Buskerfest Port Credit Mississauga ~ Call for Volunteers, Call for Fun! Get Involved, and Come on Down!

Update: Pictures, etc August 22, 2010 this post

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What is a Busker Festival?

Buskers are gutsy street performers. It's theatre in the street, comedians, contortionists, magicians and mimes, sword-swallowers and human statues. It's jugglers, escape artists and acrobats. Each performer tries to out performs the others, all for a toss of a coin in the hat.

Buskerfest Sign Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens ~ Lakeshore Road West

The Buskerfest 5 (the fifth annual festival) signs are up on Lakeshore Road West at the BRG west of Port Credit Village.  The Buskerfest dates are:

• Friday, August 20 from 7 p.m to 11 p.m.
• Saturday, August 21  from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Sunday, August 22 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Buskerfest 5 Map of Performing Areas Port Credit Mississauga

There are 6 main performance areas (above). Here's a list of who is where, and the sponsors who make it possible:

Number 1 (3 Stages,) Port Credit Memorial Park; sponsored by Peel Chrysler and Xtreme Tire Garage featuring the Fire Shows on Friday and Saturday night plus the Xtreme Finale on Sunday at 6:45 p.m., a charity show with all proceeds going to Options Mississauga, and Busker Academy, a new component sponsored by LaVilla Fine Foods featuring hourly workshops beginning at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Learn how to juggle, do magic, walk on stilts, make balloon animals, creative clown face and more.

Number 2 Credit Village Marina;  sponsored by the Paint the Town Red Committee (Canada Day Committee).

Number 3 Port Credit Harbour Marina; sponsored by Lake Affect Bar and Grill.

Number 4 Elizabeth St. South (No Frills); sponsored by Carmen Corbasson, Mississauga Ward One Councillor.

Number 5 Helene St. North sponsored by Pizza Pizza.

Number 6 Port Credit Village Square ( at TEN Restaurant, Hurontario and Lakeshore Rd East), sponsored by Charles Sousa, MPP, featuring buskers and vendors.

Not Just on the Stages:
Almost every Busker rotates through the pitches (stage areas) so that each area has a nice variety of performers. In addition to the Busker Pitches, roaming performers will be visiting the shops all along the Lakeshore providing entertainment and fun for customers.

An early morning Busker Show will be featured at the Farmers Market (Lakeshore Road East of Hurontario) on Saturday morning, and buskers will also be roaming Lakeshore Road east of Hurontario throughout the Fest.

Please remember that this schedule may change without notice at any time. It’s Buskerfest!

Street Closures for Buskerfest:
Only two minor road closures over this festival weekend: Elizabeth Street South (No Frills) and Helene Street North.


From Brenda at Buskerfest 5:

"Our volunteers get more than just the opportunity to help out with an exciting event. They become a part of one of the most vibrant social communities in Ontario. It’s great fun!

"We need volunteers age 16 and over for Buskerfest 5 to work as Information representatives at each Busker site. We also need people to help with the set-up and tear-down, and for security and hospitality. There are great shifts, cool T-shirt, and interesting people to work with.

"Most volunteers act as' information booths': You get to sit in the tents and answer questions, and in effect, get priority seating for Buskerfest."

To find out more or to volunteer, come to the Orientation meeting on Tuesday, August 17th at 7 p.m. at the Port Credit Legion (googlemap) or email pc-volunteer@bellnet.net for more information, or to sign up if you cannot make the meeting.

You don't have to live in Port Credit to volunteer. Come out and meet other Mississaugans! It's more fun when you're involved.


Related:
Buskerfest Pictures from previous festivals.
Buskerfest scheduled Buskers

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Saturday August 21 2010 : Update

Great time had by all on Friday night! To get a fairly up to date schedule, stop at the Buskerfest tents at the main locations on the map. There's a handout from the Port Credit Village Times that shows the performances, though no map is included.

If you have a copy from this paper delivered to many Mississauga homes this week, be aware that two of the stages/ pitches were inadvertently omitted in the printing process.

If you are not familiar with Port Credit, you may want to print out the location map (above) and bring it with you. In any event, it's not hard to orient yourself once you are on Lakeshore.

Today's events start at one o'clock and run until 11 tonight, with the big Fire Extravaganza set for 10:30 p.m. at Memorial Park, east side of the Credit River, across from Lighthouse.

See you there!

Fireworks Canada Day Mississauga Port Credit ~ Parade, Cake, Free Transit ~ Volunteers Needed

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July 01 2010 : Volunteers volunteered - Thanks! Great parade!!
See all Mississauga Fireworks On July 1 2010 locations on the Canada Day Events post.

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Canada Day Mississauga Port Credit

"We love a parade but we need help!" says Brenda Armstrong, Volunteer Coordinator for  Paint the Town Red. "The Port Credit Canada Day Committee is looking for volunteers to assist with our celebrations on July 1, 2010."

 Volunteers are needed in the following roles:

•  Set up Crew
•  Registration
•  Change room Attendants (costume changes)
•  Point Captains needed at each intersection
•  Parking Control

 Volunteers will also be needed in Memorial Park for Stage Support, Crowd control, and other areas. The time commitment depends on the job. Most Parade volunteers would be busy for 4-6 hours depending on their task; some jobs would be a 2-3 hour commitment.

The parade starts at 11:00 a.m. and travels along Stavebank Rd S. to Lakeshore from the Port Credit Marina. It will then travel eastbound along Lakeshore Road East to Seneca Avenue, ending at Mentor College.

