August 28, 2003

Loreena McKennitt will perform a short solo set on Thursday September 25 at historic Fryfogel’s Tavern, 12 km east of her hometown of Stratford, Ontario.

Her performance is part of a fundraising evening being held by the Perth County Historical Foundation  in aid of planned restorations for this building, constructed in 1844. It is the last remaining Canada Company inn along Southwestern Ontario’s Huron Road. The evening will also include a dinner prepared by Stratford’s Chez Soleil cooking school, based on research of foods available in the early days of the settlement. According to Loreena, “This is a building, and an area, rich in history. Both add greatly to the cultural heritage of Southwestern Ontario. I am looking forward to this exciting event.”

June 23, 2003 

On Saturday, July 5, 2003 at 10.00 p.m., Loreena McKennitt will join Philip Glass and Friends for The SOSS Concert at Southam Hall, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Philip Glass, Rita MacNeil, The McGarrigle Sisters, Colin James, Chocolate Genius, Mary Jane Lamond and Loreena will perform live as part of Ottawa’s annual Bluesfest. The SOSS Concert, presented by the Sierra Club of Canada promises to be “an evening of outstanding music to raise awareness to the imminent threat of oil and gas explorations off the Cape Breton shoreline in Atlantic Canada.”

Loreena, accompanied by longtime collaborator Brian Hughes, will perform two or three songs during the course of the evening. Further name artists may be added to the bill.

May 15, 2003

On May 15, 2003, the Ontario Provincial Police presented a Commissioner’s Commendation to Loreena McKennitt, for her continued community service in promoting water safety. The presentation, held at the Little Lake Marina in Del Crary Park in Peterborough, Ontario, was made as part of Canadian Safe Boating Week.

Loreena is the founder of The Cook-Rees Memorial Fund For Water Search And Safety, a charitable fund established in memory of her partner Ronald Rees, his brother Richard and their friend Greg Cook. The three men died in a sailing accident in Georgian Bay in 1998. The OPP Search & Recovery unit has received three side scan sonar units and an underwater Remote Operated Vehicle from the fund since 1998.

May 12, 2003

On May 12, 2003, the office of Peter Liba, the Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba, announced that Loreena McKennitt is one of twelve Manitobans to be invested into the Order of Manitoba this year. The order was established to recognise Manitobans who have demonstrated excellence and achievements which have led to improving the province’s social, cultural or economic well-being. Liba’s accompanying statement read: “Each year, I have selected Manitoba Day to recognise outstanding citizens who have made a difference to our province and its people through their accomplishments and contributions.”

Loreena and the other recipients will be invested into the Order at a ceremony on July 15th, 2003, at the Manitoba Legislative building in Winnipeg.

April 26, 2003

On April 26th, 2003, Loreena McKennitt was honoured by her hometown of Morden, Manitoba, Canada with an evening held in her honour at the Morden Recreation Centre. Loreena performed five songs – drawn from her back catalogue – during the evening, accompanied by guitarist Brian Hughes. The evening’s entertainment also featured performances by young local musicians, and Loreena presented the 2003 Morden and District Chamber of Commerce's annual Loreena McKennitt award to local performer Andrew Rampton.

Loreena was born in Morden, a southwestern Manitoba community of 6,200, and lived there until the age of 17. Local newspaper The Morden Times offers a number of archived articles relating to the Morden tribute evening for Loreena on its website.