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In Simcoe, let there be lights - and a song

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This year is the 60th anniversary of the Simcoe Christmas Panorama River of Lights, which is held in downtown Wellington Park.
Panorama began in 1958 when miserable weather forced organizers of the Santa Claus parade to cancel the event and assemble the floats in the park so they at least could be seen by people. Strings of lights were hung over the floats, and that was the beginning of an annual event that draws crowds from across North America.
The five-week celebration will kick off at 6 p.m. on Dec. 1 with a ceremony that will include special guests, a carol sing and the turning on of thousands of lights on over 60 exhibits through the park.
Panorama director John Davies got permission from Gloria Mitchell to use for this year’s event a song called, Christmas in Simcoe, Mitchell wrote the music for the song and she and her former husband, Derek, colloborated on the lyrics. The song begins with a sentimental, country feel, then changes to a joyful, toe-tapping invitation to turn on the lights.
Mitchell was born and raised in Montreal where she developed her talent for acting and singing. In 1978, the couple and their son, Brad, moved to Simcoe for Derek’s job with Texaco. The family enjoyed opening night of Simcoe Panorama.
“That moment the lights came on always brought a lump to my throat,” she said.
In 1980, Gloria and Derek wrote Christmas In Simcoe, which she would perform at concerts.
The following summer, she professionally recorded the song. Gloria and Derek and the band, Twilight, under the leadership of Ian Mudge, rented the cheapest time at a Toronto recording studio. They recorded from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., producing two songs for a 45 RPM record. Madge was on keyboard and synthesizer, Brian Berry on guitar, Jarri Bezzo on drums, Bob Wingrove on pedal steel guitar and Allan Guacci and George Morellato on percussion.
Mitchell recalled the fun of being in the studio with a headset, in jeans and barefoot.
After three hours of sleep, they took the tapes to a vinyl-pressing company in Toronto to make their records, with a minimum order of 500.
Back in Simcoe, they were ready to sell the records. They were in time for Simcoe’s Friendship Festival. People bought the records to send as Christmas gifts around the world. Family members who had moved away to Africa, Australia and Europe were delighted to receive their copy of Christmas in Simcoe on one side of the 45 and the original calypso song, Christ Was Born, on the other.
Mitchell has an extensive list of venues where she has performed and worked behind the scenes as program manager.
For this year’s Panorama, she said she looks forward to seeing the lights turned on, accompanied by the Christmas In Simcoe song.

On Thursday, at 7 p.m., Waterford Heritage and Agricultural Museum, 159 Nichol St., will host historian and author Moe Johnson. He will talk about his recent research of historic Ontario pottery, with focus on significant Brantford pottery that was produced from 1849 and 1900. Admission by donation. For more information, call 519-443-4211.

On Dec. 1, at 7 p.m., the sixth annual Carol Sing will be held at Waterford Bible Church, 68 Main St. S. This community event will feature the Lynn Valley Voices and the Brubacher Family from Hamilton. Donations of non-perishable food items are welcome. Light refreshments will follow.
Carol Steedman is a freelance writer who lives in Waterford. Readers can contact her at goffsteedman@execulink.com.

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