A New Place Called Home

For those of us with wanderlust, it’s been a tricky time. We’ve been dreaming of the trips we want to take. The places we want to explore. Instead, we’re left to find ways to experience our favourite destinations from a distance – through delivery, virtual experiences or just bookmarking inspo for future visits.

For those of you jonesing for trip to the County, there’s now another way to visit from the comfort of home: through your TV screen!

“A New Place Called Home” is a just-launched television series focusing on the people behind some of The County’s most beloved enterprises. People who made a big change in their life to come to The County and start a new journey. Created and directed by County resident Chrystelle Maechler, “A New Place Called Home” tells the stories of six County entrepreneurs: what brought them here, what inspired their journey and what keeps them going in their new place called home.

You can find the six-episode series of documentary shorts on VOD on Bell Fibe, channel 1 (listed under Kingston) and on the Bell Fibe TV app.

A new project in a new home

Chrystelle Maechler creates content for film, radio and television as a screenwriter, director and voice artist. When she and her husband came to The County, they were looking for their next project, and the idea for “A New Place Called Home” came to them. It was a very personal project. Chrystelle hails from France and husband Andreas Krätschmer, who filmed and edited the project, is from Germany. They’ve moved around a lot. The notion of “home” and how people perceive it was intriguing to them. Meeting and interviewing the show’s subjects was a great way to get to know their new community.

“We moved here and after three months, the pandemic hit. There were three months of normalcy, and the rest was abnormal,” says Chrystelle. “We learned about the community through their eyes and saw how nice it can be when it’s normal. They were so adamant about how the community is so strong here, and people are so nice and willing to help.”

Selecting the interview subjects was tough. The original list was long, but when they finally landed on the subjects for the six episodes, themes started to emerge. The people profiled in this series all have different stories. Despite their different paths, they all share a love of community and a love of the land. Their stories are not just about geographic moves, but also a major life changes, restarts and a big internal journeys.

Meet the stars of the show:

Mel Cannons and Paul Tobias

Melissa Cannons and Paul Tobias are the restaurateurs behind Idle Wild, a pan-Asian kitchen that serves up take-out at their popular Wellington storefront. Residents and visitors alike are treated to contemporary takes on classic dishes. Look out for Korean japchae, Filipino adobo and lumpia, Thai curries and Japanese maki rolls.

Aaron Armstrong

Aaron Armstrong is the owner and farmer at Blue Wheelbarrow Farm, whose organic greens and produce have supplied The County’s best restaurants for years. Aaron is a friendly face at farmers’ markets around The County. While the farm is on sabbatical in 2021, you can keep your eyes on Blue Wheelbarrow for future agritourism experiences.

Susan and Glen Wallis

Susan and Glen Wallis are not only the hosts at AWAY in the County bed and breakfast, they are also celebrated artists. Susan’s encaustic paintings of landscapes, nests, birches and more are on display throughout The County and at her own studio gallery Melt Studio. Glen is a designer and fabricator who makes the Canadian Screen Awards in his shop at the historic Camp Picton air base.

Alison Lawtey

Alison Lawtey is the owner of The Acres at High Shore bed and breakfast, a unique accommodation made of exquisitely re-designed shipping containers.  Ali, a former marketing ace, has lovingly restored a heritage barn on the property. She is the steward for acres of wetlands that attract a whole world of birds, bugs, beetles and small animals.

Sleiman Al Jasem

Sleiman Al Jasem arrived in The County as a Syrian refugee, and quickly found his place in the community. When the owners of The County’s only commercial fishery were looking for a succession plan, they connected with Sleiman. He was mentored by them, then took over the business and launched The County Catch. Look for his fresh-caught fish at the Picton Foodland, in his Sophiasburgh area shop and on the menu at local restaurants.

Joaquim and Amor Conde

Joaquim and Amor Conde of Quinta do Conde moved from the big city to The County to revive a small acreage farm with organic and regenerative farming techniques. You can visit their farm store near Black River for produce alongside Amor’s Antiques, or check out their “table at the farm” harvest dinners. Everything they serve at these unique culinary events comes from their land, and the experience includes an opportunity to tour the farm with Joaquim and learn about their farming practices.

Beyond the Beach: Where to Make Waves in Prince Edward County 🎣 🛶 ⛵

 

Sandwiched between Lake Ontario and the Bay of Quinte, with many rivers and lakes running through it, Prince Edward County is all about water, with more than 800 km of shoreline and tons of H²0-based ways to enjoy it.

Here are a few beyond-the-beach ideas for water-playing your way around The County.

Shoreline Exploring

Prince Edward County was once a peninsula, until construction of the Murray Canal swing bridge in Carrying Place severed it from the main land. Sight-seeing by water offers a unique view — and is just as beautiful as from the land. It’s the perfect way to see birds and marine wildlife up close.

Easy Paddler: Cabin Fever Kayak or PEC Kayaks can set you afloat in a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddle board. Cabin Fever Kayak launches on picturesque Black River, with only the sounds and sights of nature as your companion. Wonderfully relaxing, it’s an eco-friendly way to explore coastal marshes and bucolic vistas. Paddle the meandering waterway six kilometres southwest into the nearby town of Milford. Head east into the waters of South Bay for a close-up of McMahon Bluffs, a protected nature reserve.

Bonus: Cabin Fever Kayak’s watercraft are made and sold in The County by Demorestville-based Clearwater Design. So, if you liked the test paddle, check them out, and take one home.

