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LONDON DAY THREE – water, stones, suits, and ice cream!

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A walk around town with Sean Galloway is something we highly recommend.  This is a man with a plan!  Sean took us through the future ideas for downtown, including streetscape and sidewalk renovations, an urban beach at the Thames, plans to fill in some of the superfluous parking lots and his personal vision for the future… and we must say, if Sean gets his way, the future looks so bright you’re going to have to buy a pair of shades at a downtown shop! Here’s Sean at the site of some of his downtown dreams…

Next we me with Jonathon Bancroft-Snell at his breathtaking gallery at 258 Dundas Street.  Jonathon opened in Galleria Mall during its heyday and then moved to his current location. Jonathon is a true storyteller and we had a ball interviewing him.  We especially loved the story of one of his fantastical customers who comes in and picks out a whole shelf of ceramics as a gift for someone and asks to have the items wrapped and ready for when he returns.  Jonathon plays along with this fantasy, knowing full well that this customer will not really be returning to complete this purchase.  He enjoys meeting everyone who walks into his gallery and being part of the world of downtown.

We loved this piece.  It feels at home here in this spectacular downtown gallery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the early afternoon we met with THE David E. White.  This gentleman, (and he is a true gentleman), takes care of the men of London.  In his realm on Richmond, he not only has a men’s wear shop, but also a barbershop to get a cut and shave, a dry cleaners to keep it clean, and a little art gallery where you can buy a piece of art for your wife, perhaps.  David spoke to us of the old days in London where there were over 50 men’s wear shops among a bustling downtown.  The secret to success according to David E. White?  Perseverance.

Finally, we made it out onto the street with our storymobile!!!  Trading Chapmans Ice Cream for stories is our game, and many people were eager to play along.  Young and old ducked inside to tell a story and 24 ice cream sandwiches later, we packed up and headed to have a pint at Joe Kools and then celebrate Londonlicious at Garlics!

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LONDON DAY TWO – more talk on tape…

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Hey there!  Today was full of interviews, which are proving to be indispensable in providing us with a base from which to launch our questions that we will ask the public from our story mobile on street level. Today we spoke to Kathy Novackas, the extraordinary founder of the London Fringe among a list of other grassroots initiatives.  Kathy told us of the movers and shakers in the arts community downtown and the venues and theatres that pop up around town.  She recounted her own memories of visiting Kingsmills and Roland Hill Shoe Store as a child where her mom would buy her oversized clothing for the year ahead, that she would have to grow between her next annual visit to London Ontario from London England where she spent her childhood.

Next we met with Michael Gibson, who has had an art gallery downtown since 1984, and in its current location on Carling Street since 1997.  Michael wowed us with stories of the 80’s and 90’s on the scene and then how it felt to be part of the circle of people who held hands around the entire Talbot block to protest bulldozing it to build the John Labatt Centre.  When asked about the stigma of downtown London, Michael brought our attention to his flower basket and the two benches he had the city put in across the street from his gallery.  He wishes everyone would follow suit, knowing all the businesses have a vested interest in the improvement of downtown, but what he says is that not everyone agrees with the best way to make it happen…

GIBSON GALLERY

Finally, we had a quick visit with Natalie Boot of Renaissance Massage Therapy and Spa Ltd.  Natalie’s business is inside the Citi Plaza, which used to be the grandiose Galleria Mall.   The Galleria Mall used to house Eaton’s, The Bay, The Gap, Eddie Bauer, and Ralph Lauren, to name a few.  Those stores are long gone, and now there is a beautiful public library, among other smaller stores and services and empty spaces.  We are curious about this enormous structure right smack downtown.  There’s a story there, we are sure of it, and perhaps it will help shed some light on just what happened over the past few decades downtown….

As we walked back into the downtown office a gift awaited us… Felicia, who was visiting London from Vancouver regaled us with her stories of waitressing at the Mascot, and a Casino bar on Dundas Street, and her one day of working at the lunch counter at Kresge’s where the lights were bright outside the building and flickered on and off all day!

ANYONE ELSE REMEMBER THIS?!  SEND US YOUR MEMORIES OF DOWNTOWN LONDON!

CALL 1-855-CAN-TALE  or email us at INFO@FIXTPOINT.COM and add your story to the collective community memory!

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LONDON DAY ONE – good days sunshine!

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Bright and early to the Downtown London office, on the corner of Dundas and Richmond, we were greeted by Kathy McLaughlin and Lisa Thomas, the most positive, cheerful, savvy women we could hope to collaborate with!  We moved into the office,  started booking interviews, making calls, and then went off to a fantastic lunch where we joined with another incredible Downtown London associate – Vicki Smith, to celebrate the birthday of their intern Sarah.  Over lunch we were fascinated to hear a base of stories from downtown; what used to be here, what is new, who we should talk to, who we were already scheduled to talk to (yes – these ladies have things organized!).  I was furiously note taking to try and take it all in.  London is no small town.  And at this first lunch, I got a hunch, that there are many many many stories in the living memory of this downtown waiting to be remembered…

The afternoon took us to the London Arts Council and London Heritage Council to meet with Andrea and Andrea. We heard about the vibrant community of artists downtown, and the history of some of the oldest buildings, the bulldozed buildings, the heyday of London visual artists in the 70’s, the selling of the London Free Press by the Blackburns, music venues like Notes and Call the Office, the food rotating in the old Albert’s Diner, City Lights, Mark Emery, and a great little anecdote about hiding in the fur coats in Simpsons department store.  We cannot wait to listen through that interview to mine all the little story gems.  One thing that struck us was hearing about a perceived stigma that surrounds the downtown.  Apparently, downtown London is unsafe, undesirable and unclean according to the gospel of the suburbs.  Bad press, or true?   One thing is certain – we are here to get to the bottom of this urban myth….

