Kayak Sunrise

Take in the Rideau Canal and historic local architecture as you ramble along Heritage Drive in Montague Township.
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Rideau Ferry celebrates a long tradition of boating on the historic Rideau waterway with regattas and recreation.
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Find flavour, fashion and other treasures at the crossroads in Balderson, straddling Tay Valley and Drummond/North Elmsley townships.  
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Inhale the splendour of gorgeous Lilac Lane in Beckwith Township, the “Lilac Capital of Ontario.”
Carleton Place Bridge Street Bazaar

Carleton Place’s Richardson Romanesque Town Hall is considered an architectural jewel in the Ottawa Valley.
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The magical Maple Belt has kissed the trees of Pakenham to produce award-winning maple products.
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Explore a paradise of recreational trails and lakes nestled in an ancient mountain range in Lanark Highlands. Festivals and events, canoeing and kayaking, cycling and hiking, trail-riding and snowmobiling, museums and genealogy, hockey and figure-skating, camping and golfing, music, artisans and farm-gate sales, ballparks and boat launches, shopping and studio tour's . . . there's always something for everyone in Lanark Highlands - your four-season destination!
Sunset on the Rideau

Travel the iron highway and see how Smiths Falls celebrates railroading – past, present and future. Welcome to the Town of Smiths Falls! Located within an hour of the heart of Ottawa, Canada's capital, the Town of Smiths Falls is an ideal place to live, work and learn for newcomers. Smiths Falls offers a "Sensational" lifestyle, built around its affordable housing, educational facilities, medical and municipal services, recreation, shopping and leisure activities. At www.immigratetosmithsfalls.ca, you will find information resources and highlights of the local community. Explore the website to see what Sensational Smiths Falls has to offer you and your family.
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See the sites of Almonte on two wheels by taking one of many great cycling routes on offer!
Downtown Heritage Perth

It’s always showtime in Perth, with its vibrant history of bringing music and theatre to the stage. Nestled between Ottawa and Kingston, Perth  is perfectly positioned as a great place to visit, live and do business. The area’s majestic stone buildings and beautiful green spaces are the perfect backdrops for your time spent in Perth and District. History Dating back 200 years, Perth carries a rich military and social history. The town was named after the Scottish town and river, and was established as a military settlement in 1816, shortly after the War of 1812. Many of the first settlers were military veterans and a wave of Scottish and Irish immigrants quickly followed. Several Scottish immigrants were stonemasons, and their work can be seen in many area buildings and in the locks of the Rideau Canal. There’s little doubt Perth residents remain proud of their history. The restored heritage buildings are a testament to the town’s efforts to honour the past in everyday life. When strolling throughout town, be sure to look up and take notice of each building’s design and craftsmanship. Visiting Here Whether you want to explore the eclectic downtown shops or cast a fishing rod in one of the surrounding lakes, there is something for every visitor in Perth and District. Downtown Perth is packed with gorgeous shops and savoury restaurants. Grab a coffee and linger through the books stores or check out the latest fashions in the clothing shops before hitting up a restaurant patio for a hearty lunch. Spend an afternoon picnicking in Perth’s Stewart, Code and Haggart Parks located behind the majestic Town Hall. This downtown haven offers the perfect opportunity for a family outing where you can set up a picnic by the banks of Tay River and then make your way to the nearby children’s playground. Discover the natural surroundings outside of Perth. From cross-country skiing in Murphys Point Provincial Park to cycling through Glen Tay, the region provides a never-ending outdoors to-do list. Top it off with 100 lakes within driving distance, swimming, boating and fishing enthusiasts have ample opportunities to discover the lake life. Festival and Events Get out your calendars! Perth and District is host to a long list of popular festivals and events that are sure to fill your social schedule. The festival season kicks off in April with the annual Festival of the Maples, which is the grand finale to the maple syrup production season and takes place in downtown Perth. Hosted by the Perth and District Chamber of Commerce, the day-long event includes entertainment, a petting zoo, vendors and of course, maple syrup products! The Stewart Park Festival is a free, weekend-long music festival in July. The festival remains a favourite for both locals and visitors, as it’s a showcase for musical and cultural talent in a relaxed setting along the banks of the Tay River in Stewart Park. Each August, garlic lovers descend onto the Perth Fairgrounds for the annual Garlic Festival. Cooking demonstrations, prizes and activities centered on the aromatic rose makes it chic to reek! There are a number of other festivals and events that take place throughout the Perth and District community including the Perth Kilt Run, The Festival of Good Cheer, art tours as well as local fairs. Living Here It’s easy to see why so many people are proud to call Perth home. Not only is there a rich history and vibrant cultural and recreational lifestyle engrained in the town landscape, there is access to all amenities. The Great War Memorial Hospital is located in Perth and the medical community offers professional and caring service to residents. The Perth and District Union Library is a well-visited centre in downtown Perth. The library serves the Town of Perth and surrounding townships, as well as seasonal residents and tourists, offering book service, children’s programs and internet access. Perth is a family-friendly town, and parents can send their children to one of the many elementary and high schools operated by the public and Catholic school boards. Retirement living is at its best in Perth, with several established retirement-living facilities on hand, as well as long-term healthcare facilities. The town’s recreational facilities are aplenty, as the Town of Perth operates the Perth Community Centre and Swimming Pool as well as the Conlon Farm Recreation Park. The community centre has an ice pad and is host to a packed schedule with youth and adult figure skating and hockey programs on offer as well as public skating sessions. The pool is a 25-metre facility and programs include youth and adult swim lessons, water aerobics and public swims. Canadian Olympian Mike Brown grew up in Perth and spent hours perfecting his athletic talent in the local pool. Baseball diamonds, soccer fields, tennis courts, a skateboarding park and children’s playground make up the Conlon Farm Recreation Park, and it is a popular community hub. Get to Perth Perth is located between Ottawa and Kingston and only takes an hour to drive here! Coming from Ottawa, take Highway 7 West. From the Highway 417 ramp to Perth, it will take approximately 40 minutes to enter Perth’s Gateway. From Kingston, visitors can get here by taking the County Road 10 from Westport, or take the Highway 15 exit ramp off Highway 401. Follow the signs leading you to Perth! More Information Want more information on everything Perth? Contact the Perth and District Chamber of Commerce and we’ll set you up with maps, guides and suggestions to make your trip to Perth an unforgettable experience. The Perth and District Chamber of Commerce office is located in the Old Fire Hall on Herriott Street. We can be reached at 613-267-3200 or toll-free at 1-888-319-3204. Feel free to email us for further information, or better yet, visit our website at perthchamber.com. You can learn about things to see and do, places to stay and eat and where you can get proper services from local businesses. You can also download the 2011 Perth and District Visitors Guide on our website as well as cycling routes. Visit us at perthchamber.com. Rooted in the past, but embracing progress, Perth is Aged to Perfection. Discover it for yourself.

