David and Debbie Chamberlain
Time to meet the Planning Committee
Debbie and I are originally from NB and moved from NL once we retired to Vankleek Hill 8 years ago.
The Bride and I have been together 45+ years.
It may seem a bit strange for the locals that we consider ourselves retired since Deb is working and enjoying the seniors at the Lodge whereas I can be seen on an irregular basis at a local business and am known as that big polite guy.
When The Bride is not buzzing around the Lodge or dancing with the residents, you can find her covered in dirt because she loves gardening. You may have seen some of our flower photos on this site. She also loves visiting thrift stores whenever she can and loves decorating our home year-round and especially for Christmas.
We call our century home Lilac Haven and it has been on The Vankleek Hill Christmas Tour and The Garden Tour.
We also like to hike, kayak, camp, travel, photography, paint, wine & dine and enjoy life together.
I am an avid reader of sci-fi and history and love to play historical wargames and belong to the Vankleek Hill Boardgame Club.
We are first time volunteers on the Committee and I have taken over from Bil White & Randal Storey (thanks) who have coordinated the event the past few years.
We love to welcome you on September 6th to Art in the Garden in Vankleek Hill while supporting the many outreach projects of St. John's Anglican Church, Vankleek Hill.
Each of our meetings has a featured cake and a featured wine and I like the maxim "we take minutes,but lose hours" . ..feel free to join if the urge springs upon you or volunteer to help on the big day.
I will post other members pics in following days.
I also hope to focus on selected works from artists who have indicated they will participate in the upcoming weeks too!
Bonnie and Rick Blenner-Hassett
I would like to introduce you to Bonnie and Rick. Bonnie is an active member again this year and Rick attends our meetings depending what the feature wine and feature cake will be. He is always ready with a helping hand and will be onsite on the 6th of September at St. John's Anglican Church, Vankleek Hill to also welcome you to Art in the Garden.
Rick and Bonnie are retired and moved from Saskatchewan, where they lived all their lives, to Vankleek Hill in October 2020. They left Saskatchewan to be closer to their son and daughter in Montreal.
They chose Vankleek Hill because "it is such a friendly town, there is a great sense of community and there are organized community events to take part in year round. We talked to many residents of Vankleek Hill before purchasing a home here and they all spoke positively about living in Vankleek Hill".
Both are actively involved at St. John's Anglican Church and have helped out with Art in the Garden since it first started.
"It is a unique event and a pleasure to volunteer at each year. We look forward to seeing past Artisans again and meeting new ones".
Their hobbies include walking, cycling, swimming, travel and volunteer work. They enjoy doing day road trips within a 100 km radius of Vankleek Hill and seeing the many beautiful sites this area offers. "We are fortunate to have 2 wineries and 2 craft beer businesses and a local distillery close by".
As Bonnie says "Life is great in Vankleek Hill".
Bil White and Mike Strong
Rounding out our Art in the Garden Planning Committee are our Happy Hollow Duo of Bil & Mike, our resident tech enthusiasts.
 
When they’re not organizing gaming events with the Vankleek Hill Board Gamers group, they’re busy contributing their time and talents to church and community life.
 
Bil spent most of his life in the suburbs of Montreal, gradually making his way west until he and Mike settled in Vankleek Hill three years ago. Today, they enjoy life in a quiet log cabin nestled among the trees. Although Bil still works for a Montreal-based employer, his work-from-home arrangement allows him to enjoy the best of both worlds. After a long career in Information Technology, he has developed a wide range of technical skills that often prove invaluable in a small-town setting. In addition to helping organize Art in the Garden, Bil manages the Parish website and produces the weekly parish newsletter, ensuring that community members stay informed and connected.
 
Mike retired shortly before the move to Vankleek Hill. Originally from Ontario, he attended university in Montreal and spent most of his adult life there before embracing rural living. These days, he oversees their two-acre property, where his passion for gardening continues to grow. What began with houseplants has expanded to include lawns, flower beds, and a thriving vegetable garden. Judging by his award-winning butterfly and bird photography, Mike’s appreciation for the natural world extends well beyond the garden gate.
 
An active volunteer, Mike lends his time to numerous church and community initiatives. Alongside his involvement with Art in the Garden and other parish events, he serves as a director of the Vankleek Hill Museum and is a member of the Vankleek Hill Horticultural Society.
 
Together, Bil and Mike are members of the Parish Communications Team, helping to maintain the parish’s online presence and social media channels while supporting a wide range of community activities.
 
As Art in the Garden approaches, Bil and Mike are busy behind the scenes, assisting myself, David, and tackling whatever tasks need to be done to ensure the event is a success. From planning and communications to setup and logistics, they are always ready to lend a hand where needed.
 
Be sure to stop by and say hello during the event in September—they’ll be on site at St. John's Anglican Church, Vankleek Hill, helping out and happy to chat with visitors while keeping things running smoothly.