Tales From the Hill 2024/25 ~
Last of the season!
May 8 - "BLOOMING" ~ Guelph Civic Museum
The end the season of Tales From the Hill will unfolded in fine fashion with Paul & Judy Caulfield, Susan Ida Boucaud, GGS Meebrs - - Larry, John, Brian, and Rusty and delightful surprise guest from toronto - - Nor Perrin. A fine evening!!.
Continued grateful appreciation and recognition to Guelph Civic Museum for our wonderful partnership. It is recognized that, in addition, GGS is also blessed to have the partnership of Guelph Enabling Garden in their summer's Tea n Tales and Under the Magic Ash. (See you there starting mid June to mid September. Details allmost ready to share. WE'RE EXCITED!!! Come and see the lineup here: May 1st.
Kudos to both organizations!! THANK YOU!!!
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April 13 - "FOOL!"
We dedicated the evening to our beloved Pearl Robinson, who passed away on April 2, 2025.
Pearl loved stories. She delighted us with her own and sparkled with delight listening to other tellers. She was a regular at Tales From the Hill and the summer Tea n Tales in Guelph Enabling Garden.
Storytellers delight in that listener who is engaged with all her being in your story. Pearl was one of those. We love you Pearl, and let's not forget your delicious baking, so generously given.
April 13 promised to be a blustery, icy, snowy evening, so we were delighted to welcome over 20 keen listeners. We did miss our out-of-town guests, Judy and Paul Caulfield, who wisely stayed snug in their home in Brampton.
Guild members, Brian, Rusty, Beve and Sya fit the bill. There was agreement among the tellers and listeners,that it was a fine evening. Six newcomers expressed delight.
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March 13 - "EXPECTATIONS"
This evening we celebrated Guild members: Beve, Brian, John, Rusty, Larry, Sya and we hope to welcome a surprise, guest teller, Greg at the open mic.
Come early, doors open at 6:30 and enjoy casual socialization, hot cider and light refreshments. Bring a friend and make a casual fun night out.
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February 13 - "Short"
THE WINTER STORM DID A NUMBER ON ALL OF US IN GUELPH. MOST EVERYTING CLOSED DOWN. WE TOO CANCELLED THIS EVENING - FEB 13TH.
SEE YOU MARCH 13th.
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"BEGINNINGS" ~ January 9 - - - -
This evening we celebrated Guild members: Beve, John, Rusty, Larry, Brian, and Sya.
In addition to a charming, eclectic array of stories from them, we recognized storytellers Paul and Judy Caulfield and Brad Woods among our 30+ listeners, with familiar faces, including regulars from summer's Tea n Tales, and a warm welcome to several newcomers.
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"WISHES" ~ December 12 - - - -
With Judy and Paul Caulfield
in addition, Guild members, John, Larry, Brian, and Sya
We were delighted to welcome surprise guest, toronto's Norm Perrin.
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"RECONCILIATION" ~ November 14
Sarah Abusarar, was the featured invited guest. 
Sarah, a longtime favourite of Guelph audiences. She was applauded this past summer at both Tea 'n' Tales 2024 and Ode to the Magic Ash 2024,
Sarah lives in Mississauga, is an educator and member of Storytellers of Toronto. Her repertoire includes traditional, historical, literary, and original works.
Sarah comes from a long line of storytellers on her paternal side. Because Sarah grew up in several countries, she tells stories from all over the world with the focus on Palestinian and Croatian stories, where her roots lie.
Sarah is a captivating, engaging storyteller who made a real impact at her first telling at a GGS event some ten years ago. We enjoyed her visit on November 14th. Follow Sarah on Facebook
In addtion, we'll celebrated the stories of Guild members: John, Rusty. Brian and a feautred story by Bev.
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"GIVING" ~ October 10 - - - - (6:30 doors opened to setup and casual socializing,
7pm stories.
IT WAS A GREAT LAUNCH. 32 listerners attended to enjoy it! All agreed that each teller added their own charm and excellence in storytelling. The sense of community was there in the fun chatter before, during intermission and at the end, around the refreshent table - hot cider, fruit cups, dessert muffins. This month, Pearl, the dear 90-year-old storytelling fan and Guild supporter, added a plate of home-baked squares.
We are most grateful to Guild Member, Treasurer, Susan McBride. She prepares the monthly snacks and brings the cider. She and Rusty arrive at 6:30, when the Museum staff open the door for us, to prepare the refreshment table.
