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Visit our farm markets and gourmet food shopsDine on food picked fresh this morningExplore a back road lined with vibrant fall coloursDiscover a thriving arts communityRide a horse across lush green pasturesCycle or hike our extensivetrail system Be challenged by the undulating terrain of our many golf coursesAll this and more... just 45 minutes from toronto!

Collingwood

Shelburne

Alliston

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CaledonVillage Caledon

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Orangeville

The Hills ofHeadwaters

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www.thehillsofheadwaters.com

experience headwatersjust steps from toronto caledon | dufferin | erin | mono | shelburne

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Follow a road; turn on a whim; trail through the trees. At the cold rushing stream with their colours amid the green an artist’s studio… or stop at drink in the green We have vistas breath

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stop to walk down a bottom you may fi nd a speckled trout fl ashing watercress. Drop by the rim of a valley and trees and sky.that will take your away.

Follow a road; turn on a whim; trail through the trees. At the cold rushing stream with their colours amid the green an artist’s studio… or stop at drink in the green We have vistas breath

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FOODCome to dinner... and we’ll take your taste buds for a ride

ART & CULTUREIn other worlds… Through the eyes and hands and imagination of our artists

MUSICCatch the music this summer... The fun is contagious

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Pull it out, take it with you, and never got lost!

EQUINEHeadwaters HorseCountry Up close and personal

OUTDOORACTIVITIESAdventure in Headwaters is no walk in the park

FESTIVALS &EVENTSThere’s always somethinginteresting going on!

ACCOMMODATION

Experience hospitality atits fi nest in Headwaters

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The Consulate Dining Lounge in Caledon East sources local ingredients for its menu.

Come for Dinner…And we’ll take your taste buds for a ride

Midnight black raspberries, tart wild currants, bright summer jewels in a piquant sauce on warm wonton pockets of julienne guinea fowl and bok choy... fiddlehead ferns sautéed with wild garlic… roasted gold and blue potatoes… perfect tomatoes, sun warm, on a bed of sweet and bitter greens so fresh they could have been picked this morning.

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Darlene Downey, Downey’s Farm Market & Winery, Caledon

They were… barely dry from the morning dewChefs in The Hills of Headwaters take inspiration from what grows right here at home. Our farmers give them lots to consider. Sure, you will find much of what they grow right downtown at the supermarket around the corner, but in the Hills of Headwaters, tucked in out-of-the-way places, you’ll find some things you wouldn’t expect, such as red-tailed deer and Muscovy duck, heirloom tomatoes, Asian micro greens, blue oyster mushrooms, lamb’s milk cheese, Kobe style beef and fresh trout. There’s a lot of variety in our “100 Mile Diet.” And we can do it in a lot fewer than 100 miles!

Our restaurants offer a surprising choice, too—everything from the tastiest grass-fed beef hamburger to curried chickpeas and naan fresh from the tandoor… from jerk chicken as hot as Jamaica’s sun, beans and rice, to elk steak and sautéed wild mushrooms… pizza, pasta and fish ‘n’ chips. And you’ll be amazed by how much of what they serve is from “the second farm south, over on the next line.”

Long before winter loses its icy grip, we start warming up summerUnder glass and shivering sheets of plastic, the March sun warms the soil enough to start the seeds of spinach and other greens… warms it enough to plant tomatoes… and in the forests, April showers spur wild garlic and fiddleheads to shove aside autumn’s leaves to get to the sun. By May in the Hills there is so much growing you can almost feel a stirring rumble under your feet.

That’s when the markets startWednesday or Friday evening… bright and early Saturday… small caravans set up their booths and fill the street or parking lot with harvest. Early in the season, you’ll find local meats—from venison and wild boar to chicken, lamb and beef. And you can choose grass-fed, organic or free range. The earliest greens promise wonderful salads with sprouts of peas, sunflowers and more that are grown right here. You’ll find butter tarts and breads still warm from the oven… and cheeses to go with them. Some stalls will have gems from local kitchens… bright colourful preserves that stored last autumn’s sunshine on winter’s pantry shelves—some hot and spicy to today’s taste, set beside other old-fashioned standbys like corn relish and pickles.

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By June, the markets are filled with colours…Asparagus green that will look good and taste better steamed on toast with béchamel sauce… strawberry red you can serve under a cloud of whipped cream. If you get here as the season hits its peak, you’ll awaken taste buds that have been asleep for a long, long time. Of course, if you can’t wait to get home, stop at one of the many strawberry suppers we serve.

In summer, the markets hit full stride…Peaches and raspberries, rainbows of carrots, fresh peas and purple beans… and, while you can find most of these fruits and vegetables in your grocery stores, the ones in our markets are a few miles from where they grew, and a few hours at most from when they were still growing in the field.

