There are still five spaces available for anyone aged 15-30 looking for a paid training/employment opportunity this fall in the Sharbot Lake and surrounding area.

The federally funded program called the Blossoms Project is being offered through the Sharbot Lake branch of St. Lawrence College Employment Centre and it commences on Monday, November 14. Program coordinator Karen McGregor hopes to see all the spaces fill up. “In a region like this where seasonal work tends to dry up in the fall, this is a great opportunity for someone to gain skills and experience when normally there would not be any employment opportunities. This program not only offers youth a chance to build on their skills and confidence but gives them a chance to carry out a number of projects in the community that have the definite possibility of opening up new doors for them.” The program pays participants for 30 hours a week at $10.25/hour for 12 weeks and also offers participants a pair of free work boots along with a bonus of $500 to those who complete the program. The program is specifically designed for those who have some barriers to employment or education, be it living in a rural area, being a single parent or having an incomplete high school education. It aims to give youth the experience and skills they need to either become more employable or to return to school.

The 12-week program begins with a six-week in-class training segment where students will learn various employment skills like resumé and cover letter writing. Professional trainers will be brought into the classroom to certify participants, free of charge, in First Aid/CPR, Smart Serve, and various safety training areas like Fall Arrest, Confined Spaces and WHMIS.

The second half of the program will offer participants hands-on work projects in the community, and local contractor Bill Young will be leading the group in various community building projects that have been proposed through the township. These proposed projects include designing and building wheel chair accessible picnic tables for area parks, designing and building a new attendant’s shed and a covered drive shed to house recyclable items at the Wemp Road dump site, and other smaller projects as well.

McGregor is especially excited about the community projects section of the program. “These projects offer participants a chance to learn a wide variety of skills including research and design skills, hands-on technical skills as well as communication skills which are all transferable. Not only that but these programs have shown when young people are actively involved in creating beauty in their community, they also will tend to take pride in the community.” ”

Organizers have already filled their quota for grade twelve graduates for the program but spaces are still available for those who have not completed their grade 12 education. Anyone interested in participating in the program can contact Karen McGregor or Ashley Barrie at 613-545-3949 ext.1890.

Photo: Students on the high ropes course

“Leadership camp is a place where preconceived ideas about leadership and other barriers are broken down”, said Sydenham High School teacher and leadership camp staff supervisor, Kim Kippen.

Along with co-staff supervisor, Don Lalonde, Kippen oversaw a two-day camp for 70 Sydenham High School students on Oct. 18 and 19 at Camp IAWAH, located off the Westport Road, east of Godfrey.

The leadership camp, which has been running for years at Sydenham HS, aims to impart leadership skills to students from all areas of the school by offering concrete examples of leadership through a series of hands-on activities and discussions. Groups of students from grades 9 through 11 were invited by teachers to attend the camp.

The camp is led by four teacher-nominated grade 12 students. The four leaders were Calista Vogelzang, Cia Myles-Gonzalez, David Amos and Shayna Joron, and they were supported by additional grade 12 students who supervised the various activities.

This year’s camp theme, initiated by the four camp leaders, was titled “The Next Step” and it was designed for the students to explore and experience the defining qualities of leadership: initiative, perspective, setting goals, teamwork, overcoming obstacles, setting examples, and self-improvement. The ideas were discussed and also demonstrated through a series of activities that each student had a chance to participate in.

For the segment on perseverance and overcoming obstacles, students completed a relay obstacle course where a pair of students was tied together by one hand, and had no choice but to use their communication skills in order to successfully complete the course. Following the obstacle course students discussed what kind of communications worked well and what did not.

On the high ropes course, students faced a number of daunting aerial challenges that had them working in teams suspended on ropes high above the tree tops. Student organizer, David Amos, said he felt that the participating students benefited greatly from the camp. “One important idea they learn is that they are able to set goals for themselves and they also take what they have learned here back into the community.”

