Adam Prudhomme
Editor
A quaint mix up between two Selby theatres on opposite sides of the world has inspired a unique project for a pair of podcasters.
Speaking to Greater Napanee council as part of a deputation during their April 13 virtual meeting, John Hastings and Tim FitzHigham spoke of their idea. Their intent is to create a series of video and audio podcasts that examine the similarities between Selby, Ontario and Selby, Yorkshire in England.
“The project is to attempt to unite the two Selbys,” explains FitzHigham, who appeared before council via a link from England, speaking at what was midnight his time. “Selby in Yorkshire, England and Selby of course as you know in Ontario in Canada. The entire project came about because there was a mix up at the box office in the theatre in Selby in Yorkshire where somebody tried to book a ticket for a show in the theatre in Selby, Yorkshire from Canada. The box office manager thought that was a very long way to come for a show. It then transpired obviously that he was trying to book a ticket for a show in Selby, Ontario, Canada. We thought this was such a lovely event, a happening, a fluke, that we wanted to try and follow it up and see if the two Selbys shared more than just a name.”
The series will look to open a dialogue between schools, churches, theatres and councils from each Selby.
“The Selby in Yorkshire certainly doesn’t know how the Selby in Canada came to be at all,” said FitzHigham. “That’s one of the things that we’re trying to find out is how you got Selby….We wanted to make it a really positive project to show off these two brilliant places.”
Selby Abbey in Selby, Yorkshire.
Both communities are home to historic churches, though one slightly more so than the other. Greater Napanee’s Selby United dates back to 1875 but would be considered ‘new’ when compared to Yorkshire’s Selby Abbey, which was founded in 1069.
Hastings, who was appearing before council from Los Angeles, USA, said their deputation was the perfect example of how the podcast can be made from anywhere in the world.
“What drew me to this project, making podcasts and sort of detailing the journey of bringing these two towns together or educating both Selbys about each other especially in the time of COVID, where nobody can be connected, I, someone from the Ottawa Valley who lived in England for many years and is now stuck in the States, can be doing a project and doing something that is very near and dear to my heart about where I grew up but with someone whose thousands of miles away and I just think that’s a very fun angle,” said Hastings.
Greater Napanee councillor Dave Pinnell has been in touch with the podcasters prior to the meeting and is already compiling a list of contacts for the two to seek out for more information. Deputy Mayor Max Kaiser also suggested getting in touch with the Lennox and Addington Historical Society as well as the Lennox and Addington Museum and Archives.
Mayor Marg Isbester noted she looked forward to connecting with members of Selby, Yorkshire’s council.
The project is supported by British Council, Canada Council for the Arts, High Commission of Canada in the UK and Farnham Maltings in the UK.
-Greater Napanee council has made a proclamation to declare June as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Month.
The proclamation was made at the request of Debbie White, who submitted a letter to council. The letter also included a PTSD assessment form that was requested to be sent to local police, fire department and hospitals.
-Town of Greater Napanee staff will leave the ice on the Home Hardware pad of the Strathcona Paper Centre intact for the time being. The ice has already been removed from the Goodyear rink.
The town’s facility manager, Chris Brown, appeared before council seeking direction following the provincial stay at home order. At the time of the meeting, no one would be allowed to rent the ice until at least May 6. The ice is currently scheduled to be removed at the end of May. If it becomes apparent the current order will be extended, the town would then re-examine the plan and could decide to remove the ice earlier. Brown said they could also consider leaving the ice in for an extra week into June if it appeared the order would be lifted on May 6. Leaving it intact for an extra week would allow them to fulfill any contracts with local skating and hockey groups.
-Council passed a by-law to enact Lyndsay Tee as deputy clerk for the town. She served as clerk for the meeting in place of Susan Beckel, who has taken a job with the town of Perth.