Events
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So, we’re Canadjuns, eh?
We are a very recognizable folk, ya know. We have travelled far and abroad, and people in other countries get to spot us pretty quickly. In Paris, for example, all Grandpa Paul had to do when he was doing some work over there was speak one sentence in the language of Molière and the restaurant staff would know that he was from Canada. This gave rise to him recounting the story of the Acadians and the Cajuns, to a rapt audience and extra kind service. People love Canadians. We are kind, polite (almost apologetic), take the time to talk to people and always very helpful. Though there are probably some…
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Salamanders Annual New Year’s Eve Celebration
For the past eight wonderful years, Salamanders has held its traditional New Year’s Eve Celebration, ushering out the old and bringing in the new. And every year, we seem to do a little bit extra. This year is no exception. Liane and her team have put together a tasty and entertaining package for you. First, there are a couple of seasonal drinks you may wish to try: our Peppermint Mocha White Russian and savour our special Christmas Cookie. These are designed to set up your taste buds for some classic appetizers, such as our very own Cajun Shrimp Dip, or our Sun-Dried Tomato Parmesan Spring rolls or some Coconut Shrimp.…
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Not one, but TWO birthdays on July 1st
As Canada approaches it’s 150th birthday, did you know that Kemptville will be celebrating it’s 161st? Queen Victoria signed “The Act to Incorporate the Village of Kemptville” on July 1, 1856, to take effect on January 1, 1857. I could go on, but the good people of North Grenville have constructed a fantastic history of our town and can be found here. What also can’t be missed, are the historic walking tours of our communities. Take a look and see how many buildings you recognize today. We, at Salamanders of Kemptville, wish you a wonderful Canada Day. Drop by and say hello if you do your own walking tour…
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Getting Ready…
We are all privileged, in a very real sense. First, we are Canadians; second, we have a chance of a life-time to celebrate a very special birthday, Canada’s 150th. When you consider what other people are going through across the world, we in Canada have a great deal to be thankful for. One of the first things we hear from refugees who find a new home in Canada is how secure they feel compared to how they felt back in their own countries, often in turmoil. So, let’s take the time to celebrate! But not only celebrate – we need to also appreciate. When we sit down as families and…
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Weddings, we’ve got weddings…
When the cold winds of winter and the icy rain of April finally leave our area, a young man’s – and a young woman’s – fancy turns to love. And so, they make it official and they wed… Weddings are time for a great deal of preparation, a few short days of hectic activity and celebration and a couple of weeks of a honeymoon trip, very often in some exotic place. Some weddings are more sedate and concentrate on the spiritual side of the event; others are more raucous and involve much drinking, music, dancing and laughter. One thing is certain, every wedding is a one-off day of happiness and…
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Lights Out at Salamanders
The idea of a large scale switch off was coined and developed in 2006 as an initiative in Australia to engage the public on the issue of climate change. Originally called “The Big Flick,” the very first Earth Hour was March 31, 2007 at 7:30 pm, local time. In October of that year, San Francisco, California followed suit. 2008 was the first year that Earth Hour was held internationally. Earth Hour 2008 was celebrated on all seven continents. Landmarks all around the world turned off their non-essential lighting for Earth Hour, including: – Sydney Opera House (Sydney, Australia); – Empire State Building (New York City); – Sears Tower (now Willis…
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St. Patrick’s Day, Part Two
Seeing as tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day, we thought you might like some fun facts about the day. We could be wearing blue instead of green. His colour was “Saint Patrick’s blue,” which was a pale shade. Green began being associated with St. Patrick because he used the shamrock to explain the Trinity to pagans. Its popularity was bolstered by the Irish independence movement in the late 18th century. St. Patrick’s Day parades did not originate in Ireland. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was in Boston, Mass on March 18, 1737, followed by the New York parade, which first took place in 1762. The first parade in Ireland was…
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The Feast of St. Patrick
St. Patrick’s Day or “the day of the Festival of Patrick” is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional date of Saint Patrick. St. Paddy is, of course, the patron saint of Ireland since about the 5th Century (a real old guy). Now it has come to pass that St. Patrick’s Day has developed a number of symbols over the years: * There is the traditional Wearing of the Green on that day (you know, as per The Emerald Isle); * There is the Celtic Cross (check the movie Gangs of New York for a rather violent explanation); * Leprechauns, rainbows and pots of gold at…