Norfolk United marks 175 years of worship

Rob O'Flanagan/Guelph Mercury photo

GUELPH January 31, 2011 — Rob O’Flanagan, Guelph Mercury staff - A Guelph Civic Museum display that opened Sunday launched a series of events that will mark Norfolk Street United Church’s 175th anniversary.

The church, which began as a Methodist congregation back in 1836, is the third historic church in Guelph to reach the milestone.

The stately limestone structure that rests at the corner of Norfolk and Cork streets in downtown Guelph was constructed in 1856, and is inscribed “Wesleyan Methodist Church” above the front entrance.

Three display cases in the museum hold artifacts from the church’s storied history — a history that included a strong connection to prime minister Lester Pearson. His father, Rev. Edwin Pearson, was a Methodist minister at the church between 1917 and 1921. Lester was a young man at the time.

A patterned communion cup, a wedding dress and a Sunday school record are some of the intriguing items on display at the Civic Museum. The exhibits were compiled by guest curator Ken Russell from the church’s archives and the museum’s collections. He spent about a year on the project.

“The church became a United Church in 1925,” Russell said during an opening at the museum Sunday afternoon. “The Presbyterians, the Congregationalists and the Methodists all decided that they needed to combine. Not all the Presbyterians came along. About two-thirds of them came, and that’s why we have St. Andrews Presbyterian and Knox Presbyterian churches here in town.”

With that merger, the United Church became second only to the Roman Catholic Church as the largest Christian denomination in Guelph, he added. During the early years when the church was Methodist, about 6,000 people were members...read the full story at the Guelph Mercury

Guelph Museums invites you to celebrate the birthday of Scottish Poet Robert Burns at Norfolk Street United Church

The life and times of Scotland’s favourite poet will be celebrated on Sunday, January 23 from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. at Robbie Burns Day to be held at Norfolk Street United Church. Those who enjoy all things Scottish will be entertained with special talks, music, highland dancing, spinning and weaving, calligraphy, traditional food (here’s a great chance to try haggis!), and lots of family activities. Capping off the afternoon will be the opportunity for everyone to join in Ceilidh dancing featuring the Riverside Celtic College Celtic Ensemble and Ceilidh caller Kari Kokko.

A full itinerary of special presentations continues throughout the afternoon. Starting at 1:15 pm, the haggis will be piped in and Don Dewar will entertain with a presentation of Ode to a Haggis. At 1:30 pm, enjoy a talk on The History of Scottish Bagpipes by Robin Aggus followed at 2 pm with a lecture entitled 21st Celtic Folkways: The Evolution of Transferred Ways with Lynn Boland Richardson. At 2:30 pm, members of the award-winning Mary Ellen Cann School of Highland Dance will perform. Throughout the afternoon students from Riverside Celtic College will entertain with Scottish music. Ongoing will be demonstrations and displays organized by local groups who continue to keep alive the traditions of Scotland. They include representatives from the Guelph Pipe Band, the Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games, the Guelph Guild of Handweavers and Spinners, The Royal City Calligraphy Guild, and the Centre for Scottish Studies at the University of Guelph. Visitors will also enjoy sampling haggis and oatcakes and participating in the many hands-on activities planned for the day.

Norfolk Street United Church is located at 75 Norfolk St. (corner of Norfolk and Cork). Cash only admission for this event: Adults- $6.00, Seniors, Students and Children - $4.00, Families $12.00. Please contact Guelph Museums at 519-836-1221 or visit guelph.ca/museum for more information.

Survey confirms one-in-four Canadians really do suffer from 'Turkey Brain'

Top cure is to mix it up with a variety of other food

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, January 6, 2011 /Canada NewWire/ - Boston Pizza International today released the results of a new Ipsos survey that shows 24 per cent (or almost one in four) Canadians agree they suffer from 'Turkey Brain' during this time of year. Turkey Brain has been described as a condition caused by eating too much turkey and turkey leftovers during the holiday season. Symptoms may include: sluggishness, confusion, sleepiness, tongue depression, forgetfulness and the turkey sweats.

The poll also found 54 per cent of Canadians admit to over-indulging on eating certain types of food like turkey over the holidays. Now that the holidays are over, 46 per cent of respondents claimed they wanted to sink their teeth into some different food - anything but turkey.

"At this time every year many of us experience a need to change things up, as well as an appetite for anything but turkey; we just never had a name for it before. This survey confirms it - 'Turkey Brain' is for real, "said Steve Silverstone, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Boston Pizza International. "Boston Pizza is the perfect place to put an end to turkey brain with more than100 delicious non-turkey menu items, a relaxed and welcoming environment, and cheerful staff all here to make you happy."

The poll of 1,024 Canadians adults was conducted between December 23 and December 28, 2010 and is considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20:

Other findings from the poll include:

...33 per cent of Canadians say the term 'turkey brain' captures the way they feel after eating many big meals over the holiday season

...35 per cent of Canadians feel like they eat the same meal over and over again over the holidays

...39 per cent of Canadians say by the end of the holiday season they are sick of turkey

Among those who admit to suffering from turkey brain

...33 per cent say their favourite cure for 'Turkey Brain' is to mix it up with a wide variety of food

...18 per cent say it is to spend more time with people who make them happy

...15 per cent say it is to get back to foods they love all year round (like pizza)

To help Canadians fight the battle against Turkey Brain guests visiting their local Boston Pizza will find more than 100 different non-turkey menu items including a feature sheet of selections such as goat cheese and spinach dip as a starter, pesto chicken burger, BP macaroni and cheese or capriny goat cheese pizza as a main, and delicious apple crisp for dessert.

In addition, Boston Pizza has launched a fully-integrated marketing campaign supported by TV, radio, online advertising and a Facebook App to raise awareness for the symptoms of Turkey Brain. The campaign also features Boston Pizza's new tagline, "Here To Make You Happy" and was created by Taxi Canada Inc. with media buying by PHD.

For more information about Boston Pizza and Turkey Brain, visit www.bosonpizza.com