The case for human interaction at the checkout

 I decided to take a detour from arts reporting again this week since January is a little lighter on events most years, and offer up a minor rant this weekend.  Not quite up to my usual visits to the High Rant District as I call it, but close.

First, let me offer up a bit of history on me.  I hate self checkouts.  Full stop.

For most of my life I have avoided the things, along with bank machines and any other automated replacement for human contact.  Why?  Because I value human contact, and by extension the humans who provide it.

Time was, I paid my bills at the teller at my bank.  I didn't have to of course.  But I got to know my tellers at the local branch and it was more of a social call than anything else, mixed in with a bit official business to make it, well, official.  Then COVID hit and human interaction was not only avoided but most often not allowed.  

I made do and still do by dutifully using the bank machine since my local branch still does not serve customers for ordinary transactions as they once did.  I'm used to it now and will probably just keep going on paying my bills online as I have done the last couple of years or so.  But a small part of the human element is missing and I for one do in fact miss it.

Funnily enough, when I was unceremoniously let go from my radio job after a very long time I still had to work to pay the mortgage and such and decided to put my well-established customer service skills to good use.

I applied for a teller's position at that very bank where I now use the bank machine.  Oh, they call them Members Services Representatives but we all know what that means.  We were tellers.

I may have struggled with the sales aspect of the job which ultimately lost me that position after a year and a half of stress, but I excelled in the customer service department.

Why?  Because I love interacting with people.  I give respect and hopefully receive it back in kind.  I got to know a lot of the people I served by name but also found out about their lives and what made them tick.

Perhaps it was all those years in radio as an interviewer that prepared me for this aspect of the position.

On one memorable occasion a young lady came in rather stressed and as I always did I asked how she was that day.  She teared up as she told me she had just found out her young son was diagnosed with autism.  It just so happened some months before I had done a fascinating interview with a gentleman who lived with not one but two autistic sons and he went on to found an online resource for other parents in the same boat and not knowing where to turn.

I took the time to relay as much of that information to this young lady as I could, thankful there were no other customers waiting in the line to be served at that moment.  Afterwards she heaved a sigh of relief and said she was glad she came in that day and I had served her.

I was lousy at sales but I didn't care.  That moment and her comment made my day.  Heck my entire year!

When I am served at a checkout, be it grocery store, my local pharmacy or wherever, I often try to establish a rapport with the person serving me if I see them on a regular basis, which is often the case.  So I would always make it a practice to address them by first name if I knew it.

For me, it was showing respect and appreciation for that person for services rendered, in a setting where more often than not they are subjected to more vitriol than kindness.

It takes so very little effort and yet, it is becoming an increasingly rare commodity.  Kindness.

I was reminded this morning how my Mom and Dad, when they moved down to St. Catharines from Toronto, made new friends in a new city.  Dad made new friends everywhere he went as he was always out going somewhere.  Mom was more of a homebody but every Thursday morning had to go to the local A&P to do the week's grocery shopping.

It turns out Mom developed a real rapport with one cashier in particular and would see this lady every single week for years, and they became friends.  When Mom passed away this lady attended the visitation.  I was touched, because I knew Mom had touched that lady over the years and she was paying it back in kind.

That's what humans do.  Or at least should do.

Why am I bringing all this up today?  Two reasons really.

This week I had to stop at my local Canadian Tire to pick up a couple of things and when I reached the checkout I was dismayed to find there were no service checkouts open.  NONE.  I was forced to use the self-checkout or not buy what I needed.

I reluctantly opted to use the self checkout but cursed silently whilst doing so.  

Now I know it was a weekday afternoon and retaining staff is harder now and blah, blah, blah.  I get that.  But you are in the business of service customers for heaven's sake!  Can you not afford to have ONE service checkout open?!  

This unfortunately, is becoming the rule rather than the exception and I am very much dismayed by it all.

The second reason I brought this up today is because I heard a report on CBC Radio this morning about a North Edmonton Sobey's that has opened what they call a Slow Checkout Lane.  When opened, the friendly cashier takes the time to actually chat with the customer and get to know them.  They are encouraged to take the time with the customer.

How novel an idea is that?!  The manager says the idea came to him after hearing about a store in the Netherlands that did the same thing and he decided to think outside the checkout lane, as it were, and try it.