Hoist the Sails

Pull up anchor, raise the sails and catch the breeze. Sailing is a fun, often invigorating way, to enjoy The County by water.

Aye Aye Captain: Departing from Waupoos Marina, Stay and Sail offers private and group cruises (up to eight guests) aboard the Tzarina, a 34-ft. C&C sailboat. Captains Moira and Brent offer several cruising options, from a two-hour sail around the waters of South Bay to half and full-day excursions that include anchoring for swimming, snacks and light refreshments. There’s also a four-hour cruise that covers sailing basics.

Not ready to jump ship? Then spend the night, lulled to sleep by the gentle roll of the water, in one of two sailboats that Stay and Sail rents out as accommodation. Both are docked in the Waupoos Marina.

Wind And Water: Try a different kind of sail with AirTime Kiteboarding. The four-year-old company, based out of a private beach on West Lake near the Sandbanks, helps you harness wind power with kiteboarding lessons and rentals. Catamaran lessons and rentals are also available.

Hook, Line, and Sinker

Cast your line – and your luck – into the waters of Prince Edward County. Not only is Lake Ontario a plentiful fishing ground, but the Bay of Quinte – the Walleye Capital of the World —  is an angler’s dream.

For Charter: Fish with the pros who know the waters and where and when and what to catch . Meal On A Reel Charters and Bay of Quinte Charters are just two of several fishing specialists who can help you hook walleye, salmon, lake trout, pickerel, bass and perch. Charter season runs May through to late November. Rods, bait, tackle, beverages and food are provided. All you need to bring is a valid fishing licence. For more charters, fishing and boating advice, see our complete listings.

Gear Up: Whether you arrived in The County rod-less, or just need bait, Wilki’s Tackle Box has every angler’s back, from novice to pro, with everything from rods and reels to minnows and worms. Canadian Tire in Picton is a reliable go-to as well. Not only is the fishing-gear department well stocked, but you can pick up a fishing licence if you don’t have one. There’s also plenty of other equipment to float a fun day on the water, from boats to inflatable toys.

B-Y-O-B(oat)

Whether you’re a resident boater without a home dock, or a sail-in, motor-up or haul-your-own-watercraft visitor, The County has “boat parking” and several public launches. Pull up to the following locations:

Marina Moorings: In addition to offering public boat launches, Picton Marina and Harbour, Waupoos Marina and Wellington Harbour provide overnight and seasonal docking with access to hydro and water, fuel, washrooms and showers, and pump-out facilities (Picton and Waupoos only). The Glenora Marina is an excellent stop for fuel, rentals and repairs.

Float Your Boat: There are also eight municipal boat launches conveniently located around The County’s most popular bodies of water. Sites include Big Island, East Lake, Northport, Prinyer’s Cove, Rossmore, Weller’s Bay, and Wellington Beach.

Non-motorized watercraft have launching options, too. Many are located in conservation parks, including Massassauga Point, where parking is $5 for the day. Or municipal boat launches, such as H.J. McFarland or Glendon Green, where parking is $10. For a fee, non-motorized watercraft can also be launched onto the Black River from Cabin Fever Kayak.

Ahoy Sailors: Sail into Prince Edward Yacht Club and dock awhile. Located on picturesque Picton Harbour, downtown Picton’s restaurants, shops and art galleries are within easy strolling distance. Guests from other sailing clubs enjoy reciprocal docking privileges.

Splash About

Kid-perfect: Sand-and-surfed out, but the water-babies are still clamouring for a good soaking? Try the nautical-themed Picton Splash Pad, located at the Picton Fairgrounds, adjacent to the glorious Crystal Palace. Please note COVID protocols in advance of your visit. You can also picnic there, with bring-your-own grub, or grab takeout from across the street at Angry Birds, PEC’s answer to Swiss-Chalet-St. Hubert.

Water-esque Ideas

There are also many ways to appreciate PEC’s marine beauty without dipping toes, rods, paddles, sails or motors into the water. Here are a few land-lubber options:

Marine Museum-hopping:  Explore The County’s symbiotic relationship with the waters that surround it at two great museums. Located in South Bay, Mariners Park Museum, with its distinctive lighthouse and recreated circa-War of 1812 fort, is home to many recovered shipwreck treasures and tales of fishing, ship-building, rum-running and more.

The Naval Marine Archive: The Canadian Collection in downtown Picton celebrates marine and naval history. The museum houses an art gallery, ship models and plans, books and nautical papers, charts and more.

On The Menu: A County dining must-try is the local, fresh-water catch-of-the-day, often perch or pickerel. And, of course, all food tastes better enjoyed with a side of waterfront!

Check out these restaurants for their beautiful waterscape panoramas, all unique in their own way: County Cider Company (Lake Ontario), Drake Devonshire Inn (Lake Ontario), The Lighthouse  Restaurant (Picton Harbour), The Restaurant at Waupoos Winery (Lake Ontario), The Restaurant on the Knoll at Isaiah Tubbs (West Lake), and The View at Picton Golf and Country Club (Picton Bay).

For classic County-caught fish and chips, try the Blue Sail on Main Street Picton, which has a fish market attached. Or Sand & Pearl, voted one of Canada’s best new restaurants by en Route magazine and a smorgasbord of delights from the sea.

By Karen Orme, owner/operator Runaway Rooster