Crier Rob Misener invites all Guild members to the 51st Rose Festival Parade in Welland, ON.
Date: June 24th, 2012 at 1 PM.

Crier Bruce Kruger invites all criers to attend the Queens Diamond Jubilee Celebration and Muskoka Escapades Competition. This weekend is also the 125th anniversary of the RMS Segwun. The Diamond Jubilee Celebrations would involve a 2 cry competition with the Mukoka Escapades Competition being the following day. Intent to participate must be received by Bruce or Shaun by March 30th. Please contact Bruce or Shaun Kruger for more information.
Dates: July 14 and 15th, 2012 in Bracebridge

Santa and Mrs. Claus presented the winners with the awards.  First place winner (kneeling) Crier Chris Whyman, form Kingston, (back left) Crier Dave McKee of Brantford – second place (back right) Bill McKee – representing the City of Oshawa, Scugog, Pt. Perry & Uxbridge won third place.  Competition organizers standing middle back are Town Criers of Bracebridge Shaun Kruger, Bruce Kruger and Crier’s Escort Lynn Kruger.

The second photo shows the winner of the Best Dressed Escort, Mrs. Lynda Travers from the City of Barrie and standing beside Escort Lynn Kruger is her granddaughter Ava Kruger.

Many of the Criers rode aboard Santa’s famous Rudolph Jet boat from Santa’s Village after the competition back to Kruger’s Residence  for a great BBQ along the Muskoka River and social on a hot sunny day.  Councillor Steve Clement, Town of Bracebridge presented each Crier with a Town Medallion.  Good times were had by all with planning underway for next year!  Same time… same place!

Best regards,
Bruce & Shaun Kruger

For additional photos please visit our Photo Gallery
 

Fellow Criers:

As the May 6, 2011 deadline for applications is looming, you might be interested to know that there are some exciting developments concerning the Provincials. Some of these are still a bit up in the air, but I thought you should know the direction things are heading.

Our Entry-Exit Judge will be an Emmy Award winning choreographer. While she is currently working on shows in Montreal, Florida, Las Vegas, Germany and Japan, she hopes she will be due for a break midsummer and will spend it in Brantford visiting family and judging our event.

The trophies are being made by a very creative potter and will be truly special to the winners. She is also making gifts for all participating Criers.

We are in a position to offer cash prizes in addition to the trophies. The value of those prizes depends on what happens as far as sponsorships go.

While a night’s hotel accommodation has been secured for the Saturday, there is now a strong possibility that we might be able to provide the Friday night as well.

Applications have been coming in dribs and drabs, so I hope this promise of an exciting weekend of competition will spur the rest of you to submit your forms.

The registration form can be downloaded here. Information on addresses and other contact information is available by clicking on the picture in this article.

Audibly & laudably,

David V. McKee,
Town Crier, Brantford.

I believe the photograph, taken by my cousin during a parade through the City of Chester, catches my enthusiasm and also caught my surprise when I first spotted my cousin in the crowd!

In every way the Chester, England, World Town Criers Tournament was a great success.

I didn’t win the title of Best Town Crier in the World, that went to my very worthy colleague, Chris Whyman of Kingston. I DID win third place in the Chester Oaks Town Crier Tournament for my creative efforts and humourous presentation. I also was awarded one of the unique terra-cotta sculptures of Chester’s Market Cross, as the “Media Award“, for extensive press coverage promoting the Chester Tournament, thus promoting the city of Chester.

I learned a lot about Town Crying and this will continue to add to my presentations. I was also invited to stand-in for the Chester Town Crier at the “Noon Cry” from the Market Cross. That was a wonderful vote of confidence from our Host Crier.

Also announced at the awards ceremony by Chris Whyman: He and Daniel Richer dit La Fleche, the Crier for City of Ottawa, are working together to put together a World Tournament that would be endorsing the UNESCO World Heritage site, Fort Henry and the Rideau Canal. I look forward to seeing how they plan. Not that I want to be a Host Crier, as Host Criers can’t compete.

