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28 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday September 12, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Is there a hidden treasure hiding in your closet? British Artiques Roadshow at Hopedale Mall There's still time to sign up for the British Artiques Roadshow, which is stopping in at Hopedale Mall for three days, starting Thursday. The show has discovered more than $40 million worth of family heirlooms and forgotten treasures, shocking many Canadians who own these possessions. People are encouraged to sign up and bring out their heirlooms and other items for appraisal. Those seeking appraisals should set up an appointment by calling Vicky Shutte of Hopedale Mall's management office at 905-827-7146. As the roadshow's organizers note, picking out the trash from the treasure is the key to the game, and that's the job of its art and antique experts. In the spring on the first leg of the 2007 Roadshow Tour, British Columbia yielded a $1.5 million painting by Rene Magritte and one of the most rare Bibles ever published -- discovered by keen-eyed Roadshow expert David Freeman. Other treasures included a pigskinbound ship's log from the maiden voyage of a British East Indiaman in 1830, alongside hundreds of valuable paintings and more than a dozen examples by the Group of Seven. Faberge, Tiffany, Loetz and Galle items worth thousands also surfaced. Englishman and senior Roadshow appraiser David Freeman never knows what to expect next when hopefuls bring in their inherited goodies or yard sale finds to Roadshow appraisal events. "Canada is a hugely cosmopolitan nation and one in which family backgrounds, roots and origins are inevitably from far and distant places," said Freeman. "Throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East our ancestors came. That's why the treasure is here." The British Artiques Roadshow will be at Hopedale Mall on Thursday, Sept. 13 and Friday, Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. ­ 7 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. ­ 5 p.m. OPEN SUNDAYS 12-5 140 Rebecca St. OAKVILLE 844-7728 844-7728 Sculpture of Zimbabwe REVITALIZING FITNESS BY GETTING BACK TO BASICS! GIVE YOUR MIND AND BODY THE ULTIMATE FITNESS EXPERIENCE Now In Oakville Next Session Begins September 17th - Beginner to advanced athletic training - Beautiful outside settings - Large indoor facilities - 3 or 5 day a week programs available H IB IT NOW ON EX "Everything I need to know about Africa is in these objects." Pablo Picasso Visitors have said: "You don't see this anywhere. The atmosphere is really unique." "It's an amazing cultural experience." "The sculptors tend to sculpt what's around them, what they see in everyday life." Vivienne Prince, ZIMSCULPT Curator Enlist Online Or Call 905.802.3754 SEPTEMBER 1 to OCTOBER 8; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hendrie Park Gardens 680 Plains Road West Hamilton/Burlington Admit On BUY nli g.ca Oww.rbne w 1-800-694-4769 events@rbg.ca Admission applies FREE PARKING Royal Botanical Gardens is pleased to be the exclusive North American host of ZIMSCULPT, the awardwinning stone art exhibit from Zimbabwe. Over 300 hand-made sculptures are on display, and for sale, throughout Hendrie Park Gardens and RBG Centre. Meet the featured artists: Vimbai Mashaya, Passmore Mupindiko, and Lincon Muteta, on site everyday and they'll show you how it's done. e