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Chris Hughes is passionate about two things: motorcycles and toilets. An interesting combo for sure, but there is always a good story as to why. His 26-year career in tourism development has seen him crisscross the country (mostly on his motorcycle) helping clients create the next great tourism experience, and with that he has seen it all.

On Two Wheels

Eleven years ago, Ontario’s Highlands came to BC Hughes with a seed of an idea to create a world class motorcycle destination. Having already helped build Ride Lake Superior, Ride the North, Ride Grey Bruce, and other motorsports destinations, Chris and his team were excited at the opportunity, knowing full well that the region had all the successful ingredients: twisty roads, delicious food/drink and friendly locals. Fast forward to today, and Ride the Highlands is one of the top motorcycle destinations in North America.

On the Toilet

The bathroom, washroom, potty, commode, outhouse, no matter what you call it, we all need it, especially when we are tourists. Chris has spent his whole career looking for the perfect public toilet and feels as a society we are really missing the perfect flush. Learn why Tim Hortons still hasn’t figured out what ‘business’ it’s really in, see how Stratford’s new Boathouse Bathroom is winning over theatre guests, and see examples from around the world of those that get it and those that miss the mark.

Chris is co-owner and director at BC Hughes Tourism Consulting located in Shallow Lake, Ontario (located right beside the really deep one – Lake Huron). As a University of Waterloo alumnus, Chris was trained on the integration of business and the environment. Something extremely relative in today’s tourism economies. Chris specializes in developing memorable and innovative tourism experiences; from the Han Wi (full moon dinner), to goat yoga to motorcycle touring routes, he thrives on working with businesses of all sizes

Join us at the Agnes Jamieson Gallery for the opening reception of Mountain Lake at a Glance (The Hidden Nature of Paint), a new exhibit by Gord Peteran. 

Gord’s family has summered at Mountain Lake just north of Minden since 1934. While Gord is known as a sculptor, he has been plein-air painting Mountain Lake for the past 40 years. Until now, this has remained a private affair, separate from his professional career as an artist. Accumulating slowly over the years, these small oil sketches have performed much like a secret graphic diary. What is unusual about this undertaking is that almost all 400 oil sketches are of the same view – true north from the family cottage. His exhibition at the Agnes Jameson Gallery, will be the first time these personal paintings have been presented publicly. 

“The light changes constantly so I work quickly to fuse an hour of time with a place of the heart, attempting to document not only the trees, clouds and waves, but also the ghosts that collect by a lake.”  G.P.

The Artist: 

We welcome back Toronto sculptor Gord Peteran to the Agnes Jamieson Gallery. Gord has lectured and exhibited extensively throughout North America. His work is held in many private and public collections.  Locally, he created the red entranceway for the Haliburton School of Art + Design and has a sculpture in the Haliburton Sculpture Forest. 

While a professor at the Ontario College of Art and Design University for over 25 years, Peteran has also taught at The California College of Arts, Sheridan College School of Arts and Crafts, and the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI.

Gord has been the recipient of numerous Government Arts Council grants and awards throughout his career, including the Jean A. Chalmers National Arts Award. Three exhibition catalogues have been published on his work.

The Agnes Jamieson Gallery is a public gallery with year-round visual exhibitions of local and regional art.  The Gallery is part of the Minden Hills Cultural Centre which also includes the Heritage Village & Nature Place Interpretive Centre. The Gallery is fully accessible and is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 am – 4 pm.  Admission is by donation.

In partnership with the Haliburton County Public Library, the Minden Hills Cultural Centre invites you to a free screening of Cold Journey (1975) on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 1:00 PM. Directed by Martin Defalco, the film follows 15-year-old Buckley Petawabano, a Cree youth navigating the tension between cultural identity and the pressures of the residential school system. Loosely inspired by the story of Chanie Wenjack, Cold Journey is one of the first Canadian films to feature Indigenous actors in leading roles, with performances by Buckley Petawabano, Johnny Yesno, and Chief Dan George, and music by Willie Dunn.

Admission is free and open to all ages. No pre-registration required. Presented with the support of the National Film Board of Canada.

This screening is presented in connection with We Were Taught Differently: The Indian Residential School Experience, a traveling exhibit from the Lake of the Woods Museum. On display in the Welch Room from April 1 to June 28, the exhibit shares the stories of residential school survivors and highlights the resilience of Indigenous communities. Through powerful images, artifacts, and testimonies, it encourages reflection and dialogue on truth and reconciliation.

Cold Journey holds historical significance as it is one of the first Canadian films to cast Indigenous actors in leading roles, featuring performances by Buckley Petawabano, Johnny Yesno, and Chief Dan George. The film’s soundtrack includes soulful music by Willie Dunn, enhancing its emotional depth. This screening takes place during the exhibit opening of We Were Taught Differently: The Indian Residential School Experience, a traveling exhibit by Lake of the Woods Museum.

The exhibit will be on display at Welch Room during the Cultural Centre’s regular opening hours from April 1 to June 30. The documentary screening and the exhibit aim to foster reflection and discussion on the lasting impacts of residential schools and the resilience of Indigenous communities.

We’ve got bouncy castles, animals, face painting, silent auctions, band, vendors food, and much more! More info to come

As an expansion of the well-established “native plant sale,” FEEL is offering this exciting educational opportunity with experiential workshops, demonstrations, and presentations. As always, potted native plants will be available to purchase and ecologists will be on-site to help you make the best choices for your landscape. Local environmental organizations will be on-site too, for you to ask burning questions, and for them to share their insights and knowledge with you, all under the umbrella of ecology! 

