The BRWP and Double Take Productions partnered on an innovative puppeteering workshop, held recently at Neat Coffee Shop in Burnstown. The workshop was lead by puppeteer, Trish Leeper. Click here for more information and video clips of the workshop.

An original musical theatre production that takes an innovative and fun-filled look at the past, present and possible futures for the Bonnechere River watershed is coming to your community this spring and summer! The local theatre production, entitled “Bonnechere River – Future Tense” is a Bonnechere River Watershed Project (BRWP) and Stone Fence Theatre partnership, with financial assistance provided by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Ten performances take place this spring and summer, and most of the performances are by donation at the door. The premier is on Saturday April 27 at 3pm at the Wilno Tavern, following the BRWP’s Annual General Meeting. The second performance is a lunch theatre performance on Saturday May 4^th, beginning at 12 noon at The Sands on Golden Lake. Tickets for this performance must be purchased in advance from The Sands on Golden Lake, Grandma’s Pantry in Killaloe, the Eganville Country Store or the Pikwakanagan Band Office. Ticket cost is $25 per person and includes lunch and the performance. A month later, the performance comes to the Eagles Nest in Eganville, at 3:00pm as part of Celebrate Our River Day. Click here for more information.

 

This is a basic puppetry workshop for those who are interested in exploring the art of breathing life in to an inanimate object – otherwise known as puppeteering.  Mostly working with Muppet-style puppets (Hand and Rod) we will explore techniques such as breath, focus, movement and lip sync.  Once everyone has a handle on some of the basics, we will also have fun with simple improvisation and play.  Maybe we’ll even take a look at what is involved in performing puppets for the camera.  (YouTube anyone?)

Puppeteers with some experience are encouraged to join us – there’s always something to be learned.  Everyone is invited to bring their own puppets if they have any.  The BRWP spokesfrog for 2013, Bonnie Chere, will be there for you to animate if you are interested. 

Location: Neat Schoolhouse, Burnstown, ON 
Date: Sunday, April 14, 2013 
Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. 
Registration: $50 (includes lunch) Contact to Register: info@BonnechereRiver.ca

The second Renfrew County Stewardship Forum, took place on Feb. 7, 2013 in Pembroke. The forum, entitled Fostering Shoreline Conservation was co-sponsored by the BRWP, the Centre for Sustainable Watersheds, Sustainable Eastern Ontario, and the Renfrew County Stewardship Program. Approximately 25 people from municipal, not-for-profit, business and other organizational sectors attended.

BRWP's new Ontario Trillium Funded Project was launched Jan. 7, 2013 at the Eagles Nest in Eganville. The multi-faceted Fostering Stewardship Innovation Project will, among other events, see the production of a theatrical play in partnership with Stone Fence Theatre, Watershed Day events across the watershed, the continuation of the RiverWatch program to monitor stream health, partnered events with the Valley Arts Council, and events that will enable residents to learn about the issue of climate change.

Four Carleton University Environmental Science students demonstrate a watershed model, and discuss the pros and cons of Conservation Authorities vs. Grass-Roots Approaches to Watershed Management.

The Bonnechere River Nature in Your Neighbourhood Guide is now available on-line!

Two versions of the guide are available here for viewing or downloading; the print version, and an on-line version. The on-line version is an expansion of the print version, and features more photos, reproductions of local artists’ paintings, more web links, links to Nature in Your Neighbourhood video clips, and links to the four segments of the Nature in Your Neighbourhood video series, produced in partnership with TVCogeco. 

http://www.bonnechereriver.ca/nature-in-your-neighbourhood-1

In April of 2012, the Bonnechere River Watershed Project, the Renfrew County Stewardship Council and Algonquin College collaborated to bring the first Renfrew County Stewardship Forum to Renfrew County. The event brought together representatives from local government, business, arts and culture, youth, Algonquin First Nation,stewardship organizations, outdoor recreational organizations, community health
organizations to the day long event. The forum featured guest speakers Al Douglas, Director of the Ontario Centre for Climate Impacts and Adaptation Resources and Judi Brouse, Director of the Watershed Programs from the Muskoka Watershed Council Working Groups. The report, including the two guest speaker presentations can be viewed here.“Funding support for this project has been provided by the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario’s (FedDev Ontario) Eastern Ontario Development Program,administered by the Community Futures Development Corporation of Renfrew County.”

Two of the four community launches of the Nature in Your Neighbourhood Guide and Video Series have been completed and well attended! Two more launches take place this month. Monday Oct 22, 7 pm at the Renfrew Public Library and Thursday October 25, 7pm at the Admaston Bromley Public Library in Douglas.