Blue skies and warm weather made a perfect setting Saturday for a broad range of activities branded as Community Day in Norfolk County.
“We have free swims, free skates and live music,” said Brandon Sloan, Norfolk’s general manager for community development, who came up with the idea for the event. “A lot of volunteers have stepped up and community partners have come out to make it an amazing day.”
Sloan said officials wanted to provide an opportunity for residents to reconnect with the community.
“It’s an amazing turnout. We’re very happy today,” he said while surveying the crowd at the touch-a-truck event at the Waterford Tricenturena. “It’s even greater than originally envisioned.”
A fire truck, ambulance, road grader and farm tractor were among vehicles and heavy equipment available for people to explore in the arena’s parking lot.
“It’s a very good experience for the kids to see what each truck and everything does,” said Tanya Goncalves as she watched her three sons climb into the cab of a backhoe.
The Simcoe resident praised organizers for putting together the activities throughout the area.
“It gets people together again, and everybody’s excited to gather and explore.”
Cody Hoskins of Port Dover watched as his sons, Hudson, 7, and four-year-old Etho were helped into the crew compartment of a gun tow by bombardier Luke Brennan of Simcoe, a member of the 56th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery. The large truck, with room for nine soldiers, is used to tow a Howitzer artillery piece and its related equipment, with room for nine soldiers.
“I like to be part of the community, and see the community get together and do things like this for everyone,” Hoskins said.
The Delhi Mustang Roundup attracted so many Mustang cars to line Main and Church Street West in the community’s core, that some had to be turned away.
“We came to see the Mustangs, and get the kids out of the house,” said Alanna Stephens of Ingersoll, as she watched her eight-year-old daughter, Scarlett Hillman, get some free strawberry ice cream courtesy of the Delhi BIA. “It’s so nice to be able to finally get back out and enjoy civilization again.”
Dan Walsh of Mount Pleasant brought his 2003 Roush Mustang to the show only because there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
“It’s never been wet,” he said. “We’ve actually put it in an enclosed trailer to (bring to shows) in case we have to get it back inside before it gets wet.”
Walsh’s wife, Pam Tegrotenhuis, noted that the car is kept in an air-conditioned and heated garage.
“It’s more spoiled than me, that’s for sure.”
Roush emblems are evident on the exterior of the car, that also features autographs of iconic automotive engineer and racing team owner Jack Roush on the dashboard and radiator shroud.
“It’s neat when you go into a town and the kids start to wave at you,” Tegrotenhuis said.
Throughout Norfolk, Community Day events included: fire hall tours, craft and scavenger hunts at public libraries in Simcoe, Delhi, Waterford, Port Dover and Port Rowan; live music in St. Williams, Port Dover and Delhi; a fitness Zumba class at the Langton Community Centre, and illusionist Lucas Wilson teaching magic tricks in Vittoria.
