SIGH-GH-GH. THE SEASON IS CANCELLED.
“How will Tea ‘n’ Tales 2020 unfold this summer?” It won't be in real time. Considering a number of factors, it is not surprising that the season as we've enjoyed it for twelve years is cancelled. Think of it? Over 100 listeners, the majority seniors, sipping iced tea or fresh brewed coffee, sitting on rocks and lawn chairs clustered in the shade of trees along the river, enthralled as they listen to the magic of stories by talented invited guests. Can’t imagine that strung out with two metre distancing.
The summer will seem barren without Tea ‘n’ Tales but then other events, such as Guelph’s annual Hillside Summer Festival, Eden Mills Writers’ Festival, and Elora Music Festival, are also cancelled for this season. Guelph's rich summer summer arts life diminshed indeed!!. And so Trevor Barton, current chair of Enabling Garden, and Brian Holstein of GGS, made the only decision possible. Boo Hoo :< (
Meanwhile, storytellers are using their skills to entertain us from their homes to meet the challenge of these extraordinary times with its stay-at-home and physical distancing. Five of those tellers, featured here, were scheduled to be part of Tea ‘n’ Tales 2020, either as invited guests or members of the Guild of Storytellers (GGS). Enjoy their virtual storytelling, and not only have you mind transported to their story but also the sweet setting of the Enabling Garden.
We celebrate five tellers contributing their stories and thank them for adding pleasure to our restricted life. More are on the way.
Lynn Torrie - We've been thrilled to have gifted, experienced teller, Lynn Torrie, grace Tea n' Tales and now she gives us the gift of a dramatic telling of a charming tale. Enjoy, The Man Who Had Nothing.
Visit Lynn on her Website and respond to her invitations to a number of events she is hosting.
Elizabeth Matson – a regular experienced professional guest teller at Tea ‘n’ Tales,was scheduled to return by popular demand on August 21.
Elizabeth posts a weekly “Yoga, Story. Play”, from her home as part of the virtual children’s program of the Hedberg Public Library in Janesville, Wisconsin. This link gives access to her stories. Enjoy, and i suggest you pass this link on to friends and neighbours with wee ones in their lives.
Sarah Abusarar is one of the favourite out-of-town guest storytellers of Tea 'n' Tales, scheduled to return August 14. Sarah had an earlier event that was cancelled due to pandemic, so she shared her story with her musical accompanist, each from their own home. “Why is the Sky so Far Away”, a Nigerian folktale with music by Cassie Norton
Brian Holstein and Michael Dougherty, are both active members of the Guelph Guild Of Storytellers (GGS) planning and shaping events, in addition to being regular tellers at both Tales From the Hill and Tea ‘n’ Tales.
Brian gives us the historical context for his recitation of, “And the Band Played, Waltzing Matilda’.” He tells how he met and received permission from Eric Bogle, creator of the lyrics, to perform the story. It commemorates the terrible brave sacrifice made by the Anzacs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) during WWII. The events and memorials touch Brian deeply. It’s part of the history of his birth country, Australia. The event is remembered every year on April 25. This April 2020 Remembrance year, Brian shared the lyrics from his home. Click here to hear is powerful telling, “And the Band Played, Waltzing Matilda’.”
Michael, is doing his part to give us a lift during these uncertain times giving us stories from his home. His extensive repertoire includes traditional, historical and personal stories. He tells Stone Soup with his own personel twist, a humorous, true tale of what he saw one day on a country drive. and regular additions. Hear a Newfoundland story featuring a fiesty greatgrandma. Click here to hear that story.
Tea 'n' Tales 2020
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Tales From the Hill: 2020
The city of Guelph's update tells us that, "programs, performances and events are cancelled through July 5, 2020."
That means that Tales from the Hill is finished for the season. How precious it will be to welcome you back on the first Wednesday of the fall season, September 2nd at 7:00.
Meanwhile visit the Civic Museum. "We are still available online and through our social media channels. Explore the Museum’s Musings Blog and find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. . . . visit the staff contact page to connect with us via email while are working offsite."Val Harrison, Supervisor of Visitor Experiences.writes: "The Museum sure is quiet without you. While we work from home, planning for better days ahead, we miss your visits, your questions, your stories, and the energy you bring to our galleries and events. We hope you are doing well, and adjusting to the isolation and physical distancing measures essential to keeping us all safe at this time."
The Guelph Guild of Storytellers (GGS) was founded in 1984 by a small group of Guelph authors and tellers. Now, decades later, it continues to champion storytelling with the same spirit of love for the spoken word and desire to share stories to entertain, to engage, to inspire wonder, curiosity, and appreciation, to spark imagination and to inform. From the beginning the search was for adult audiences to share and nurture the ancient art and to encourage tellers of all levels. For years, members regularly got together to build and polish stories, often around a theme, to 
