Elora Fergus Podcast Ryan Joyce

This episode we’re talking with the Fergus Fall Fair Ambassador, Dillon Bernier about this years’ Fair postponement, the local impacts, and how we can stay connected with the Fall Fair and Fergus Agricultural Society.  Listen Here.
https://bit.ly/33Ee5Kv 

What does back to school look like in Centre Wellington during COVID?  What are the new procedures and steps our school boards and schools are taking? With huge thanks to Barbara Evoy and Cogeco, we share this interview with Upper Grand District School Board Superintendents Gary Slater and Carlo Zen. 
Show Links: https://bit.ly/2RfapsN

Today is a big episode! Three guests from the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games join us and give their unique perspectives and feedback from this year’s Wee Digital Ceilidh!
 
Show Links: https://bit.ly/2DNNr8O
 

We start the conversation with Elizabeth Bender, the Fergus Scottish Festival Coordinator who shares the online response, feedback from the community and the local events. We discuss Elizabeth’s personal favourite moments, a few special emails, and what it all means for the future of the Fergus Scottish Festival.
 
Next, Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games Board of Directors President, David Radley joins the podcast and shares his views about this year, the tough 2020 decisions, feedback he received from all around the world, and what changes we might see for future Games. He also discusses some of the unexpected surprises from this year's Wee Digital Ceilidh.
 
Finally, we are joined with Festival Vice President, Stephen Cole. Stephen’s design work can be seen all around town and with the Festival’s brand. He's behind the new Fergus logo, the Fergus Scottish Festival’s brand and familiar signs all around Centre Wellington. Stephen discusses how the Festival is changing, the importance of volunteering and how you can get involved.

Today I’m chatting with the Fergus Scottish Festival Coordinator, Elizabeth Bender about the upcoming digital Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games.  (Show links: https://bit.ly/2Xx0YIB  ) 
This year would have marked 75 years of tradition in Centre Wellington, but Elizabeth calls this year “74.5” 
:)
On this episode, we chat about the recent tough decisions, what it means for the future of the Festival, plus we get insight for what to expect at this year’s digital celebration, the Wee Digital Ceilidh (pronounced “Kay-lee”)
If you ask Google “What’s a Scottish Ceilidh?” you discover it’s a traditional social gathering.
I asked twice and was told, “...simply means a social visit.” 
The Festival Scottish Festival and Highland Games present this year’s Wee Digital Ceilidh to their faithful patrons, guests, and over four hundred volunteers who contribute their hard work and time year-after-year.  
The result of their efforts has given our community an amazing gift that brings over 24,000 people to Centre Wellington in a single weekend. This year they hope to do the same-- albeit virtually.  
Trusted traditions modernized.  

Today on the Elora Fergus Podcast we’re talking with Fergus Bagpiper Extraordinaire, Peter Hummel aka Peter Piper.  In this episode, we chat about Peter’s music interests before the bagpipes, his introduction to the pipes and his Greek family upbringing.  https://bit.ly/32GzqE5 
Since the start of this pandemic, Peter has stepped outside and played his pipes in tribute to healthcare and front-line workers.  We talked about where the inspiration came from and one of the biggest surprises that have come from his daily tributes.  
Peter shares his journey from growing up outside Niagara Falls, Ontario to living and working in Fergus with his family for over twenty years.  He also shares his meaningful Scottish discovery.
We talk about postponing the 75th Annual Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games and we both share a little insight and behind the scenes sneak-peak into the upcoming Wee Digital Ceilidh.
Peter also shares a few of the passion projects and where he volunteers his services, plus two great behind the scenes Riverfest stories.  
I think you’re really going to love this episode! 

Today on the Elora Fergus Podcast we’re chatting with the one and only, Barbara Evoy!  She is the host of her own TV program on Cogeco and radio show on the Grand 101.1.  She is also of not one, but two books and she’s involved in all corners of our community. https://bit.ly/390yH1v 
Barbara is a self-proclaimed performer at heart.  She’s ambitious and hardworking.  She is also the victim of abuse and Barbara uses her experiences to help inspire others.  
As a kid, Barbara moved around to various Canadian cities before eventually settling into The Township of Centre Wellington where she has become a leader, communicator and performer.
Oh, and “Citizen of the  Year”  too :)
I think you’re really going to enjoy this episode with Barbara Evoy