Light Up The Night

December 2, 2011 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm
( Repeating Annually on December 02 )

Light Up The Night 2011 – 21st Anniversary
Friday Night- December 2
nd
Main Street – Almonte, Ontario
7:00 PM

Join in the festivities and get into the holiday spirit with Light Up The Night in Almonte. Thousands of people fill the main street of this quaint and Christmassy town!







Singer Wayne Rostad and broadcaster Leanne Cusack will once again headline

this much-loved Christmas celebration in Almonte, at the heart of Mississippi Mills. It’s a tradition that annually draws thousands to this postcard perfect community for great music, entertainment and fireworks. It just doesn’t get better than singing traditional carols outdoors with your friends and neighbours, the enchantment of the Twinkle Fairies and the Snow Queen, and watching the kids’ faces when Kris Kringle makes his much anticipated appearance. The festivities begin Friday at 7 p.m. on Mill Street in Almonte and wrap up with the “light up” ceremony and a spectacular firework display high above the Mississippi River falls. At precisely 7 p.m., Wayne Rostad and Leanne Cusack will invite Mary Wilson Trider (Almonte General Hospital (AGH) President and CEO), Dr. Tom Todd (AGH Board Chair) and Art Solomonian (AGH/Fairview Manor Foundation Chair) on stage to light a Christmas tree for the hospital and Fairview Manor. This symbolic tree lighting builds community awareness of the medical equipment needs at the hospital. The Christmas season is a critical time for fundraising for the hospital foundation. Traditional Christmas carols mixed with country, percussion, folk, and rock music gets everyone in a holiday mood with Rostad leading the way with his yearly rendition of “Christmas In The Valley”. This year’s Light Up The Night 2 entertainment roster includes Marlene Fawcett, Blackwell, Left Overz, Bill Armstrong, Alex Ryder, percussionists Impact (My Town’s Got Talent winners), The Allan Martin Puppeteers, the Twinkle Fairies and the Snow Queen. There’s more information about this year’s Light Up the Night artists at www.lightupthenightalmonte.com. “People say that Light Up the Night is magical,” says Nancy Fulton, Light Up the Night organizing committee chair. “Well, Wayne and Leanne, both Mississippi Mills residents, are part of that magic every year. We can’t thank Wayne enough for his commitment and the energy he brings to our winter stage every year.” Fulton predicts that about 5,000 visitors will once again pack historic Mill Street this year. Fulton notes that the event’s success can also be attributed to the hard work of its organizing committee – Scott Newton, Calvin Murphy, Don Willey, Yvonne Stewart, Robin Moir and Gerry Huddleston – and support from local businesses, the Town of Mississippi Mills, local carpenters, sound and light experts, and many other community volunteers. Several Light Up The Night fundraisers through the year make this cherished annual event possible. This year revellers can warm up for the show at a fundraising taste testing hosted at the Almonte LCBO from 4 to 7 p.m. JR’s Family Restaurant will supply snacks. Later, on Mill Street, the Almonte Boy Scouts and the Almonte Civitan Club will make sure that the hot chocolate is flowing.