Canadian country and folk singer Stompin' Tom Connors struck a chord (so to speak) when he entered the world Feb. 9, 1936 in Saint John, New Brunswick. The Maritimes were always home to Tom but he is endeared across Canada. Two of his most famous songs, Bud the Spud and The Hockey Song, are now firmly part of Canadiana.
I visited the Stompin' Tom Centre in Skinners Pond, Prince Edward Island in the summer of 2017 when it was getting ready for the grand opening on July 1, Canada Day.
Why Skinners Pond? Tom lived and went to school there. In the 1970's he bought the schoolhouse and even did some of the planning for the Centre that now occupies it.
Musician Curt Bernard was rehearsing when we arrived. Knick knacks and signs were strewn around, carpenters were hammering and sawing, while outside a tractor was still preparing the grounds.
Tom was an orphan. His story is actually a real-life version of Anne of Green Gables. A hand carved wood guitar like the little blue one in the window is one of the ornaments on my Christmas tree each year.
