The Fiddle Capital of Oro-Medonte

— by Ralph Price

Ralph and Sandy Price moved to Horseshoe Valley in 1999, and Sandy took up playing the fiddle. She was originally from Nova Scotia, and her father had played the fiddle when she was growing up. Over the years she has worked hard at it and has become a very proficient fiddler. In the same time frame, her husband Ralph became a very good old time square dance caller. These skills lead them to attend many fiddle jams/old time dances/square dances, all across North America. When the Covid-19 pandemic came along, all the jams and dances came to a screeching halt.

The third Saturday in May is National and World Fiddle Day and when the pandemic restrictions ended in early 2022, Ralph and Sandy decided to hold an old time fiddle jam/dance/square dance to celebrate Fiddle Day on May 21, 2022. They decided to hold it at the Eady Community Hall as it was an ideal venue for this “rural activity”. The idea was to get people back to the activities they were accustomed to enjoying pre-pandemic. They also decided they would not charge admission, but rather they would ask for donations for COPE Service Dogs.

The day was successful beyond their wildest imagination, with fiddlers, other musicians, dancers and listeners flocking to the Hall. At that event, $ 2,300 was raised for COPE Service Dogs.

On Fiddle Days in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026, they have held the same type of event at Eady and every year people have come out in droves, for the fiddle music, dancing and the COPE dogs that are there. Over the five years, they have raised in excess of $24,000 for COPE Service Dogs. People look forward to the event which is affectionately known as the “Dog Dance” and it has become one of the premiere events held at the Eady Community Hall each year.

In early 2026, Sandy got to thinking about the fact that there is this great fiddle event at the Hall once a year, and started wondering if we could manage have a fiddle event there every month. She decided that an acoustic fiddle circle jam could work. In this event, fiddlers and other musicians sit in a circle and each person gets a turn to select a tune and everyone plays it. Sandy plays the role of lead fiddler, Larry Blunden from Big Cedar plays backup on the piano and Dan McBride from Hawkstone plays backup on the guitar.

Valerie Selander has been holding fiddle classes in Orillia as part of the Orillia Community Activities Program and Sandy thought the circle type jam would be a good place for these new fiddlers to come to and work on the things they learned at Valerie’s classes.

Acoustic fiddle circle jams were held at the Eady Community Hall on the first Wednesday of April, May and June and they were well attended with around 15-20 musicians at each jam. Enthusiastic musicians came from as far away as Bobcaygeon, Parry Sound, Rosseau and Burk’s Falls as well as local people. Surprisingly, a significant number of people have also come just to listen to the “good old fiddle” music. In fact, in June, the Georgian Manor Retirement Residence in Penetang brought a bus load of 12 people to come and hear the music. There were a lot of smiles and in talking to them, they said how much they enjoyed the afternoon.

Sandy took a poll amongst the musicians and while most wanted to take the summer off, they were very enthused about starting up again come September.

Accordingly, the Eady Community Hall has been booked for September 9, October 7, November 4, and December 2 for the fall series of acoustic fiddle circle jams. Each one will start at 1:30 p.m. and go to 4:00 p.m.

Admission is only $5 per person, and that includes coffee and cookies. All proceeds go to the Eady Community Hall for upkeep and maintenance.

While the main focus is on fiddling, all acoustic musicians are welcome to come and participate.

Listeners are welcome and there is even a small area where people can dance, if so inclined.

For more information, contact Sandy Price, 705-835-3159 or at ralph.sandyprice@sympatico.ca.

Pictured, the June Jam, when the people from Georgian Manor were in attendance.