Children enjoyed some good old-fashioned fun and games during the traditional Rock Picnic in Ormstown on July 1. Families have been gathering here since 1895 to celebrate Canada Day together, and this year’s event brought out crowds of picnickers for a day of activities that wound down just in time before clouds rolled in.
Smog warnings, raindrops, and distant rumblings in the sky weren’t enough to stop a slightly smaller-than-usual crowd from gathering at the park in Athelstan for the traditional Canada Day ball game and fireworks display. After the final burst of colourful light, the crowd cheered and applauded in appreciation before retreating to their vehicles as rain began to fall. According to Ormstown weatherman Peter Finlayson, the deluge that followed lasted around six hours and saw at least 73 millimetres, or a month’s worth of precipitation, fall overnight.
Six teams battled it out during the second annual Canada Day Dek Hockey tournament in Hemmingford, which raised over $500 for the Comité Sportif Hemmingford and youth sports initiatives. The tournament took place alongside Canada Day celebrations at the recreation centre which included interactive games, a book sale, food stands, and live music.