So, have a grand day, and take what comfort you may in knowing that a retired public servant is out there, crying on your behalf.

Cheers … David

The planned itinerary for the competition is:

FRIDAY JULY 9, 2010: Arrival at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Durham College anytime after 6 pm. There will be a small reception available upon your arrival or very soon thereafter. We will have the draw order during this time. Your two written cries could be handed in then as well. The accommodations include a continental breakfast, parking and use of the internet.

SATURDAY JULY 10, 2010: Hopefully the bus will pull out at 0945 hours. Anyone driving to the site should note that parking will be limited because there is also  a ball tournament in the stadium next to the Gardens, many pipe bands and a Chinese cultural event at the Festival.

1000 hours: Judge’s briefing.

1030 hours: Cry #1 – Anything to do with International Festivals, Culture, Pipe bands or any distantly related topic. Humour is most certainly welcome. The cry will be done on the south end bridge facing north. Judges will be seated on both sides of the Oshawa Creek.

1200 hours: Opening Ceremonies at North end of Park. Criers welcome but certainly not compelled to attend.

1315 hours: Cry #2 – Anything on General Motors. Again, humour is welcome.

1430 hours: AGM of the Ontario Guild of Town Criers in the Children’s Arena board room. This arena is part of the Botanical Gardens land and is located in the Gardens parking lot on Arena St.

1600 hours: (Or sooner if the AGM is quick) Cry #3 – A cry based on the information given to you after the first cry. There will be no penalties for any historical inaccuracy and no penalties if all the ideas given are not used. The object here is humour and creativity. All other OGTC rules still apply.

1730 hours: Awards. This may be moved to the banquet hour depending on time.

1800 hours: Banquet at Royal Canadian Legion Branch #43, 471 Simcoe St. S. Oshawa. At the banquet, there will a cash bar available, and the dinner menu is beef, Caesar salad, veggies, spuds, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage.

2030 hours: Head home or bus back to car.

Other information:

Lunch on the day of the competition will be in the form of either a voucher redeemable at one of the many vendors or a cash envelope of $10.00 per person. That is to be determined.

It is a busy day yes, but everything is on site for the contest and we are all housed together and the banquet is close by. A detailed set of travel instructions has been emailed to each participant. Any questions call Crier Bill McKee at 905.982.0433 or email him at mcshout@powergate.ca. It is not too late for Criers who have not stated they are coming to sign on.

The Guild Executive wishes to thank Crier Bill McKee and his wife Liz, as well as any others who are assisting in our annual event. This promises to be another excellent day for all Criers!

Organized by Kingston’s Crier Chris Whyman (kneeling) and Rideau Lakes Crier David Boyd (far left), Bracebridge Crier Bruce Kruger and his wife Lynn, Orangeville Crier Betty Kading and her husband Ron and Heritage Perth Crier Brent McLaren along with his wife Shelley were treated royally.

The Criers strutted their stuff on the Market performing impromptu cries for the merchants and then two cries before the crowds. They toured Kingston on board the Confederation Tour Bus before enjoying what was a meal not to be missed. Hosted by the Kingston Brew Pub the four course “Bell-Ringers Special” meal featured a beer-pairing with each course. The micro-brewery beers (some of which comes from Bracebridge) permeated every part of the meal, from the rolls to the drizzle on the dessert, each course served with a specially selected beer to balance the flavours. It capped the festivities in a unique way and was warmly appreciated by all.

CKWS-TV was on hand to cover the event. You can see their coverage by visiting http://www.ckwstv.com/index.cfm?page=news&id=2530

Everyone walked away a winner from this exceptional day in Kingston.

CRY #1 – Muskoka Pioneer Power Show
Cry Subject: Anything pertaining to lumber in days of yore… whether cutting, sawyers, selling, hauling, floating logs through the flues, etc.

