The painting “Truth” by Jan Traversy, which measures 6 feet by eight feet, will be on display at the O’Connor Gallery in Gananoque until the New Year. Lorraine Payette
(Gananoque, ON – November 24, 2025) “Truth” has come to Gananoque in a very big way at the O’Connor gallery. The black and white painting by Jan Traversy measures 6 feet by 8 feet in size and depicts a scene from her imagination that brings home all the horrors of the war in Gaza and especially the deprivation experienced by the children there.
Nik Giannakouras and Mary Donevan will be opening The Soup Kitchen of Gananoque in December, offering a free meal five days a week to those in need. It will be located inside Moroni’s restaurant on the bar side. Photo by Lorraine Payette
(Gananoque, ON – November 25, 2025) Food insecurity is a reality for far too many people in the world today, and too many people are ashamed to admit that they suffer from it. With exorbitant prices that are unmet by increases in income, food banks are seeing their usage increase on an almost daily basis and people who have lost their homes through whatever means find themselves hunting for any way in which they can feed themselves and still retain a sense of human dignity. It isn’t confined to larger population centres, but finds its home in small towns and villages, rural areas – anywhere that there are people, there is hunger.
“Our vision and mission are simple,” said Mary Donevan of Donevan’s in Gananoque. “The soup kitchen is complimentary and for anyone and everyone who wants to experience the hospitality of this community; to make friendships, connections and supports over a shared meal; to overcome social issues such as loneliness, addressing food security needs, including for young families. It is for outreach making new residents and guests feel welcome and to provide a nutritious meal five days a week to those who may have difficulty doing this for themselves at this time.”
The grave that they dug him had flowers Gathered from the hillsides in bright summer colours And the brown earth bleached white at the edge of his gravestone He’s gone…
(The Grave – Don McLean)
The cenotaph Honour Guard was provided by the 21 Electonic Warfare Regiment/212th Squadron. photo by Lorraine Payette
(Gananoque, ON – November 11, 2025) A bleak and somber autumn sky hung over Gananoque on November 11 as area residents gathered at the cenotaph in Town Hall Park to participate in the annual Remembrance services. Despite a thin blanket of snow on the ground, people of all ages filtered in to pay their respects to all those area men who had passed in service to Canada since WWI, filling the grounds with reverent reflection.
(Lansdowne, ON) For some, Remembrance is a single service that they may or may not attend on a single day in November. They gather in parks and auditoriums, churches and other venues to spend an hour considering the great sacrifices of those who gave their lives that they might still live free in the land that they love.
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 – the day and time when the Armistice was signed, bringing an end to the fighting. While not the end of the war, it was the key that brought peace after years of unprecedented bloodshed. The anniversary of this signing is what is celebrated on Remembrance Day each year.
Pride on full display – the official parade stops at the rainbow walk in Gananoque. (Lorraine Payette)
(Gananoque, ON – June 1, 2025) Pride Week exploded over Gananoque in a living rainbow of colour and enthusiasm as the Gananoque Pride Alliance (GPA) held their annual festival of events from May 28 through June 1. Throughout the town events were held ranging from flag raising to the annual pride parade down King Street and many things in between.
The train bridge in Gananoque as it appeared in November, 2024. (Lorraine Payette/for Gananoque Reporter)
(Gananoque, ON – June 4, 2025) The Save Our Train Bridge (SOTB) Committee faced an unexpected loss on June 3 at the meeting of Town Council in Gananoque. The room was packed with people, many of them supporters of the SOTB who got up to ask questions and state their views in support of the historic bridge. Only one person spoke in opposition.
Painters (l-r) Rosalyn Insley and Valerie Spence-Hounsell brought a selection of landscapes to the Before the Summer Collectible Art Show and Sale held at the Firehall Theatre in Gananoque in 2024. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network
Martha Stroud of the Before the Summer Art Show and Sale has gone out of her way to invite another group of artists to Gananoque to participate in this annual event held at the Firehall Theatre, 185 South Street, Gananoque, Ontario. Starting as in 2016 as Art at the Inn at the Gananoque Inn and Spa, the event has grown and changed and moved to its present location. In their official tenth year (although not the tenth show thanks to COVID shutting them down for two years) Stroud feels that they have surpassed their standard of quality, and they continue to bring the best artists to Gananoque.
Liberal candidate Lorna Jean Edmonds (Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes) spoke to about 100 people at the O’Connor Gallery in Gananoque before heading on to the All-Candidates event held in Brockville on April 16. With the election on April 28, all of the candidates are getting their last best push on to collect votes for their party. Lorraine Payette/for Gananoque Reporter
(Gananoque, ON April 16, 2025) Election Day is on April 28 and in these highly volatile times everyone’s vote counts more than it ever did before. This year in Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, five candidates are running for MP. There can only be one winner, and people are trying to make their best choice, the one that will best serve all of Canada and not just their local region.
Two cheques in the amount of $500 each were presented by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 92 and their Auxiliary to Linklater Public School (LPS) to assist with their breakfast club. L-r, Olga Massicotte (LPS), Christina Gordan (L.A. Treasurer), Bruce McLeod (LPS), Bob Howard (Branch 92 President), Gananoque Deputy Mayor Vicki Leakey, and Cliff Willams (Gananoque Police).supplied by RCL Br. 92 LA
(Gananoque, ON – December 20, 2024) On December 20, the Branch 92 Royal Canadian Legion in Gananoque and their the Ladies Auxiliary presented cheques in the amounts of $500 each ($1,000 total per school) to both the Linklater Public School and St. Joseph Catholic School to be used to support their breakfast programs. This funding helps to alleviate food insecurity among the students at the schools, contributing to a better learning experience for all.
The haggis is royally addressed at every Robbie Burns dinner. The Branch 92 Legion in Gananoque will be celebrating Robbie Burns Day on January 19. Tickets can be purchased at the Legion. Lorraine Payette/for Postmedia Network
(Gananoque, ON – January 7, 2025) The birthday of Robert Burns, national poet of Scotland and a pioneer of the Romantic movement, is coming fast and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 92 is ready to celebrate in style. Robbie (as he is fondly called by those who appreciate him best) loved his ladies with all his heart, soul and energy, and fathered 12 children by four different women before dying of a heart condition at the age of 37. Nine of these children were by his wife, Jean Armour, who gave birth to their son Maxwell on the day that Robert died. He is believed to have produced about 400 songs and poems over the course of his short life, many of which became very popular with the public, and an astounding 10,000 people came out to pay their respects at his funeral.