A Bountiful Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving is upon us, L’sitkuk First Nation and the Bear River Historical Society would like to thank the dozens of tireless volunteers and the many local organizations that took part in Fall for Bear River. From the volunteers that decorated our town to the energetic kids that served the 1611 supper, your contributions were hugely appreciated.

 A very special thank you goes out to  Chief Carol Thompson, Elder Agnes Potter, The Honourable Greg Kerr, MP, Warden Linda Gregory, Warden Reg Ritchie and all of our honoured guests and supporters for being an important part of the Fall for Bear River celebrations.

We are of course grateful to the various government agencies that believed in and supported us and most especially our generous sponsors for helping to make Fall for Bear River a wonderful experience!! 

We wish you all a warm and bountiful Thanksgiving!

Our Platinum Sponsors:

Bear River Board of Trade (BoT)

Bear River 400

Valley Tourism

Destination SouthWest Nova

The Province of Nova Scotia, Culture Division

Bear River Plastics

Raven Wind Vineyards and Studio

The Flight of Fancy  

Bear River Vineyards 

Sissiboo Coffee 

The Municipality of Digby

Greg Kerr, MP Southwest Nova

Art Gallery of Nova Scotia

Peck Aero

Remax Realty- Lucy Muszkie, Realtor

Yoga4All 

Myrtle and Rosies’ Ice Cream Shoppe

Jost Vineyards

Ditch Pig Farm

Sledding Hill

 

Sara Swinimer

Bonnie MacLeod

My Dream Café

AVR Network

CBC Network

The Globe and Mail 

Personamedia

Our Gold Sponsors:

Stone Tree Services

Cherry Brook Grocery

The Bare Canvas Gallery

Bear River Bargains and Books  

Atlantic Superstore

Green Willow Studios 

Our Special Sponsors:

Digby Dance Studio

Tri-Local Market 

Our Local Organizations that took part:

L’sitkuk First Nation

Bear River Historical Society and Museum

Bear River Board of Trade (BoT)

The Royal Canadian Legion

The Municipality of Digby

The Municipality of Annapolis

The Bear River Fire Department

Annapolis Digby Development Agency (ADEDA)

Bear River Economic Development Society (BREDS)

Bear River Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market

New Horizons Seniors’ Centre

Bear Rhythm Music Society

Rebecca Music Hall

Bear River United Church

Bear River Bass Tournement

Bear River Arts and Recreation

A Grand Festival

Fall for Bear River, one of the main reasons that Bear River was named top five in CBC’s Maritime Cultureville contest was enjoyed by all.

Yes, despite Hurricane Ophelia, this year’s Fall for Bear River festival has been a success and certainly one to remember. 

Stay tuned for information about our special events… and LOTS of pictures! Also check the Bear River 400 website (www.bearriver400.ca) for pictures of our events.

Many, many thanks to L’sitkuk First Nation, the Bear River Historical Society, our generous sponsors, honoured guests and of course the dozens of volunteers that made this event so special. Your support and enthusiasm is why Bear River is the magical place it is!

We look forward to celebrating with you again at Next year’s Fall for Bear River festival!!

Sieur de Poutrencourt, Marc Lescarbot et Louis Hébert

Maritime Cultureville

Bear River is one of CBC’s top five cultural centres in the maritimes! Chief Greg McEwen of Beartown Baskets and Simone Wilson of Fall for Bear River were interviewed and appeard on CBC’s ‘Maritime Cultureville’. Check out their website and watch the show!

From CBC’s website…
“Over seventy communities have been nominated to be the Maritimes Cultureville for 2011. It is clear Maritimers love their communities and are active in all sorts of cultural activities. Watch CBC television on Thursday, September 29th at 7:30pm as we visit the top ten locations and countdown to number one.

Ten culturally vibrant communities will be profiled in a half-hour TV show called “Maritimes Cultureville”. It will air September 29th at 7:30 p.m., on the eve of Culture Days across the country. CBC will choose which community will be named Cultureville for 2011.”

Watch and cheer on Bear River, then come and celebrate at Fall for Bear River Sept 30th to Oct. 2nd!

Exclusive: Maud Lewis Exhibition

Exciting News!

In cooperation with the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and the Municipality of Digby, Fall for Bear River is proud to present an exhibition of one of Nova Scotia’s most beloved artists, Maud Lewis. The exhibition will feature original works, prints and interpretive panels.

The Maud Lewis Exhibition will be shown at the Rebekah Gallery, downtown Bear River, on Saturday Oct. 1st -Sunday Oct. 2nd ONLY.

Fall for Bear River is the perfect time and place to experience some of the Maud’s extraordinary paintings.

For more about Maud Lewis, her life and her work, please visit the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia’s website.

2011 Fall for Bear River Announced!

Sixteen Events Announced!!

Fall for Bear River is ramping up with sixteen planned events for Culture Days being announced.  This makes Fall for Bear River the largest National Culture Days event east of Ontario!

The confirmed events are as follows (exact times and locations to follow soon!):

Bear River 400 Re-enactment (hosted by  Ls’itkuk First Nation and the Bear River Historcal Society) 

Wine Tasting (hosted by The Flight of Fancy)

Traditional Supper (hosted by The Bear River HIstorical Society)

Maud Lewis Exhibition (hosted by the Municipality of Digby and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia)

Canoe and Kayak Regatta

Antique Canoe Show

18th Century Camp-Out Renactment

Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market

Artists’ Showcase

Annie Kempton Graveyard Tour

Tea and Quilt Show (hosted by New Horizons Seniors’ Centre)

Buskers and Minstrals Showcase

Grape Stomping

Artist Studio Tour

Vineyard and Winery Tour

Costumed Character Street Plays

 

Fall for Bear River 2011 meeting

Celebrating 400 years since the planting of ‘First Vines’!

Throughout 2011, Bear River will be celebrating 400 years since the first vines in North America were planted here, in this gentle valley. For more information, visit the Bear River 400 website!!

In spring 1611, apothecary Louis Hebert, later to famously become the first permanent settler in what is now Quebec City, was invited to travel upriver to a nearby Miq’ maq encampment.

During that excursion, Hebert recognized that this valley offered perfect conditions for the planting of grape vines. In return for their invaluable teachings about local herbs and medicines, Hebert offered the settlement gifts of his very own vines.

Today, award winning wineries and spectacular vineyards still grace these hills.

Especially this year, come immerse yourself. Walk in Louis Hebert’s footsteps on the shores an ancient tidal river. Taste 400 years of Canadian history.

Fire Department ‘Thank You’ Dinner

 

Bear River Fire Department

As a Thank You for their quick and professional response in aiding Jim Thurber as well as the countless other times that we have called upon them, Fall for Bear River and community volunteers served  dinner to members of the Bear River Fire Department and their families on Tuesday, Oct. 12th. at 6:30 pm, upstairs at the Firehall.

The Bear River Fire Department members and Auxiliary contribute time, energy, hours and hours of training, not to mention often risking of their lives to help make this one of the finest villages in Nova Scotia in which to live. This dinner was our way of saying ‘Thank You‘.

Festival of Thanks