Rockin' On Canada Day draws in thousands
Darlene Wroe
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
TEMISKAMING SHORES - Thousands of people took part in the Rockin' On Canada Day event in Temiskaming Shores June 29 and 30.
Mother Nature threw a curve ball with cold temperatures ranging from the single digits to the low teens throughout the weekend with rain on Saturday, but it didn't take the warmth from the old friends who were reunited from the days of the Bikers' Reunion. The event’s roots go back to 1999 and its final edition was in 2016.
Barry Phippen, who chaired the Rockin' On Canada Day Event, couldn't put an exact number on the attendees, but he said the Saturday evening concert was packed.
"The parade was fantastic," said Phippen in a telephone interview after the event concluded.
Miles of motorcycles, sports cars, vintage cars, and even some homemade vehicles joined together for a tour from Dymond Township through New Liskeard, Haileybury, Cobalt and back again on Sunday afternoon.
"To see the people lining the streets with their Canadian flags" was very moving, he said.
He expressed gratitude for all the people who assisted.
"Without the volunteers, without the community, without the sponsors, these things don't happen."
One example of teamwork was the early Saturday morning decision to bring the inflatables inside the main building to get them out of the rain so that the children could use them. Children, parents and grandparents appreciated that effort, he said.
He was not pleased that the city council made a decision not to allow a tent city to be set up. Even without that, "people still wanted to come," said Phippen, and by reaching out to friends and relatives they found places to stay. But Phippen said the loss of the tent city meant a loss of potential revenue that would otherwise have gone toward the committee's fundraising effort for the Temiskaming Hospital and to help those experiencing cancer.
He thanked Pedersens and Demora Construction for their assistance.
City crew members were also on Armstrong Street managing traffic as it passed through the area.
Whether the event returns next year will depend on future discussions, said Phippen.
"The people sure want it back. It was very well attended."
Mike McArthur, dressed as one of the Blues Brothers, and Rick Barron, dressed as Elvis, were there to introduce people and to help children and seniors have a good time at the event, said McArthur.
"Barry and his group have done a marvellous job," McArthur said.
Jody Munch of Auburn, Pennsylvania, was one of the hundreds of bikers who attended the event. He said the reason he came up was to reunite with friends.
"I have really good friends up here," he said.
Others commended the hard work of Phippen and all his volunteers, and asked only that next time "we turn up the heat."
Darlene Wroe, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Temiskaming Speaker
