June 14, 2010

Exhausted, happy and still full of amazing food ala Scott and Dan, we've triumphantly returned from Westfest weekend in Ottawa. What a blast! To those of you who made it out to Westboro Village in the nation's capital, good on you. If you didn't, you missed the greatest party in town.

Yes, it's festival season and yes, they can be found all over, but Westfest has a very unique feel to it. Aside from its killer lineup of artists of all kinds, styles, ages and genres, what really makes this festival a treat to be a part of are the people involved. Volunteers, crew, talent and audience alike are all just so happy to be there. It's a happily-mellow vibe from start to finish. Everyone's sunny smiles even managed to keep the looming rainclouds away.

I think I had the best job of the whole crew: the disembodied "Voice of God" (that official title was even written into the script). Stand side-stage with a mic, rile up the crowd, introduce hosts and acts, then go watch them. Speak, relax, repeat. Even better was the last-second change to allow me centre stage to close down the festival, finally placed face-to-face with the awesome audience who'd been keeping me energized for three days. A big thank you to everyone who came out, to the great talent who kept us all more than entertained, to the incredibly hardworking volunteers and crew, and of course to Elaina, Westfest's guru. Congrats on yet another successful event. See you there again in 2011!

Holl

June 4, 2010

Oh Willy... your song should be the anthem to my life... this time with giant fiddles.

I've just returned from Sydney, Nova Scotia, having hosted the Balance 2010 Conference out there for a few days. This was my second time hosting this women's entrepreneurial conference, and the experience was even more fun and inspiring than last year... workshops, guest speakers, banquets and lovely people. And Membertou, the host community of this conference, is a model for Canada. This Aboriginal community has gone from extremely hard conditions to impressive prosperity in a very short amount of time. Perfect proof that collective positivity and determination can pave new roads to a bright future.

A big thanks to Darryl for the tip on touring the Fortress of Louisbourg, and an even bigger thanks to Irene, who somehow managed to find us a rental van when every vehicle in the city was booked. The drive out there was stunning; I'd love to see it in the fall when the leaves turn red and golden. The Fortress has been beautifully preserved. What's most impressive is that the restorations were made using the exact same tools used to build the Fortress in the first place, preserving not only the buildings but the authenticity. It was cold, rainy and foggy during the tour, which was perfect in my opinion... those were the conditions these men of history had to live in daily. It's easy to see why the costumed interpreters get so into their jobs. What a fabulous place to visit.

My only regret in Sydney was not being able to stay longer. I'd have loved to tour the Cabot Trail or visit the Coal Miners' Museum; just two of the numerous gems to check out on the island. If you haven't had a chance to visit the lovely Cape Breton, I'd highly recommend it. Even when you've underpacked for the chilly spring weather, the experience will warm your heart.

Next stop, Ottawa! I'm slated to be a part of Westfest, doing all the announcing for what's expected to be an awesome weekend of music and entertainment in the nation's capital. If you're in the area on June 11, 12 and 13, this outdoor festival is a must! See you there!

Holl