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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-08-13, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2015. PAGE 7. TransCan National Championship this weekend Those behind the Parts Canada TransCan Grand National Championship, set for this weekend in Walton, continue to further connect their event, and their fans, to the world – even if it means digging up the Walton Raceway. In an effort to build up the location’s fibre optic connectivity, Tite Racing’s Brett Lee has installed lines that run straight to the property in hopes of streaming this year’s entire Saturday of events on the internet. It’s moves like this one that fit into the company’s long-term vision of constantly improving its patron experience, making it more exciting to attend the TransCan and giving people more and more to do every year. One of the biggest pieces of that puzzle has been the addition of the Friday night concert, which is now four years old. This year’s show, set for Friday, will be performed by Brett Kissel. A rising star in the world of Canadian country music, Kissel won a Juno Award as 2014’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year and added to his trophy shelf this year with two Canadian Country Music Association Awards and three Association of Country Music in Alberta Awards. Advance tickets for the show are $35 each and there are only 4,000 Friday-only tickets available. A weekend pass, however, will gain the patron access to the concert, as well as the raceway for the entire weekend, for $50 each. If tickets for the concert remain on the day of the show, they will be available at the door for $40 each. Lee says he has taken a number of additional steps to continue to diversify the event. He says that while motocross still is, and always will be, the star of the show, there are still plenty of other things for the casual fan to do. Recently Lee and business partner Mark Perrin acquired infrastructure from the Above the Falls challenge course, which had been situated in Benmiller and operated by the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority. The obstacle course involves a number of activities that will be right at home in Walton, Lee says. In addition, Lee has continued to expand the biking course. A half- pipe has recently been added and the course will now be illuminated at night during this year’s TransCan due to its immense popularity. “There have been times where there are 200 kids at the bike park,” Lee says, adding that it’s a great social attraction for young fans of motocross. He says there will also be fireworks demonstrations, a slip and slide and a number of other activities on a list that continues to grow year after year. In this, its 24th year as a Canada- wide motocross event, however, the star of the TransCan continues to be motocross. For years, the Walton TransCan has served as the final leg of the Pro MX1 Championship Series, meaning that Sunday at the track is always a great day of racing and, in many cases, intriguing drama. As is tradition, the winner of the event will be crowned “The King of Walton” who is then handed an engraved sword for his troubles. The event has continued to grow in recent years, welcoming more and more people to the tiny village of Walton to take in one of Canada’s largest motocross events. The event opens on Tuesday, Aug. 11 with the opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. Racing begins on Wednesday, Aug. 12 and continues through to Sunday, Aug. 16, when the final leg of the MX1 championship will take place. TransCan typically attracts over 1,000 riders per year, who bring with them between 4,000 and 5,000 family members, friends and supporters. Over 25,000 spectators then make their way through the event’s gates over the course of the week, over half of whom come on the event’s final day. This is the third full year that Lee and Perrin have taken the reins of the event, after over from founder Chris Lee, Brett’s father. He says that to see how the event has grown over the years has been very gratifying. “When you start something, you have a vision and you’re almost too ashamed to share it with your friends because it’s too grand,” Chris says. “The community values it and the riders value it, so that’s something worth investing in.” The event has consistently attracted riders from all over Canada and the U.S., leading to international acclaim for an event that started as a small gathering in the tiny village of Walton nearly a quarter-century ago. For more information, or to buy tickets to the TransCan, visit waltontranscan.ca or check out the event’s Twitter or Instagram pages, which Lee says are very active and updated numerous times per day over the course of the event week. NEWS FROM WALTON By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Community comes together to support Mitchells Time flies when you are having fun and the summer is the time for fun. Great weather, lots of families enjoying vacation time, farmers busy at harvest and the weather co- operating pretty well. We are into August and about four weeks to go before school starts. Yes, the time will fly. Walton will grow by thousands this week with the running of the Walton TransCan and the final Grand National race on Sunday. Many of the local organizations will be working making much needed fundraising dollars for their groups. The town should be busy and thankfully, a nice road to get there and back. Enjoying a week’s vacation visiting with old friends was Gloria Wilbee. Gloria and June Williamson went to visit June’s cousin and Gloria’s childhood neighbour friend Gwenda Thompson Willows in Halifax. They were joined by Lynda Heath Farnham from Lamoni, Iowa, who had driven to Mitchell to visit her parents and then joined the ladies in Halifax. They had a nice day trip to Peggy’s Cove, Mahone Bay and Lunenburg to see all the beautiful coloured homes. They did an overnight to Cavendish and the Anne of Green Gables site and then came back to Charlottetown. They enjoyed their last day seeing Halifax. They enjoyed lots of laughs and good memories of growing up together in Mitchell. Our condolences to the Cunningham family on the passing of Anna