And you can get them even fresher! Go for a drive and watch for signs at the farm gates. Stop in because, along with the new potatoes and young beets that are growing in their own fields, many farmers will offer produce from neighbours’ farms as well… preserves, too, and pies that are ready for you to pop in the oven at home. And if you want anything fresher than that, you’ll have to pick it yourself. Yes, we do that too!

The Erin Farmers’ Market is just one of many where you’ll find delicious, homegrown delights!

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Amaranth Farmers’ MarketFROM JUNE 5

Wednesdays 4:30 to 8:30pm Amaranth Municipal Office, 374028 6th Line, Amaranthwww.amaranth.ca

Caledon Farmers’ MarketFROM JUNE 8

Saturdays 9:00am to 2:00pm, 150 Queen St South, Boltonwww.caledon.ca/farmersmarket

Erin Farmers’ MarketFROM JUNE 14

Fridays 3:00 to 7:00pm, from June 29Erin Fairgrounds / Main St, Erinwww.erinfair.ca

Be sure to visit our

Farmers’ Markets during the growing season

Inglewood Farmers’ Market FROM JUNE 20

Wednesdays 3:30 to 7:00pm, 15551 McLaughlin Rd, Inglewoodwww.eatlocalcaledon.org

Orangeville Farmers’ MarketFROM MAY 11

Saturday 8:00 to1:00pm,2nd St & Broadway, Orangevillewww.marketonbroadway.ca

Pat McArthur, Heatherlea Farm Market, Caledon

You must try Pat’s homemade chicken pot pies, they’re simply delicious!

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In the fall, the cornucopia spills out onto the streetSquashes for baking, pumpkins for pies, apples to rub on your sleeve and taste right now. You’ll find bushels and pecks of fruits and vegetables to take home for your own preserves. So much colour, so many tastes, so much freshness—you’re bound to be as inspired as our chefs.

In fact, you’ll also find chefs at the market, picking up last minute needs for tonight’s offering. They’re easy to spot. They know the vendors’ names, and don’t just buy a few; they pick up a whole basketful. And isn’t that the perfect excuse to stay for the weekend? Ask the chef where his restaurant is located. It may be right in town, just a little way out, or a drive through the trees down a winding road that follows the river.

The menu will astound you. Our wine lists are surprisingly eclectic. In fact, some of the beers and wines you’ll find are made right here. When dinner is served, the creativity in the kitchen will fill all of your senses. You’ll dive into colours, aromas and tastes—a whole new experience.

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Jason Perkins, Ray’s 3rd Generation Bistro Bakery, Alton

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Evan Besley, Besley Country Market, Shelburne

Wayne Speers, Speers Farms, Amaranth

In the morning they’re still growing, in the evening they’re on your plate!

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Stay the night, tooWe have inns, hotels and B&Bs where they might well be serving what grows here—wild boar bacon, and eggs with yolks so yellow they look like the sun is rising on your plate. There’ll be hearty breads for toasting, raspberry and strawberry preserves… even the coffee may be free trade sourced and roasted at a little place down the street.

What to do for the rest of the day? Follow a road; turn on a whim; stop to walk down a trail through the trees. At the bottom you may find a cold rushing stream with speckled trout flashing their colours amid the green watercress. Drop by an artist’s studio… or stop at the rim of a valley and drink in the green trees and sky. We have vistas that will take your breath away.

Come to town and stop for lunch… and on your way home, pick up something ready to cook. A store in town will have a tagine or paella all ready to warm up and serve. A farm sign may offer a savoury chicken potpie you could just pop in the oven. Make sure you grab some fresh greens for salad, berries for dessert, and maybe pick up a bottle of cider or wine with a taste as fresh as the fruit in the field.

The Hills of Headwaters… we’re close by, yet in some ways a world apart. Whether you’re here for a day, a weekend or longer, you’ll go home filled to the brim with fresh air and country sunshine, all warm with friendly conversation, taste buds still tingling, and inspired to come back again.

Peter Hardy, Broadway Farm’s Market, Caledon

Peter makes a variety of fresh additive-free sausages every week, using locally sourced pork.

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The world has opened. Under the bright blue sky… rolling hills and sharp cliffs, trees trees trees… and a distant open field where cattle are grazing. Far below, the bright glint of a tumbling stream echoes the sunlight.

As you drive down the hill, that moment fades to memory. Why, you wonder, can’t you capture and save what your eyes can see?

We do.In the Hills of Headwaters our artists find inspiration all around…

and you’ll find them wherever you look. The sign you just passed points to a lane between rows of sugar maples leading to a studio. That artist set up an easel beside the road where you stopped, and has given the view another life. You really should see what he sees.

