshops are as follows:
Day 1-October 1st, 2010 including taxes is $106.30. The day will include instruction in: Starters: Stock and Sauces, the basics of 18th century French Cuisine.
12:30pm Drive to site and meet at the Museum House.
1pm-Greeting and brief introduction to Louisbourg and Orientation to the Engineer’s Kitchen.
2:30pm-Cooking in Louisbourg: Make roux and fish soup. “ French Flavours“, epics douces.
4pm-Bechamel sauce and pastry, making talmouses
5pm-Depart site.
Day 2- October 2, cost of workshop including taxes is $139.30.
French Fish Recipes and a Popular Sweet Cake.
9am-Drive to Museum on site.
9:30am-Coffee and history talk, kitchen introduction.
10am-Flavourings, with herbs and French preparation of vegetables. A visit with a Louisbourg gardener.
11am-“Fish History”. Discussion and preparation of fish, “Cod ste Menehould”, using fine herbs, roux and court bouillion.
12:30pm-Lunch at Engineer’s House.
1:30pm-Our inspiration: Visit Archaeology, a tour of food and serving related artifacts.
3pm-Cake: Gateau de Savoie served with 18th Century French hot chocolate.
4pm-Etiquiette: Dining in 18th century French style.
6pm-Depart site.
Day 3-Cost of workshop including taxes is $139.30.
The Iron Chef: Beef and Chocolate, the Makings of an 18th century Feast.
10am-Drive to Museum on site.
10:30am- Coffee and food history, Louisbourg and imports.
11am-Main dishes, beef ragout, pate a la viande and making pate fine.
12:30pm-Lunch at Engineer’s House.
1pm-Side dishes: stuffed vegetables.
2:30pm-18th century French chocolate: creams, cream patissiere, chocolate rissoles.
5:30pm-Enjoying a meal around the kitchen table.
7pm-Depart site. (Program subject to change) Prices listed do not include accommodations.
As space is limited and the deadline for registration is drawing near (September 15, 2010), call early to reserve a your space by phoning 1-902-733-3552. Please make your cheque payable to The Receiver General for Canada and send it with your completed form to:
Fortress of Louisbourg Culinary Workshop
c/o L. Martell
Fortress of Louisbourg NHSC
259 Park Service Road
Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, Canada B1C 2L2
For more information call 1-902-733-3552 or email laurel.martell@pc.gc.ca

TOURISM IN RICHMOND COUNTY

Tourism is in the shoulder season. The season for visitors travelling with children who are school aged has come to an end, as they have returned home for school. The Visitor Information Centres are now seeing the visitor who enjoys travelling in cooler conditions, although the weather we are experiencing is not exactly what they were expecting. Shoulder season visitors are also enjoying the roads having less traffic to contend with. However this does not mean that our visitor numbers are down. The numbers of visitors coming into the St. Peter's VIC are on par with last season.

For visitors now traveling along the Cape Breton Heritage Coast, there is still plenty to see and do. Golfers in the area are still in time for some extra special rates. The Dundee Resort and Golf Club is still offering full day Twilight Golf rates of $40.00 on Tuesday and after 12pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, this includes a round of golf, cart and taxes. On Thursday, an even better rate of $30.00 for a round of golf, cart, and taxes. Visitors to Cape Breton can enjoy local entertainment at the Dundee Resort every night of the week from 6 to 9pm with Jason Williams entertaining weeknights at the MacRae's Dining Room and guest entertainers performing at Chanter's Pub on Friday and Saturday evenings.

In Louisbourg visitors can enjoy live entertainment at the Louisbourg Playhouse until mid-October, and the Point of View Suites will be offering their very popular Beggars Banquet dinner and entertainment until the end of September. The Fortress of Louisbourg will be offering its Tour by Lantern Light until Sept 30th.

And of course the world renowned Celtic Colours International Festival will be taking place all over Cape Breton starting on October 8th. During the Celtic Colours Festival, visitors will have the opportunity to witness some of the best Celtic entertainment in the world. And again this season, the Bras d'Or Lakes Inn in St. Peter's will be hosting the Kitchen Racket after hours party from 10pm until 2am during the festival.