The parade will include Canadian and local heroes, marching bands, professionally built floats, a Classic Car Parade, mascots and costumed characters, Colour Guards, baton troupes, and many colourful walking entries and local business floats.

"Sign up now to be part of the Team!  An orientation session will be held later this month (June; date to be determined). If you have any questions, feel free to contact me any time," says Armstrong. [Contact pc-volunteer AT bell.net or phone 905.271.4247

Canada Day Port Credit 175 Anniversary:
"This year, Canada Day is going to be even more spectacular because 2010 marks Port Credit's 175th anniversary," says Ellen Timms, general manager Port Credit Business Association. "We're having an amazing year-long celebration of Port Credit's past, pride and future. Let's Party like it's 1835! [See Details pc 175].

"There are over 35 events and projects underway with the support of virtually every community group in Port Credit," Timms says. 

Canada Day Events Port Credit Mississauga

• Sunrise Ceremony in Memorial Park (north side Lakeshore Road East, on the east side of the Credit River)
• Canada Day Parade starts at 11:00 a.m., going eastward from Stavebank Road South through Port Credit to Wenonah Drive.
• Cake-cutting Ceremony is set for 12:30 p.m., with the largest Canada Flag cake you've ever seen! Mayor McCallion will officiate the 175th ceremony.
• Live Music In the afternoon, in Memorial Park. Bring a lawn chair.
• Fireworks!! To end the Canada Day festivities, come to Memorial Park area to see the fantastic fireworks display.

Free Transit Mississauga Canada Day:
Make it a green day: Leave the car at home!  No parking to worry about as Mississauga Transit is Free from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. throughout Mississauga on Canada Day (July 1).

Come To Help, Stay for the Fun and Fireworks!! (See previous Canada Day in Port Credit fireworks post)

Is it East or is it West? Port Credit tip:
The Credit River marks the divide between east and west in Port Credit. In Mississauga, the usual east-west divide is Hurontario Street (Highway 10).

Related Port Credit:
Farmers Market Saturdays 7 a.m. -1 p.m. at the Elmwood Avenue Parking Lot (map). with returning and brand new vendors, music, face painting, stilt walkers and a chance to meet your neighbours.  Spread the word!
 
HISTORIC WALKING TOURS OF PORT CREDIT
 On the last Saturday of the month, from April to October, the Museums of Mississauga is offering FREE walking tours.  Meet in front of Impressionable Gifts, 74 Lakeshore Road East.  Length:  1¼ hours.  Dress for the weather!   The next tour will be on Saturday, June 26 2:00 - 3:15 p.m.

Mississauga Canada Day in Streetsville On 
Details City Centre and Streetsville Fireworks here.

Googlemap

View Larger Map
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Volunteers Needed Rhododendron Gardens Mississauga Ontario to Dead Head Spent Rhodo Blossoms

Volunteers are needed this summer (now!) at Mississauga's Rhododendron Gardens. If you are in the area, or biking or hiking the Waterfront Trail through Port Credit, take a few minutes to stop at the Gardens and lend a hand with dead heading the spent rhododendron blooms.

Rhododendron in Full Bloom

This picture above of a blooming rhodo is the Before picture -- the glorious show of blooms that draws hundreds of visitors each spring to the garden park on the lakeshore in Mississauga.

Spent Rhododendron flower - the After Picture

When the bloom is gone, what's left needs to be carefully hand picked from the stem, taking care not to disturb the emerging stalk that will hold the blooms for the following summer. This lets the plant put all its energy into new growth, rather than into seed production. The paler green shoots bracketing the spent blossom in the middle show how much growth has already taken place on this particular plant. The longer the shoot, the trickier it is to get into the center to pinch out the spent blossom.

After the pinch - all neat and tidy and ready to grow!

The photo above shows the pruned area on a rhodo that has yet to send up new growth around the spent blossom (hand courtesy of Master Gardener Para). This is tedious but somewhat enjoyable work, standing out in the open air, mere steps from Lake Ontario, amidst birdsong and butterflies, and occasionally, a nice chat with another volunteer.

Rhododendron Gardens in Full Bloom

And while you prune and pinch, it helps to know that you are in some small but important way setting the stage for the next year's glorious Spring show at the Rhododendron Gardens. And knowing how much pleasure the gardens give to all visitors, especially the bridal parties who make this display their living backdrop for wedding photos.

If you are able to help simply show up on a weekday and ask to to speak to Para, who will give instructions. On weekends, look for other volunteers busy dead heading rhodos in the bushes.

As well other volunteers are busy on other projects in the Gardens, reports David Culham:

The Waterfront Trail construction is underway. The central rose bed is progressing slowly and with a great deal of sweat. Rob has donated all the roses but also the great amount of time in planning out the colour, scent, and the timeliness of bloom. Our expectation is that the roses will add to the colour throughout the summer and help define a Garden and not a Park.

Ferns have been donated and planted along the Tecumseh Creek by volunteers. A mornings dig for wild flowers (May Apple) succeeded and the transplanting occurred by volunteers. Weeding and shrub trimming is underway by volunteers. Para and staff are undertaking further Rhodo plantings at the moment especially in places with previous loses.

New Rose Garden

Here's the start of the new rose garden, where Rob is working long hours to lay out and plant about 700 rose bushes.

UPDATE: Thanks to a large group of spent bloom pickers, much of the dead heading is now done. BUT -- there's always some weeding help needed, so do drop by and pull a few!

More pictures of Rhododendron Gardens see this post