Author Archives: Amelia Bidini Taylor

Voice of The River Picnic, Parade, Performance, Thursday August 21st 2025

“We had many local guests in the presentation last night and it added mightily to the proceedings. Being at the RCAF Museum/base was extraordinary in that there was no location like it on the Grand Tour. We performed in a huge hangar and we were surrounded by aircraft. We started with Aysen and Austin offering the Thanksgiving Address. The parade followed and took all us masked puppeteers to the Memorial Garden where the South Cayuga Community Choir sang – Blue Birds Over the White Cliffs of Dover, and Down to the River to Pray. Both beautiful with ukuleles strumming along, and Cathy on her accordion. Back in the hangar we danced, sang, offered monologues, and scenes about the Grand River. Levi Passmore told the story of his family in Dunnville then did a spoken word version of the song he wrote when he was 12. It went viral to the tune of millions of views. He bought a diner with the funds. Lacie from the Creative Barracks played Paddy and Mary Whelen in a monologue and brought the house down. Bree offered the story of water to the event that is so beautiful and kind. We are off to the Grand Finale at Six Nations for Saturday the 23rd. Join us if you can – going to be a blast.”

Peter Smith

The August 13th Rockwood tour date will be postponed to a later date on the Voice of the River Tour. Date TBD. Stay tuned for more announcements from The Voice of The River.

THE VOICE OF THE RIVER was in Guelph last Saturday night. We started with a Thanksgiving Address, then a parade that broke into a Klezmer Band happening with puppets, flags, and fish. A Pauline Johnson poem was recited. A blind gypsum horse named Marl and his best bud Wil Karst shared a moment as the sun set, Paddy Whelen made an appearance from the Feeder Canal, and the Prairie Grasses danced and sang, Cathy Nosaty rocked the accordion, there was a singing/poetry ceremony in canoes on the water at the confluence of the Speed and Eramosa Rivers courtesy of Bree the Tree and many many other delightful paddlers/artists. And the crowd was amazing.

Peter Smith

August 6th, 2025

THE VOICE OF THE RIVER spoke in Cambridge this week in a few locations. We paraded on Main Street, we sang on the Main Street Bridge that crosses the Grand River – the Ancient Mariners paddling in the water below, and we performed at the beautiful Mill Races Amphitheatre – the Grand River rushing right beside us. Dylan portrayed Absalom Shade on the Main Street with power and hilarity with assistance from the Cambridge Community Theatre (in costume circa 1830) and the Cambridge Uke Band played a couple of Water Songs to great applause. The Idea Exchange/Cambridge Public Library and the two fine tuners of life who work there, Shannon Markle (who we call Shannon ReMARKABLE) and Pam Berry, were hosts extraordinaire – in laughter and joyous tears. They have been with us the whole time. THANK YOU! The amazing Grand River Quilt was also on full display for two days at the Old Post Office. Bringing people and their stories and songs together in peace and creativity no matter the age or background, culture, has been one of the great envelopers that has happened over the past three years.

Pete Smith

On August 8th the CBC published a video covering the Voice of The River in Cambridge “The Voice of the River tour tells stories of communities along the Grand River” click here to watch the video and learn more about the project.

August 4th, the Promenade Community Radio posted a podcast segment on the Voice of The River: Grand River Community Play, including an interview with Director Peter Smith. Follow the link below to access the recording.

Click here to listen to the podcast

“We begin again… last night in Dundalk on a sunny and breezy evening we held a parade that traveled from the Town Hall to Memorial Park where we performed the Voice of the River. The parade were filled with the large puppets from Dunnville, from Paris, from Grace, from Dundalk and all communities between. There was flag waving, music provided by a 12 year old and our own Cathy Nosaty on her accordion. We gathered people from the street and put them in crow, fox, and kingfisher masks. We hooted, we howled, and we walk the streets more joined the parade. By the time we got to Memorial Park we were a community of beings who made a large circle with those in the Park and watched Dave as Pierre perform a song of songs in French and English. From there we performed in song, dance, scene and monologue. The Deputy Mayor, Barbara Dobreen, and Councilor Joan John of Southgate Township were in a scene that had Barb as Agnes Macphail (first woman elected to Canadian Parliament) and Joan, playing herself, the first Black woman elected to office in Grey County in an imagined conversation. It was grand and lovely and a story that needed telling. We packed up after the event and headed for our next port of call in GUELPH on Saturday August 2nd and the confluence of the Speed and Eramosa Rivers Join us if you can and keep going with the flow.”

– Peter Smith

“This project centers on storytelling in all its forms—through spoken word, song, dance, ceremonial practices, art installations, silent expressions, and various cultural perspectives, and has utilized technology. Importantly, while the project emphasizes creative expression, it also serves as an environmental experience. The Grand River is not just the subject of the storytelling; it is the venue, the backdrop, and ultimately a living, breathing participant.”

Idea Exchange published this article on July 28th to celebrate the Grand River and promote the Voice of The River: Grand River Community Play coming to Cambridge August 6th. To read the article visit the Idea Exchange website here

“THE VOICE OF THE RIVER met the TWO ROW ON THE GRAND at Caledonia on July 21st at the Fairgrounds. It’s the 10th year of the Two Row and it was also the first presentation of the Voice of the River Play. Canoes and kayaks were hoisted from the River as Cathy Nosaty played her accordion and members of the cast lent a hand. After the canoes were emptied and turned to dry we performed a few pieces from the play.

The Grand River glistened and flowed right behind us as the Prairie Grasses kicked things off in full regalia singing about the sun, then Grace and Tanis performed on stilts as two Great Blue Herons and were accompanied beautifully by Cathy on her accordion. Pierre, the Dundalk woodcutter, with support from the Mistresses of the Marsh wrapped things up with the song Down the River I Go.

Bree let folks know about the TWO WORDS on the TWO ROW artwork she was creating and asked folks to drop by and put down a couple of words on the sheet. The mayor of Haldimand then gave thanks – she’s on the paddle this year. And then there was a birthday cake celebrating 10 years of the Two Row on the Grand. The day ended with a book launch and an amazing discussion about the River, the Wampums, respect and love. I’ll close on our exciting first day of the tour with a happy acknowledgement to the many folks who showed up from other communities along the Grand. They were all smiles and happy to be a part of the celebration.

And lastly – a shout out to the amazing artist Lacie from the Creative Barracks in Dunnville. Cathy and I met Lacie before anyone else was in the park in the morning. She was there to deliver to us Grand Blue – a large heron puppet that is a power unto herself, and a reminder of what creativity is capable of. A great start as the adventure continues. Join us when you can!”

– Peter Smith

“The Play Project, co-produced by the Canadian Centre for Rural Creativity and the Grandview Theatre Company, is helping fifteen communities along the river to celebrate their uniqueness and their common connection to a legendary Ontario river system.” JOHN BUTLER

Quilt Square by Artist Pam Burgess

The South Grey News published this article on July 21st to celebrate the Grand River and promote the Voice of The River: Grand River Community Play coming to Dundalk on July 31st. To read the article visit the South Grey website here