Many of the museums around the Island will remain open until mid-October unless otherwise stated in the Nova Scotia Doers and Dreamers Guide Book, so there is still time to enjoy the Nicolas Denys Museum in St. Peter’s until mid September. The Museum offers a dual service to the area. First it houses information and displays on St. Peter's National Historic Site, the St. Peter's Canal and also on the life and times of Nicolas Denys, founder of St. Pierre in 1650. The Fortress of Louisbourg, the second major tourism attraction on Cape Breton, will remain open and offer an exciting look at 18th century Fortress life, and the Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck, displays the many inventions and interests of the noted inventor Alexander Graham Bell. The Wallace MacAskill House Museum in St. Peter's home of the famous marine photographer will remain open by appointment during September, for the visitor's convenience.

Of course the magnificent scenery of Cape Breton never goes away and many visitors are traveling to the area with cameras in hand to photograph some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. And cameras were definitely out at the 7th Annual Point Michaud Surf Classic, which was held at Point Michaud. The competition had another successful year, with over 450 spectators showing up to watch the competition. The weather was beautiful and hot and the waves were perfect for the competition. Over 50 competitors turn out for the event, including 2 members of the McIntosh family. Richard and his son Rory took part in the competition, competing in the adult and youth divisions respectively. Another well known resident to take part in the competition was Cape Breton Kayak's Eberhart Witt, who had an excellent day on the waves taking home first place in the kayak surf competition. For a full list of winners check Dana MacPhail's article on the surf competition in this weeks Reporter.

Michelle Richards surf instructor for the Municipality of Richmond's Recreation Department's Summer Surf Program did an excellent job in pulling the Classic together. She kept the day's events and surf activities moving along very efficiently which made the day fun for those who participated as well as for those who watched. Michelle has done an excellent job in promoting Cape Breton surfing to the tourism world, and as instructor with the summer surf program has developed a strong interest in surfing with her students whose numbers continue to rise each year. Michelle's professional knowledge of the sport and natural love of surfing enables her to instruct the group with the proper surfing techniques, safety elements and professional etiquette to make the program enjoyable for the group no matter what the age of the student. For more information and photos on the surf competition and other happenings around the island go to my tourism blog at www.tourismspotlight.blogspot.com.

Until next week, have fun while traveling in Richmond County, on Cape Breton’s Heritage Coast.

Fortress Louisbourg Hurricane Aftermath

The following update on the situation at the Fortress of Louisbourg was given to me by Parks Canada at 11:13am this morning:

Hello/Bonjour:
Parks Canada would like to advise that, following Hurricane Earl, power has not yet been restored at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. As a result, there is a reduction in services at the site on Tuesday, September 07. The Fortress of Louisbourg is open and visitors are welcome to tour the grounds, the Chapel and the Museum. The restaurants are not open. Given this reduction in service, the entry fee will be waived today. Parks Canada will continue to keep you updated, and thanks you for your understanding and co-operation.

Parcs Canada avise qu’à la suite de l’ouragan Earl, il y a une panne d’électricité au lieu historique de la forteresse-de Louisbourg. Pour aujourd’hui, le mardi 7 septembre, il y aura une réduction de services au lieu historique. La forteresse est ouverte. On invite les visiteurs à venir se promener sur le site; la chapelle et le musée sont aussi ouverts. Les restaurants sont fermés. L'entrée est gratuite. Parcs Canada émettra régulièrement des mises à jour. Nous vous remercions de votre compréhension et coopération.

Hurricane Earl in the Late Afternoon

Hurricane Earl in the Afternoon

Hurricane Earl at Noon

The Morning of Hurricane Earl

Richmond Feels The Effect of Earl

Saturday September 4th was quite a day with Hurricane Earl making its way to land. Cape Breton came through the storm with only minor scrapes and bruises. Battery Provincial Park in St. Peter’s closed sending campers scurrying to find alternate sites to settle in to wait out the storm. The Fortress of Louisbourg , the Highland Village, and the Alexander Graham Bell Museum all closed due to the storm. Judy Madden, curator of the Nicolas Denys Museum, called me at the VIC to let me know the museum would stay open until the weather became too bad to stay open safely, which was great because it gave visitors to the St.Peter’s area someplace to go and visit during the first part of the storm. As the day progressed so did the storm, with increasing winds and rain toppling trees and knocking out power to most areas in Richmond. Thankfully Nova Scotia Power got electricity back up and running in most areas in Richmond by 3pm today. During the evening of the storm, I took a drive to check out the intensity of the wind due to the storm, making stops at the St.Peter’s Canal and Point Michaud Beach. I took some videos of the effects of Earl on the St. Peter’s coastline.