Shayna Joron agreed. “These skills can really help them to prepare to face challenges in their own lives.” “And they come to realize that anyone has the ability to become a good leader, even the quiet students,” Calista Vogelzang added.

Sydenham High School teacher, Beth Barz, who coaches with the Queen’s University women’s rugby team, the national rugby program and also at Sydenham High, was invited as the guest speaker. She shared some of the wisdom she has accumulated while attending a workshop for female coaches of national teams, particularly what coach Melody Davidson of the Canadian women’s hockey team imparted to her.

“I spoke to them about how Melody brought the team to victory, first with thorough planning and also by reviewing their performances.”

Beth Barz feels that the camp gives students something they might not otherwise get during regular school hours.

“Anytime students can get out of the school setting they are able to think a little bit differently. They are able to challenge themselves in different ways and this gives them a sense of autonomy over how and what they learn. We are recognizing more and more that students need that autonomy, which sometimes, academically they do not always get.”

Kim Kippen agreed.

“It's an incredible opportunity for students who may have never had this kind of experience before to reevaluate their own preconceived ideas of leadership and what it means. Each student tends to build on what they already know so while each student’s experience at the camp is different, it always tends to be a very positive and memorable one.”

Student organizer David Amos had the final word and mentioned that what likely makes students so eager to participate is that “the whole camp revolves around demonstrating leadership ideas in a really fun environment, which I believe is what makes the camp so successful.” 

Megan Hughes toils quietly most of the time in her office at the Child Centre in Sharbot Lake.

She spends her working days digging into statistical information, and produces reports on the social well-being of children and families in Frontenac, Lennox and Addington and Hastings Counties. The reports are used by community planners, social service agencies and government officials.

Hughes’ job title is Data Analysis Co-ordinator (DAC) for the Ontario Early Years Centre for the former provincial riding of Hastings Frontenac Lennox and Addington. Earlier this year, along with fellow DACs from Kingston and other Eastern Ontario regions, she produced a pair of reports. One is about the social risks faced by youth in Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Counties. It provides information about specific regions, such as Portland and Bedford Districts, and Central and North Frontenac.

The other report is a more general report about health indicators, ranging from birth weight, body mass index, diet, etc. in South eastern Ontario as compared to the province as a whole.

In mid-August Hughes presented her reports to Frontenac County, partly so they know how their communities are doing, and partly to let county council members know that she is a resource that is available to them.

The community profiles made use of 2006 census data, and they present some interesting information about the number of children who, based on socio-economic indicators, face a higher than average risk of running into difficulties in school or in the community. It also looks at the number of children in each community who had a high score on a scale called a multiple challenges index. The index looks at 16 different indicators in categories such as physical health and well-being, social knowledge and competence, emotional health, language and cognitive development, and communications skills. Any child who scores poorly in 9 of the 16 categories is deemed to be facing multiple challenges.

To take one community as an example, Portland and Bedford Districts of South Frontenac, the social risk indicator defines the community as facing a “somewhat low risk” based on the fact that the unemployment rate is lower than the regional and provincial average (3.3% as compared to 4.2% in the southeast region and 4.9% in the province) the incidence of low income is well below the provincial average and the number of tenant households spending more than 30% of their income on housing is lower than the regional and provincial average.

However, when looking at children facing multiple challenges, Portland and Bedford have the highest percentage of vulnerable children in the Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington region. Not surprisingly then, the standardised testing results for grade 3 and 6 students from Portland and Bedford are well below the provincial average.

A look at Central Frontenac reveals a moderate risk on the social risk index, and again a high number of children facing multiple risks.

The picture in North Frontenac is similar to Central, but North Frontenac does face a higher unemployment rate (6.3%) than the provincial average (4.9%) and a very high percentage of renters who pay over 30% of their income for rent, 55% as compared to the provincial average of 44.3%.

“It is important to look at both sides of the data, the positive and the negative. Good planning requires evidence,” said Megan Hughes.

County Councilor John McDougall (from South Frontenac) said, “We see this information, but what about the response?”