Our artists are not only inspired by what they see, but also by what they touch and hear. Old trees are turned into bowls to reveal the marvellouscolours, hills and valleys in the grain… or they are carved into shapes you have to feel to fully appreciate. Ancient rocks are polished and set in mosaicsor hammered with steel into sculptures. Nature’s sounds inspire music and song. Even the words of our people are grist for stories and plays.

IN OTHER WORLDS…through the eyes and hands and imaginations of our artists

On a whim you turn down a road just to see where it goes… quietly through trees and quick shafts of sunlight. As you leave the dappled shade and crest a gentle rise, you have to stop because what you see takes your breath away.

Ken Hall, sculptor,Shelburne

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Our artists are easy to findYou can walk down Broadway in Orangeville. See a Theatre Orangeville play by a writer who grew up in the hills. Walk on the creaking floors of Dragonfly Arts on Broadway, marvel at the art on the walls and talk to the artists as they work. In Shelburne you can hear the music that has passed down through generations, and talk to the musicians who play the same fiddles their great grandfathers played. In Alton you can spend a day in the studios of Alton Mill where, one winter’s night, the black smoke and hot fire of birch bark made a steel sculpture glow in the dark. Bolton and Caledon, Melville and Erin, Belfountain and Cataract, Hillsburgh and Terra Nova… almost every small town and village is home to a studio or at least an artist or two.

Lyn Westfall, artist, Caledon East

Pat Burns Wendland, handweaver, Mulmur

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September 21 & 22

Hills of Erin Studio Tour 2013 marks the 25th Annual Hills of Erin Studio Tour. The studios have changed from year to year. The artists themselves have evolved and grown. The tour will take you from Erin, down the back roads and along the old highways, to other villages and out of the way places. Follow the tour and you will discover the knits of Benitta Wilcox, light captured in blown glass by Kathryn Thomson, Annette Dyon’s view of the Hills in oils, acrylic and encaustic mediums, clay shaped by Rosalinde Baumgartner’s hand… these are just a few of the artists.

Look for special events and previews to celebrate the anniversary.

We can show you where to goFor decades, annual studio tours have guided visitors to artists they’d have never found otherwise. Their works you have probably seen—illustrating books you’ve read to your children, on display in the Dufferin County Museum, the AGO and other downtown galleries, as bronzes standing guard in front of office towers in distant cities, as well as pieces in the Vatican, presidential and royal collections. But their studios are found by following maps down the back roads.

An artist may be in her own studio, eager to talk about the work and its inspiration; to show you the looms and yarns from sheep and alpaca that grazed the nearby hills; to show you the process where a lump of clay takes an ancient Chinese shape, or how a glass rod becomes a bead surrounding a miniature world. She may serve fresh fruit, cheeses and homemade cookies, perhaps a glass of wine and, on a cool fall day, a steaming cup of mulled cider to take away the chill. In other places, the artists come together in casual co-ops. In the converted drive shed you’ll find acrylics and watercolours, clay and bronze, jewellery that was handmade, bead-by-bead, or shaped in silver and gold. In the back of the barn, extraordinary tables and chairs still hold the curves of the trees they were made from.

Kathryn Thomson,glass artist, Grand Valley

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Let us work with your ideasIn the Hills of Headwaters, you can even commission our artists to sculpt or paint your inspiration. You can bring pieces of wood for them to shape, or ask them to make a unique service for your dining table alone. Come. Engage our artists. Seek out the Tours and Open Houses. Take part in celebrations. Or, best of all, get in your car and take a back road just to see where it goes… and make your own discoveries.

Hugh Russel,sculptor, Mulmur

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In Alton you can spend a day in the studios of Alton Mill where, one winter’snight, the black smoke and hot fi re ofbirch bark made a steel sculpture glow in the dark. Bolton and Caledon, Melville and Erin, Belfountain and Cataract, Hillsburgh and Terra Nova… almost every small town and village is home to a studio or at least an artist or two.

Lynda Grant, The Bartlett Gallery, Alton

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The young fiddler takes the last step up to the platform and hesitates, unsure. His left fist clutches the neck of his fiddle; the right holds the bow. The audience feels his stage fright and waits, understanding. The judges quickly look down at their notes, making sure they have the right name.

Xavier Leahy, age 10, from Orangeville, has competed at theFiddle Championship in Shelburne for the past three years.

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Now at centre stage, he lifts fiddle to chin and his finger inadvertently plucks the D. The sound in his ears is so familiar and comforting; he relaxes and remembers what he’s up here to do. Faintly smiling, he raises the bow, the judges look up, and the audience leans forward to hear.

