Category: Event Review

On a dark, stormy Wednesday evening, we went to Kings Theatre, ‘Arts for Life’ in Annapolis Royal. They showed three new films by ARCAC and Andrew Tolson.

1. Arts at the Centre (ARTSPACE): four decades of community artistry.
2. It’s all about Love: An artist profile of Ken Flett.
3. The History of Us: An artist profile of Deb Kuyzk and Ray Mackie.

After the intermission, ‘Rural Renaissance: How Canada’s oldest town reinvented itself’. A 2021 documentary about Annapolis Royal in the 1970’s and 1980’s. It was spearheaded by Jane Nicholson and AIRO, with the support of film-maker Andrew Tolson and researcher, Wilfred Allen (view the documentary in post Two Used Books).

Heather and I came to COGS in Lawrencetown in 1980. The film combined personal interviews, with historical perspectives, and a focus on place, in this case, Annapolis Royal. The combination of interviews and archival footage was compelling. It included the Historical Gardens, Kings Theatre, Sinclair Inn, etc. plus interviews with Greg Kerr, Paul Buxton, Barry Moody and others.

For the first time, I was able to fully appreciate the difference between the Annapolis Region Community Arts Council (ARCAC) and ARTSPACE ( the gallery) and now ARTSEEN ( the digital presence) – an exploration of the processes, minds and concepts that ignite the work of contemporary artists and arts centres..

This mixture of personal stories, historical footage and a sense of place offers an inspirational model for other communities, and other endeavours e.g. Science for Life at COGS in Lawrencetown.

Acknowledgements

Excellent Cinematography by Andrew Tolson. Edward Wedler added the graphics and links to the blog. Heather shared the stormy drive to Annapolis Royal. Janet Larkman hosted the event at the King’s Theatre.

References

Artseen link

ARCAC link.

Today (Thursday, 25th), Heather and I joined the Antique Maps tour at COGS. Our guides were Andrew Hannam and Chelsea Heighton. The collection contains over 2500 antique maps, atlases and books that once belonged to Walter Morrison, David Raymond and Leslie Marcus. The event was organized by the Centre of Rural Aging and Health (CORAH), NSCC Annapolis Valley campus, Middleton.

I knew both Walter and Dave from my time teaching at COGS. From the tour, I gained a new appreciation of Walter’s interest in the history of map production. At the same time, it was good to see the local maps for the Annapolis Valley, Louisburg , Halifax. It is hard to estimate the value of these maps. They deserve a wider audience, perhaps with an exhibition in Halifax.

Walking the corridors, I noticed a display by the COGS Library which named the current programs offered on-site and on-line at COGS. Later I returned to the campus to photograph this display.

Resident programs (2023-24) include:

• Survey
• Marine Geomatics
• GIS
• Remote Sensing
• GIS Technician
• IT Programming

Online programs include:

• Cartography and Geovisualization
• Geospatial Data Analytics.

Residential-Online programs include:

• GIS
• GIS technician.

This display was the first time that I have been able to discern programs that are solely online, and those that are available both on-site and on-line.

Hopefully this will help the wider public better understand our modern learning environment.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Andrew Hannam and Chelsea Heighton for the tour and the display.

COGS hosted its annual industry expo, starting on Monday evening with two keynote presentations and a social at Lunn’s Mill. Tuesday was a full day including company presentations and an industry panel. In the gymnasium, there were forty industry partner booths.

My interests were three fold:

1. To understand the suite of technologies currently taught at COGS;
2. What were the expectations of the industry partners ?
3. What are the programs offered at COGS today ?

The Monday evening keynotes were delivered by Justin Chang, MOBIA and Frank King, Halifax Water, both graduates from COGS, working in Halifax.

Tuesday , I had the opportunity to meet some of the industry partners. This included Derek Weatherbe from ESRI , Redlands; Simeon Roberts, Association of Nova Scotia Land Surveyors and Colin MacDonald, provincial government.

