Latest news with #Callander
CBC
2 days ago
- General
- CBC
North Bay area United Church congregations to mark 100th anniversary with special service on Sunday
Social Sharing United Church congregations in the North Bay area will gather Sunday for a special service to celebrate what they're calling a century of love and justice. Rev. Ted Harrison, of Trinity United, said in addition to celebrating the milestone, the service will be an opportunity to consider "what North Bay would look like if the churches did not exist, and how much the churches have contributed to the quality of life in the area." The service will be held at the community centre in Callander, starting at 11 a.m. "We're just trying to find the biggest central venue that we can all be there with a massive choir and having communion in much the same way that the church did 100 years ago at Mutual Street Arena, in a hockey arena of all places, which is where the United Church first met," Harrison told CBC News. Harrison said the United Church has changed in many ways over the last 100 years. "Now, instead of every congregation trying to do everything, we are learning to draw on our own strengths and our own particular and quirky gifts," he said. He spoke about some of the activities individual congregations are involved in, including providing a secondhand bookstore in a small community, providing foodbanks offering groceries to those in need, offering inspiration to join Indigenous powwows or march on Red Dress Day, and offering special services and vigils at tough times. "They all do things together too. Many members from these congregations join under a United Church banner to support the Gathering Place on the Coldest Night of the Year walk, or in a Pride parade," Harrison said. 'Loving your neighbour, loving even your enemy' Harrison said his birthday wish for the 100th anniversary of the United Church is that "maybe we get to be weirder … 2,000 years of Christianity, 100 years of the United Church of Canada, maybe we really get to lean into that radical love of loving the world, loving your neighbour, loving even your enemy." Caitlin Smithers, Minister at St. Andrew's United Church, said she was drawn to the church from an early age. "Growing up, I knew that I wanted to be a minister, but I needed to find a place that I could be a minister where I would be welcomed and able to be in leadership as someone who identifies as queer," Smithers told CBC News. "The United Church of Canada had always taken such a clear stance on social justice and on being there and ordaining queer ministers, and so it was a place that I felt like I could find a home in. I started taking classes in the United Church of Canada and will be ordained in less than two weeks," Smithers added. A 100th anniversary party will be held after the service with a barbecue, Sunday school picnic, games and cake. Other events on the anniversary weekend include a children's musical, Happily Ever After, at Trinity United, on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. A Stained Glass Tour of several area churches will be held on Saturday at 8:30 a.m., while Hops and Hymns, with local musicians, will be held the same day at Moose's Cookhouse, 134 Main St. West in North Bay at 6 p.m.
The Courier
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Courier
We found a wedding dress for £150 - and other bargains at Callander charity shop's bridal boutique
Wedding season of 2025 is officially upon us. And whether you're a bridesmaid, a guest, a parent or the bride, finding an outfit for a wedding can be an expensive business. Wedding gowns alone can retail for hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Luckily for Stirling and Perthshire locals, Callander boasts a bridal boutique for those on a budget. Strathcarron Hospice charity shop, on the main drag of the town, dedicates half of its premises to its Preloved Bridal Boutique. 'People travel far and wide to choose their special wedding dress, bridesmaid dress or Mother of the Bride with us,' said a representative for the charity. 'Our shop also has men's suits, so something for everyone. 'Choosing preloved is not only more economical, it is the sustainable option which more and more people are incorporating into their big day.' But what is the stock like, and would you actually wear it to a wedding? Myself and my Courier colleague Debbie Clarke took a trip to Callander to find out. And with help from store manager Ruth Mackay and volunteer Marion Strange, we put together six (almost) wedding-ready looks: The shop had bridal gowns in a range of styles, from long-sleeved 80s numbers complete with pearls and lace to sleek, modern, designer cuts. Size-wise, the wedding dresses ranged from 8-18 on the day we visited – mind you, some have been altered already, so trying on is a must. In almost no time, Debbie found her 'dream dress' – a rhinestone-adorned gown with a subtle sweetheart cut and a slightly dropped waist. The best part? It fit her like a glove. She also managed to find accessories – a tiara and some sparkly peep-toe heels – which added to the look. £150 £10 £15 £175 As well as bridal gowns, the boutique offers a lovely selection of bridesmaid dresses. When we visited, the selection went from sizes 10-20. The modern trend of having bridesmaids pick their own dresses within a set colour palette means charity shop finds are on the cards for the bride's pals more and more. I managed to find a simple, floor-length dress with hand-sewn faux pearls along the neckline in my favourite shade of blue, plus some sparkly shoes in my size. The dress was a little loose around the bust, but could have been easily altered to fit perfectly. I would definitely wear this. I also found 'something borrowed' to complete the look – a tiny metal handbag, which felt super stylish against the soft fabric. £20 £10 £10 £40 In our game of dress up, Ruth graciously joined in to play mother-of-the-bride. Somehow, she'd never tried on the merchandise in her 12 years as manager, so this was new for her. She found a stunning cream dress with intricate grey lace overlay, and a matching hat, both new with tags still on. The hat's original price tag was a whopping £249; but it was being sold here for £35. 'We have to balance the fact they're brand new clothes with the fact that this place is for charity,' Ruth explained. 