With liquid wrist and sure fingers he plays a tune he learned from his father, who learned it from his father, and so on through generations to the Old Country. The tune has hardly changed. In four minutes or less—and not one split second more—he’ll play a waltz, a jig and a reel. The audience will be hard-pressed to keep still. They love this music, know it well and have sometimes been inspired to get up and dance in the aisles. They just don’t want to waste a good tune.

After sixty-plus years we know how to have a good time!The Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Championship in Shelburne began more than sixty years ago. The thought came up during a Rotary Club bridge marathon. They were looking for another fundraiser. The first contest in 1951 had 44 entries. In a few short years, more than 100 came to compete and audiences have swelled to four thousand and more. While the number of contestants varies from year to year, the Friday night playdowns have sometimes lasted ‘til the sun comes up on Saturday morning. That’s when all the contestants get up and play together and—except for the youngsters, asleep on their fathers’ shoulders—everyone in the audience gets up, too, and dances along. Now the competition starts earlier in the day, with the playdowns beginning Friday afternoon.

On Saturday, The Finals… contestants have been winnowed down and, by the end of the evening, the best in each class claims his prize. Not always men. Women have earned titles as well… all ages too; contestants have ranged from ten to more than 80 years. They have brought their fiddles from as far off as Halifax, St. John, Springhill and Montreal… Weyburn, Fork River and Edmonton… Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Kentucky. In fact, from 1953 to ’59 the Novelty Class was awarded to a fiddler from Kentucky named “Sleepy” Marlin.

Guest artists add their own kind of funAt times through the years, we’ve had guest artists entertain as well, performers that include Sylvia Tyson, Don Harron, Gordie Tapp, Carol Baker, the Cape Breton Symphony, Dave Broadfoot, John McDermott, Natalie MacMaster and more. What began as a weekend contest has become a weeklong celebration.

Campers start rolling in early. Fiddle Park Campground, on the outskirts of town, has more than 500 trailer sites, and fans make their homes in everything from fifth wheels to tent trailers. So much goes on at the campground—impromptu jams and more—a lot of people make this their weekend destination. This year, some campers will come for Greg Holmes’ “Pickin’ In the Park” and just stay.

catch the musicthe fun is contagious ...

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Dust off your fiddle, tune your guitar, and come play for your dinner!Two weeks before the Fiddle Contest (July 26-28), country music fans and musicians will gather at the Fiddle Park Campground for a weekend of music, food, raffles and more. There’s even a “Trailer Trash Yard Sale” in the park. So bring the camping gear you’ve got gathering dust in the garage and check out the other vendors for real bargains! Don’t forget your guitar, banjo, fiddle, spoons… and get ready to play!

Pickin’ In the Park is an expansion of Greg Holmes’ biweekly jam sessions. Every second Sunday from November to April, Shelburne Arena warms up with music and song performed by anyone who wants to par-ticipate. There’s a dinner, too, and everyone who has the nerve to get up on the stage to play eats free.

Of course, the big weekend is The 63rd Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Contest... August 7 to 11, when Canada’s top fiddlers compete for more than $17,000 in prizes. Fiddleville weekend is so big that it starts Wednesday, with the Battle of the Bands.

On Thursday evening, Everything Fitz entertains with bluegrass, swing, Celtic and, of course, fiddle music. This six-piece group has roots in the Canadian old time fiddle tradition and Ottawa Valley step dancing. Julie Fitzgerald is the 2009 Canadian Grandmasters Fiddle Champion. In 2010 she stepped up to win the Canadian Grandmasters and the Canadian Open. Her brother Tom is no slouch either. He won both the 2012 Canadian Open Fiddle Championship as well as the Canadian Grand Masters. Go ahead, try to keep your feet still while this group is on the stage!

Along with the Fitz Family, two special guest artists will add their entertainment—Emily Flack and Nate Douglas. Emily has brought her song and dance to the stage with both Leahy and Natalie MacMaster, and Nate’s guitar skill has also been part of the Natalie MacMaster show.

Friday afternoon the young competitors—nine and under, 12 and under —as well as the young at heart—56-plus—will begin the playdowns that continue that night. Bright and early Saturday morning there’s an open-air market and, in the afternoon, the giant Fiddleville Parade rolls through town. For those not in the mood for floats and bands, fiddle music and more, there’s a fiddle and stepdance show that afternoon in the arena.

The food is non-stopRight after the nondenominational church service on Sunday morning, there’s a huge Community Barbecue. In fact, there’s something cook-ing 24 hours a day all weekend long. Again this year, the Saturday Night competition finals will be interspersed with lively music to give fans the chance to get up and dance without disturbing competitors.