“There are a number of planning tables, including the Early Years Advisory Committee, Success by Six and others, and the County Deputy Clerk Susan Beckel sits on all of them. They devise programs to help children in all these regions. Northern Frontenac Community Services, as the Early Years Centre, provides programs for children and families throughout the region,” said Hughes.

“One of the challenges we face as a county in dealing with this kind of information relates to the political structure. Children and youth services are the purview of the City of Kingston. There are communications challenges which make some of us at the county feel disconnected from what is going on in these areas,” said Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski. “We should do something about that.”

“As I said before, I am available to members of county council who are looking for information about the health and well being of children and youth in Frontenac County,” said Megan Hughes.

Photo: Becky Kavanaugh and Pam Lemke of Land O'Lakes Community Services

Thanks to a grant totaling $3000, which was received from the Napanee District Community Foundation (NDCF) and the Mazinaw Community Fund, the Land O'Lakes Community Services (LOLCS), located in Northbrook, will be able to offer new and improved services to individuals in the local community.

One LOLCS program that will benefit from the grant is the Community Support Program, which will now be able to offer a new homemaking program to seniors and physically challenged individuals in the community who require assistance with basic homemaking. The new program will get $2000 to support 30 individuals/families by matching them with local homemakers, who will assist in their homes with a number of basic tasks, including cleaning and meal preparation and also with one-time jobs.

The program, which was started in April of 2011, is currently serving 22 individuals in the community. Pam Lemke, the community support program coordinator with LOLCS, was thrilled and very grateful when she was presented with the grant at the NDCF's AGM in late June of this year. “This grant will go along way in helping seniors stay in their homes by allowing them to receive the essential and basic homemaking services they need to keep them there,” she said.

The remaining $1000 in grant funds will augment the existing LOLCS child and youth transportation program, which provides transportation to children and youth who must travel to medical appointments and to other community and school events. LOLCS offers a myriad of other services designed to help seniors and people with disabilities remain in their homes. Their other programs include caregiver support, Meals on Wheels, and social and dining services. For more information about the Community Support Program contact Pam Lemke at 613-336-8934 ext. 229; toll free at 1-877-679-6636. For more information about the Child and Youth Transportation program contact Becky Kavanaugh at 613-336-8934 ext 257.

Photo: camp leaders Charity Garey and Perry Chafe and some of the Go Guys campers 

Deemed a success by participants and organizers alike, the first ever summer Go Guys day camp run by Northern Frontenac Community Services (NFCS) wrapped up on July 29 at the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team with an impromptu party for campers and staff.

Approximately nine participants, who included students from Land O' Lakes, Prince Charles and Sharbot Lake public schools as well as students from Sharbot Lake High School, shared their stories and experiences from their one-week camp experience. The day camp offered up a number of activities and day trips designed specifically to fill a gap in summer community programming for male youth ages 11-15.

NFCS youth coordinator, Charity Garey, led the camp and was assisted by volunteer Perry Chafe. The week began with an “Amazing Race” type of scavenger hunt that had the boys assisting Freshmart shoppers with their groceries, as well as swimming and tidying up at Oso beach in Sharbot Lake. Tuesday’s schedule included bowling in Kingston along with a trip to the Communications and Electronics Museum there, where the boys learned about the “very cool” types of military communications during wartime.

Later in the week campers swam at the Perth Pool and also visited the Hell Hole Caves near Centreville. The week ended with an educational and interactive pioneer day courtesy of Sharbot Lake resident Mike Procter, who demonstrated various pioneer tools and skills to the campers.

Don Amos, executive director of NFCS, was very pleased with the day camp’s success. He said, “While there are a lot of programs we offer during the school year, this camp is our first successful step in running summer programming for males of this age group and it’s proving to be very successful.”

