Paddling News

Peterborough, Ontario - A former Lakefield College School student is celebrating his love for pottery and canoeing in Canada's north with an artwork presentation at the Canadian Canoe Museum being opened by an old schoolmate - Prince Andrew.

Legacy Wild, which runs from May 10 to June 1, is "very much about how my two worlds merge," artist Allan Pace told The Examiner from his pottery studio in Orangeville yesterday.

Next to being an artist, Pace is also an avid wilderness canoeist which he was first exposed to as a student at Lakefield College School more than 30 years ago.

Pace, who became an artist after graduation, said he didn't realize at first how his experiences in the far north when he was exposed to "beautiful landscapes and having his eyes wide open" would influence his work in the studio.

Soon, whenever he was canoeing, he would think of his pots and vice versa.

Pace has continued his canoe tripping and he and wife Lin Ward now run a canoe tripping company, Canoe North Adventures, based in the Yukon.

It was also at Lakefield College School that Pace first met his now friend, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, who was on an exchange at the time.

It was with the Duke that Pace went on his first major three-week canoe trip in the Arctic on the Coppermine River.

Pace said he and the Duke of York have kept in touch since school and "share the same spirit of adventure."

Last year, Pace, the Duke and several other former classmates made a canoe trip to the north again.

The Duke is now patron to the museum and is slated to be on hand for opening day on May 10, Pace said.

"I'm thrilled that he is coming and making time in his busy schedule."

The display will also include storyboards, made by Pace's wife, depicting some of their adventures and shedding light on some of the designs Pace has come up with for his pottery.

Manager retiring
Leadership at the Canadian Canoe Museum is undergoing some changes. General manager Janice Griffith has announced she will retire April 30.

Longtime community leader Pat Hooper will join the museum as interim manager for four months to, among other things, assist with the recruiting, hiring and orienting of a new manager in June or July.

Museum curator James Raffan will head up the museum as executive director moving from one-third time to half-time schedule, commuting from his home north of Kingston.

The museum's annual general meeting is slated for May 14 at 7 p.m.

Article Source: The Peterborough Examiner