Something about fiddle music just makes you want to move. It starts with the long drawn out note that begins so many jigs and reels, followed by the foot stamp that starts the dance. It’s music of another time—when wintry barns would warm up Saturday night with a hot wood stove and all the neighbours dancing. Before music was recorded, fiddlers and banjo players were in demand… and would play long into morning. With aching arms, they’d have just enough left to saw through one more slow waltz, and everyone would head home. Still today, the spirited tunes and infectiousrhythms set toes a-tapping.

August 7–11

Ticket prices and times for The 63rd Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Champion-ship events(Please note that the start times for Saturday afternoon and evening shows have changed):

Event Package (Thursday evening, Friday all day, Saturday afternoon and evening) Adults: $45, Children: $22 (12 Years and Under)

Everything Fitz Thursday, 7:30 p.m.Adults: $20, Children: $10 (12 Years and Under)

Competition Playdowns Friday, 1:00 pm and 7:00 pmAdults: $10, Children: $3 (12 Years and Under)

Fiddle/Stepdance Show Saturday, 3:15 pmAdults: $7, Children: $2 (12 Years and Under)

Fiddle Championship Saturday, 6:00 pmAdults: $20, Children: $10 (12 Years and Under)

Tickets are available by phone at 519 925 8620 or in person at Holmes Appliances, 135 Main Street West in Shelburne.

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headwaters horse countryup close and personal

You don’t have to wait until 2015 to see equine excellence30

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In the summer of 2015, horse-and-rider partners in Dressage, Show Jumping and Eventing, representing the best of 41 nations in the Americas and the Carib-bean, will be in the Hills of Headwaters for the TORONTO 2015TM Pan American and Parapan American Games. But why wait? There are plenty of reasons to experience Canada’s unique equestrian region today!The Pan American Games are big—as far as international multi-sport games go, only the Summer Olympics and Asian Games are larger—and they’re coming to the right place. The Hills of Headwaters region is the centre of all things equine, home to some of the country’s premier horse breeding farms, coaching and training facilities, riding schools, boarding stables, equestrian ranches, and a wide range of equestrian events. It’s a special place, located just a quick trip from Toronto, the fourth largest city in North America.

You don’t have to be a pro or even an equestrian to enjoy what the Hills of Headwaters offers. There’s no shortage of horse-related activi-ties and events at Fall Fairs, local farms that host competitions, and stables that offer trail rides or lessons for first-timers or veterans.

You don’t have to wait until 2015 to see equine excellence up close—the Caledon Equestrian Park is already an equine showcase. Since competitions began here more than 20 years ago, the Park has hosted 15 World Cup qualifiers, four Pan American Game selection

You don’t have to wait until 2015 to see equine excellence

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trials, two Olympic selection trials and more than 150 National Grand Prix events. It’s also one of the favourite showgrounds of equestrians who treat their hobby very seriously and compete on the Trillium, higher level “A” or Western circuits through the summer show season. That’s only a tiny sampling of the activities visitors can experience at only one of the many equine attractions in the region.

Another is the OAS Event Centre in the Town of Mono, home to Caledon Dressage competitions (aka shows) with all levels of horse and rider com-binations. Orangeville Showjumping Tournaments are in July and August, drawing national team members, professionals, newcomers and weekend equestrians who work hard to perfect their equine skills. In March, the Centre hosts the Can-Am Equine Emporium, a fiesta of horse-related features—breeders, industry suppliers, demonstrations and lots of shop-ping! In June, the Women Horse Owners Association (WHOA) presents Equi-fest 2013, a friendly, entertaining and educational day for horse lovers.

Plan a day to treat yourself to an early morning in the Hills. There’s nothing like first light and air that’s fresh and cool with the sun just rising. Pick a show—choose from the local farms that host schooling shows, or a pony club event, or a western show featuring reining, barrel racing, showmanship or even team penning. Get there early, before the start of classes (the competition phases) and watch horse trailers roll in, horses unload and then warm up. Pack lawn chairs, sun gear and bring a picnic, but save room for on-site food, as many hosts offer their own breakfast-on-a-bun and lunchtime BBQ faves.

While you’re there, take a few minutes to watch a horse hand graze. That’s when the handler has a horse on a lead and allows it to enjoy a few minutes of nibbling. It’s mesmerizing… notice how the horse delicately picks certain blades, avoids others and carefully breaks the grass to leave the roots to continue growing.

If you think a horse is cute, has a great tail or long eyelashes, go ahead and start a conversation. Most horse people love to talk about their horses and are happy to tell you all about their personalities,abilities, favourite scratching spots, and just about anything else. Take advantage of quiet times between classes to ask about a horse’s age, its breed, its training, and about the rider too. You could discover that the person is a lifetime equestrian, or got involved with horses starting with a simple drive in the country.