Funding for the camp was provided by a two-year Trillium Grant to NFCS, which will allow the camp to run for another year next summer. “The camp gives these youngsters a chance to make lasting relationships that will likely carry into high school. It also gives them a boost in their self-esteem and helps them to expand their vision by providing them with opportunities to learn new skills while also exposing them to new experiences and ideas. We're hoping to see 12-15 boys back again next year, and judging from the feedback we're getting, the program has been a great success.” The same Trillium grant will also enable NFCS to continue offering programming to these same youth throughout the school year on a monthly or weekly basis. “Part of the proposal put forth by the NFCS Board of Directors is that this type of programming will continue, which means that we will definitely be touching base with these campers throughout the year to keep the positive momentum we started at the camp going,” Amos said.

Kyle Riley, a student at Land O'Lakes Public School, loved his first ever day camp experience. “The best part of it was getting rid of a lot of fears that I had had. I jumped off a diving board for the first time and I also made a lot of new friends that I would not have otherwise made. I also helped a young boy when we visited the Hell Hole caves, who was really scared. I helped convince him that it wasn't really that scary at all.”

Jackson Crain, a former student at Hinchinbrooke Public School who will be attending SLHS in September, said he would “not hesitate for a second” to participate again as a camper next year. “The name of the program doesn't even come close to describing the kind of experience we all had and a lot of what we did are things that I would never have been able to do otherwise.”

It was coordinator Charity Garey's first time working with these youth in an extended day camp setting. “It was a lot of fun, very busy and quite an adventure. By providing something special, unique and specific to these boys, we are giving them opportunities to grow, and learn and develop.”

Judging from the enthusiasm of the campers it seems obvious that Go Guys Day Camp is doing just exactly what it set out to do. For more information contact Charity Garey at 613-279-2244

By Jeff Green

About five years ago a group called the Northern Rural Youth Partnership was founded by a number of individuals and agencies that are committed to bringing programming and services for youth to Frontenac County.

The partnership took shape in a half-day facilitated session in Sharbot Lake that was attended by about 50 people. During these kinds of sessions there are always opportunities for brain-storming, for putting out ideas that may not be easy to bring about because of costs or other factors. The one idea that everyone agreed to at that founding meeting was the creation of a youth centre.

Since that meeting, the Rural Youth Partnership, under the umbrella of NFCS, has survived. It has been able to establish a number of ongoing after-school programs, youth dances and outreach events throughout North and Central Frontenac, and starting this summer there will be a temporary youth centre set up in Sharbot Lake.

The centre will be based at the public meeting room at the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team, and will be open on Wednesdays and Fridays.

As well, NFCS has been successful in securing a Trillium Grant for $86,000 to continue offering youth programming, both at the new centre and at other locations.

Catherine Larkin, who works for the Children's Aid Society, has taken a leave of absence this winter to work on a master's degree. Part of her work has been to look at the demand for and feasibility of a youth centre in the Sharbot Lake area.

Last Thursday, March 31, she presented some of the results of her work to a meeting of the Northern Rural Youth Partnership and a number of representatives from recreation committees in Central Frontenac.

In addition to outlining the services that have been developed over the last few years, she talked about some interesting survey results. A survey of youth who participate in the existing youth program as well as students at Sharbot Lake High School, showed significant support for a youth centre.

“Sixty-nine percent of those surveyed supported the centre strongly” said Larkin “but there were other interesting results as well. Seventy-six percent of those surveyed said the youth centre should be located in Sharbot Lake. Another interesting finding, though not a positive one, was that 76% said they do not participate in any community activities currently, and 44% said they would need transportation to get to a youth centre.”

In terms of what the youth would like to do at a centre and through other programming, there was a tendency towards unstructured activities such as “computer access, a place to hang out, and a place to play games.” There was also interest expressed in movies, dances, cooking and music.

Catherine Larkin also had access to survey information that pointed to how much need there is for youth activities in the region. Some of the information is encouraging. Based on numbers that show a decrease in unemployment and in the number of families spending 30% or more of their income on housing, poverty seems to be easing in the region rather than getting worse. But some of the standardized educational test results have been discouraging. Alcohol use among high school students seems to be on the rise, and factors such as the number of students who do not expect to graduate high school and the number of students, particularly boys, who do not have a “positive sense of belonging” to the community is high.