We agreed to give warm thanks to Museum staff for their support.
Norm Perrin: "With his penny whistle in hand, Norman’s storytelling journey has taken him from Canada to the Orkneys, Israel and Sri Lanka as a teller of traditional stories in schools, parks, sidewalks, wherever the story spirit calls for a tale."
Norm loves Guelph and we love Norm. He's regularly one of the featured tellers in summer's Tea n Tales in the Enabling Garden. Welcome to Tales From the Hill, Norm!!
In addition, we were entertained by GGS members, Brian, Larry, Sya, John, and Rusty, the latter recently returned from an exciting storytelling adventure in his beloved Ireland. (Click here to meet them.)
June 8: Theme of the tellers' choosing
Guest tellers in addition to Guild members. Click here to meet the members. Norm, Larry, Rusty, Bev
Meryl Arbing and Jean Bubba are renowned Toronto storytellers, famous for their tandem telling. We were delighted they came to Guelph to entertain us with one of their tandem tellings.
Jean Bubba
Jean frequently tells at the 1001 Nights of Storytelling. She has produced several solo shows, notably “Serendipity at Fifty” at the Toronto Fringe Festival and “The Scorned Women’s Tea Party” for the 2017 Toronto Storytelling Festival Story Fire. A story artist exploring many genres, she was a featured teller of personal stories at But That’s Another Story, Dare Storytelling and High Stakes Storytelling events, and the requested Biblical Storyteller at the consecration of the Anglican Bishop of Toronto. In addition to storytelling, Jean was a cast reader in three Toronto productions of A Christmas Carol.
Meryl Arbing
Meryl has been actively involved with Toronto’s 1001 Friday Nights of Storytelling for almost 40 years. An accomplished storyteller and folk musician, he has appeared in many festivals from the Lunenburg Folk Festival to the Toronto Storytelling Festival, Jewish Storytelling Festival, Toronto Fringe Festival (Bathurst St. Theatre), Toronto Nuit Blanche, Toronto First Night, and the Mariposa Folk Festival. He tells regularly at the 1001 Friday Nights of Storytelling.
How delightful to welcome back a favourite storyteller, Norm Perrin.
For over 25 years, accompanied by his penny whistle, storyteller Norman Perrin has been telling stories around southern Ontario, across Canada, and worldwide: Scotland, Switzerland, Israel, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
Here's an accolade that echoes our love and admiration of Norman: "Norm’s love for sharing stories is evident through his skill as an oral storyteller; he is an original and remarkable storyteller – for children and adult listeners. Norm delivers family stories and folk and fairy tales with great conviction! You would think all the stories are true and happened to Norm!
We invited Jay to come back, and he promised he would. Perhaps he'll tell us part two of "The Unfortunate Man" or another one of Guelph's deep secrets, or a whole other story. Whatever, it will be great!
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2022/23 - past events: "TALES FROM THE HILL"
May 11: ~Host: Sya VanGeest
A fine evening! We started with Bridget and then thoroughly enjoyed this month's guest tellers, Jay and Frances, in addition to our Guild Mentor Robert and members Larry and Sya.
Brian described the promising lineup of tellers for this summer's Tea 'n' Tales. We caught his excitement as he outlined the roster, the music, the Enabling Garden setting, and supporters of free coffee, lemonade, and donations for overhead costs. Brian brought along beautiful posters he's created and invited us to post, spread the word and welcome back our audience.
Some of the audience came early and they were met by the beautiful strings of Bridget Walsh on her violin. And an invitation to cider and a snack.
Bridget charmed us at Tea 'n' Tales last summer when we became part of her story to practice her violin for 1000 consecutive days. Click here to read the news story.
Bridget is scheduled to return to Tea 'n' Tales 2023, as are other musicians.
Robert Munsch started our evening of stories, as he has this past winter of tales. This evening he charmed us with, Up, Up Down, complete with all the actions the story demands.
If you have not browsed Robert's Website, be entertained and learn about Robert's amazing lived- experiences that shape his stories and his love and respect for children. Click here.
Jay Wilson promised to give us a taste of one of his Jay Walking inspirations—and he did!
He gave us part one of "The UInfortunate Man" - what a story, featuring the true tale of one of Guelph's own! - Jay left us wanting to hear the rest and a promise we'd hear it on his Friday evening Jay Wallks. We highly recommend you buy a ticket for one of his inspirational tours and learn one of Guelp's deep secrets. Click here.