As a family-friendly event, the workshops are great for little hands to get involved. FEEL’s Children’s Water Festival coordinator will be activating one of our hands-on activity stations for kids and families to engage with. And, of course, as our host for this event, Abbey Gardens is a beautiful place to walk, have fun in the Enchanted Forest, say hello to the ponies, and grab a bite to eat at the Food Hub. 

Register for a workshop today!

Take part in a guided tour around the heritage village or immerse yourself in some early settler games and craft demonstrations. Enjoy a cup of tea or Victorian-era refreshments in the dining room of one of the historic buildings. Check out the interactive displays at Nature’s Place and browse a new exhibit by the Apple Tree Identification Project (ATIP) Haliburton.

Don’t miss Browning Reptiles exotic animal display from 12:00 – 2:00 PM, where visitors will be able to get up close and personal with some amazing animals!

Minden Hills Museum & Heritage Village and Nature’s Place will be open for the season from May 17 to October 11, Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Admission is by donation.

Join us for the season opening of the Minden Hills Museum & Heritage Village and Nature’s Place Interpretive Centre, and an exhibit opening reception on Saturday, May 17! Enjoy a full day of family-friendly, drop-in activities—all admission by donation:

– Browning Reptiles (11:00 AM–1:00 PM): Meet fascinating creatures and learn about their habitats
– Printing Press Demo with artist Natalia Brown at Sterling Bank (Noon–2:00 PM): Try your hand at printing and take home a custom card.
– Victorian Tea at Bowron House (Noon–2:00 PM): Have a cup of tea and enjoy some Victorian-era refreshments
– Exhibit Opening Reception at Agnes Jamieson Gallery (1:00–3:00 PM): Discover Mountain Lake at a Glance – The Hidden Nature of Paint by Gord Peteran, an exhibit that features 40 years of plein-air oil sketches of

Mountain Lake, forming an intimate visual diary. The exhibit runs from May 15 to July 12 during the gallery’s regular hours, Tues–Sat, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM.

As an expansion of the well-established “native plant sale,” FEEL is offering this exciting educational opportunity with experiential workshops, demonstrations, and presentations. As always, potted native plants will be available to purchase and ecologists will be on-site to help you make the best choices for your landscape. Local environmental organizations will be on-site too, for you to ask burning questions, and for them to share their insights and knowledge with you, all under the umbrella of ecology! 

As a family-friendly event, the workshops are great for little hands to get involved. FEEL’s Children’s Water Festival coordinator will be activating one of our hands-on activity stations for kids and families to engage with. And, of course, as our host for this event, Abbey Gardens is a beautiful place to walk, have fun in the Enchanted Forest, say hello to the ponies, and grab a bite to eat at the Food Hub. 

Register for a workshop today!

Come join us for a night of spoken word and rhymes at Dominion Hotel Pub. Let your creativity flow and share your poetry with a supportive audience. Whether you’re a seasoned poet or new to the scene, all are welcome to participate or simply enjoy the show. Poetry lovers, who are shy about presenting their work, are encouraged to bring a favourite poem, from a favourite poet, and take their turn at the microphone.

Host: Lea Harper — call Lea at 705 754 4678 to book a spot to present

Cost: Free with an opportunity to donate at the door to support future work of the Arts Council.

Theme: What HOME means … please define this as in whatever way it inspires you but here are some additional words to help you think it through: At a time when the sovereignty of our country is being talked about in the news, we’d love to hear what HOME means to you and Where is HOME in your heart? For example, What does it mean to be part of a family, a community, a nation, a global village? Is HOME a refuge or a war zone, a place you return to again and again, or is it an imagined world, a utopia? Is it found in solitude, on a forest path, in the arms of a lover? Writing HOME. Your way, your story . . .

The Haliburton Home and Cottage Show is the largest Home Show in Central Ontario. The Haliburton Show started in 1977 and has grown to be one of the best Home and Cottage Shows in Central Ontario. It is located at the A.J. LaRue Arena and  & Haliburton Curling Club in Haliburton.

With over 20,000 sq ft of Indoor and Outdoor Exhibits this is an excellent opportunity to meet with vendors from both Haliburton County and from all areas of the province in one location.

• Over 130 Vendors in one location
• Large Indoor and Outdoor displays
• New businesses showcasing their products and expertise
• Free parking
• Food, Snacks and Beverages available in the Licenced Curling Club Lounge
• Special Home Show pricing for many products and services

Friday 3 – 8 pm – Saturday 9 – 5 pm – Sunday 9 – 3 pm

The Haliburton Home and Cottage Show is the largest Home Show in Central Ontario. The Haliburton Show started in 1977 and has grown to be one of the best Home and Cottage Shows in Central Ontario. It is located at the A.J. LaRue Arena and  & Haliburton Curling Club in Haliburton.

With over 20,000 sq ft of Indoor and Outdoor Exhibits this is an excellent opportunity to meet with vendors from both Haliburton County and from all areas of the province in one location.

• Over 130 Vendors in one location
• Large Indoor and Outdoor displays
• New businesses showcasing their products and expertise
• Free parking
• Food, Snacks and Beverages available in the Licenced Curling Club Lounge
• Special Home Show pricing for many products and services

Friday 3 – 8 pm – Saturday 9 – 5 pm – Sunday 9 – 3 pm