I attended the industry panel, focussed on tips for finding a job; and a presentation on NSCC Applied Research. This includes research with industry partners into Energy, Engineering technology, Environment and Agriculture, Geomatics, IT and Social Science, across all of the NSCC campuses.

My relationship with COGS started in 1980 teaching in the Scientific Computer Programming program, through to 2011 with the Applied Geomatics Research Group. I was Head, Department of Computer Programming 1980-88. Between 1988-2000, I worked for EMDI Indonesia, ESRI, OMNR and Royal Roads University. I returned to COGS to set up AGRG in 2000.

I was seeking to understand the current programs at COGS. In the 1980’s we had three departments: Surveying, Computer Programming and Cartography/Planning. Today, we have a wide range of technologies: new sensors, new platforms (eg drones) and new software environments (eg Artificial Intelligence)

Given these rapidly changing technologies, what has happened to the science of Geography, and its application, in a rapidly changing world?

From the ESRI brochure:

“At ESRI we bring meaning to maps. We pioneer problem solving using geographic information systems (GIS) and we believe the geographic approach can transform the world by unlocking data’s full potential in every organization. Our users are creating the maps that are changing the world and shaping our future.”

Acknowledgements

David MacLean helped me navigate the Expo. I had useful conversations with a number of the exhibitors. Edward Wedler put in his time as a Remote Sensing instructor at COGS. Our collaboration continues today.

Reference

Map your career at ESRI, 2023, ESRI.com/careers/#esriexperience

Today, I attended the Save Our Old Growth Forests (SOOF) meeting at the Centrelea Community Hall. The hall was full, about sixty in attendance, of all ages.

The meeting was part of the SOOF campaign coordinated by the Arlington Forest Protection Society (AFPS) (see previous post Saving Forests),

It is surprising to me; it is four years since we were camping out in protest against the clearcutting and spraying on South Mountain (see previous posts Anatomy of a Protest, A Green Future?, and Striking Balance).

Besides the excellent lunch, we received an update on the proposed Goldsmith Lake and Beals Brook Wilderness Areas. This will be followed by a public meeting at the Bridgetown Legion (next Sunday, 1:30 – 3:30 pm).

’Over 23,000 acres have been identified by the NS Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, as potential sites for clearcutting and spraying on Crown Land in Annapolis County.’

At the meeting today, I learned that there are petitions in Pictou, Colchester, Cumberland, Yarmouth, Halifax and Digby, as well as Annapolis County.

Today’s event raised a number of questions.

What was the condition of the Forest in Nova Scotia, after the shipbuilding era?

Is there agreement on the definition of Old Growth Forest?

When the provincial government looks at crown land in Nova Scotia, what is their definition of old growth? Is it the same as AFPS’ definition?

What is the probability there will be further clearcutting and spraying on Crown Land in Annapolis County?

Acknowledgements

Rob and Laura Bright at AFPS for organizing the event. Nina Newington for sharing her experience of old growth in Annapolis County.

References

YouTube video The Return of Old Growth Forests, New England Forests

We went to see the film, Napoleon, the matinee performance at Kings Theatre in Annapolis Royal.

Watching the portrayal of Napoleon in the European wars, it was difficult not to make the comparison with Putin and the other confrontations in the world today (see also History Professor reactes to Napoleon Trailer).

On the way home, we witnessed a house fire; at our neighbours, just four houses away on Highway #201; a very sad event.

On a more positive note, I received mid-Winter news from FOLDE, Dorset in the UK.

This newsletter illustrates the potential of bookstores in rural England.

Another newsletter, The Marginalian, contained a section on ‘Working Out, Working In’.

Applying the six principles of Athletic Training to Writing and Creative work.

Before heading to BC, I returned the books by James Bridle to the Library. In place of these books I have borrowed, from Heather, Thomas Moore’s The Re-enchantment of Everyday Life.