Frances Reilly: We extended a warm welcome to Frances.
Frances is descended from a Welsh Romany family of storytellers, harpists, and fiddlers. She told us a Gypsy tale that hailed from another time and place. We understood why her Tales have captivated and enthralled audiences in Wales, St. Petersburg, Florida, and here in Canada at Goderich, Guelph, and Kitchener Waterloo.
Click here to learn more and hear Frances telling.
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April 13 - 7:00 to 8:30
April's "Tales From the Hill" was a great evening with an array of tellers and stories!
Guild members Beve, Brian, Larry, Rusty, and Sya were part of the lineup who delighted the 50+ attendees.
Robert Munch started our evening of stories.
We were delighted with his telling of A Promise is a Promise, including the tale of how the story happened on a tour of the Northwest Territories. (Click here.)
If you have not browsed Robert's Website, be entertained and learn about Robert's amazing lived- experiences that shape his stories and his love and respect for children. Click here.
We're also delighted to welcome back to Guelph, one of our favourites, Sarah Abusarar, the returning guest teller from Mississauga.
Click here to hear a story.
Renata Mares made her storytelling debut for the Guelph Guild of Storytellers on April 13th. Renata held us in her palms as she related her lived experience as a refugee and immigrant. 
In her career, Renata is an adaptation consultant, nurse educator, and member of the Emerging Leaders Program. Renata is passionate about evaluating and improving the way the Canadian healthcare system functions and supports its workers, especially nurses, in the face of a healthcare crisis and pandemic.
Nurse and educator Renata Mares was inspired by her students to share the struggles nurses are facing in their field. Click here to hear Renata's presentation at TEDxGuelphU
Click here to meet Renata on LinkedIn
Robert Munch
and
Guild members rounded out the program.
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March 9: ~ Host: Sya Theme "Legends"
March was delightful. It featured Brad Woods. one of Guelph's celebrated, much-loved storytellers.
In addition, Robert Munch, the Guild's Patron, and Guelph's iconic storyteller charmed us with two of his stories, one the beloved, The Paperback Princess. Always a wonderful delight.
Our Guild tellers, Brian and Beve, and the newest member Larry Gibbs rounded out the program.
Last-minute regrets, from three booked tellers, had each teller share a second story. A record audience of 60, warmly applauded and shared their positive comments.
Many came early, met the tellers, mixed and mingled, and enjoyed hot cider, brought by Susan and Irish bread baked by volunteer Pearl Robinson and Rita Hyde's famous cupcakes.
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February 9, 2023: ~Host: Rusty - Theme: "Love - family- friends" Pleased to announce guest teller: Larry Gibbs, with guild members, Brian, Sya, Rusty, and Beve.
Rober Munch charmed us with his telling of an all-time favourite, "Love You Forever". Listener softly joined him in singing the familiar chorus. Robert's telling and memories of family sharing left a few moist eyes.
This was the beginning of an excellent evening of stories. Larry Gibbs engaged us with his family stories, followed by our GGS members, each of whom was on the top of their game.
(Larry is an actor, singer, and author of various genres, including his first love, poetry. Hear Larry interviewed on CBC as a finalist for the Canada-wide CBC short-story writing contest in 2019.)
Delighted to end with Jay Wilson outlining his exciting JayWalking 2023 season. Read Jay's blog here.
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January 12, 2023: ~Host: Brian. Theme: "New Beginnings"
We were delighted and honoured to welcome Sarah Abusara and Norm Perrin as guest tellers in addition to Guelph Guild members JennyQ, Brian, Sya, and Rusty. It was a delightful evening of "new beginnings" to 2023.
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December 14, 2022: ~Host: Don. Theme: "Celebration" Guest teller: Jay Wilson with Patron Robert Munch and Brian, Don, Sya, Rusty, and Beve
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November 9: ~Host: Beve. Theme: "Memories"
Robert Munsch, GGS Patron, excited us with an offer to tell at the open mic. - - a moving story of a lived experience.
Judy and Paul Caulfield, popular, beloved Guelph guest tellers, and members of Baden Storytellers were our special guests. They brought to life two historical events and moved us with their telling.
GGS Tellers: Sya, Rusty, and Brian
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October 12 : ~Host: Sya. Theme: "Colours" with Guild tellers Beve, Rusty, Brian, and Don