Community to hear premiere performance of Torch Relay-inspired song December 28

It will be an emotional moment when the Theatre Orangeville Youth Singers (TOYS) perform a Torch Relay-inspired song on December 28 at the Tony Rose Memorial Sports Centre in Orangeville.

The song, written by Scott White of Toronto specifically for Orangeville's Torch Relay celebration, and the performance by the TOYS, is so moving that CTV plans to feature it in a documentary entitled, "This Great Land: Canada Welcomes the Torch", to air October 24 at 8 p.m. The initial rehearsal was photographed on September 1 and the CTV crew returns on October 6 to capture the performance in a more polished state to show the progress of rehearsals.

The Theatre Orangeville Youth Singers, in their 16th year, expect to have 55 children, ages 8-14, singing for the Olympic Torch Relay event. Under the direction of Joy Bell, Joan Borden and Susan Cooper, the choir started their once-a-week rehearsals on September 8, welcoming 44 new members.
 
Members of the Theatre Orangeville Youth Singers will also sing the national anthem as part of the Torch Relay celebration on December 28, along with a few students from Ecole elementaire Orangeville. "They will be singing  a two-part version of 'O Canada' and incorporating a few lines in French. 

The song that was created for the Torch Relay show by Scott White, a Toronto-based composer, musical director and actor, is entitled "Shine Your Light Upon The World". Scott has worked on shows nationally and internationally and he always takes a great deal of pride in being Canadian.  

For more information on Theatre Orangeville and the affiliated youth programs visit  http://www.theatreorangeville.ca/. For more information on Scott White go to www.thegiantsgarden.com/scottwhite. For information on Orangeville's Olympic Torch Relay celebration visit http://www.orangeville.ca/.

Olympian to join "Run With the Mayor" on October 3

It's a chance to see the trails and take a hike with the Mayor on Saturday, October 3. The Mayor's 5-km Run/Walk will start at the Alder Street Recreation Centre at 9:30 a.m. and end at the Market on Broadway. A shorter alternate route, using neighbourhood sidewalks instead of trails, will start at the same time and location, heading out to Diane Drive and Broadway, ending at the market.

Everyone is invited to join Mayor Rob Adams to kick off  in motion Week. Mayor Adams has pledged to personally donate $3 to the Trails Buy-a-Metre Campaign for every participant.

RBC Olympian Cheryl Pounder will be joining Mayor Adams on the trail. Cheryl Pounder was born in Montreal into a family of hockey enthusiasts: a grandfather, who was GM of the Montreal Junior Canadiens, and her hockey-playing older brothers. Upon moving to Mississauga, Ontario, she achieved the status of athlete of the year at both her high school and Wilfrid Laurier University, where she earned an honours degree in kinesiology.

Cheryl first made the National Women's Hockey team when she was 17 years old in 1994, but was cut the next year.  She continued to train at a competitive level and was back on the team in 1999 and was an integral member of the squad that won the gold in the 1999, 2000 and 2001 World Championships.  Of course 2002 (Salt Lake City) and 2006 (Torino) were benchmark years when she took home an Olympic gold medal.

So run, walk or bike with the Mayor and Cheryl, try the trails, and visit the Market on Broadway.  Sign in starting at 9 a.m. at the Alder Street Recreation Centre and be sure to cross the finish line at the market to be eligible for prizes. Once at the market, there will be an opportunity to donate to Orangeville's trails, sign up for the pedometer challenge, and you can join in motion counsellors who will be leading children's activities.

Then be sure to enjoy some of the in motion week activities. A free public swim is also planned on October 3 at the Alder Street Recreation Centre, from 1-2:30 p.m., sponsored by Shoeless Joe's of Orangeville. On October 4 the public is encouraged to walk the trails and on October 5 in motion counsellors will be leading activities at Fendley Park from 3:30-4:30 p.m. A free public skate is set for the Alder Street Recreation Centre on October 6 from 4-4:50 p.m. and in motion counsellors will be at Kin Family Park from 3:30-4:30 p.m. On October 7 it's International Walk to School Day and in motion counsellors will be at Princess Margaret School from 3:30-4:30 p.m. A free public skate is slated for October 8 at the Alder Street Recreation Centre from 4-4:50 p.m. and a free public swim is set for October 9 at the Alder Street Recreation Centre from 7-8 p.m. (leisure pool and slide only, with a limited number allowed in the pool).

Graffiti wall launched at skatepark

The Town of Orangeville has launched a graffiti art wall at the skatepark in Rotary Park. A concept by three area youths was the first one approved by the Parks & Recreation Department to kick off the graffiti art wall which will be changed on a regular basis as more ideas come forward.

Youths, aged 11-17, are invited to showcase their artistic graffiti skills at the skatepark in Rotary Park. The Graffiti Art Wall offers a public forum for graffiti artists to demonstrate their creative talents, producing pieces to represent the community as has been done in other municipalities.

The graffiti art wall is located between the skatepark and the Rotary Park pavilion. Graffiti artists interested in working on Orangeville's newest public art concept can submit their graffiti art work or ideas for consideration at the front desk at either of Orangeville's recreation centres.  Profanity will be prohibited on the graffiti wall, as will any discriminating, derogatory or offensive content.

For more information or to sign up to participate in the creation of the Graffiti Art Wall please contact 519-940-9092 Ext. 4106, email youth@orangeville.ca, or visit the Alder Street Recreation Centre front desk.