'Price too high, and no one will buy it. 'Ultimately, it's better for the hospice to get some money than none at all.' And her eagle eye was a huge advantage – this dress looked much better 'on' than on the hanger. She even found some silver peep-toes heels which fit her perfectly – although she said they're 'too high' for dancing. This is why there's always so many bare feet on the dancefloor! £60 £35 £8 £103 Brides should never pick the first dress they try, so our make-believe bride for the day Debbie made sure to find a second option. This princess-cut dress had loads of fun movement on the skirt, raising genuine smiles from the other customers. Like all the dresses, it was in great nick, even down to fine details like the embroidered sparkles. £150 £10 £15 £175 For my second look, I took on the challenge of finding a guest dress. Though I couldn't find much geared towards younger buyers, this Phase Eight dress appealed to me – I love a pop of colour, and I'd been looking for an excuse to try these red shoes. The fit was comfy, and the dress itself was pristine. My only reservation is – does this count as a white dress? I wouldn't want to be that guest. £15 £8 £5.50 £28.50 Florals fall in and out of favour, but flowers never go out of style, and shop volunteer Marion Strange showed how it's done in this painterly frock. Paired with demure navy stilettos and a cheerful pink hat which complimented her purple-red hair, this look was the perfect combo of colourful and classy – ideal for a mother-of-the-bride or guest. £30 £20 £7.50 £57.50
Times
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Times
Five of the best hills for running in Scotland
Best hills in Scotland for running? We know, it's not for everyone. But if jelly legs and lungs on fire are your poison, then this top five, chosen by the authors of Wild Running, is definitely for you. A scenic eight-mile loop begins up the rising spine of the Pentland Hills from Flotterstone, climbing first to Cartheny Hill — home to a popular hill race — and then crossing to the neighbouring Scald Law, the highest in the range at 579m. The descent follows grassy trails all the way down to Loganlea Reservoir, where gentler final miles trace the Logan Burn along its dramatic, steep-sided glen to finish at Glencorse Reservoir. Rising to 879m above Loch Lubnaig, and the town of Callander, Ben Ledi
The Independent
31-01-2025
- Health
- The Independent
How to stay dry(ish) post January
Dry January may be over, but the focus on mindful drinking shouldn't be. For those who participated, the past month offered a chance to reset and reflect on our relationship with alcohol. But how do we maintain these healthier habits throughout the year? Here are ten tips to help you keep the momentum going: 1. Reflect The most important part of the Dry January challenge is the personal insight we can gain about our own relationship with alcohol. 'If you've had a fully alcohol-free 31 days, taking stock of all the benefits you've experienced, the money you've saved, the hobbies and activities you've enjoyed sans-booze, hurdles faced and more importantly, how you overcame them will help you make decisions about if, when and how much alcohol you drink in future,' says Dr Richard Piper, CEO at Alcohol Change UK. 2. Set a goal Big goals like 'cutting down' are great, but often it's the small changes that make the most impact. 'Your first step could be having an extra drink-free day in the week, only having one drink after dinner, or having soft drinks on a visit to the pub,' suggests Graeme Callander, policy lead at WithYou, a charity that provides support and advice for people struggling with drug, alcohol and mental health issues. 3. Keep a diary Before you start making any drastic changes, it's helpful to know exactly how you usually drink on a weekly basis. 'I suggest keeping a drinks diary to understand what you are drinking, in what quantity, where and when. After a week or two, you'll have a picture of your habits,' advises Callander. 'This will help you understand where to cut down, as well as allowing you to measure your progress.' 4. Buy less at the shops 'It can be tempting to buy in bulk when we're at the shops, but this makes it easy to drink more than you planned,' says Callander. 'For that reason, think about your goals and only buy what you're planning to drink.' 5. Plan non-drinking activities 'If you know you're prone to drinking a lot on the weekend, think about how you can limit that,' says Piper. 'This might be picking up a new hobby, doing activities that don't revolve around alcohol or connecting with others who are trying to cut back to share the experience.' 6. Choose no and low-alternatives 'Alcohol-free or low-alcohol drinks can be a fantastic option if you're looking for a way to cut down on your drinking,' says Karen Tyrell, CEO at Drinkaware. 'There's now a wider selection and better tasting options available than ever before.' 7. Download the MyDrinkaware app 'To help support your commitment to reducing your drinking, the MyDrinkaware app can help you set personalised targets, send reminders for drink-free days when you want them, and build a tailored action plan to keep you on track,' says Tyrell. 8. Make your intentions known 'Whether you are taking a break completely, or just having some time off, it's a good idea to tell your family and friends,' recommends Tyrell. 'Frequently reminding yourself and the people close to you why you want to stop or cut back your drinking can help keep you on track, and may even encourage someone else to cut down.' 9. Identify your triggers 'Identify the triggers which make you want to drink,' advises Dr David McLaughlan, consultant psychiatrist and addictions specialist from Priory and co-founder of the Curb Health app. 'Then develop a plan to manage or avoid those triggers.' 10. Have a support network 'You could even make a joint plan with your partner, friends or colleagues,' suggests McLaughlan. 'Last year, Curb undertook a study funded by the government's research and innovation body, InnovateUK. 'We found that when users gave up alcohol in groups or told others that they were giving us alcohol, they experienced an increase in their will power. It was almost as if they were able to selectively harness the power of peer pressure as they didn't want to let others down by drinking.'
