The bells were ringing and the cries of "Oyez! Oyez" could be heard lound and clear in Downtown Collingwood on the long holiday weekend. Collingwood Town Crier Ken Templeman welcomed visiting Town Criers who were taking part in the three days of celebrations starting with a parade on Friday night, June 27th and ending with the AGM on Sunday the 29th.

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The early morning silence was replaced with the high energy calls from Town Criers from around the province on Saturday, June 28th. Collingwood hosted the Ontario Guild of Town Criers Championships on the holiday weekend, featuring 20 visiting Town Criers. Participating Criers were provided with topics to include in their messages. They were required to talk about Collingwood's Sesquicentennial and to work in highlights of Collingwood's history. Each attending Crier received a copy of “Glory: a lamentable condition of affairs” by Morgan Ian Adams.

A Town Crier makes proclamations and announcements for his or her town or community. Criers attend functions or celebrations and ring their bell to get everyone's attention before reading a special announcement or proclamation from a scroll. Criers normally cry loudly and clearly so that all can hear. They use the traditional opening word "OYEZ! [oh yeah!] which is a very old french term meaning "To Hearken" or "Hear YE!" Once having read the "Cry" or message in a suitable fashion to all assembled, the Crier traditionally finishes with the words "God Save The Queen" or "God Bless Canada!" whilst raising their hat.

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