Roger Varley has been in the news business almost 40 years with The Canadian Press/Broadcast News, Uxbnridge Times-Journal, Richmond Hill Liberal and Uxbridge Cosmos. Co-winner with two others of CCNA national feature writing award. In Scout movement over 30 years, almost 25 as a leader. Took Uxbridge youths to World Jamboree in Holland. Involved in community theatre for 20 years as actor, director, playwright, stage manager etc. Born in England, came to Canada at 16, lived most of life north and east of Toronto with a five-year period in B.C.
Kids: Ya gotta love 'em
Going through my Facebook page the other day, I saw a post from singer-songwriter Leah Daniels - Uxbridge's own Leah Speers. Leah was wondering if anyone ever goes out singing Christmas carols door-to-door any more.
It didn't take long for a bunch of replies to come in and, as a result, our girl Leah is going out with friends tonight (Thursday) to bring a little spontaneous cheer to the downtown area. They will also be doing it next Wednesday. But it's not just for Leah's friends: she has invited anyone who wants to participate to meet her in front of the Roxy Cinema at 6:30 p.m. before heading along Brock Street for a while. And she asked her friends to spread the word, which is what I'm doing here.
It sounds like a great idea and, who knows, if enough people show up it could turn into a fantastic spur-of-the-moment event, the kind you remember for a long, long time. But however many or few take part, there will be singing in the air.
That Leah is doing this doesn't surprise me. She is a wonderfully down-to-earth young woman who shares her hopes and dreams and feelings with those who are following her in her steady climb in the music industry, but never forgets she is from Uxbridge. You have probably guessed by now that I am a Leah fan. I have been ever since I appeared with her a few years ago in My Fair Lady at the Music Hall where, at the age of only 14, she gave one of the most remarkable and memorable portrayals of Eliza Doolittle that I have ever seen.
But I am a major fan of other Uxbridge kids too. Maggie Anderson, for example. She, too, is now 14, but her performance as a middle-aged woman in the Uxbridge Youth Theatre's recent production of White Christmas was nothing short of stunning. Her mannerisms, her body language and her voice all combined to give an absolutely convincing performance. She was just as remarkable a couple of years ago, again playing a middle-aged woman, in the Youth Theatre's The Little Princess. This praise is not meant to take away from the other actors in those shows, but her performances were standouts (she’s also a fine writer, as her Tiger Talk columns in this paper attest).
The cast of White Christmas also included the Fearnley-Brown kids - Matthew, Sarah and Andrew - and I'm a fan of them too. I've watched Spud, Spudette and Little Spud - nicknames I gave them when we were in Oliver together - for a number of years on stage and I delight in their performances. In fact, in White Christmas, Andrew just about stole every scene he was in as Ezekiel, while Matthew showed a natural flair for comedy and a poise beyond his years.
I'm a big fan of singer-actors Kayla Bacon, Katie Wilson, Madeline Eddy, Travis Smalley, Carlanna and Drew Chester and Nicole Daly as well. But there are other kids out there who delight me,who are not connected to the theatre.
Adrian Giacca, who designed the proposed new skate park, for one. Tenders have been put out for the design and construction of the park and Amanda Ferraro of Parks and Recreation tells me the bidders will have to use Adrian's design as a starting point. Not only that, but she says a couple of companies specializing in skate park construction have said they are thrilled with Adrian's concept.
How about Ted Webb, who turned his passion for crazy bicycles into Africycle, which not only helps out poor people in Africa but also creates jobs?
Then there is my arch foe (slightly joking), Marissa Hachey, who brought her anti-smoking campaign to council a few years back when she was just a little girl and convinced council to try and make the Santa Claus parade smoke free. Now she has started another youth theatre group called VIP and will be presenting Willy Wonka Jr. this week.
Nathan Sasche is the young man responsible for some of the super wall art around the downtown, including the fabulous hands mural at the yoga centre in downtown Uxbridge.
There are others, but space does not permit. But one has to wonder why, in such a small municipality as ours, we have so many young people who not only are talented, but committed to their community. It could be the water, I suppose, but I think the more likely explanation is the number of opportunities available to youth in Uxbridge. Given the size of our population, they are in abundance.
For those who want to hit the stage, there are several theatre companies and dance schools available to teach and encourage them. The Roxy Kids in Action is an ideal group for youngsters to get their feet wet in the world of volunteering. Boy Scouts and Girl Guides and army cadets are not every youngster's cup of tea, but they offer programming that few other youth groups provide.
The youth centre has converted me from being an opponent to being a fan. The centre offers a wide range of fun and educational programs and reaches kids who might otherwise feel left out.
Then there is the plethora of sports groups in town that can accommodate most young players. And soon even the skateboarders will have a facility they can call their own, thanks in no small part to the work of the youth themselves.
When we open our gifts this Christmas, it seems to me we should remember the best gift we have: our children, who have proven over and again that they are, for the most part, responsible, caring and talented.
Tell me, am I wrong?