The Independent
31-01-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Reset your alcohol habits: 10 steps to a balanced lifestyle post Dry January
As Dry January comes to a close, many of us are reflecting on our relationship with alcohol and considering how to maintain a balanced lifestyle moving forward. Whether you've spent the month abstaining or just cutting back, resetting your alcohol habits can lead to lasting positive changes. Here are 10 steps to help you maintain that momentum and create a healthier, more mindful approach to drinking year-round. 1. Reflect The most important part of the Dry January challenge is the personal insight we can gain about our own relationship with alcohol. 'If you've had a fully alcohol-free 31 days, taking stock of all the benefits you've experienced, the money you've saved, the hobbies and activities you've enjoyed sans-booze, hurdles faced and more importantly, how you overcame them will help you make decisions about if, when and how much alcohol you drink in future,' says Dr Richard Piper, CEO at Alcohol Change UK. 2. Set a goal Big goals like 'cutting down' are great, but often it's the small changes that make the most impact. 'Your first step could be having an extra drink-free day in the week, only having one drink after dinner, or having soft drinks on a visit to the pub,' suggests Graeme Callander, policy lead at WithYou, a charity that provides support and advice for people struggling with drug, alcohol and mental health issues. 3. Keep a diary Before you start making any drastic changes, it's helpful to know exactly how you usually drink on a weekly basis. 'I suggest keeping a drinks diary to understand what you are drinking, in what quantity, where and when. After a week or two, you'll have a picture of your habits,' advises Callander. 'This will help you understand where to cut down, as well as allowing you to measure your progress.' 4. Buy less at the shops 'It can be tempting to buy in bulk when we're at the shops, but this makes it easy to drink more than you planned,' says Callander. 'For that reason, think about your goals and only buy what you're planning to drink.' 5. Plan non-drinking activities 'If you know you're prone to drinking a lot on the weekend, think about how you can limit that,' says Piper. 'This might be picking up a new hobby, doing activities that don't revolve around alcohol or connecting with others who are trying to cut back to share the experience.' 6. Choose no and low-alternatives 'Alcohol-free or low-alcohol drinks can be a fantastic option if you're looking for a way to cut down on your drinking,' says Karen Tyrell, CEO at Drinkaware. 'There's now a wider selection and better tasting options available than ever before.' 7. Download the MyDrinkaware app 'To help support your commitment to reducing your drinking, the MyDrinkaware app can help you set personalised targets, send reminders for drink-free days when you want them, and build a tailored action plan to keep you on track,' says Tyrell. 8. Make your intentions known 'Whether you are taking a break completely, or just having some time off, it's a good idea to tell your family and friends,' recommends Tyrell. 'Frequently reminding yourself and the people close to you why you want to stop or cut back your drinking can help keep you on track, and may even encourage someone else to cut down.' 9. Identify your triggers 'Identify the triggers which make you want to drink,' advises Dr David McLaughlan, consultant psychiatrist and addictions specialist from Priory and co-founder of the Curb Health app. 'Then develop a plan to manage or avoid those triggers.' 10. Have a support network 'You could even make a joint plan with your partner, friends or colleagues,' suggests McLaughlan. 'Last year, Curb undertook a study funded by the government's research and innovation body, InnovateUK. 'We found that when users gave up alcohol in groups or told others that they were giving us alcohol, they experienced an increase in their will power. It was almost as if they were able to selectively harness the power of peer pressure as they didn't want to let others down by drinking.'
