Orillia

My mother grew up in orillia and actually met Gordon Lightfoot several times. I myself love orillia and visit my grandparents who live there frequently. Has anyone here ever been to or lived in Orillia? tell me about it.

[Char1]

Been to Orillia many times. I live about 75 minutes south in Whitby. I saw Lightfoot there at Mariposa in 2000.
It's a beautiful part of Ontario and a charming little town.
Orillia has Leacock and Lightfoot. Whitby has NHL players...Foote, Nieuwendyk, Primeau Brothers, Whitby Dunlops, Roberts....
lol
Char

[Borderstone]

Not from or been there but I am from the Erie,Pennsylvania area. I sometimes think myself Canadian! How many miles is Erie from Orillia?

------------------
"A knight of the road,going back to a place where he might get warm." - Borderstone

[Janice]

I must be really loosing it - I could have sworn when I read this thread earlier, before Char replied, that there were responses from Brink and DMD3 - Brink saying that she was there for Gord's last concert and since the second one didn't happen due to his illness, there was plenty of time to see the sights and DMD3 saying that he was pretty sure he wouldn't get there because it's so far away. Did I really dream these replies!?!?!

[SilverHeels]

quote:Originally posted by Erin:
My mother grew up in orillia and actually met Gordon Lightfoot several times. I myself love orillia and visit my grandparents who live there frequently. Has anyone here ever been to or lived in Orillia? tell me about it.

Erin, I've been there a few times. Once back in the 70s and again more recently.
I was there once with Char and we had a great time 'tracking' Lightfoot haunts. I love Orillia. Its a pretty town and I have always found the residents to be friendly.
And they are in the main extremely proud of Gord and willing to share their Gordie moments with a visitor.
Orillia should be a 'must see' for all Lightfoot followers.

[Cathy]

quote:Originally posted by Janice:
I must be really loosing it - I could have sworn when I read this thread earlier, before Char replied, that there were responses from Brink and DMD3 - Brink saying that she was there for Gord's last concert and since the second one didn't happen due to his illness, there was plenty of time to see the sights and DMD3 saying that he was pretty sure he wouldn't get there because it's so far away. Did I really dream these replies!?!?!



Cue theme to Twilight Zone.... Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo, look in small talk, doo doo doo doo...

Cathy http://www.cathycowette.com

[BILLW]

Janice,

This topic was posted twice, once over in the 'smalltalk section', that's where the other replies are. But you may actually be losing it, LOL.

Bill

[Char1]

Janice - i thought that too-but then checked Small Talk - I thought I was having a minor stroke or something...
lol

Whenever people call the national call center for Best Western that I work at, and ask for Orillia, I always mention that it's the hometown of Gord. However, most people go to Orillia for the Casino Rama that's there.
Matthew

[Janice]

quote:Originally posted by Cathy:
Cue theme to Twilight Zone.... Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo, look in small talk, doo doo doo doo...

Cathy http://www.cathycowette.com

Cathy & Bill - thank you so much for clearing that up for me! Yeah, Bill, the jury is still out on whether or not I'm actually loosing it Cathy, the Twilight Zone theme definitely would have been the perfect background music to that moment when I read the thread in this area! It was very strange.

[brink]

I just got home and read the post in small talk and then this one. Janice I laughed so hard when I read your post. My cheeks actually hurt. I have done the same thing from time to time. Thank you for a much needed chuckle, I did a double take when I went from small talk to this forum and saw Orillia thought I clicked on small talk again.

[searam]

There is a great site called, Gordon Lightfoot - BBC Archives. There is a great interview where he speaks of Orillia. There are some awsome taped shows he did, interviews, etc. Hope that helps.
Sean

[johnfowles]

quote:Originally posted by searam:
There is a great site called, Gordon Lightfoot - BBC Archives. There is a great interview where he speaks of Orillia. There are some awsome taped shows he did, interviews, etc. Hope that helps.
Sean
Oops Sean you are letting your enthousism for all things Brit get the better of you!!
I feel sure you made a little typo there as the wondeful "Archive" site as previously highlighted on this board is a Canadian thing on the CBC site. Nevertheless the BBC site does have some references to Gord. I need to update their two relevant discussion groups so will do some checks and report back



------------------
My Gordon Lightfoot webring
starts at
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot

[Janice]

quote:Originally posted by brink:
I just got home and read the post in small talk and then this one. Janice I laughed so hard when I read your post. My cheeks actually hurt. I have done the same thing from time to time. Thank you for a much needed chuckle, I did a double take when I went from small talk to this forum and saw Orillia thought I clicked on small talk again.

