“The Foster Memorial” by Charlene D. Jones

You want an architectural delight, somewhere to hear great music made better by extraordinary acoustics and exquisite beauty of an, oh, say exotic nature. You find this and more every Friday night in the unsung Foster Memorial.

Mr. Foster, heir to a huge estate, former Mayor of Toronto, left Canada to explore the globe. When he reached the Taj Mahal he found what his heart needed: an architecture to bring back to his native Ontario.

Just north of the modestly populated and densely artistic town of Uxbridge, south of Leaksdale, this unique building sprouts suddenly on the East side of the highway.

That’s not all. Every Friday night from April until October a tiny group of volunteers united in their love for the Foster offer an hour of excellent music. Often springing from local talent such as the stunning jazz guitarist Chris Saunders who features his equally talented son Joel Saunders, the Foster also magnetizes what is rare in music.

For instance the Shimoda Family Consort appears. Their classic renditions of Baroque music entertains as much through the original instruments, harpsichord, medieval oboe, and this seven foot high reed instrument as through their studied delivery.

Notice the inside of the Foster building. Yes those are tiles to your right, intricate tiles in rose patterned details. Let your eye linger shortly on the beveled top of the pillars, marble pillars that is and recognize the flourish of stone and pattern throughout the building’s interior.

You may recognize a bit of the Foster from a recent episode of Murdoch Mysteries. Volunteers have captured the Grail cups used in that episode and placed them proudly on display in front of the altar.

Alas, the Friday evening concerts are over for the season, but the next event at the Foster will be a reading of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol and a seasonal sing-a-long on Sunday, November 20, 2016. Doors open at 1:30, program starts at 2:00. 

For more information including maps, a list of upcoming events and directions go here. 

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Charlene Jones escaped from three days as hostage to two armed criminals when she was just 16. Within a year she met her meditation teacher, the contentious Namgyal Rinpoche. Through his teachings on Visualization Ms. Jones created a life of health, vitality and joy in spite of her early trauma. This is her testimony to how we all have the power to heal. Her book Medicine Buddha / Medicine Mind is available from Amazon here.

See Brian Henry’s schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Newmarket, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, St. John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

See Brian Henry’s schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, St. John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.