Turns out it is becoming a hit.  Not with everyone of course and I can't say if I am in a rush I would go into that lane if there were others to choose from.  But to have the choice to do either is so valuable and I dare say, needed more than ever today.

One of the many sad truths about the pandemic is we have lost a great deal of human contact, initially out of necessity and now perhaps, out of habit.  People need human contact, plain and simple.

We live in an increasingly automated age.  Self-serve gas stations are the norm now, for example.  But you usually still have to go to pay someone unless you opt to pay at the pump, which I never do.

Can we not find the time for a little human interaction now and then?  Take the time if you can and wish that person serving you a pleasant day.  I guarantee you they will appreciate it.

Not all interactions will be like the one I had with the young mother of an autistic child but it doesn't matter.  Human interaction is an increasingly rare commodity in today's society and I think we're all the poorer for it.

The Slow Checkout Lane.  An idea whose time has come...again.

Have a great weekend!

January 28th, 2023.

Change of conductor for the Niagara Symphony concert this weekend

 We're getting into that quieter time of the winter season when all the holiday concerts are done and you have a little less choice for live performances.  There's always things going on in the area, of course, but it is much easier to avoid getting overwhelmed as is often the case in November/December.

The highlight this weekend is the next Masterworks concert with the Niagara Symphony, taking place Sunday afternoon at the customary 2:30pm at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in downtown St. Catharines.

The concert, entitled Gilbert Conducts Dvorak, will not in fact be conducted by guest conductor Dina Gilbert.  Due to what are termed "unforeseen circumstances", Dina Gilbert will not be in town this weekend, but her place on the podium will be taken instead by Martin MacDonald.

MacDonald is turning out to be one of Canada's more dynamic young conductors and was recently named Music Director of the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra in East Toronto.  He has travelled across the country conducting orchestras in Victoria all the way across the country to Newfoundland.  That is one of the perks of guest conducting, of course, you get to see a lot of the country and meet a lot of great musicians along the way.

The downside of course is you don't necessarily have a home base to which you return to conduct, although that is now remedied with MacDonald's more recent posting in East Toronto.  Many conductors still travel and guest conduct while away from their home base, of course, and some even prefer to just travel and guest conduct and simply not have to deal with all the administrative duties that come with being a Music Director or Artistic Director.

Different strokes for different folks, as they say...

Anyway, Martin MacDonald, who hails from Cape Breton now makes his home in Toronto so he is certainly within commuting distance to Niagara to take up the baton this weekend.

On the programme this Sunday will be Dvorak's Symphony No. 8, along with Fung's Pizzicato and Vasks' Viola Concerto.  The soloist will be Canadian violist Marina Thibeault, and that means both conductor and soloist will both be making their debuts with the NSO this weekend.

While this can be nerve-wracking for some, coming in to conduct at the last minute, it does happen quite often.  The NSO's own Music Director Bradley Thachuk was recently in Buffalo to pinch hit as conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic.  And history is full of last-minute fill-ins:  one of the most famous in the last century was when Leonard Bernstein took the podium in the 50s to fill in for an ailing Bruno Walter.  That guest stint ultimately led to Bernstein assuming the position of the New York Philharmonic on a permanent basis in 1958 and he held the position until 1969.

So you never know where a guest spot can take you.  It's rarely a good idea to say "No thanks" in a case like that...

Tickets are still available for the Gilbert Conducts Dvorak without Gilbert concert this Sunday afternoon.  Just call or visit the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre box office or pick them up at the door prior to the performance at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon.  As always, this will be in the home of the NSO, the lovely Partridge Hall.

Have a good weekend!

January 21st, 2023.

Tailoring the past in the present

 I have written recently in this space about my desire in 2023 to up my personal style quotient while lamenting the increasing lack of gentlemanly elegance in both dress and manners in today's society in general.  So this week I wanted to continue that theme somewhat as I take another New Year's detour from my usual arts reporting in this space, if you will indulge me...

Last Saturday, rather than write my regular post here, I headed down to the Hamilton area for the afternoon on a tailoring pilgrimage of sorts.  I embraced both the past and the present while there and it was an opportunity for me to finally connect the dots on a unique purchase I made last summer here in St. Catharines.

