The 1000 Islands Yarnspinners is a collective of professional and community tellers dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the oral art of telling stories. Established in 1998, as the Brockville Storytellers, the guild holds monthly story gatherings from September to June.

The Brockville Museum,
5 Henry Street
The 3rd Monday of every month from September to June
7 - 9 pm or a little bit later depending on the stories!

In addition to the monthly gatherings, the guild has a mandate to do a minimum of three community outreach performances each year in rural communities that are within an hour’s drive of Brockville. Communities include Athens, Mallorytown, Spencerville and North Augusta.

Since 1999 The 1000 Islands Yarnspinners has partnered with other community groups including the Ontario Early Years, The Brockville Museum, the Upper Canada District School Board and the Brockville Public Library in presenting five storytelling festivals.

Every year the guild brings the highest caliber of tellers in Canada to Eastern Ontario: Rita Cox, Bob Barton, Dan Yashinsky, Helen Porter, Marylyn Peringer, Celia Lotridge, Jan Andrews, George Blake and Ruth Stewart-Verger.

Annually the guild hosts professional development workshops for regional tellers as an opportunity to explore, improve and expand upon existing repertoire and telling approaches.

Professionally the members are associated with The Storytellers School of Toronto and SC/CC, and they have performed for the Toronto Festival of Storytelling, New Years’ Eve Celebrations in Historic Downtown Brockville and for the Sunday Concerts in Hardy Park.

Each community teller participates actively in telling stories for numerous not for profit events including literacy fairs, libraries, daycare centers, seniors’ residences and various service organizations.

For several years THE 1000 ISLANDS YARNSPINNERS were actively involved with organizing and hosting Storyfest, a forum for performances and workshops led by leading Canadian tellers.

The tellers have told at the Toronto International Festival, at the New Year’s Eve Celebrations in Historic Downtown Brockville, and for numerous other events throughout the region.

JOHN BOHUSZ dives head first into his stories and takes the listeners right along with him. A member of the collective since 1998, John captivates audiences as old as 2 and as young as 90.

VALERIE KINES is often heard telling yarns at local festivals, on Cable TV, at community celebrations and fund raisers galore. With a spark of humor Val’s stories make the listener perk up and think.

BILL LALONDE, is a wise sage of the art of story weaving. With a background in education and working with trouble youth Bill brings the healing power of the spoken word to his creative and uplifting tales.

DEE TINGLEY brings a magical warmth to her vast array of stories. With years of experience in the classroom setting, Dee has a gentle and engaging manner that sweeps the listener into the tapestry of her tales.

Brockville Festival of Storytelling
The 1000 Islands Yarnspinners present annually, the FOS, Festival of Storytelling, the last weekend of September at the Brockville Museum featuring world renowned tellers from home and away.

More details www.deborahdunleavy.com/pages/12Yarn.html

Or contact Deborah Dunleavy, Founding Member and Host
(613) 342-3463 or Email : kgp@ripnet.com