Wednesday, July 15, 2020

The Picnic Crier

We headed into Owen Sound yesterday to see my orthopedic surgeon one more time.  Between driving and waiting it was nearly 3 hours, but he came in for 30 seconds and said 'the x-rays are good, you're free to go!  No more worrying.

Dropping down over the Niagara Escarpment into Owen Sound.

After seeing the doctor we drove to Harrison Park for lunch and a walk, parking right beside the outdoor artificial rink, used a lot by kids during the summer as an all-purpose biking and basketball court.

The Order of Good Cheer is a remarkable group of couples who have banded together to do things for the community, raising funds to build facilities like this.

We were close to the take-out window of the restaurant, so we waited for lunch - hamburgs big enough we later needed no supper!

As we headed out for a walk toward the Black History Memorial we were surprised by this town crier and his partner in a dignified walk toward the memorial, ringing his bell.  We guessed that maybe there was some filming going on.

They soon walked back for another take, and were happy to pose for me.  Turns out the famous Emancipation Picnic held here will be a virtual event (for the first time in its 158 years), and they were doing a video for the on-line presentation.

This celebrates the first picnic in 1862 for those who followed the Underground Railroad to Owen Sound.  I am well aware that recent protests have underscored the fact that Canada did allow slavery, until 1834, as part of the British Empire.  American slaves used the Underground Railroad, a network of safe houses, until the U.S. abolished slavery in 1865 in the 13th Amendment, so it's this historical period that is referred to.

They marched back and we were able to move up, getting a picture of them at the memorial.

We went on for our walk and returned to see more filming, this time with the town crier reading out a speech.  Listening to his deep booming voice I understood how he got the job.

Then the trees and this cameraman obscured them, but I was glad to hear enough of the speech to realize that it was not just platitudes; it had been updated to refer to George Floyd's death and the ensuing recent Black Lives Matter protests, one of which happened right here in Owen Sound, here at this memorial.


17 comments:

  1. So good to know that these recent events are taken into a speech. That death saddens me beyond what I thought I could imagine,. Love that view as you drive down the road, truly lovely.

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  2. How wonderful that a small community in Ontario celebrates emancipation and acknowledges the current issues that reflect the impact of slavery on people alive today.

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  3. Love the view down the road and how lucky were you to happen upon the town crier!

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  4. Even though Emancipation Day is still weeks away it was nice you were able to get a preview of what is to come.
    Sad that even today many are still facing discrimination.
    Great Pictures as always.
    Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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  5. Love that photo of the road. Thank you for sharing the history of the area! It is important we know this history!

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  6. That first photo of the road and all the greenery is amazing.

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  7. I too like that first photo. Nice to see something different like a 'Town Crier':))

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  8. Hello,

    Love the view of the road. It is great that the event was able to still take place. I enjoyed the photos. Take care and stay safe! Enjoy your day!

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  9. I'm a copy cat, really enjoyed the first picture. What a treat being there at the right time for the town crier.
    Now, I'm being different than others. I WANT his partner's dress!! :D

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  10. You just never know what you're going to see when you go out for a drive. I rather like that dress, and the history of the place. A very interesting post! :-)

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  11. A lovely trip out, aside from the medical stuff!

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  12. Glad to hear your are officially healed! I love the name of the group "Order of Good Cheer." We could all use a bit of that nowadays.

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  13. Most towns around here have town criers, I didn't realise the tradition was also kept alive elsewhere.

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  14. Glad to hear all is well!
    Order of Good Cheer - what a great name!

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  15. No town criers in Round Rock, TX. I surely wished we had visited the memorial while we were in Owen Sound. A lovely little village. Great pictures, FG. Congrats on the doctor's release!

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  16. Love that view from the road! I bet you and Mrs. FG were really glad to hear all is well...nice way to celebrate with a big burger at such a beautiful area.

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  17. I have a relative who is a town crier. It sounds like a lot of fun. Keeps him busy in retirement!

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