You might recall if you follow my social media feeds I came away with a real gem of a find at my local Value Village in July.  Scanning the rack of men's suits and jackets rarely presents a diamond in the rough, but it did this day.  I caught a glimpse of a pair of bright silver silver sleeve buttons, and had to investigate further.

What I found was an exquisite blue blazer that obviously had performed a ceremonial function for a well-dressed gentleman many years ago.  The silver buttons, imprinted with "F.D." suggest it was perhaps the dress jacket for the member of a fire department many years ago.  There obviously were no official emblems or patches, which would have had to be removed once the garment was discarded.  I thought about changing the buttons but so far I have let them remain as they really are special.  I will investigate further the origins of the blazer when I can, but the origins of its manufacture is the real story here.

I always check the inside pockets for any information and right there is a label saying it was manufactured by Firth Tailoring of Hamilton, and inside the pocket was the valuable information it was custom tailored for a gentleman in April of 1967.  This garment I'm holding is now 56 years old!

It is in perfect condition and slipping it on, the fit is perfect as well.  Not a thing needs to be changed.  Amazing.  

It is heavier than your normal blazer and a bit longer, so I chose to utilize it as a fall and early spring coat, over a sweater or turtleneck for warmth.  It cuts quite an elegant look to be sure.

The price?  $21 plus tax.  I felt I had won the lottery!

I love history as well as fine tailoring, so finding both in one garment at a bargain price is for me almost a dream come true.

I took it to my tailor and had an elegant breast pocket patch I picked up years ago as well as a white cotton handkerchief tucked inside added to the breast pocket to personalize it a bit.

So now, the search for the history began.  I found a website documenting the amazing history of Firth Tailoring in downtown Hamilton and discovered the story is an interesting one.  I tracked down a Firth offspring who administers the site, and even sent her pictures of the blazer.

It turns out the company was established in 1890 by tailor and designer Norman F. Firth.  His brother John later joined the company and it became Firth Brothers Tailoring.  The first location was the old Opera House at 106 James Street North in Hamilton, later moving to more spacious location at 144 James Street North, which enabled the company to grow into a thriving retail and wholesale manufacturer.  At its peak in 1959 the company had more than 600 dealers across the country.

Along the way they outgrew the second James Street North location and moved operations a short distance away to a brand new store with adjoining two-story plant at 127 Hughson Street at Cannon in the heart of downtown Hamilton.  

As well as supplying made-to-measure suits, the company supplied as many as 3,000 greatcoats per week for troops serving in the Second World War.

After the war they went back to civilian tailoring and things continued to thrive through the 50s and 60s.  Alas, the advent of cheaper offshore ready-to-wear suits in the 70s largely eliminated the market for fine tailoring for all but a small clientele, and by 1978 the glorious history of Firth Tailoring came to a close.

The building at 127 Hughson Street in Hamilton was then occupied for many years by another men's clothing manufacturer, but eventually they moved on as well and the grand building has sat vacant for many years now, still with the stylized "F" in the front facade at either end of the building.  It has since been bought by a developer and as it is designated a heritage property it will have to be preserved going forward and that is good news.

Last Saturday I had to drive down to see my friends at Stoney Creek Tailors to pick up a small order and afterwards drove into downtown Hamilton to find that now-abandoned Firth Tailoring building.  It is a mere shadow of its former self now of course, but still looking stately and elegant with lots of windows still intact and such a story to tell of the history of men's tailoring in downtown Hamilton.

I stood there on Hughson Street looking across at 127, wearing my Firth Tailoring blazer of course, marvelling at the fact people in that very building put countless hours into the tailoring of this very garment I am now wearing, still looking great 56 years later.

This is what I love about exploring history and how the story evolved.  In a way, I am now a small part of the story as well, I guess, and proud to be so.  This blazer will certainly last the remainder of my lifetime, and that can't be said of many items we have in our collective closets now I bet.

It's funny how a chance encounter in my local thrift shop brought me on this pilgrimage last Saturday afternoon in Hamilton.  That's history.  And that's fascinating.

I will continue to proudly wear my Firth Tailoring blazer and celebrate a great Canadian success story.

Have a great weekend!

January 14th, 2023.

New Year's Update

 Amid all the plans going on for New Year's Eve tonight and looking forward to what 2023 will bring, just a few thoughts and reflections to offer up at the close of another year.

