The Opeongo Line

A Halloween story that can be listened to the whole year through or for as many scary, romantic nights as you can handle. Angels of Arbor Vitae is no ordinary story. Part fictional horror, part local history, and certainly part unrequited romance, it's something you'll not soon forget. 

In celebration of the 130th Anniversary of the coming of the OA & PS Railway to Barry's Bay in 1894, Theresa Prince, a Stationkeeper, re-enacts a farm girl's stroll down the main street of Barry's Bay as she visits local merchants from well over one hundred years ago. 

Mark Woermke celebrates the 130th Anniversary of the Barry's Bay Train Station, built in 1894, by giving a talk, detailing the history of its station agents who once worked there. His presentation was followed by a general discussion with the audience, with many sharing their own intriguing stories.

In the autumn of 1967, Madawaska Valley District High School first opened its doors in Barry's Bay, and so too did the history of one of that school's most famous sports teams, the MVDHS Wolves. It was a Junior "B" hockey team that within four years won everything there was to win in eastern Ontario. This past February nearly three dozen of its members met again in Barry's Bay to rekindle those glory days.

In the autumn of 1967 Madawaska Valley District High School first opened its doors in Barry's Bay, and so too did the history of one of that school's most famous sports teams, the MVDHS Wolves. It was a Junior "B" hockey team that within four years won everything there was to win in eastern Ontario. This past February nearly three dozen of its original members met again in Barry's Bay to rekindle those glory days.

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. 

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 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.

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.

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.