“All of this information points to a need for youth programming and a youth centre,” said Larkin, “and it is a good first step to have this temporary centre in place.

“The partnership with the Family Health Team has made the youth centre possible,” said NFCS Executive Director Don Amos, “and what we need now is more engagement from youth and families to bring about more events and activities.”

Participants in last week's meeting brought forward ideas about activities they can help to organize and it is hoped that the recreation committees and the youth partnership will work together to bring more programs and events for youth.

A major video dance is being planned for May. It will be a collaboration between the North Rural Youth Partnership and the Oddfellows and Rebekkahs of Harrowsmith, and is taking place at the Frontenac Community Arena in Piccadilly. (see upcoming issues for details)

The youth centre at the Family Health Team will be starting up this June. 

Photo: HD Supply, l-r: Collin Hamilton, David Hole, Dan Stanton and Jordan Lowery. Courtesy of Jordan Lowery

Members of the band HD Supply couldn't believe their ears when they found out they'd been invited to play the main stage at Kingston's K-Rock Centre over the March break. Front man, 14-year-old Jordan Lowery of Parham, who plays and sings lead in the band recalled, “We all thought it was some kind of prank at first but later we realized it was the real deal.”

The band is slated to play a set at the K-Rock Centre on Sunday March 20 for the Easter Seals Family Skate and will be sharing the stage with a number of other local bands from 10-4 PM. Equally as exciting is their upcoming March 22 date to record a segment for the Limestone Learning Foundation's media release advertising their Gala fundraiser. The gala will also take place at Kingston K-Rock Centre sometime in October and will include huge musical talents like Sarah Harmer and members of the Tragically Hip. The two gigs represent not only how far HD Supply has come since it first formed in 2008 under the name “Sweet Talk” but also how organizations like the LLF are making a myriad of opportunities available to students in the Limestone District School Board.

It was in 2010, while they were grade 8 students at Hinchinbrooke Public School, that the band’s two original members John Lowery and Collin Hamilton (rhythm guitar) joined forces with David Hole (drums), and Dan Stanton (bass). (Andrew Hole has played bass for the band as well).

Their teacher, Ms. Julia Schall, in 2006 had founded the School of Rock, a popular and innovative extra curricular music program at the school, In 2010 she encouraged HD Supply to write and record an original tune. The result was Night Train, the band’s best-known song to date and a mainstay at their shows. The song was included in the School of Rock's successful application for a $3,000 Limestone Learning Foundation grant, which has helped the school to acquire additional instruments and equipment to run the very popular music program.

Ms. Schall said recently, “The fact that HD Supply has been sought out to perform at these two upcoming events really proves the overall success of the program. Not only am I very proud of the band but I am also very grateful to the LLF since they are the ones who really allowed all of this to happen.”

HD Supply has played a number of concerts in the community and its members have continued to write a myriad of original tunes. “We now have enough original material to put together a whole album”, said Collin when I spoke to him and Jordan recently in Parham. The two classify their sound as bluesy, “swamp rock” and have been greatly influenced by musicians like John Fogerty, and bands like ACDC and ZZ Top. “We're really trying to preserve that old rock sound which unfortunately just isn't as popular these days compared to what it used to be, “ John said. Collin added, “It's pretty much all pop that you hear these days.”

The four band members, now all grade nine students who are spread out between Sharbot Lake and Sydenham high schools, still get together to practice at least once a week. This week they will hold four practices to prepare for their K-Rock stint and they are hoping that their fans come out to see them.

As far as the future goes the band is hoping at some point to put out a CD. Both Jordan and Collin say they have no problem working hard to get what they want. “We're both not afraid of hard work and for us playing music is something that we really love to do.” Jordan adds, “But still, hitting it big as musicians would not be the worse thing to happen to us- that's for sure.”