Arrival 10:00 to 10:30 hrs for coffee/muffins in change/rest area in upper loft of the main red auditorium building at J.D. Lang Park on Fraserburg Road.  Cry will be at the main stage outside and in the event of inclement weather we will give the cries in the auditorium region.

Lunch – On the Patio of Swiss Chalet/Harvey’s    12:30 hrs to 13:30 hrs

CRY #2 – Santa’s Village
Cry Subject: How Mrs. Claus has helped Santa Claus either on one special occasion or over the years to keep him jovial!

Arrival 13:45 hrs at Santa’s Village on Santa’s Village Road and meet at main village centre at large Green Christmas Tree beside Santa’s visitation house. If inclement weather, we meet at the Kodak Tent beside the deer pens.

Social & Dinner – Gathering at Kruger’s on the Muskoka River for refreshments and BBQ.   Please BYOB!

Cries to be received by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, July 7th by emailing to kruger@muskoka.com or by mail to 84 Beaumont Drive, Bracebridge, ON  P1L 1X2

Any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Bruce Kruger either at kruger@muskoka.com  or 705-645-5814

SPECIAL NOTE: Please notify Bruce of your intent to participate ASAP to ensure that sufficient Criers can attend.   We realize that the Provincials are the day before in Oshawa but it concludes right after dinner.  They is no overnight accommodation in Oshawa for the Saturday night and therefore you can either travel direct to Bracebridge or travel home and thence to Bracebridge in the morning.  It will make for a busy weekend but we really hoping to be able to keep this competition going strong with your help!

Hi Folks,

Bruce

The traditions of “green” and “wassail” put the festive into the winter season. Most countries had some tradition of bringing greenery, song and celebration into the darkest months of the year. In the early 1600′s this blended together into what the British called “Father Christmas.” It would take the Victorians to both perfect it, and then change it. Charles Dickens both set the tone and moved added new traditions in A Christmas Carol. The Ghost of Christmas Present was the second of the three spirits that haunted the miser Ebenezer Scrooge, in order to prompt him to repent. According to Dickens’ novel, the Ghost of Christmas Present appears to Scrooge as “a jolly giant” with dark brown curls. He wears a fur-lined green robe and on his head a holly wreath set with shining icicles. He carries a large torch, made to resemble a Cornucopia, and appears accompanied by a great feast. True to the ancient traditions, the ghost finally disappears at the stroke of midnight on Twelfth Night.

Perth’s Father Christmas continues the ancient tradition of wishing everyone “Waes Hael” … which is Olde English for “Good Health” or simply, “Be Well!” He must never be confused with Santa Claus … that is the one blending that the Victorians themselves started in the 1890′s. No! No! … Dressed in his long green robes, Perth’s Father Christmas reminds us that the season is about enjoying the time we spend with family, with friends and even with our visitors. Father Christmas will be seen at many different events throughout the heritage community in the month of December, and true to form, will disappear for another year on the twelfth night of Christmas.

As new photos of heritage Perth’s latest addition to their historic traditions arrive we will keep them posted here … <click to go to his Gallery!>

The second cry was held at Santa’s Village along the Muskoka River. Crier Bill McKee of Pt. Perry/Scugog & City of Oshawa won first place overall with Crier Betty Kading of Orangeville placing second. Third place was presented to Crier Mark Molnar of the City of St. Catherines. All prizes were presented by St. Nicholas himself assisted by Mrs. Claus.

After the closing ceremonies, all Criers were taken back to Kruger’s via Santa’s Jet Boat for presentations by Deputy Mayor Steve Clement of Bracebridge who also presented a gift pack from the Town. The evening finished with social time and dinner provided by Swiss Chalet.

It was an honour to have the President of the American Guild, Crier John Karsten and his Grandson, Michael join with us for this competition.

There were ten Criers participating including the Co-Hosts, Town Criers Bruce and Shaun Kruger of Bracebridge.

Photos from the event may be viewed by visiting the Guild’s Photo Gallery