2010 Surf Classic Winners Announced

Michelle Richards, surf instructor for the Municipality of Richmond Recreation Department’s Summer Surf Program and organizer of the Classic, did an excellent job in keeping the days events running smoothly.

Here is the 2010 list of winners from this years Surf Classic.
Surf Board: Boys under 8 years old - 1st Rory MacIntosh
Girls under 10 years old- 1st Carlee Richards McNeil
Boys under 10 years old -1st Olivier Broussard
Girls under 12 years old -1st Jenna MacPhee, - 2nd Paryse Broussard
Girls over 13 years old - 1st Chelsea Peters, 2nd Nicole Boudreau
Jr. Boys 14-15 years old – 1st Tristan Martell, 2nd Gary Peters, 3rd Colin Colson Jr. Boys 16-18 years old - 1st Matt Obrien, 2nd Craig Colson, 3rd tie Guifre Bantjes - 3rd Drew MacPherson
Women under 29 years -1st Carli Boers, 2nd Erica MacDonald, 3rd Terrilyn Boudreau
Women over 30 -1st Michelle Richards, 2nd Natasha Carter, 3rd Nancy Taylor
Men under 29 - 1st Trevor Thorpe, 2nd Jeff Waidson, 3rd Brian McInnis
Men under 39 -1st Ritchie McDonald, 2nd Rich MacIntosh, 3rd Wayne McKay
Men over 40 - Claude Broussard, 2nd Rod Bantjes, 3rd Darrell Peters
Masters - 1st George Grinnell, 2nd Gerrard Taylor
Long board Open – 1st Michelle Richards, 2nd Tristen Martell, 3rd Trevor Thorpe
Short board Open – 1st Tristen Martell, 2nd Dustin Martell, 3rd Matt Obrien
Body Board Open – 1st Tristan Martell, 2nd Dustin Martell, 3rd Jenna MacPhee
Skim Board Open – 1st Luke Shiels, 2nd Gary Peters, 3rd Colin Colson
Kayak Surf- 1st Eberhart Witt, 2nd Mark Vanderhoden, 3rd tie Tristan Martell, 3rd Rod Bantjes
Surf Team Relay: 1st Beach Bums – Matt Obrien, Jeff Waidson, Trevor Thorpe, Chelsea Peters
2nd LT – Colin Colson, Craig Colson, Doug Colson, Luke Shiels,
3rd Yahr – Carli Boers, Tristen Martell, Dustin Martell, Ricky Marten
4th Taylors – Gerrard Taylor, Rich MacIntosh, Claude Broussard, Chris Oake
5th Zebras – Geifre Bantjes, Rod Bantjes, Wayne McKay, Drew MacPherson
6th Skippies – Christine Reeves, Sarah Beth, Bendon Johnston, Sandy Muir
Team Body Surf Expression Session:
1st LT – Colin Colson, Craig Colson, Doug Colson, Luke Shiels
2nd Yahr – Carli Boers, Tristen Martell, Dustin Martell, Ricky Marten
3rd Point Michaud – Claude, Olivier & Paryse Broussard, Rory MacIntosh
4th Nothing – Cathy, Michelle, Logan, Molly MacPhee
5th Joes – Wayne MacKay, Darrel Peters, Joey, George Grinell
6th Us – Jenna & Meghan MacPhee, Austin & Alley Fraser
Top Water Awards:
Top Kid (boy) – Rory MacIntosh -Top Kid (girl) – Carlee Richards MacNeil
Top Girl – Jenna MacPhee - Top Boy – Olivier Broussard
Top Jr. Girl – Chelsea Peters - Top Jr. Boy – Tristan Martel
Top Women (20’s) – Carli Boers - Top Women (30’s) – Michelle Richards
Top Women (40’s) – Nancy Taylor - Top Man (20’s) – Trevor Thorpe
Top Man (30’s) – Rich MacIntosh - Top Man (40’s) – Claude Broussard
Top Master – Gerrard Taylor - Top Water Families – Colsons (Lawerencetown), Peters (East Hants), Broussard (Port Hawkesbury), Taylors (Rockdale), Martell (St.Peters)

