Sun Sept 23rd: Flirting with the Yard of Broken Dreams

Our event starts at 11 am on the 2nd floor of the Koffler House (569 Spadina Avenue).  Come early for coffee and conversation at 10:30 am.

Every marina or boat storage facility has one. It’s the area where long-term residents are stored, paved with good intentions. It is where Eriewinds, then named Elan lll, had been for 5 sailing seasons before October 2017.

She has pedigree, designed by Sparkman & Stevens, built by the now defunct Northern Yachts of Pickering in 1975. Bought custom made for racing, she has a set of small brass plaques on a bulkhead recalling her racing accomplishments during the late 70s. She passed from father to son but sat in her cradle after the son bought a new boat about 2012. The son was looking for the right buyer. Not for price but someone who appreciated what she is and could restore some of her glory.   Someone who could honour his father’s memory.

So begins the story our featured speaker David Bramwell will be here to share.  David has had a lifetime of building and fixing, a lifetime of exploring and visiting new places.   For David, it started at age 8 with water-based activities when his parents bought their cottage.  Sailboats were a common feature. In his twenties and beyond he went on week-long wilderness canoe trips. The longest were in the range of 150 km.

David has also had a lifetime of technology-based activities since the age of 12. As a teenager he installed telephone wire and jacks on his parent’s house (and other projects that were not sanctioned) and by 15 had his room controlled by a hand-held box about the size of a mobile phone.

Our featured musical performer will be Cassie Norton.  We are always so enthused to have the very talented Cassie return to our stage!  Cassie is the music director of Toronto Oasis and a Toronto based singer-songwriter, classically trained violinist/folk leaning tunesmith with a punk rock heart. She has recorded two full length albums, Little Strength (2009) and Quiet Wilderness (2010).  She teaches a variety of private and ensemble classes at Regent Park School of Music, and at her private studio. Check out her website: www.cassienorton.com

To RSVP to this event please visit our Meetup page.