Cunningham. She will be sadly missed by children Rick and Karen and their families. Anna was a World War II veteran and the wife of the late Ross Cunningham. A lovely lady, who I had the privilege of knowing for many years. She will be missed by many. Our sympathies to all. Congratulations to Ron Lee who celebrated his 89th birthday last week. The family joined him at his home for a birthday party that was highlighted by a special surprise performance by some of the members of the Brussels Legion Pipe Band. They were returning from an engagement in the area, so dropped in to surprise him with the sounds of the pipes, Ron’s favourite music. Everyone enjoyed birthday cake and refreshments and a lovely afternoon. Our condolences to Pearl McCallum on the passing of her sister Shirley Preszcator. Shirley will be missed by her children Richard, Muriel, Elaine, Katharine, David, Lorna, Brenda and Barb and stepchildren Barb Durrell of Walton. Our sympathies to all. Our get well wishes go to Joan Lee who has suffered a broken ankle. A small misstep in the garden and she will be four to six weeks recovering from the break. Happy healing Joan. A gathering of friends in Bayfield has resulted in the preliminary plans for a school reunion. Former students of the Union School Section No. 11 Morris Township, better known as the school at McGavin’s Farm Equipment, are planning a reunion for next July 16, 2016. The idea is being spearheaded by Janet (Shortreed) Webster, Graeme Craig, Wenda Humphries and Linda (Traviss) Gingerich, but they would like others to join the effort of organizing the event. Any student who attended SS No. 11 is encouraged to get involved. The school closed in December, 1962, when the new Walton School was opened. Former students who wish to get involved can contact the above names. Welcome back to Frank and Kathy Workman who have spent two weeks travelling in the west and north. They spent four days visiting Frank’s brothers in Calgary and then drove to Edmonton to meet son Peter. They then travelled to Yellowknife for touring and visiting. They were away 14 days. The ladies of Duff’s United Church served a Blyth Theatre dinner last week. They had only a small crowd of 21 enjoy the roast beef dinner. Ladies helping included Marion Godkin, Karen Hoegy, Gloria Wilbee and Heidi McClure. Good job by the ladies. The church and community have joined together to help the Mitchell family and others staying at Ronald McDonald House in London. The Mitchells have appreciated everyone’s offers of aid and suggested doing a volunteer meal at Ronald McDonald House. Gloria Wilbee has spearheaded the idea and with help from many at the church has organized the effort. The group will be travelling to London on Sunday, Aug. 16 to provide the meal for the 70 family members of sick children, staying at Ronald McDonald House. All the necessary funds required to purchase and provide the groceries for the meal have been donated by community members, with the remainder of the funds being donated to Ronald McDonald House. It has been a wonderful response and anyone still wishing to contribute may contact Gloria or Teresa Baan. Everyone’s help and prayers for Sean, Sarah and Guiliana are very appreciated after their traffic incident. Duff’s United is welcoming back Rev. Randy Banks this Sunday as guest speaker for Sunday service. Speakers Sue Bedard and Sandra Cable will lead services to finish August. Baptism is Aug. 30. Celebrating birthdays this past week, kicking off August include Lily Grobbink, Jacob Roth, Sarah Strome, Susan Alexander, Sherry Hoegy Delay, Rick Schmeltzer, Jacob Nolan, Courtney Pryce, Heidi McClure, Kristen Grobbink, Curtis McCallum, Luke McCallum, Scott Storey, Bruce Godkin, Angela Huether, Kenneth Huether, Adrienne Wakabayashi, Erin Mitchell, Marie Mitchell, Laurie Grobbink, Darryl Houston, Lisa Huether, Richard Love, Heidi Bachert, Ross Bennett, Gregory Humphries, Brian McGavin, Brian Love Jr., Tina McClure, Katie Williamson Janmaat, Wendy Bachert, Barb Tervit and Taylor McKee. Requests for Submissions from Huron County Artists for the 2015 Huron County Art Show2015 Huron County Art Show At the Huron County Museum, 110 North Street, Goderich Deadline for submissions: Friday, September 25, 2015 @ 4:30 pm Theme for 2015: Our Creative Countryside Art welcome in 2 and 3 dimensional mixed media, photography or digital imagery, as well as traditional painted works. $10 submission fee Please phone 519-524-2686, ext. 205 for information and regulations. www.huroncounty.ca/museum Exhibit dates: October 18 to December 20, 2015. REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. ALL ARE IN COLOUR 4x6 - $4.00 5x7 - $5.00 8x10 - $8.00 Phone to order ~ 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 By Jo-Ann McDonald Call 887-6570 PEOPLE AROUND WALTON The Huron County Health Unit is recruiting new Community Food Advisor (CFA) volunteers. The CFAs are a group of trained volunteers who work with Health Unit staff and community partners to promote healthy eating and food safety to consumers in Huron County. The successful program is in its 20th year in the county. In 2014 alone, the 22 Huron County CFAs reached a total of over 1,500 people through presentations, cooking classes and other educational appearances. “Huron County residents from all walks of life tell us how valuable the CFA program is,” says Gail Fraser, CFA volunteer co-ordinator. “Becoming a CFA is a great volunteer activity for people with an interest in food. You help to improve the health of your community, meet new people, gain more skills and have fun!” The current recruitment is the first recruitment drive in three years. Training is free and will begin in mid-September. Volunteers will receive training from professionals, including a registered dietitian, public health inspectors, nurses, a professional home economist and a communications specialist. After completing the 40 hours of training, volunteers become certified Community Food Advisors. Their volunteer hours as a CFA are flexible. For more information visit www.huronhealthunit.ca/CFA or call 1-877-837-6143. Laundromat Blyth Laundromat 191 Westmoreland St., Blyth 519-523-9687 County seeks volunteers for food advisor program