I hope whatever you do this evening you do it safely and responsibly, and make lasting memories if you possibly can with that special person in your life.  I know how fleeting that can be.  Just today I found a Facebook memory from when we attended the Jim Witter concert down at the PAC four years ago tonight, and I had to stop and collect my thoughts.  Four years and so much has changed...

That's the thing about memories.  We often don't realize we're making them until long after they are made, and they slip into our memory banks again to make us smile, tug at heartstrings, or perhaps bring a tear to an eye or two.  So tonight, do what you can to cherish the memories you've made and will make both tonight and into the New Year.

It's funny; this night has rarely held much importance for me.  Growing up in Toronto I was usually at home this night, as my parents either went to their friends Sheila & Ken Tate for a visit and Chinese food, or they came to our house.  It was an alternate thing and that happened for as long as I can remember.

When I finally became old enough to be more independent and making my way in my chosen career I did get out on the odd New Year's Eve, and one forgettable year I invited people over for a party and nobody showed up...save for one couple.  But hey, that was enough and we had a great time!

When I was firmly established in my radio career I usually ended up working this night, sometimes to midnight, many times as late as 3 am.  So for about 20 years I really had no concept of how to observe the night.  When I finally did get the night off from my job I was at loose ends as to how to celebrate it!

With Sophie it was usually easy...she made the plans and I just said "great!".  Often we would go out to dinner or such, but the last two years we were together we did the show at the PAC on New Year's Eve with friends and it was about as enjoyable a night as I can remember.

Now, I am very much a homebody and quite content with that.  Tonight as has been the case the last couple of years I will perhaps go for a walk after dinner and then simply relax with the cats and watch some TV before retiring early for the night.  I have not stayed up until midnight in years, thinking it will be 2023 when I get up in the morning anyways so I will greet the New Year then, thanks.

I know, not very exciting, but many people I talked to this weekend have similar plans.  It's funny but I think with the aging population we may be seeing a slow decline in lavish late night parties on New Year's Eve and perhaps that's not a bad thing.

I bought a bottle of de-alcoholized wine for tonight...how exciting is that?!

Tomorrow will be a quiet day and since the annual Mayor's Levee is on at the Armoury again this year I might just stop in for a visit. wearing my mask of course.

I started a tradition a couple of years ago for the dinner on New Year's Day, and it will continue again this year.  Since I am always so tired Christmas Day following my late night hosting the Midnight Mass broadcast from the Cathedral on Christmas Eve, I decided to hold off on my own Christmas dinner until New Year's.  It is quite enjoyable actually!

So that brings me to how I am doing these days, and I promised you last week I would give you an update as I have the last couple of years on this weekend.  Overall I am doing okay.  I mean, it isn't perfect but I make the best of the situation and concentrate first and foremost on my recovery and moving forward, which became my mantra at the beginning of 2022.

In some ways I have been successful in moving my life forward, even sampling a brief romance this past summer, but alas it was not to be, at least not for now.  I remain hopeful on that front though and perhaps 2023 will be the year I can find love again and move forward even more than I have done already.

I am also making more, albeit small changes in the house.  I feel it is time to add a slightly more masculine look to the place.  Not drastic mind you and I can assure you it won't just become one giant man cave.  But there are some things I think can be changed to alter the look without compromising the quiet elegance I have always wanted to achieve here.

Perhaps it is inevitable I would make this change and in fact it is probably good that I do.  I can't just live in the past and I know Sophie would not want me to.  So I make changes that honour the past and look to the future at the same time, and in the process help to move me forward, the direction I am focused on heading in.

There is a certain sadness for those of us who have lost someone dear when the holidays arrive.  There is for me, certainly.  But with each passing year the ache is a little less, there is slightly more decorating done than previously, and you begin to feel you can do this.  You can move on with your life and make new memories, either on your own or with someone new.

So enjoy your celebrations tonight if indeed you are celebrating.  If on the other hand you are having a quiet night in tonight as I am, be thankful for the good things that have come your way and show appreciation for those around you throughout the year.

Let's make this a New Year's to remember for all the right reasons.  You and I and everyone else deserve nothing less.

From my house to yours, Happy New Year and all the best for 2023!

Enjoy.

December 31st, 2022.

Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All

 As this is December 24th, I thought I would offer up some Christmas Eve thoughts as we all go about our appointed rounds today and over the holidays...