Looking for a riding experience? One of the many places available is Teen Ranch in Caledon. It’s the site of a variety of shows over the summer, and also offers trail rides and lessons. For a cowboy experi-ence, Rawhide Adventures in Shelburne offers trail-riding and camps for kids and adults—with and without cows!

In September, take the Headwaters Stable Tour, when area facilities host an open house. Visit horses of all breeds—draft horses, Gypsy Vanners, Arabians and more—and those working in a range of disciplines—English, Western, driving and others. Meet the people who love, train and take care of them. Remember the Fall Fair season too, with horse shows featured at most of the fairs held in towns across the region. The finale is in Erin on Thanksgiving weekend.Through the fall and winter, many barns invite expert riders, drivers,

The CanAm Equine Expo takes place at the OAS Event Centre in the Town of Mono.

Rope somecattle on aRawhide Adventure.

Experience outdoor equine fun with CadoganFarm Adventures.

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coaches and trainers to hold clinics in specific disciplines. These training sessions are open to both participants and people who like to watch and learn. If you’re interested in the technical aspects of working with horses, clinics are unique opportunities to see professionals teach.

The horse experience is just part of a visit to the Hills. Be amazed by lush pastures and, if you’re lucky with your timing in the summer, watch as hay that’s been cut and left to dry in fields gets rolled into 800-pound bales or easy-to-feed small squares. Plan a few hours to take in local towns for farm-fresh produce or an afternoon snack or dinner, or stay awhile at a B&B or campground. If you spot a tack shop—specializing in things for horses and horse people—stop in and perhaps pick up the perfect pair of authentic cowboy boots or the latest in equestrian fashion.

Horses are addictive! If you are the type of person who can’t resist running over to say hello to a police horse on patrol in the city, or if you just like horses and want to get an up-close peek into the equine world, plan a visit to our Horses in the Hills.

Start early in the season... because there’s so much to experience and you’ll want to see it all!

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Since competitionsbegan here more than 20 years ago, Caledon Equestrian Park has hosted 15 World Cup qualifiers, four Pan American Game selec-tion trials, two Olympic selection trials and more than 150 National Grand Prix events.

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the people (and horses!) are coming!Set in the rolling hills of Caledon, the Caledon Equestrian Park, a municipally-owned facility, nestled in Palgrave and well-known for its stunning setting and world-class events, has been selected to host the dressage and show jumping competitions during the 2015 Pan Am Games. As the equestrian hub in Ontario, the Park has hosted 15 World Cup qualifiers, four Pan American Game selection trials, two Olympic selection trials and more than 150 National Grand Prix events.

The excitement for the Games is already building in the Town of Caledon, as preparations are underway to welcome competitors from the 41 member nations of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) and 26 member nations of the Americas Paralympic Committee (APC), for one of the world’s largest international multi-sport events. The Pan American Games are comprised of all Olympic Summer Games sports, as well as traditional Pan American sports. Dressage and jumping competitions will be held at the Caledon Equestrian Park as part of the TORONTO 2015 games. Overall, the TORONTO 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games will draw more than 10,000 athletes, coaches and team officials and feature 51 sports in municipalities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. Mark your calendar now for July 10−26, 2015, and come and see the world’s most athletic and skilled horse and rider duos at the Park.

Throughout the Town over the next two years, cultural activities will welcome the spirit of the Games. July 10, 2013 and 2014 will celebrate milestone countdown dates, and we hope you will join the festivities!Watch www.caledon.ca/panam for updates on the progress at the park, how to get involved, cultural activities, torch relay details and more.

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There’s every chance to get outdoors and enjoy the natural bounty of the Hills of Headwaters in all seasons, with dozens of parks and a web of trails coursing throughout the region. The conservation areas and various tracts are open to recreational activities of every kind—hiking, biking, swimming, skiing, snowshoeing, and all sorts of soft adventure. Visitors come from everywhere to play outside in one of the most beautiful areas in Southern Ontario.

There’s an increasing number of options to choose from. On a hot, clear day last August, thousands gathered in Albion Hills Conservation Area for Ontario’s first Mud Hero event. Over the course of the day, the runners would trek the 6km trail laid out for them, over, under and through 15 obstacles—from high walls, mud pits and fire poles to haunted houses and nets of rope—also enduring the natural obstacle of the hills from which the park gets its name.

The Mud Hero event is part of a new sport of adventure racing that challenges the runner’s determination and stamina in different ways than a road marathon. Taking inspiration from military boot camps—in fact, sometimes designed by military special forces—these all-terrain courses present runners with a set of obstacles that introduce elements of danger you’d never see in a marathon—fire, for instance, or heights.

