The Opeongo Line

St. Patrick's Day with Percy French

William Percy French was born in County Roscommon in 1854 and grew up to become one of Ireland's most successful songwriters.  At times wildly comedic and genuinely funny; at other times surprisingly warm and inspirational. The Opeongo Readers' Theatre were so taken by him, some of them break out into song in this novel celebration for St. Patrick's Day. 

Famous Love Letters

In honour of St. Valentine's Day, The Opeongo Readers' Theatre presents nineteen of the world's greatest love letters, famously written by men and women in the heat of passion. From the sublime to the ridiculous, it's a show destined to be better than anything you will ever see printed on a pink greeting card sold at the corner store.

Martha & Stella's Kitchen Party

Martha Linton and Stella Yeretch, two local musicians born and raised in the Upper Madawaska Valley, were recorded in the mid-20th Century, singing old folksongs in both English and their native Polish-Kashub. Martha passed away in 2009 and Stella in 1996, but those recordings demonstrate their stellar contributions to local culture.

The Mayor’s Levee 2024

Sean Conway, host of "The Local" chats again this year with Madawaska Valley Township Mayor Mark Willmer about the challenges and opportunities that engaged him throughout 2023. As well, the Mayor discusses new challenges and opportunities heading his way in 2024 - everything from new development charges, housing, forest fires, flooding, rebuilds of local infrastructure, and many more things that keeps him up at night.

Koledy Atop Shrine Hill

The Wilno Heritage Society Community Choir celebrate Koledy a choral selection of Christmas Carols brought over to Canada beginning in 1858 when their ancestors left their homeland in Kashubia, a region of Poland, and settled in the Upper Madawaska River Valley, centred on Wilno, Ontario. With a wonderful mix of Latin, Polish, Kashub and English, it's a night to remember.

A Christmas Carol

The Opeongo Readers' Theatre offers up its annual Christmas show, this year a collection of five short stories with an equal number of short lyric poems, all often forgotten classics but all intended to keep at bay that blue, blue, blue Christmas that Elvis often used to sing about at this time of year. 

Yakabuski Hardware

Yakabuski Hardware happily served Barry's Bay and its surrounding area from 1918 until 2001. Karen Yakabuski, Roseanne Visutski and John Yakabuski chat with Sean Conway about the life and times of one of the Upper Madawaska Valley's most unique family businesses. 

Yakabuski Hardware II

Yakabuski Hardware happily served Barry's Bay and its surrounding area from 1918 until 2001. Karen Yakabuski, Roseanne Visutski and John Yakabuski chat with Sean Conway about the life and times of one of the Upper Madawaska Valley's most unique family businesses. 

Algonquin’s Robin Hood I

The Opeongo Readers' Theatre presents the story of Archie Belaney, a 17-year-old Englishman who first came to Canada in 1906 and where he reinvented himself as 'Grey Owl, an Indigenous environmentalist and friend of all forest animals. His story of cultural identify theft reads like Robin Hood.

Algonquin’s Robin Hood II

The Opeongo Readers' Theatre presents the story of Archie Belaney, a 17-year-old Englishman who first came to Canada in 1906 and where he reinvented himself as 'Grey Owl, an Indigenous environmentalist and friend of all forest animals. His story of cultural identify theft reads like Robin Hood.