June 6th will mark the tenth, annual Music in Motion for music students in Dryden. The Music Departments of Dryden High School and Open Roads public school would like to present Music in Motion X (10). This musical event will take place at the Gordon Wood Auditorium (at the highschool) at 7:00 (doors open at 6:30). Admission for the event is $5 at the door.

The show is always a crowd pleaser and something many Drydenites look forward to. “I think it’s fantastic that the music program is thriving” says past DHS music student Elizabeth Gould “it’s such a great opportunity and every year the program seems to have more variety than the last.”

This year you can expect to hear tunes from the film The Incredibles, a tribute to the 80s, and much more. The final piece of the evening will bring together the full ensemble of students. Grades 6 – 12 will all come together to perform what is sure to be the hit of the evening.

Congratulations to both music programs for a decade of collaboration.

This past Tuesday Dryden welcomed back, for the fourth time, Country Blend. The band performed an energetic and exciting show featuring covers by country legends such as Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline.

The group is composed of five members from Manitoba and the United States. Dianne Lodge and Evelyn Ramage, cousins of Neil Young, sang beautifully and enchanted us all; a favorite in-particular was their performance of Lorette Lynn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter”. Gordon “Crazy Fingers” Lindquist was likely the most entertaining body of the evening, enticing roars of laughter and impressing everyone with his truly, crazy fingers. Cyn Lodge, drummer and the group’s manager, and Henry Martens, the group’s lead guitarist, also performed wonderfully and kept everyone entertained in-between songs with jokes and stories from their tour bus.

The show is arranged as a tribute to the legends of country, and they do a fantastic job paying this tribute. “It’s all about the good old country music” said Henry Martens “the music that tells us a story, that we can all relate to; it’s all about the music we love”.

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Do you love the out doors? Are you looking for a way to keep active and healthy? As most of you will have likely answered “yes” to these questions, it is only appropriate to now introduce you to the Dryden Canoe and Kayak Club.

This rapidly growing club within Dryden is associated with Dryden Athletic and Recreation Commission, but is it’s own privately running, separate entity. The group meet’s every Wednesday evening at 6:00 at Skene’s Landing. “The group is open to everyone.” says Garth Gillis who helps run the club.

The group has attracted an array of people of all ages and fitness levels. Devon Carr, elementary-school student, has been canoeing for only three weeks – but was out in a kayak on his own last Wednesday; “It’s really fun and active” says Carr “and a fun way to get exercise”. Garth Gillis mentions that he “[doesn’t] understand why more people don’t do it. Look at where we live! There are more interchanging water ways that roads in this area.” Wendy Eby (and her adorable pup Josie) comment on the serenity of the sport “I love the fact that it’s so peaceful, calm, and quiet. And you are able to see so much wild life.” This was certainly true last Wednesday evening when the group was visited by two blue herons and three families of geese. It was made abundantly clear that new comers are always welcome to the group – regardless of your skill level. Wednesday evening was Katie Taylor’s first time out; “I was looking for something new to try out – this seemed like a great was to exercise and I’ve always been interested in the activity.”

If you think you would like to join this group, or even just head out on the river one Wednesday evening, please feel free. As of right now, the club is completely free of cost, though this is subject to change if the group continues to grow at the rate it’s going. Additionally, if you let them know you’re interested in taking part ahead of time, they will do their best to accommodate and provide you with a canoe or kayak. The group is also on Facebook, @Dryden Canoe and Kayak Club, which is a great way to keep in touch. “We try to meet up most weekends as well” says Garth Gillis “we plan special trips that take us places beyond the Wabigoon River”. These trips are all made notice via the Facebook group.

So, what have you got to loose? Head onto Facebook or down to Skene’s Landing on Wednesday night, and check it out.

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This week is Canada’s Road Safety week so you may anticipate the Ontario Provincial Police and Dryden Police to be out in full force this May Long weekend, ensuring our safety. With an accelerated patrol plan, the OPP and Dryden Police will be looking for motorists who may be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, above the posted speed limit, driving while distracted, or driving without a seatbelt of life jacket. While patrolling the highways and water ways, the police will be promoting safe driving and boating by routinely stopping vehicles and vessels, making sure everyone is behaving appropriately.

While on the highways the police will be primarily looking for those driving under the influence of alcohol and those who may be recklessly. While driving you must have no open alcohol in your vehicle and the maximum legal blood alcohol concentration for a fully licensed driver is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood (0.08).

There are serious legal consequences for drinking and driving. If you are stopped for driving while drunk you will be subjected to a breath-test and possibly arrested. If arrested, your license may be seized for 90-days and you will be summonsed to court. Receiving a simple warning for drinking and driving any vehicle may result in your license being suspended for three-days. If you are stopped for ‘racing’, or driving 50 kilometers per hour above the speed limit, your license may be seized for seven-days and you may be summonsed to court. These same rules also apply to drinking-and-boating. Additionally, the police and conservation officers will be checking boats to see if proper fishing regulations are met.