Photo: Winners of the public speaking contest from left to right: Kaden Snider, Riley Kay, Madi Lemke, Lance Wagner and Ben Mieske, photo by Dave Deacon.

Students participated at the Lions Hall, Northbrook, on Friday Feb. 11/11 in front of family and friends. It was encouraging to see the strong support these kids had!! Thanks to Carol Lessard, Cheryl Freeburn and Dave Deacon for volunteering as judges – they had no easy task!! Thanks to Sheila Hawley and Trudy Deacon who volunteered as time-keepers; Sonja Alcock for her fine calligraphy on the posters; to Robert Bryden for being score-runner; Cathy Ballar, scrutineer; President Cecil Hawley for setting up the hall; and to any others who helped out. The First Place winners will now move on to the next level of competition to be held later this month. Good luck!!! And thanks for participating!!!

by Jeff Green and the Parham Agricultural Society

1883 and 1893.

Those are the years when the Maberly and Parham fairs were held for the first time.

It would be an understatement to say the world has changed over that time. In the early years electricity was still a novelty, and aside from the railroad the only mode of transportation was horsepower.

With all the changes that have taken place over the years, the horse shows at both fairs and the horse pull at the Parham Fair remain as events that harken back to the way of life in both communities in the 19th Century.

Other reminders of the past include the baking, growing, and textile displays and contests that are still hotly contested to this day at the fairs.

While the Parham Fair has modernized to include such popular events as lawn mower races, a demolition derby, and other events, the feel of the small town fair – the food, the smells, the sight of young students reuniting after a summer apart in anticipation of the first day of school, hasn’t changed that much in all that time.

The Parham Fair has its roots in Agriculture and its focus is still on highlighting agriculture. Friday night Aug 24 features the ever popular Horse Pull, with local favorite, Bill Lee, an annual participant. Come see the teams as they pull the stoneboat to become the Champion Team of the Night. Saturday, in the morning, there is a Cattle Show, with local 4-H clubs, and Poultry and Horse Shows all day. Have you seen the Dolly Pardon run yet? Watch for it Saturday afternoon in the games in the horse ring. In the Palace, there are agricultural exhibits along with crafts, children’s exhibits, vegetables and baking. You could spend hours in there. New this year, the best dressed cowboy and cowgirl. Youth between 7-9 and 10-12 may sign up for the contest on Friday at 6:45pm. There is still time to sign up for the Parham Idol Contest on Saturday August 25, open to ages 16 and under. To register, contact Debra Smith at 613-279-2116 ext 212. Come for the entertainment, food and midway. A good time is sure to be had by all for just $5\day; weekend passes $12.

The Maberly Fair is a tiny perfect one-day fair that starts with a parade and ends with a community supper. This year the fair has a scarecrow theme, featuring a great pumpkin garden of scarecrows. The scarecrows will feature in the parade before landing in the garden, where they will be judged and prizes will be awarded. In addition to the horse show and agricultural exhibits (there are 29 competitive categories this year with prizes in each one) the popular zucchini races and cow-pie madness events are back as is the Carleton Place community band and other entertainers as well.

In honour of the 130th Maberly Fair and the 120th Parham Fair let’s all leave our i-pads at home and our cell phones in the glove box of our cars and let the present and past merge as we indulge in the glory that is a community fair in late August.

Aloha Tweed – 2nd annual Elvis Festival by Jeff Green

The Tweed Elvis Festival, which was started as a way for the village of Tweed to turn a corner after the conviction of Russell Williams, has done that and much more, giving the town of Tweed a destination event that captures the imagination of locals and visitors alike.

And all that has happened in about 15 months.

The second annual festival, which celebrates the image of Elvis from the Blue Hawaii era, will feature strong amateur, professional and youth Elvis Tribute contests, as will a string of other events from Friday afternoon, (August 24) through to Sunday afternoon (August 26)

Dallas Arney, the pride of Addington Highlands, will kick things off at the Tweed Fairgrounds at 5 pm on Friday, performing the American and Canadian anthems and more (not in Elvis costume – as far as we know) Round 1 of the Elvis Tribute contest will follow at 6pm.