”There is a sophistication prior to adult learning and modern development of culture, an appreciation for the interiority of Nature and the hidden power of persons and places.” p.xx.

Acknowledgements

Jeannie Barteaux drove us to the matinee performance in Annapolis Royal. Heather suggested the writing of Thomas Mooore. Edward added the graphics.

References

The Marginalian by Maria Popova, December 24, 2023.
FOLDE Dorset, MidWinter News, December 23, 2023.
Thomas Moore, 1996, The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life, Harper Collins.

A few years ago, Alex Cole of Little Foot Yurts would visit us in the Fall (see post, Coppicing and Charcoal-Making).

He would make Biochar, using an old dairy condenser on Andrew’s property across the road.
(image by K.salo.85 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)

One of the participants was Rick Ketcheson from Annapolis Royal.

Today Rick and Kathy invited us to attend a Biochar event on their property in Perotte. It was a beautiful day to be outside making Biochar.

Afterwards, we came home via the old military road to West Dalhousie. We did not see a soul. Even the campground at Gibsons Lake was deserted. Along the road the tamarack foliage was simply spectacular.

The previous day, we had been to Annapolis Royal for a medical appointment. Afterwards, at about the same time (3 pm) we went over to Parker’s Cove to take the coastal road to Hampton The same late afternoon light highlighted the striking colours of the foliage on North Mountain.

This evening, I checked my book shelves, I found Sacred Soil: Biochar and the Regeneration of the Earth, dated 2017.

(see post Overstory)

Acknowledgements

To Rick and Kathy Ketcheson for inviting us to the hands-on demo at Perotte. Rekindling our interest in Biochar. Edward Wedler continues to make a significant contribution to these blogs. He searches the web and finds interesting connections. This week, he heads down to Florida, as a snow bird. We will try to maintain the connection. Heather travelled the same road with me.

References

Robert Tindall, Frederique Apffel-Marglin and David Shearer, 2017, Sacred Soil: Biochar and the Regeneration of the Earth, North Atlantic Books.

In recovery mode, after car troubles in Halifax on Saturday, we took a drive to Annapolis Royal.

We wanted to see the Art of Harold Cromwell, Back in the Old Days exhibition ar ARTSPLACE gallery (September 9 – October 28). Ray Cronin provides an excellent overview of the artist and his work (see handout).

’Cromwell’s work depicts life in a rural community in the early twentieth century and is laced with humour and wry observation’.

I particularly enjoyed the search for deer hidden in his pen and ink drawings.

We managed to catch the Ciderfest parade in Bridgetown, the market at the legion and then the orchard walk by Jamie Inglis in Tupperville.

In the spirit of meditations on walking, we took the trail through Valley View Park to the communications tower. This led to thoughts on the role of ‘plein air’ art in the appreciation of landscape, and how the results would differ, depending on the artist and the medium. For Edward, water colour. For Anne, oils. The selection of subject matter would also depend on the interests, previous experience etc. It would be interesting to compare the results.

Unfortunately, because of car trouble, I did not have the time to look closely at the different paintings by Anne and Edward at the Teichert gallery on Thursday evening. Perhaps another day, or another event.

Postscript

Visiting Inglis Heritage Farm brought back fond memories of managing the organic orchard planted by Raymond Hunter, across the road. It is now owned by Rob Jarvis and Sinead Wills (see posts “Naturally Rooted; Hunter’s Brandy” and “Times Have Changed“).

Acknowledgements

Foremost, the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) technical support for getting us out of our car troubles. Thanks to Kings Honda who transitioned us into a new (to us) vehicle in short order. Edward and Anne provided cause for meditation. Heather and I are grateful for everything.

References

The Art of Harold Cromwell, Back in the old days, September 9 – October 28, 2023. ARTSPLACE Gallery Annapolis Royal, Brochure by Ray Cronin, former Director, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.