That's ok, Brink. Looking back on it, I get a pretty good laugh, myself. Glad to share it

[searam]

O.K., I admit I am a Brit at heart (and anscestory,too). I stand corrected - it is CBC, not BBC.
Sean

[brink]

Thanks Janice! I had hoped you wouldn't take that the wrong way and be offended.

[SeattleRain]

Some years ago my wife and I visited Orillia. At that time there was a nice sign outside the town advising visitors that Orillia is the 'Home of Gordon Lightfoot'. That sign has gone!

We dined in an old railway carriage down by the lake, and ate a 'Lightfoot salad' we walked the 'Lightfoot Trail'.

We had an enjoyable time in a beautiful part of Canada. A few days later we made our way on to Christian Island, where our hire car got stuck in the sand, it took me quite some time to dig us out, and we just made it back to the last ferry for the day, back to the mainland.

An enjoyable time, fond memories.

No additions, just correcting my spelling.

[This message has been edited by Jim Nasium (edited May 23, 2004).]

[Jim Nasium]

Some years ago my wife and I visited Orillia. At that time there was a nice sign outside the town advising visitors that Orillia is the 'Home of Gordon Lightfoot'. That sign has gone!

We dined in an old railway carriage down by the lake, and ate a 'Lightfoot salad' we walked the 'Lightfoot Trail'.

We had an enjoyable time in a beautiful part of Canada. A few days later we made our way on to Christian Island, where our hire car got stuck in the sand, it took me quite some time to dig us out, and we just made it back to the last ferry for the day, back to the mainland.

An enjoyable time, fond memories.

No additions, just correcting my spelling.

[This message has been edited by Jim Nasium (edited May 23, 2004).]

[johnfowles]

quote:Originally posted by Jim Nasium:
Some years ago my wife and I visited Orilla. At that time there was a nice sign outside the town advising visitors that Orilla is the 'Home of Gordon Lightfoot'. That sign has gone!
A few days later we made our way on to Christian Island, where our hire car got stuck in the sand, it took me quite some time to dig us out, and we just made it back to the last ferry for the day, back to the mainland.


Regarding that infamous signboard I "rescued" a picure of it from
Matthew Fifer's old site and it is on my on my site's Lightfoot webring page

Legend has it that an extremely keen fan in Oklahoma City one Shirley Hoggard nicked it but after intense grilling she has denied to me that it is now gracing her living room wall!!
A coach-load of us visited Orillia as part of the November 1999 Massey Hall convention. We got the driver to tour all around Orillia in a fruitless quest to try to find this mythical signboard. The nearest we could find was this one that I have previously posted on this forum

I was then asked to identify the various fans in this fine still picture from my original video tape and will do so tomorrow and try to create an identifying picture.
I had previously taken a look at Christian Island


Lyle the "cromulent chipster" comes from Orillia too
He has posted on a UK BBC site at:-
1. a GL biography:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1148159
And 2. a page on Orillia http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1135333


------------------
My Gordon Lightfoot webring
starts at
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited May 23, 2004).]

[searam]

John, very cool!!! Did you get to see all the GL sites around there? Pardon my lack of geography, but, exactly where in Canada is Orillia? And what and why is this casino so interesting? Was the "home of GL" really taken by that woman?
Sean

[SilverHeels]

quote:Originally posted by johnfowles:

Originally posted by Jim Nasium:
Some years ago my wife and I visited Orilla. At that time there was a nice sign outside the town advising visitors that Orilla is the 'Home of Gordon Lightfoot'. That sign has gone!
A few days later we made our way on to Christian Island, where our hire car got stuck in the sand, it took me quite some time to dig us out, and we just made it back to the last ferry for the day, back to the mainland.


Regarding that infamous signboard I "rescued" a picure of it from
Matthew Fifer's old site and it is on my on my site's Lightfoot webring page

Legend has it that an extremely keen fan in Oklahoma City one Shirley Hoggard nicked it but after intense grilling she has denied to me that it is now gracing her living room wall!!
A coach-load of us visited Orillia as part of the November 1999 Massey Hall convention. We got the driver to tour all around Orillia in a fruitless quest to try to find this mythical signboard. The nearest we could find was this one that I have previously posted on this forum

I was then asked to identify the various fans in this fine still picture from my original video tape and will do so tomorrow and try to create an identifying picture.
I had previously taken a look at Christian Island


Lyle the "cromulent chipster" comes from Orillia too
He has posted on a UK BBC site at:-
1. a GL biography:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1148159
And 2. a page on Orillia http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1135333

Thanks, John, nice to see those pix again.