Other events on Friday night include a meet and greet at the Tweedsmuir tavern and Midnight with Elvis, featuring a performance by last year’s champion Matt Dowsett, fresh from competing in Memphis, for a $10 cover charge.

On Saturday there will be a street sale, Art in the Park, and a pancake breakfast in addition to the events at festival central in the Fairgrounds.

Round 2 of the main competition will take place in the late morning, followed by the youth competition and other events. Later in the afternoon (4:45) the semi-finals will get underway, followed by a showcase at 8 pm, as well as a rock’n roll dance at the Tweed Curling Club.

On Sunday, in addition to another pancake breakfast and a classic car parade with Elvis through the streets of Tweed, there will be a gospel show at 11 am at the fairgrounds. The Grand Finals in the tribute competition will start at 1pm and the award winners will be announced at 3pm, followed by the closing ceremonies.

Tickets are $55 for a weekend pass and $25 per day (HST included). They are available at the gate, in advance at locations in Tweed, at the fruit and vegetable stand in Northbrook and at the Junction restaurant in Sharbot Lake. For information, go to Tweedelvisfestival.ca 

Photo: Emma Maloney, wearing the paper dress she made as a school assignment.

For Grade 12 student Emma Maloney, showcasing her artistic talents is not something she feels naturally comfortable doing. In fact it was her two art teachers at Sharbot Lake High School, Geoffrey Murray and Peggy Hurley, who suggested that she hold a final show culminating her artistic endeavors as an art and fashion student at the school over the years. Emma will be showcasing her multi-media art and fashion work at a show titled “Synthesis: clay, scissors, paper” at Nomad's Rest, 28078 Highway 7, on Friday January 13, 6-8pm.

The show demonstrates Emma’s abilities as both a designer and creator in a variety of mediums. At the forefront in the show will be three dresses, two of which she designed and created for her fashion class with Mr. Murray. The first is a Victorian-style skirt and bodice made from fabric and the second was made for a class assignment to create a wearable paper dress. Emma wears it on the front of the show’s invitation. The paper dress boasts a folded and fanned paper skirt and a paper mache bodice. By far the most intricate dress in the show is one Emma created using 150 pieces of fired clay and 800 beads (phot left); an undertaking that Emma said was “the most frustrating and time consuming work I have made to date.” She explained, “ Pottery can be very unstable and in order in the end to have all of the pieces I needed, I actually had to make 50 extra pieces.” Each separate ceramic piece also required holes for stitch-ability so that after the firing they could be sewn together. Included in the show are drawings of the clay dress design and a slide show that documents the entire process from start to finish. Emma will also be showcasing various 3D and 2D works from her art classes over the years. The former include sculptures; one a stylized bear carved from soapstone, another, an African mask made from clay. In the two dimensional realm Emma will be offering prints, posters, drawings and paintings in both acrylics and oils. One of the oils has political connotations and depicts an Afghan woman in a hijab, with a man’s hand covering her mouth, his skin tattooed with words that aim to silence her.

Painting in oil is Emma’s latest love and she said she enjoys its unique properties, especially how it allows for minute details, color blending - and mistakes, which can be corrected at any point along the way. Also in the show will be large-scale posters, copies of various sketches and drawings that Emma has made over the years.

With still a third of the show to hang, Emma feels the crunch of last minute preparations and admits to “feeling a little bit nervous about the whole thing. I don't want people to think that I take myself too seriously. I do realize that I'm just 17 and am mostly self taught but I think in the end doing the show will have been a good experience to go through.”

Emma will graduate this year and will be applying to the University of Guelph where she hopes to study animal sciences. “I'm also making sure that I will be attending a school that offers a fine art program since I hope to continue studying art as well.”