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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-07-29, Page 4Page A4 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, July 29, 2009 RBC celebrates 100 years with new historic look GerardMos signal -star staff As the Royal Bank of Canada pis to celebrate 100 years of managing Godeaich's money, the branch is undergoing extensive changes to both its interior and exterior. "We're very excited about the renova- tions," enovations,' said branch manager Marjorie Wise. "The Royal Bank has a proud history of supporting the Goderich community and we look forward to the next 100 years." The new look will take a page out of history for the bank, incorporating designs consistent with the heritage architecture of The Square. Heritage Goderich member, Councillor Heather Lyons said the RBC application was one of the most excellent projects the group has received, allowing them signifi- cant input with architect Peter Tovell of To- ronto. "It really put us through all the steps of checking out the character -defining ele- ments of the building," she said. `Their objective was to conserve (the history) as much as possible and preserve what's still there." Communications manager at RBC head office in Toronto, Greg Skinner, said all renovations are funded entirely by the cor- poration and the new interior design will be uniform across the company to offer "a new way of making things easier for clients" However, he said there is no information available as to the price tag on the Goder- ich renovations. Changes to Goderich include not only refacing the entire exterior, but a new floor plan, offices and a more fluid, modern - looking -design inside. Though the streetscape in Goderich has changed with orange plastic covering the entirety of the bank's exterior, Wise said regular service will continue for custom- ers. 'We are still open during regular hours," she said. "With little if any inconve- nience." • Alberta -based Stahle Construction is completing work for the Goderich branch, as well as other RBC renovations and new builds across Canada Work is expected to be completed in Oc- tober of this year. Photo by Gerard Creces The Royal Bank on The Square is undergoing a makeover that will incorporate designs consistent with Square heritage architecture. Celtic Festival offers $10 entrance to fiddle frenzy Dominlqu Milburn signal -star staff The Scattering of the Celtic Nations spread the seeds of the music and culture throughout North America and this year the Celtic Roots Festival will gather to- gether the flowering of those traditions from both sides of the Atlantic. Musicians from Cape Breton, Scotland, the US, Que- bec, Shetland, British Columbia, Ireland and Ontario, ate set to meet in a "vibrant. celebration of living culture" Preparations for the 18th annual. Celtic Roots Festival are well underway in God- erich, leading the countdown to the com- munity's biggest annual festival. With onlynine days left until the gates at Li- ons.Harbour Park open August 7 - 9 to the estimated 4,000 plus visitors the festival draws, music lovers and festival goers are waiting eagerly- especially founder War- ren Robinson. "It's a pretty exciting year," Robinson recently told the Signal -Star. Exciting, he said, is the impressive 20 big -name acts that make-up the 2009 line- up. It's also exciting that the festival is the only one to feature a salute to the late Oli- ver Schroer, one of Canada's celebrated fiddle champions. But: what's most excit- ing, according to Robinson, is the special Friday night performance when the main stage sizzles under the power of 14 of the world's top fiddlers in a frenzied perfor- mance. "It's , life .kicking which :one of your children you love the most, but I'm really excited to see the Fiddle Frenzy perfor- mance," Robinson said. "The power of that many of the top fiddlers on one stage — it becomes a challenge for them, like du- eling fit ,files. That kind of power is going to be pretty impressive." In 2009, the Celtic Festival is offering a rare opportunity to attend the Fiddle Fren- • zy, independently. That means, after 7 p.m. on Friday night as the regu- lar festival line-up winds down and all fiddlers take the stage, a $10 ticket will grant those not already inside the festival the chance to come in and en- joy the show.' "In there you have several Scot- tish and Irish cham- pions and two grandmaster champions, in- cluding international Grandmaster Shane Cook," Robinson said. "It's a bargain." Since its inception as a 'wouldn't -it -be wonderful' idea in the late 1.980s and early 90s, Robinson and wife Eleanor have built the Celtic Roots Festival into an interna- tional event that draws attendance from the US and Europe. The pair said the festival is a showcase of the tremendous diver- • sity of Celtic mu- • sic, dance, craft and • art housed in one festival that's un- matched anywhere in the world. In addition to more than 30 hours of main stage mu- sic, festivalgoers will enjoy intimate side -stage work- shops, craft art demonstrations, hands-on craftwork for all ages, storytelling, day- long participatory dancing and a dedicated children's area. "What we hear all the time is that the festival is generally held in such high re- gard," said Robinson. "When the excite- ment is in your own community, you don't realize how big it actually is. We're among only a handful of international festivals in the world. When [Eleanor and I] travel abroad, it's amazing how many people have heard of the festival." The festival theme this year is The Scat- tering, and features a multimedia collec- tion audio-visual show about Scottish emigration to America, 'The Back 0' The North Wind.' Festival performers include "the Jimi Hendrix of pipes," Ireland's iconic piper Paddy Keenan, Cape Breton explosions Mary Jane Lamond and Wendy ,MacIsaac, and Quebec's special blend of musical flair with De Temps Antan. For a complete line-up and schedule, visit the festival web site at www.celtic- festival.ca. Festival tickets are priced be- tween $25 and $55, and can be purchased online, at Wuerth Shoes and Ernie King Music on The Square in Goderich, or at the gate. To learn more, call the festival headquarters•at 519-524-8221. College, camps kick-off annual festival doe�lulaur MIWum signal -star staff Through its 18 years and counting, the Celtic Roots Festival has grown to in- clude the Celtic College and Kids Day Camp. Five days of workshops for adults and children lead by internationally renowned staff are now part and parcel of the in- ternational festival that calls Canada's prettiest town home. This year, the Celtic Kids Camp will wrap-up by taking to one of the festival's talent -drenched stages to bring a touch of theatre to the event. "We're putting on a neat play by the Celtic Kids," said Warren Robinson, co- founder the Celtic Roots Festival. Titled King of the Emerald Mountain, he said the performance will feature a gang of costumed kids, and an appearance by Puff the Magic Dragon on Aug. 7. But it's not just the 12 -and -under who can ensconce themselves in Celtic roots. The Celtic College for adults runs in con- junction with the camp through the week of August 3, and features over 50 world- class musicians, craft artists, dancers and cultural specialists who will offer some of the 120 exciting and informal work- shops in the major Celtic instruments, Irish language, dance, culture and over a dozen crafts. The college and camp are located main- ly at St. Mary's School in Goderich with additional college courses taking place at four more locations: St. George's Church, St. Peter's Church, Know Church and the Former Rob Evans car dealership in Kin- ston Street. Each year the Celtic College rosters an average of more than 300 stu- dents. Registration for both the college and kids camp is now open, and will con- tinue until classes begin. "Numbers for the college are strong this year, pre -sales have done very well," Robinson added. "You can register now or even show up day -of." To register or learn more, visit the fes- tival web site at www.celticfestival.ca or phone 519-524-8221. 31!