Nearly 500 people attended Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation’s (SNGRDC) annual community awareness barbeque at Chiefswood Park on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
With Six Nations of the Grand River Community Awareness Month in full swing, Thursday’s event was just one of roughly 51 events that have been planned throughout the month of May to celebrate and showcase all that Six Nations has to offer.
Throughout the three-hour event, community members enjoyed several free activities such as live music from Josh Miller and the Pappy Johns Band, a t-shirt tie-dye activity, one-hour canoe and kayak rentals, a pop-up job fair and a bbq lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs.
As well, Aecon-Six Nations (A6N) brought along some heavy construction equipment for the touch-a-truck portion of the event, including a 70’ arborist bucket truck, an industrial off-road utility vehicle and several John Deere tractors.
Katie Montour, Community and Public Relations Officer for SNGRDC, said that considering there was an 80 per cent chance of rain, her and her team were thrilled with the day’s turnout.
“Today has just been great! This is only my second time organizing this event, but I think this is the biggest turnout we’ve ever had, which is awesome because we really didn’t know if the weather would hold out for us,” she said.
Montour noted that the event was really a chance for the community to get together after the winter months, and to just enjoy each other’s company.
“Today is a chance to come together and just relax, you know? For the people who don’t have to work today, it’s nice for them to come out and enjoy themselves, and for the people who do have to work, it’s a nice opportunity to pop in, get lunch and maybe listen to some music,” she said. “It’s just a great way to be together, be outside and take it easy.”
For Dawn Martin and her daughter Brandy VanEvery, it was their first time attending the event and the two said they enjoyed their time at the park.
“This was our first time coming to this event and it was awesome,” said Martin. “I’ve seen Josh Miller before, and his music is always great. It’s just nice because free events like these really bring the community out and together.”
As part of the event, attendees also had the opportunity to enter to win several raffle prizes such as: a Master Chef barbeque, a two-night stay at Chiefswood Park, a signed Brandon Montour jersey, a large Yeti Cooler, a paddle board, lawn games and more.
All proceeds from the raffle, as well as other donations collected throughout the event, will be going to the Iroquois Lodge Nursing Home in Ohsweken.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
