Event is part of the local Canada150 celebrations
By
Mark Schadenberg
It
should be a memorable day in a very memorable park.
Woodstock’s
Victoria Park is home to the city’s cenotaph, but will also be the location of
a unique Canada 150 event planned by the City of Woodstock for Saturday, Sept 2
(2 – 9 p.m.) as it’s a day of art and music.
If
you’re not from Woodstock you wouldn’t realize that many years ago the Lions
Club hosted carnivals in Victoria Park and that the green space, which features
two cannons at the corner of Drew and Light streets, 2 ball diamonds and an
outdoor basketball court, once featured a bandshell. When I attended WCI in the
early 1980’s, Victoria Park is where the junior football team practiced as the senior
team was at the Southside Park sportsfield.
PAVLO
The
star of the show on Sept 2 will not be guitarist Pavlo, or the artists, but likely
the concept of hosting a 1-day event like this in Victoria Park and maybe making
it a Labour Day weekend tradition in Woodstock.
The
posters describe the idea well – a signature event to celebrate arts, culture
and heritage.
Look
closer at the promotional material as it also lists many of the sponsors for this
FREE day. The entertainment costs money, but so does the time and efforts of
city employees to transform this park into this destination. Artists will have
displays to promote their talents.
It
should be a great party to conclude a summer locally of Cowapolooza,
Streetfest, the Woodstock Fair, and the nearby Canterbury Folk Festival in
Ingersoll.
Pavlo
Simtikidis is an internationally recognized musician and even with his background
in Greek and Mediterranean music, he was actually born in Toronto. He was
nominated for a Juno Award in 2001 for best instrumental album for a collection
called Fantasia.
His
reputation has grown over the years as he now tours worldwide. In 2016 he
released a live album. In 2009 he collaborated with Rick Emmett of the rock
band Triumph (Emmett performed at Streetfest earlier this month) and Oscar
Lopez for a Juno nominated instrumental album called Trifecta. His sound is
flamenco, Latin, Greek and Mediterranean guitar styles.
After
performing in Woodstock on Sept 2, his tour will take him to California,
Georgia, Texas, Florida and Ohio before returning to Ontario for dates in
October in Lindsay, Kingston, Markham, Oakville and Walkerton. Before
Woodstock, he is set to perform on Aug. 28 at Toronto’s CNE.
Through
his website you can order a 2017 compilation called: The Ultimate Collection.
His
Live In Kastoria taped TV show can be seen on PBS.
He
has performed with The Tenors, Olivia Newton-John and Jon Secada.
To
create this special day, the Canada 150 committee in Woodstock is to be
assisted in partnership by the Oxford Historical Society, Oxford Creative
Connections, Woodstock Art Gallery and Woodstock Museum to coordinate the
schedule around the music. If you have never toured the old jail (Oxford Board
of Health building today) or the historic courthouse – both will be open for
formal tours on Sept. 2.
I
would encourage everyone in Victoria Park to spend a few moments with the
memorial recognizing Private Tyler Todd who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. He
was just 26 and was serving his country when he was killed by an explosive
device while on walking patrol. Todd was from Bright and went to Woodstock’s
Huron Park Secondary School.
Pavlo
In The Park sponsors include Armor Audio, Woodstock Print & Litho, Toyota
(TMMC), Anderson’s Automotive Group, Boston Pizza (Food and beverage tent),
Tourism Oxford and the Park Place Retirement home which is across the street.
Besides
Pavlo, performers will include local soloist Brian Belleth, plus Craig Visser
and Emily Shaw, and Jenny Walls.
LINKS:
= = = = = = = =
Mark Schadenberg, Sales
Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist
(SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty
Independently Owned & Operated, Brokerage
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