Eberhard Witt of Kayak Cape Breton, who took top spot in the Kayak division for the surf competition, stopped in at the VIC to fill me in on the event. This event continues to grow in popular each year, and definitely succeeds in bring people in from near and far to take part in some fashion whether to participate or to compete. The Summer Surf Program and the Annual Point Michaud Surf Classic is a credit to the Municipality of Richmond's Tourism, Culture and Recreation Department and to Michelle Richards whose dedication and ability to the sport and her students shines through.

FLUKE SURF ACCIDENT NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP RICHMOND PRO DOWN

To the relief of all Michelle Richards surfing followers, I am so happy to inform you that Michelle who had a surf accident earlier this week and had to stay in hospital for 48 hours is back home and doing well. Thankfully the fluke accident that involved another surfer and resulted in Michelle’s injuries has not dampened her spirits and she is sure to be the waves soon I am sure. Wishing you all the best Michelle and passing along well wishes from all the young surfers you have worked so hard with this over the summer.

TOURISM IN RICHMOND COUNTY

Tourism is heading into the shoulder season. The season for visitors travelling with children who are school aged has come to an end, as they have returned home for school. The Visitor Information Centres are now seeing the visitor who enjoys travelling in a little cooler conditions, with less traffic to compete with. But that does not mean that we are not seeing visitors. Our numbers at the St. Peter's VIC are on par with last season. And for visitors now in the area, there is still plenty to see and do. For the golfers in the area, they are still in time to take in some extra special golf rates. The Dundee Resort and Golf Club is still offering full day Twilight Golf rates of $40.00 on Tuesday and after 12pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, this includes a round of golf, cart and taxes. On Thursday, an even better rate of $30.00 for a round of golf, cart, and taxes. Visitors to Cape Breton can enjoy local entertainment at the Dundee Resort every night of the week from 6 to 9pm with Jason Williams entertaining weeknights at the MacRae's Dining Room and guest entertainers performing at Chanter's Pub on Friday and Saturday evenings.
In Louisbourg visitors can enjoy live entertainment at the Louisbourg Playhouse until mid-October, and the Point of View Suites will be offering their very popular Beggars Banquet dinner and entertainment until the end of September. The Fortress of Louisbourg will be offering its Dinner Theatre performance until Sept. 1st and it's Tour by Lantern Light will continue until Sept 30th. And of course the world reknowned Celtic Colours International Festival will be taking place all over Cape Breton starting on October 8th. During the Celtic Colours Festival visitors will have the opportunity to witness some of the best Celtic entertainment in the world. And again this season the Bras d'Or Lakes Inn in St. Peter's will be hosting the Kitchen Racket after hours party from 10pm until 2am during the festival.
Many of the museums around the island will remain open until mid-October unless otherwise stated in the Nova Scotia Doers and Dreamers Guide Book, so there is still time to enjoy the Nicolas Denys Museum in St. Peter’s. The Museum offers a dual service to the area. First it houses information and displays on St. Peter's National
Historic Site, the St. Peter's Canal and also on the life and times of Nicolas Denys, founder of St. Pierre in 1650. The Fortress of Louisbourg, the second major tourism attraction on Cape Breton, located in Louisbourg will remain open and offer an exciting look at 18th century Fortress life, and the Alexander Graham Bell Museum in Baddeck, displays the many inventions and interests of the noted inventor Alexander Graham Bell. The Wallace MacAskill House Museum in St Peter's home of the famous Marine Photographer will remain open by appointment during September, for the visitor's convenience.
Of course the magnificent scenery of Cape Breton never goes away and many visitors are traveling to the area with cameras in hand to photograph some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Until next week, have fun while traveling in Richmond County, on Cape Breton’s Heritage Coast.