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LEEDS/GRENVILLE, THOUSAND ISLANDS & RIDEAU LAKES
Community Newspaper
News


Gananoque Farmers’ Market Shines During Farmers’ Market Week
Jill (left) from Mud Creek Flower Collection helping customer Beatrice, who loves supporting local growers while visiting and working in Gananoque. Photo credit: Tanya Hammond. Farmers’ Market Week (Aug. 2 to 9) was in full swing across Ontario, and in Gananoque, the celebration was especially vibrant. The Gananoque Farmers’ Market, already a beloved weekly gathering spot at Town Hall Square (30 King St. E.) for fresh produce, handmade goods and local artisans, came alive wit
Aug 123 min read


Walking Together: Healing Steps in Nature with New Hospice Hub Grief Walking Group in Rideau Lakes
The Hospice Hub Logo Grief can feel incredibly isolating at times, but you don’t have to move through it on your own. The Hospice Hub walking program offers a gentle, supportive way for individuals to connect with others who understand and begin to heal. Led by trained volunteers, these small group walks create a safe and welcoming space where participants can share stories, speak openly about their grief, or walk in quiet companionship. Education Lead Isobel Boyle says there
Aug 53 min read


A Rideau Canal Nautical Heritage Festival Is Set to Make Waves in Portland This July!
The Rideau King in 1907, Parks Canada. Photo Provided. The Township of Rideau Lakes is gearing up to welcome thousands of visitors for one of the most significant heritage celebrations the region has ever hosted. The Rideau Canal Nautical Heritage Festival 1826 to 2026, taking place July 18 and 19, 2026, will mark 200 years since construction began on the Rideau Canal, a national historic site and UNESCO World Heritage treasure. The free, two-day festival will transform Portl
Jul 104 min read


Quincy Mack Energizes Students with His ALL STAR Tour at St. Edward Catholic School
Q-Mack entertaining students at St. Edward Catholic School with astonishing balancing skills. Photo Credit: Tanya Hammond “Canada’s most experienced school performer,” Quincy Mack, or Q-Mack for short, made a stop in Westport recently to entertain and encourage students to be an ALL-Star. The high-energy entertainer brought his popular presentation to St. Edward, where students from kindergarten through grade eight were fully engaged from the moment they entered the audito
Apr 152 min read


Rideau Vista Public School Makes Student & Family Wellness a Priority!
(left to right) Rideau Vista Public School Principal Nancy Holman, Grade 5/6 students Ellie Stoodley and Aubrey Bles, School Council member Rebekah Hambley, and teacher Lisa Lemieux-Beaudoin. Photo credit: Tanya Hammond For Principal Nancy Holman, a longtime Rideau Ferry resident, “becoming the principal for Rideau Vista Public School is like coming home.” And it is at ‘home’ at Rideau Vista that Principal Holman strives to ensure all students feel included, connected and see
Apr 13 min read


Local Sewers Stitch Comforting Lap Quilts for Patients at Perth and Smiths Falls Hospitals
Some of the Rideau Sewers Lap Quilt group holding up a selection of finished lap quilts ready to be donated. Pictured left to right are Jane Pickard, Marianne Kenney, Moira Bell, Pat Watson, Cathy Mulville, and Jan Haskin. A giant roll of batting in front will be used in quilts (one of the many material costs involved in the creation of the quilts). Photo credit: Tanya Hammond Well over 20 years ago, a group of dedicated sewers gathered in the Portland area to make quilts and
Mar 184 min read


St. Edward Catholic School in Westport, makes an Impact on Pink Shirt Day – And Every Day!
Students and staff showing their support for Pink Shirt Day at St Edward Catholic School. Principal Scott Renaud, back row center. Photo Credit Tanya Hammond St. Edward Catholic School in Westport, though small in student numbers with only ninety students, is big in school spirit, sports enthusiasm and heart. This past Wednesday, Feb. 25, on Pink Shirt Day, a day designated to raise awareness and funds in support of anti-bullying programs “to create a kinder, more inclusive w
Mar 43 min read


Lions Gazebo Dedicated to Wayne “Smokey” Sherwood
From the left, Lions Bruce Paterson, David Blair and Craig Jackson finished installing a plaque of dedication to Wayne “Smokey” Sherwood on the Westport Lions’ gazebo. Photo credit: Bob Reddick Last Friday, Jan. 30 was sunny and clear, but extremely cold. A wind blowing in from Westport Sand Lake over the Lions’ beach added to the bone chilling conditions. It was in this environment that Lions Dave Blair, Bruce Paterson and Craig Jackson installed a plaque on the gazebo to co
Feb 41 min read


Rideau Lakes Public Library is Hosting a FREE Dinner in celebration of Family Literacy Day, January 27th
Rideau Lakes Public Library is Hosting a FREE Dinner in celebration of Family Literacy Day, January 27th Family Literacy Day is an annual event celebrated at all libraries across Canada, “to raise awareness about the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family.” Promoted through ABC Life Literacy Canada (abclifeliteracy.ca), libraries, schools, literacy-focused organizations and community groups have participated in this worthy initiati
Jan 212 min read


A Bevy of Community-Minded Swans in Elgin
The Rideau Lakes Swans pose behind the mountain of muffins they baked for breakfast programs in local schools. Front row: Wenda Lyons, Angela Bearance (President), Jane Simpson (Secretary), Marion Cooper, Shirley McCumber, Back row: Donna Owen, Barb Bentley (District 4 President) Pat Summers (Treasurer), Elizabeth Wright, Missing: Evelyn Ramdhanie (Vice President), Lenora McDougall, Becky White-Thompson There is a special type of swan which resides year-round in Rideau Lakes
Nov 4, 20252 min read
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