Dear Editor,
The hospitality and historic charm of Norval were on full display at the Words of Writers (WOW) debut event held on Sunday, Oct 6 at Norval Studios and Gallery.
Norval resident Kathy Gastle, chair of the Lucy Maud Montgomery (LMM) Museum & Literary Centre, opened the event with a taped greeting and presentation that featured information about LMM’s tremendous writing career, her life in Norval and her love for the community.
The event was organized by Mississauga resident and author Dechen Yee, to bring together local writers to share their works on the very stage where LMM once directed and appeared in plays when she lived in Norval for nine years (1926-1935) together with her husband, the reverend at the local church.
The WOW event coincided with the string of ongoing celebrations for the 150th anniversary of LMM, which added that special X factor for the writers and authors who participated, by giving them the unique opportunity to ‘tread the boards’ where LMM once performed. It was exciting for everyone!
Local musician Glenn Soltes captivated the audience with a musical interlude played on the Guzheng (Chinese stringed zither).
True to the spirit of Ontario Culture Days, the WOW event brought the community together to an historic site adorned with gorgeous paintings by local artists, to celebrate the arts - literary, visual and musical.
Dechen Lee