Adventure races like the Tough Mudder are an intimidating test of endurance and resolve and tend to attract the hardier types. Mud Hero, on the other hand, was designed for people of all types and states of physical condition.

“We wanted to make sure people are safe,” said Ted McLeod, the “safety guy” on the Mud Hero team who helped design the course. “My 65-year-old mother could do this course.”

Ted’s been involved with races for 15 years and works with brothers and fellow Mud Hero co-founders Adam and Sean Ruppel with Chico Racing, a company that’s been promoting mountain biking events in Southern Ontario for nearly two decades. They saw the popularity of adventure racing and the way it tends to exclude those who aren’t training all year, and so drafted their own take on the activity that would be open to everyone.

“These types of events appeal to a broader audience,” said Ted. “We saw a market, we saw a need, and we wanted to keep it Canadian.” While they still include some military-type obstacles, the focus is less on the brutality of the course and more on its enjoyment.

“It’s like being a kid all over again,” said Ted. “You get a little dirty but you have fun while you’re doing it.”

outdoor adventure...is no walk in the park

Mud Hero takes place at Albion Hills Conservation Area on August 24.

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The 6km trail isn’t a walk in the park, however. On top of the obstruc-tions and constructions that Ted and the rest of the Mud Hero team have placed along the trail, the rivers, lakes, and rolling hills of the park provide natural obstacles. “It’s just a great area, from the natural perspective,” said Ted.

The area was specially selected by the team, as they are very familiar with the terrain—for the past 15 years they’ve been building and maintain-ing the paths in the park. “When we came to run Mud Hero, it didn’t even cross our minds to go anywhere else,” said Ted. “There’s so much we can do here from a course perspective.”

And designing the course only took about a week. “It didn’t take us very long because we have such a good knowledge of the area,” said Ted. “You can blindfold any of us, spin us around and drop us off in the forest, and we’ll know perfectly well where we are.”

Another draw was the gorgeous landscape, and the chance to bring others to the beauty the Mud Hero team sees every day on the trails in Albion Hills. “We wanted to get them out of the city, get them into the awe-some place that is this place,” said Ted. “If you actually stop and look, you’ll see how beautiful this place is.”

The event will take place again this coming August 24th at Albion Hills Conservation Area, as well as in several other locations across Canada.

“People will be excited,” said Ted. “People will be a little scared. They’re gonna get dirty, they’re gonna be sweaty, but they’re gonna have a lot of fun.”

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MAYWeekly, all seasonTUESDAY HIKESCaledon Hills Bruce Trail Clubwww.caledonbrucetrail.org

May 8 to June 2 ART4U AT THE DAM GALLERY Alton Mill Arts Centrewww.orangevilleartgroup.ca

May 18DUFFERIN COUNTY MUSEUM SPRING BUS TOURwww.dufferinmuseum.com

May 23 to June 2 WILLY RUSSELL’S BLOOD BROTHERS Grace Tipling Hall, Shelburne www.lpstageproductionsinc.com

May 25GRAND VALLEY LIONS ANNUAL DUCK RACEwww.grandvalleylions.com

May 25SUMMER CELEBRATIONDowntown Erinwww.erin.ca

May 30 to June 2ORANGEVILLE BLUES AND JAZZ FESTIVALwww.objf.org

june June 1 PERENNIALS THAT BEAT THE HEAT WORKSHOPPlant Paradise Country Gardenswww.plantparadise.ca

June 2 15TH ANNUAL CORN FLOWER FESTIVALwww.dufferinmuseum.com

June 7, 8 & 9153RD CALEDON FAIRwww.caledonfairgrounds.ca

June 15THE 6TH ANNUAL CALEDON DAYwww.caledon.ca

June 15SHELBURNE STREET CARNIVAL CLASSIC CAR SHOWwww.townofshelburne.on.ca

JULY July 1CANADA DAY STRAWBERRY FESTIVALwww.downeysfarm.com

July 1CANADA DAY STRAWBERRY FESTIVALCaledon Agricultural Societywww.caledonfairgrounds.ca

July 1 SHELBURNE CANADA DAY FESTIVITIESwww.townofshelburne.on.ca

July 6 & 7DELPHINIUM FESTIVAL Plant Paradise Country Gardenswww.plantparadise.ca

July 12 to 14ORANGEVILLE SHOW JUMPING TOURNAMENT OAS Event Centrewww.hayesco.ca

July 19 to 23CUISINE–ART FESTIVALSample fine food and drink, and enjoy art displays at Alton Millwww.altonmill.ca