Jim, seems we did the same things in Orillia!
I lunched on that 'train' and had 'Lightfoot Salad'! LOL

[johnfowles]

quote:Originally posted by johnfowles:
[QUOTE]
and try to create an identifying picture.

OK As promised here is a
legend of the group photograph taken on Friday 12 November 1999

1. Darin Hogan Minnesota
2. Sue Bloo(mer) now in CO
4. Ann ?Johnson?? (Janice's friend who passed away in 2003) CA
4. Doug Kirk (plumguru) CA.
5. Erica deutsch (sundreme)
6. Yuri Amatniecks (Toronto)
7. Donnie Budd TX
8. Andy Thompson (glutomodo) WY
9. Susan "Agordfan" (now my wife gordlover) NJ
10.James Carroll KA
11 Gordon Carroll KA
12.Debbie carroll KA
13.Yours truly UK-then now NJ
14 Jenney Rivard CT


------------------
My Gordon Lightfoot webring
starts at
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited May 23, 2004).]

[SilverHeels]

quote:Originally posted by johnfowles:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by johnfowles:

and try to create an identifying picture.

OK As promised here is a
legend of the group photograph taken on Friday 12 November 1999

1. Darin Hogan Minnesota
2. Sue Bloo(mer) now in CO
4. Ann ?Johnson?? (Janice's friend who passed away in 2003) CA
4. Doug Kirk (plumguru) CA.
5. Ericsa deiutsch (sundreme)
6. Yuri Amatniecks (Toronto)
7. Donnie Budd TX
8. Andy Thompson (glutomodo) WY
9. Susan "Agordfan" (now my wife gordlover) NJ
10.James Carroll KA
11 Gordon Carroll KA
12.Debbie carroll KA
13.Yours truly UK-then now NJ
14 Jenney Rivard CT

and a fine, motley crew! Only beaten by the Motley crew of 2001!!

[johnfowles]

Some further thoughts and links re the trip to Orillia in 1999 and the pictuire taken by Lake Coochiching. after nearly 5 years my memory banks are failing so I could only identify 14 of the 23 shown nor recall who used my videocamera to film the scene.
If you have any more names Jenney/Julie please e-mail me. And Sean yes we had a great tour of Orillia which as Char said is
75 miles north of Whitby which is about 40 east of Toronto
We saw the Opera House/GL auditorium, Gord's old house on Harvey Street and the Lightfoot Trail had a group lunch at the Brewery Bay Food Co
Re my identification above sorry Ann Johnson was in fact a friend of Texan Newsgroup poster Melissa Joe
whose moving farewell is at:-

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off& selm=873203ab.0311100909.39a4d246%40posting.google .com
If I may digress a litle there are some interesting Newsgroup postings about Massey 1999 which include:-
A long discourse by corfid poster Erica aka sundreme at:-
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&selm=38337454. 2622552%40news.intranet.ca
and Jenney's report on the Saturday show is at:-

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...ng-fp1.aol.com

There is also a long account by Jenney in which she revealed how I got backstage to meet Gord and how she found out the address of Gord's old house in her NG posting at:-
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...ng-fp1.aol.com
------------
My Gordon Lightfoot webring
starts at
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot

and finally Erin there is another Orillian (now in Sweden meeting Swedish chefs) David Bradford who also posted on the NG recently at:-
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...ewsb.telia.net
OK that's a lot of links to a lot of reading but I wanted to inspire any laggards who have yet to promise themselves a visit to
Toronto next spring when we all hope to see the man back on his home stage
John Fowles

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited May 25, 2004).]

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited May 25, 2004).]

quote:Originally posted by Erin:
My mother grew up in orillia and actually met Gordon Lightfoot several times. I myself love orillia and visit my grandparents who live there frequently. Has anyone here ever been to or lived in Orillia? tell me about it.
its a fun place i grew up there,hung out at lake couchiching a lot,went to david h church school,and later to o.d c. v. i.
hung out at stephen leacock home at that time was run down and quite delapadated,think its a tourist trap now lol!