While many will spend the holidays with family and in some cases friends, not everyone will, and I hope we'll all remember them this Christmas season.  As we've seen and heard in the news the past 24 hours, many are trying to get home for the holidays but the weather is thwarting those plans.  My heart goes out to those still in airports, train stations or in some cases this morning on the trains themselves, not going  anywhere soon.

But I also want to offer up a reminder not everyone will be home due to work commitments.  Many service workers will be on the job either tonight or tomorrow, or both.  Let's remember them all this season for their sacrifices:  the police and fire personnel, restaurant workers, those manning the few stores open over the Christmas period, taxi drivers, transit personnel and of course, let's not forget those overworked health care professionals always there for us now and always.

I have during my radio career worked my fair share of Christmas and New Year's shifts as well and I know how difficult yet gratifying it can be.  Once when working on Christmas Day on the air I remember a lady calling me late in the afternoon and thanking me for keeping her company during the afternoon as she was all alone at Christmas.

So yes, it can be lonely, but sometimes the rewards do help to make up for working the holidays.

Let's also remember those who have lost someone special in their lives and feel that loneliness that comes with now being alone during the holidays on a very personal level.  It happens to most of us at one time or another and I can tell you from my personal experience it is heart-wrenching to say the least.

This will be my third Christmas without Sophie and although it has become a little easier since the first one, the ache in my heart I don't think will ever go away.  And I know I am not alone in feeling that way either.

So next week I will update you at the end of the year on my own personal journey.

But for now, please remember those who need us at this time of year: the shut-ins, the lonely and those who choose to work for whatever the reason so we can enjoy the season with our respective families.  

There is joy in the season but also for some, pain too.  Be kind and understanding and be thankful always for those you still have surrounding you with love.

Merry Christmas however you choose to celebrate it and with whom.  Make the most of the holidays if you possibly can.  Make new memories now to last a lifetime.

Enjoy your holidays and we'll talk again soon.

December 24th, 2022.

Last Minute Christmas Concerts

 While some worry about last-minute Christmas shopping, others who perhaps started earlier may worry about last-minute Christmas concerts they may choose to attend.  I prefer to be in the latter category rather than the former...

For me, listening to Christmas carols just sounds better in a church environment rather than a concert hall. The music may be the same but the ambiance makes all the difference for me.  So I am happy to report there are several concerts planned for tomorrow, just a week before Christmas.  Oh I am sure there are plenty others should you choose to look, but these are all reasonably close to home or a short drive away.

The annual holiday concert featuring Glissandi and local actor Guy Bannerman, part of the Gallery Players concert season, takes place Sunday afternoon at 3 pm at a new venue for them, St. Catharines United Mennonite Church.  Entitled Celtic Folklore, the concert will feature a mix of celtic folklore of course, along with tales and traditions intertwined with festive music of the season.

In addition to actor Guy Bannerman, performers include harpist Deborah Braun, violinist David Braun, Douglas Miller on flute and Nicholas Braun on percussion.

You can purchase tickets in advance by calling 905-468-1525 or emailing info@galleryplayers.ca.  You can also go to the website:  www.galleryplayers.ca.  New this year however is a Pay-What-You-Choose option at the door.  If you choose this option, please be as generous as you possibly can be.

Also tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 pm, my own church, the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria on Lyman Street in downtown St. Catharines will hold their annual Advent Christmas choral concert.  Featuring the Cathedral cantors and choir, the performance is a free-will offering event at the Cathedral.

Of all the Anglican churches in Niagara I have had the pleasure of visiting, one of my true favourites is St. Barnabas Church on Queenston Street.  Their church community is always tremendously welcoming and I remember years ago visiting the church for any number of events and sneaking downstairs to check on their resident cat, Barney.

St. Barnabas will host a Christmas Carol Sing-Along open to everyone in the community tomorrow afternoon at 4 pm, and there is no charge.

If you don't mind the drive to Toronto tomorrow there is a Festival of 9 Lessons & Carols by Candlelight evensong service scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at 4 pm at the Church of St. Peter and St. Simon the Apostle Anglican Church on Bloor Street East.  The performance will feature traditional carols and readings and music by Willcocks, Holman, Edwards, Sweelinck and others.  There will also be a reception afterwards with festive treats and mulled wine!