July 19 and 20ORANGEVILLE ROTARY RIBFESTwww.orangevilleribfest.com

august August 5LE TOUR DE TERRA COTTA BICYCLE ROAD RACEwww.letourdeterracotta.com

August 7 to 1063RD ANNUAL CANADIAN OPEN OLD TIME FIDDLE CHAMPIONSHIPwww.shelburnefiddlecontest.on.ca

August 10DCMA’S ANNUAL GOLF DAY FUNDRAISERwww.dufferinmuseum.com

August 11VINTAGE CAR SHOW & SHINEwww.dufferinmuseum.com

August 10 and 11RHYTHM RIBS ERIN www.rhythmribs.com

August 13 to September 1SUMMERFEAST A semi-annual celebration of exceptional cuisinewww.summerfeast.ca

August 13 to September 1CS12 ORANGEVILLEINTERNATIONAL OAS Event Centrewww.hayesco.ca

August 17 and 18DOORS OPEN THROUGHOUT THE HILLS OF HEADWATERSwww.thehillsofheadwaters.com

August 24MUD HEROAlbion Conservation Areawww.mudhero.com

SEPTEMBER September 14HEADWATERS HOUSE TOUR www.headwatershousetour.com

September 14 “THE GOOD OLD DAYS” BARN DANCEwww.dufferinmuseum.com

Sept 15 & 16, Sept 22 & 23 HISTORIC MELVILLE WHITE CHURCH TEA PARTY www.headwatersartsfestival.com

September 20 to October 6HEADWATERS ART FESTIVALThroughout The Hills Of Headwaterswww.headwatersartsfestival.com

September 21DUFFERIN COUNTY MUSEUM FALL BUS TOUR www.dufferinmuseum.com

September 21 and 22VANNER FAIR ORANGEVILLE www.vannerfair.com

September 21 to 22 HILLS OF ERIN STUDIO TOURwww.hillsoferinstudiotour.com

September 28 to October 31DOWNEY’S PUMPKIN FESTwww.downeysfarm.com OCTOBE

festivals & eventsthere’s always something interesting going on

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OCTOBER October 26 HARVEST CELEBRATIONOrangeville Farmers Marketwww.marketonbroadway.ca

NOVEMBER November 15 ERIN’S ANNUAL WINDOW WONDERLANDwww.erin.ca

November 22MOONLIGHT MAGICOrangevillewww.downtownorangeville.ca

November 23 SANTA CLAUS PARADE Downtown Orangevillewww.orangeville.ca

November 23ERIN SANTA CLAUS PARADEwww.erin.ca

November 30BOLTON KINSMAN SANTA CLAUS PARADEwww.boltonkin.com

DECEMBER December CHRISTMAS AT ALTON MILLOne of a kind gifts and events throughout the monthwww.altonmill.ca

December 7SHELBURNE SANTA CLAUS PARADEwww.townofshelburne.on.ca

December 8DUFFERIN MUSEUM CHRISTMAS CONCERT www.dufferinmuseum.com

JANUARYJanuary 18 and 19 2014FIRE AND ICEAlton Millwww.altonmill.ca

FEBRUARY Mid February to Mid March 2014WINTERFEASTA semi-annual celebration of exceptional cuisinewww.winterfeast.ca

For the latest event updates and details visit

www.thehillsofheadwaters.com

Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival, May 30 to June 2.

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Millcroft Inn & Spa55 John Street, Alton1 800 383 3976www.millcroft.com

The Top of The Hill B&B14318 Creditview Road, Cheltenham905 838 3790www.thetopofthehillbb.ca

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CALEDONPam’s Place B&B160 Church Street, Orangeville519 941 2549www.bbcanada/9103.html

Best Western Orangeville Inn & Suites7 Buena Vista Drive, Orangeville1 800 866 216 1988www.bestwesternorangeville.com

Hockley Valley Resort793522 3rd Line Mono, Orangeville1 866 462 5539www.hockley.com

The Farmer’s Walk B&B8333545 4th Line Mono E, Orangeville519 942 1775www.farmerswalkbb.com

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Published by Frontline Media on behalf of the Hills of Headwaters Tourism Association.

Executive Director: Michele Harris

Publisher: Katie Burchell

Editor: Sally Morell Text: Tony Reynolds, Rodney Barnes, Liz Borowiec Photos: Simon Burn, Lindsey Ryder, Norm Betts,The Hills of Headwaters Tourism AssociationDesign & cover illustration: SDB Creative GroupAdvertising frontlinemedia1@sympatico.ca Photos, graphics and text in this publication are copyrighted materials and may not be reproduced or reprinted without written permission.

www.thehillsofheadwaters.com

@HillsHeadwaters

/The Hills of Headwaters Tourism Association

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