Well Glemena and I have agreed to meet for breakfast this morning across the street from the hotel and as luck would have it, Laurel and her husband Tom show up just after we have ordered, so we have a chat about yesterday and today’s events.
So off we go to the OPP station to switch vehicles and meet our new officer. We then head out to the waterfront and get set up as usual next to the Scotia McLeod venue with the replica cruiser behind us. The event is called “Harbour Days“ and what a nice setup they have here but unfortunately the weather was not going to cooperate with us as it rained off and on all day.
After an hour or two at the venue I noticed a young girl that had been looking at the van for most of the morning. Curiosity got the best of me, so I approached her and asked her what her connection with the van was? Michelle was her name and she told me that she had lost her best friend (I believe) two years ago and she just felt a good connection with the van’s presence. She also thanked us for having brought it here and as I remember telling her that if she was the only person that came out today to see it that this is what it is all about!
Laurel came and asked us to walk over to the main stage area to receive a letter from the town of Whitby welcoming us, as representatives of the Terry Fox Foundation. At the end of the day, Glemena and I agreed that the highlight of this event was the induction of 40 new Canadians - we thoroughly enjoyed it as there was a pipe band and Federal finance minister Jim Flaherty was there. After I said a little speech on behalf of the foundation and took some pictures with all of us, it was back to the venue, which because we had been inside, had been somewhat dismantled because of the high winds and rain. It looked like the van and chip wagon were the only ones left standing. After much thought we decided to move to another location closer to the people but after a couple of hours we decided to pack up and call it a day. It was another good venue and as usual the ScotiaMcLeod people made it so.
We then headed out to gas up the van and I washed it since Jason, one of the fellows that restored the van, was picking it up at the OPP station that evening for a couple of days of updates to the vehicle at his shop in Toronto. After Jason left we said goodbye to Laurel and Tom. Glemena and I headed home for some R & R – and for me, some clean you-know-what!
Don Clayton
Volunteer, Tour of Hope
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