Whether you love winter in northeastern Ontario or loathe it, there’s no debate our Sudbury Summer is the most wonderful time of the year. We are rewarded for those freezing cold days and nights with lovely weather in a natural paradise of more than 300 lakes. Ever year, Sudbury gets a little greener and grows more attractive. Those who live on a lake or who have a lakeside camp are truly the luckiest people in the world.
The city is a fun place to be in the summer because it is festival season. When you read this, the city’s first Wordstock literary festival will be over. As I am very involved in this, I have my fingers crossed that it will be a success.
In the middle of June, there is Blues for Food which gets us in the mood for the Northern Lights Festival Boréal (July 5, 6 and 7). There are numerous ethnic festivals which provide an opportunity to sample delicious food and a chance to reconnect with our roots. The summer ends with a bang, thanks to Summerfest.
Come September, there are still a few weeks of summer left. We enjoy the jazz festival at Science North, and then clear our schedules for Cinéfest.
This year, Cinéfest celebrates its 25th anniversary. This is a very impressive milestone.
It is just a short trip to Manitoulin Island to enjoy all the natural wonders offered. The Island, which I think of as Sudbury’s backyard, also has numerous art galleries, museums and shops.
In the Summer 2013 issue, we feature Jon Butler’s photographs of the La Cloche area. The wilderness inspired members of the Group of Seven who collectively gave the young country its first visual brand. The 36th annual La Cloche Art Show will be held from July 6 to 14 in the Whitefish Falls Community Centre. If you have never attended this show, you will be awestruck by the variety and quality of the work.
Also in the Summer issue, writer Andrew Hind takes us on a cruise in the French River with Rene Lahaie. This area is also another wonderland that is not only beautiful but rich in history. The French River interpretive centre, located close to the French River bridge on Highway 69, is one of the best museums I have visited in Canada.
Each summer my partner and I take a few day trips to Parry Sound to enjoy the Festival of the Sound. Some of the world’s best musicians perform at the Charles W. Stockey Centre. I feel so privileged that this gem of a festival is so close and so affordable.
And of course, without having to spend a nickel or invest in a tank of gas, we all can also enjoy a jump in a cool, clean lake on a hot day. In summer, there is truly no place like home.