And finally, there is a decidedly un-carolly concert this evening down at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in downtown St. Catharines if you are ready for something a little jazzier.  The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra will present A Very Swingin' Basie Christmas this evening in Partridge Hall at 7:30pm.  Directed now by Scotty Barnhart and featuring special guest vocalist Carmen Bradford, this will be a very upbeat and rather hip take on the Christmas season.

This is the final concert of the fall season for Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts as part of the TD Jazz Series.  Tickets are available through the PAC box office or by going to www.bravoniagara.org for more information.

So there you go, lots of reasons not to go to the mall tomorrow afternoon...

Enjoy your weekend!

December 17th, 2022.

Time for a performance of Handel's Messiah?

 Usually by now most people are in holiday mode and busy shopping for Christmas, subjecting their senses to the inane popular sounds of the season you hear in all the shopping malls since about October.  I steadfastly hold off on listening to any and all Christmas music until December 1st, and today in fact is the first day I put on a full CD of Christmas music as I prepare to dress the house for the holidays.

But for many, Christmas just isn't Christmas without attending a performance of Handel's celebrated oratorio Messiah.  It is indeed a Christmas tradition, even though it was actually written for the Easter season.  Oh well...maybe some year an enterprising arts organization would dare to programme the work at Easter rather than Christmas.  I would like that.

I have not been to a performance of Messiah in many years and feel I am about due.  But not sure if this is my year or not with COVID still amongst us but we'll see.  My personal history with Messiah I have related here before but if you don't remember, I actually sang baritone in a performance of the Tafelmusik Sing-a-long Messiah in Toronto years ago, and that was fun.  And one memorable year I attended a Sunday afternoon performance here in St. Catharines with Chorus Niagara before grabbing a quick dinner on the run on my way up to Guelph to attend the performance that very evening at the River Run Centre in downtown Guelph!  Yes, those were heady days and explains how I spent part of my younger days...

This year you'll be had pressed to find a local performance of Messiah.  Not that many years ago you could count on our local Choralis Camerata ensemble to stage Messiah on the years Chorus Niagara chose not to, as they only do it alternate years.  Chorus Niagara will perform their annual Christmas concert which is not Messiah this year next weekend, which would mean Choralis Camerata has the Messiah stage all to themselves here in Niagara.

But not this year.

In fact, Choralis Camerata is presenting Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols, often overlooked during the holidays I find, tonight in fact at 7:30 pm.  The performance is at one of their familiar spaces, the large St. Andrew's United Church on Morrison Street in Niagara Falls.  For tickets you can go to www.choraliscamerata.com.

If you happen to find yourself in Stratford this evening, the Stratford Concert Choir conducted by Stephane Potvin will present a performance at 7 pm at Avondale United Church.  For tickets go to www.StratfordConcertChoir.org.

The Elora Singers will present excerpts of Messiah only tomorrow afternoon at 4 at St. Joseph's Church in nearby Fergus, with a chamber orchestra and soloists from the ranks of the choir.  For tickets go to www.elorasingers.ca.

The Brott Music Festival in Hamilton soldiers on in spite of losing their founder, the irrepressible Boris Brott in a tragic accident not that long ago.  They will host two performances with the National Academy Orchestra, the ensemble Brott founded with the Festival back in 1987, this coming Monday and Tuesday evening.  Monday at 7:30 pm they perform at West Highland Church in Hamilton; Tuesday at 7:30 pm at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.  Tickets for both performances are available by going to www.brottmusic.com.

You have a bit of a wait until the two big, traditional Messiah performances come up in Hamilton and Toronto, but for both I would suggest getting tickets sooner rather than later.

In Hamilton, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bach-Elgar Choir team up with conductor Gemma New for one performance only on Friday, December 16th at 7:30 pm at Central Presbyterian Church, 165 Charlton Avenue West.  For tickets go to www.hpo.org.

Finally the big bow-wow performances in Toronto with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra come up from Saturday, December 17th to Wednesday, December 21st, with all performances at Roy Thomson Hall in downtown Toronto.  These are always popular performances so don't delay if you want tickets.  Go to www.tso.ca.

There ill be other performances of Messiah within driving distance to Niagara but that should at least get you started.  If you go, don't forget to stand during the Hallelujah Chorus.  That's just what we do...

Have a great weekend!

December 3rd, 2022.