“Our biggest message” says Chuck Wesley, Staff Sergeant at the OPP, “is for people to drive and arrive safely. Do not drink and drive. We cannot make people be safe, but we can do our best job to make sure people are as safe as they can be. It is our job to keep people protected and save lives on the highways and water ways.”

Andrea Ramolo and Cindy Doire together make Scarlett Jane, a dark country pop-harmonizing duo. Shown here performing at Pappy's Cafe in Wabigoon on May 17. Photo taken by Hope Murdick.

Story by Lindsey Enns

Friends for nearly a decade and self-proclaimed road warriors, Andrea Ramolo and Cindy Doire together make Scarlett Jane, a dark country pop-harmonizing duo. Both have had successful careers as solo artists, Ramolo has two previous releases and Doire has three, two of which are in French, but have now joined forces to make Stranger, their debut album that they are taking across Canada.

“So far it’s been amazing sharing this journey and adventure together,” Doire said. “It’s more trying as a solo artist, being together has made the journey more fun and a lot less stressful.”

The girls made a pit stop at Pappy’s Café in Wabigoon on May 17 for an evening show. Almost a year ago the girls stopped in Dryden but are now packing up and heading south with their music in hopes of breaking new ground in the U.S.A.

“We are really proud of this new album and we want to show it off and play for new audiences,” Ramolo said.

Being from Ontario the girls both agree that nothing beats playing for small rural Canadian communities.

“We are able to touch people more deeply because the shows are smaller and more intimate,” Ramolo said.

But the girls are looking forward to venturing into new places and they are looking forward to taking more risks on stage.

“It’s nice to play for a new audience,” Ramolo said. “There is a certain element to our show that’s a little more risky when we play in front of people that we don’t know.”

Ramolo has been performing on stage since she was two years old but says in social situations she can be a bit of an introvert.

“Being on stage feels like home to me, on stage I just come to life,” Ramolo said.

With albums in both French and English, Doire’s career has taken her to Europe and across Canada.

“I am definitely blessed to be able to discover our country through music,” Doire said. “Trekking through northern Ontario grounds me and the drive alone is just gorgeous.”

Scarlett Jane will also be performing at this years Dauphin Countryfest, Mariposa Folk Festival in Orillia, Ontario and the South Country Fair in Fort Macleod, Alberta.

“We are so grateful that we are both from a community that supports us and stand behind what we have accomplished,” Doire said.

For more information about Scarlett Jane and to see a full concert listing you can head to their website, scarlettjane.com. So far the tour has been going great and they are looking forward to seeing new faces in the crowd.

“We are so grateful for the nice weather, we got some great new boots and we are hoping that people will send over good vibes to our van,” Doire said.

A young girl from the Watoto choir sings and dances for the crowd at Full Gospel Church last night.

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Story and Photos by Lindsey Enns 

Imagine loosing both of your parents to disease, being forced to go to war or being abandoned and left with nothing. These stories are all too familiar for the women and children of the Watoto African Choir.

Accompanied by team leaders, the choir travels around the world sharing their painful stories through song, dance and video. Watoto is a holistic care program that was initiated to help deal with the overwhelming number of orphaned children and vulnerable women in Uganda. The program helps build potential African leaders through education and religion.

Sam Kimera is one of the choir’s team leaders and has been traveling with Watoto for four years.

“My favorite part is working with the children,” he said. “Seeing them transform from shy individuals to singing with joy and confidence is a great thing to see.”

Children in the choir range from 6 to 14 years of age and train for five months before going on the road.

“The children develop a real sense of confidence being in the choir and seeing the world,” Kimera said.

After spending the weekend in Winnipeg, the choir made a stop in Dryden last night to perform for a packed house at the Full Gospel Church.

“So far we have all been enjoying the weather here,” Kimera told the crowd.

The choir had the crowd on their feet dancing and singing along for most of the show. It was easy to see that people were touched by the stories told by several children in the choir. After the show the audience had a chance to meet and take photographs with the children.

This choir consists of 21 children and will perform 200 shows while on they are on road for 6 months. The performance raises awareness about the plight of orphaned and vulnerable children in Africa while highlighting issues such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, the effects of war and the child solider crisis in northern Uganda. Right now Watoto cares for 2,400 women and children and they hoping to raise that number to 10,000 by 2023. To find out where the choir is headed to next and how you can help you can visit Watoto.com. 

Doesn't this look nice? You can still have fun this upcoming May Long Weekend just be responsible. Photo by Chris Marchand.

