Not much has gone smoothly for a Block Party fundraiser for local mental health and addictions supports.
Not much has gone smoothly for a Block Party fundraiser for local mental health and addictions supports.
The Trews and Walk off the Earth-headlined two-day concert event that was rescheduled a handful of times amid COVID-19 finally went ahead Friday and Saturday but had to contend with thunderstorms and insect swarms, as well as a person brandishing knives outside the gates, said Kathy Alexander, executive director of the Bluewater Health Foundation.
Police said Monday a man was arrested late June 10 after reportedly swinging knives at trees while there were crowds of people in the area outside of the concert venue at Centennial Park’s Suncor Agora.
He’s alleged the suspect also threatened to kill one person with his knives, police said.
No one was injured and Paul Smith Wytka, 38, of Sarnia, is charged with assault with a weapon, uttering threats, and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, police said in a news release.
The accused was held for a bail hearing and was released, police said.
Despite all that, and attendance lower than expected for the 2,500 capacity per day event, Alexander was upbeat Monday.
“My big message really to the people in our community is there really was a very special vibe throughout the weekend,” she said about the fundraiser it was hoped would raise $80,000 for mental health and addictions care at Bluewater Health.
Turnout of about 2,500 total over the two nights means closer to $30,000 is expected, she said, noting final expenses are still being tallied.
“But it was really good for people to be out there and you could sense that and feel that,” Alexander said about the first of several outdoor concert events planned for Sarnia this summer after an extended COVID-prompted hiatus.
“It was a really special event,” she said.
Hundreds of volunteers chipped in, including an organizing committee that’s navigated the ups and downs of the past 30 months or so since the concert headliners were first announced, she said.
“While we didn’t hit all of our targets, I think we learned a lot from … ‘how do we grow’ and ‘how do we get people out and about,’” she said.
“And I think if and when we do this again next year – and the hope is that we will – that people will remember how well the Block Party was hosted and planned and come back.”
The arrest Friday didn’t disrupt the event, she said.
“I don’t think people knew about it until they saw it on social media posts the next day,” she said, expressing relief no one was harmed and noting security for the event handled the incident well.
Jason Baker said he was among the people outside the gates gathered to hear The Trews perform when he saw a man, he said, motioning like he was going to stab people.
“He’s just giving everyone the eye, just trying to get someone to fight him, someone to get at him,” Baker said.
Security was alerted and tried to talk the man down while he was still armed until police arrived, he said.
Then “he sat down on the ground and just put his hands up in the air.”
Hail hit the event earlier that evening during setup while a thunderstorm rolled through after the first opening act, Alexander said.
People took shelter where they could until it passed and a rainbow came out, she said.
Swarms of fish flies, meanwhile, were a nuisance Saturday, she said.
People still had fun, she said.
“It was a really great way not only to raise money for mental health and addictions, but I think raise awareness about mental wellness and taking care of ourselves, and I think people were doing that at the Block Party,” she said.
The money makes an impact, she said, thanking people for their support.
“Really, really proud of everybody involved and everybody that came out,” she said.