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HUNTSVILLE DAY TEN – on and on and on

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  We found the reining champ of the bathtub derby!

We found the trophy!

Rich at Algonquin Outfitters told us the history of the legendary business that reaches us into the wilderness.  Rich warmed us with his thermal sleeping bag smile and we were so happy to be on a trip with him into memory lane on the corner of Main Street in Huntsville.

 

 

Then we marched off to Hugh McKenzie’s house – former mayor of Huntsville, radio station owner, board director and all time jolly man.  It was a thrill hearing his side of all the stories, getting a picture of Main Street when Eaton’s and Wardell’s was still at number 77.

 

more ice cream.  more stories.  more fun ahead – tomorrow the other four artists arrive!!!!

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HUNTSVILLE DAY EIGHT - wood, bells, pasta, and skis

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Today is the greatest day I’ve ever known.. smashing pumpkins.  But really, being positive is the way to go.  (just wanted to put in that tidbit… our new 90’s mantra) This day we had a spot on the ubercool Hunter’s Bay Radio show with James Caroll!  Jeff Carter! Inspiring and incredible - what they have going there….

Check them out HERE!!!

Next we worked spoke to a few more store owners.  First, Wooden Penny at her rustically elegant store...

Then Bob at Christmas Tyme who is jingling bells all year round...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally Manny and his Ma and Pa who brought real Italian cooking to Main street in Huntsville.

 

 

Then off to the streets of Huntsville to get trading.  Revised questions:  now following leads about David Kaye, Bathtub Derby, Silver Ambassadors, Rudi the Rock Man, and whether the town should go condos or affordable housing…

“$1000 for an ice cream, or a story about Main Street.”

Today we heard about when Main Street became a ski track!

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER?

WHAT DID WE GET WRONG SO FAR?!?

WE NEED YOUR MEMORY!

SEND YOUR STORIES IN!!

BY PHONE: 1-855-CAN-TALE

OR GO TO OUR TELL US YOUR TALE PAGE HERE

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HUNTSVILLE DAY FOUR

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Writing and posting this blog! Listening to and logging all of the interviews so far....

Getting ready for a big day downtown Huntsville tomorrow for Canada Day festivities.... stay posted!

We feel like we living inside a Tom Thompson painting today.  Here’s the view from where we are right now:

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HUNTSVILLE DAY ONE

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Early morning meeting with the mayor cancelled because he penciled it in for yesterday.  Who knows whose fault it was - but why lay blame....?  We are seeing him Friday, and in the meantime we had breakfast at LOUIS' II DINER across the street from city hall.  LOUIS' II DINER has been around since before anyone can remember.  It burned down about 10 years ago and re-located across the street.  LOUIS is an old Greek man and apparently a staple of Main Street.  We can't wait to meet him and hear his stories. Next we head out to meet Rob, the general manager of the Huntsville festival of the arts, at holiday inn located in the heel of Huntsville’s "commerce area", a.k.a. industrial park.

We were Rob’s dates for the Rotarian luncheon.  Greeted at the door by two fantastic men, we proceeded to find a table.  Everyone stood up and sang O Canada! And then there were speeches and announcements and one notable event making a comeback in Huntsville this year:  the bathtub derby.

After the luncheon, we meet up with Teri Souter, the town of Huntsville art, culture and heritage manager.

Teri got us up to speed on the "who's who" on main street in Huntsville and she also told us about her work with the aboriginal community, the commerce and business planning policies downtown and she also happened to be the president of the bathtub derby!  We feel a story forming here...   Here’s a pic of one of the many inspiring things in her super cool office.

Next we met up with Helena outside the town hall.  Helena is the President of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts and General Manager of the Hunstville Business Improvement Association and this woman knows how to get sh*t done!  She secured our storefront right downtown thanks to leads from Dan Watson the Nuit Blanche North artistic director and we move in on Sunday!

Helena introduced us to Cathy, a long time Huntsville resident who owns 2 stores downtown, Muskoka reflections and Intimate reflections .  We arranged parking our storymobile in front of Cathy’s store on Friday and asked her not to call the bylaw officers while we are parked for longer than the 2-hour limit trading ice cream for stories!  She willingly agreed and helped us arrange power from the light pole.

Back at our cottage by the lake, we formulated our story pitch for CBC Ontario Morning and sent it off to Ron the producer.  Then we hit the hay.  It’s taken a lot of energy to get ourselves on the road.  Finally we had arrived!

Radio FIXT POINT x CBC

we are oh so very excited to present our first feature length radio documentary Small Time Stories from The Tale of a Town Queen West on CBC Radio 1 at 7am on January 2nd.Host Lisa Marie DiLiberto and storytellers Treasa Levasseur and Charles Ketchabaw present some of the fascinating stories that we discovered during the creation process of The Tale of a Town – Queen West.