Story by Lindsey Enns

In a news release issued this morning, the Dryden detachment wants you to know that they will be stepping up enforcement to ensure that everyone has a safe upcoming May Long Weekend.

Officers will be strictly enforcing the Liquor License Act at local bars and restaurants, the Highway Traffic Act to ensure that everyone is driving to the conditions and keeping within the spend limit as well as the Off Road Vehicles Act to keep off our area highways and waterways.

The OPP will also be patrolling any and all unorganized campsites in the area, especially those that have been a cause for concern in the past.

The last couple of May Long Weekends have ended in complaints regarding off road vehicles, cottage break and enters and personal injuries due to the consumption of alcohol. The OPP is hoping that this May Long will end differently.

The OPP would like to remind campers and outdoor enthusiasts to have a safe and happy long weekend. If you plan on drinking, please drink responsibly.

Dryden piano students, studying under instructor Rena Fotheringham were recently invited to perform at the Festival Highlites concert of Kenora’s Festival of Arts, April 28. Grade 9 pianist Brooke Fishwick (right) won the JJH McLean trophy and the $200 Rena Fotheringham Scholarship. Grade 7 pianist Hailey Gilmour (centre) won the Lucia Melnick piano trophy and a $100 scholarship. Also performing in the Grade 7 category Mandie Ryan placed second and won a $50 scholarship. Photo by Chris Marchand

The Yours, Mine, Ours Cultural Fair has a big day of events and programming planned for Dryden residents and students over Thursday, May 10 at The Centre.

Using the theme ‘Among the Stars’, the free admission event will showcase talented local performers, and engage students in friendly interschool competition.

Among the main events during the school day is a highly-anticipated Spelling Bee competition featuring contestants from our local elementary schools. The spelling will begin at 10:30 a.m.

At 1:30 p.m. ambitious young dancers from the elementary school will compete in Think You Can Dance, Dryden?

The afternoon will see workshops

Science North’s Planetarium will be onsite offering fair goers a journey through the planets and moons of our cosmic neighbourhood and a chance to learn about objects in the night sky from 3-8 p.m.

For lunch and dinner time, food booths representing local businesses and individuals sample a wide variety of what Dryden has to offer from a fish fry hosted by Dryden Native Friendship Centre to the east Indian cuisine of Masala Restaurant. The Rock House will fire up the barbeque and Yvonne Milanese, Kano Reid and the Girl Guides will join the flavours of the cultural fair.

During the evening a cash bar will also be offered.

On the stage from 7-10 p.m. a variety of Dryden musical performers, young and old will take the stage. Expect to see performances from Kelsey Fenwick, Alex Lugli, Kyle Moonias, Emily and Martin Wightman, David Huffman, Dave Darling, Shannon Peters, Don Adams and The Teflons.

For more information on the Yours, mine, ours Dryden Cultural Fair, 2012, call 223-3004 or 937-5690.

Kallie Ollis from Dryden High School, pictured above, shared her painful story Monday morning and says that after years of being bullied, she doesn’t feel pretty unless she is wearing makeup.

Photo and story By Lindsey Enns 

Students from schools across Ontario shared painful stories of hope with other students, teachers, family and friends Monday morning at the Mental Health in Schools Awareness Symposium at The Centre. The students took part in a panel discussion with the help of Cathy Dyer of The New Mentality.

“Early intervention at an early age is the best chance for success when overcoming mental health issues,” Dyer said. Robbie Hoppe of Beaver Brae Secondary School talked about what it’s like being an open gay youth in a small town.

“I am now happy to be myself and no longer worry about what other people think,” Hoppe said.

Melinda Henderson from Queen Elizabeth District High School talked about what it was like growing up in a verbally abusive household. While Sheena McLaughlin of Red Lake High School talked about almost witnessing her mother’s death while driving to Thunder Bay and Abbie Forsyth and Allie Doerkson both from St. Thomas Aquinas school said that banding together with their friends helped them overcome losing a friend to leukemia in 2009.

“Having a mental illness doesn’t mean that there is something wrong with you but it is something that people can overcome,”

Forsyth said. But Dryden High School’s own Kallie Ollis’s story seemed to stand out from the others. After being bullied for most of her adolescent years, witnessing her father’s death and losing her best friend, Llois resorted to cutting herself and thought that taking her own life would be the only way to end her pain.

“After my best friend died I knew that I needed help and that I had to let people see the demons that were chasing me,” Ollis shared with the crowd.

Now back on her feet, she accredits staying active within the community for getting her through her darkest days.

“When you’re going through a hard time it’s important to keep busy with things that you love to do and never give up hope because life does get better.”

Side note: It was brought to my attention this morning that Kallie’s name is misspelled in the print addition of this weeks Observer, Sorry Kallie!!