Honeywood sets boot sale for arena funding

July 18, 2013 · 0 Comments

The innovative community of Honeywood has found a way to celebrate Canada’s 146th birthday by giving bargain hunters and bargain sellers a chance to come together while raising money for an ambitious program of improvements to the community centre.

The day is something of a dual birthday as this is the 48th year for the present North Dufferin Community Centre. It is a source of pride for the community that the arena complex was built without a single penny of provincial or federal grants.

Things have changed in 48 years. The arena’s dressing rooms might have been adequate a half-century ago. But now, among other things, there need to be showers for female teams and there needs to be a separate dressing room for referees.

So, just as the community did when the old arena burned to the ground 50 years ago, the community is rallying to raise funds to meet the need.

A “boot sale” on Canada Day, with vendors paying $20 a car, and the arena committee selling snacks, will be a beginning for the funding of a strategic plan for the future of the building.

Mulmur Councillor Heather Hayes, who’s organizing the event along with other volunteers, enthusiastically predicted a successful 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. event. She recalled that the arena was built to replace the burned out one with funds made available by personal loan guarantees by the local farming community.

And, ever since, there has been a massive beef barbecue annually in July as one of the regular fundraisers. “We fed about 1,000 last year,” she said. This year’s BBQ is scheduled for July 27.

But this Monday morning, July 1, you’ll be able to search for bargains in the car trunks (boots) of the vendors or show up with your own bargains for sale.

You’ll be able to snack on hot dogs or hamburgers, and the kids can play games at tables set up by Honeywood Play Park.

You’ll want to be back at the centre at 5 p.m. when the United Church ladies offer a delicious strawberry supper.

There’s no shortage of area events between the end of the boot sale at 1 p.m. and the supper at 5. Shelburne and Amaranth are featuring a few activities in the afternoon and, as per established tradition, MPP Sylvia Jones, MP David Tilson and Shelburne Mayor Ed Crewson will thrill that crowd at Centre Dufferin Recreation Centre with their presentation of O Canada.

By Wes Keller