Bike Night Not Just for Fun
Submitted by Louise Robertson
Nov. 15, 2024 – Elmvale Bike Night had the honour of presenting to the Elmvale & District Food Bank and the Elmvale Legion with $1812.50 each. We would like to thank each and everyone who came out and supported us this past summer. Because of your generosity we are able to help these two worthy organizations.
Silent sentinels: Elmvale war heroes honoured with downtown banners
By: Wayne Doyle, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Source: BarrieToday.com, Nov. 05, 2024
The 32 faces keep watch over Elmvale’s main street 24 hours a day, constant reminders of the wars that were waged and the sacrifices that were made.
Most of them are young, barely old enough to vote, their innocent faces, free of the horrors that would become part of their daily existence from that point forward, captured in portraits created days, weeks or months ahead of their being sent to the conflict zones.
Most of them came home. Sadly, none of them are alive today, the last one passing away at least a decade ago. “About five years ago, we were driving around and kept seeing these banners in a number of towns honouring military veterans who fought in the world wars and Korea,” said Jay Schell, owner of Steelers Restaurant and Pub on the village’s main street. “We thought it was a very important gesture and it should be happening here in Elmvale.”
With his wife, Sue, by his side, the Schells took their idea to the village’s Business Improvement Area (BIA) to see if they could rally support for a similar banner program in Elmvale. Their pitch wasn’t complicated and it didn’t take the BIA long to decide. They were on side with the plan.
The only challenge that first year was the timeline. Remembrance Day was fast approaching and there wasn’t time to create the banners Schell had envisioned. “There wasn’t enough time to get the honour banners made for Remembrance Day 2020,” Schell said. “So we had another design and we paid for those ones ourselves. “It was too important to us not to do it,” he added.
According to Schell, once villagers saw the banners installed on the light standards along main street, everyone stepped up to support it. The next year, organizers worked with the officials from the Elmvale legion to create the banners that have become the standard for the past four years.
According to Micheal Jacobs, president of Elmvale Royal Canadian Legion Branch 262, the images used on the banners are from the its collection of photos of the 175 local residents who enlisted to fight in the First World War and Second World War. “Each year, we do 16 banners and each banner has two images, one on each side,” Jacobs said. “Including this year, we will have featured 160 of our members. “Next year, we’ll feature the remaining 15,” he added. Jacobs wasn’t sure what the plan was for the remaining 17 banners that will be needed to round out next year’s program. He said they may cycle through the ones that have already been used, or they may open the program to include more veterans.
Jay Schell is fine with either direction. He just wants to make sure Remembrance Day has a place in Elmvale.
“My grandfather was in World War One, in the Battle of Passchendaele, and I’ve been a member of the legion most of my life, as has my father,” he said. “There are a lot of veterans in the Elmvale area that should be recognized. They gave a lot.” “It’s about honour and respect,” said Sue. “We’ve been going to Remembrance Day services forever, the last 15 or 16 years here in Elmvale. “I think it should be a holiday so people take the time and show the proper respect,” she added.
Looking out the restaurant’s front window onto the village’s main street, the Schells watch people walk up and down the street with young children in tow. They stop, look up and point at the faces on the banners, the parents sharing what they know with the wide-eyed youngsters. “It really hits when a family comes and they point out grandpa to the little ones,” Jay said. “They’ll stop and talk about it and take photos. It’s beautiful to see. It keeps their memory alive.
Elmvale’s Remembrance Day service is [was] on Nov. 11 at 10:45 a.m. at the Elmvale Cenotaph, near the public library.
SPRINGWATER VESPRA LIONS CLUB DUCK RACE BENEFITS ELMVALE & DISTRICT FOOD BANK
The Springwater Vespra Lions Club held their 33rd Annual White Water Willy Duck Race in Midhurst on September 28th. Funds raised by the event exceeded expectations with a final total of $7,000. Our club is honoured to be able to support the Elmvale & District Food Bank with the proceeds. The club would like to thank our many local business sponsors and special thanks to Currie Heavy Towing & Currie Truck Centre; GoldHill Roofing; and The Ice cream Hut each for sponsoring our $500 First, Second and Third Place prizes. We would also like to thank to the Springwater community who continue to support this worthy cause.
Prize winners from the September 28th, 2024 race were:
1st Duck # 1458 – Mark Gruening
2nd Duck #1029 – Mark Tobin
3rd Duck #390 – Lynn Harper
4th Duck #8 – Jim Tyler
5th Duck #1518 – Ev Caroline
6th Duck #331 – Lynda Johnson
7th Duck #979 – Deanna Kearley
8th Duck #1731 – Kim Seeger
9th Duck #1570 – Steven Godfrey
10th Duck #77 – Lara Knowles
11th Duck #220 – Barbara Mount
12th Duck # 1190 – Marlene Ham
13thDuck #34 – Don Guest
14thDuck #1394-Amanda McFadden
15th Duck #998 – Linda Jones
Last Duck #367 – Jim Elliott
At the November 1st, 2024 cheque presentation to the Elmvale & District Food Bank there was in attendance Lions Barb Webster, Ian Ashton & Ingolf Goetz, together with David Don, President and Mike Trace, Board Secretary from the Elmvale & District Food Bank.
Thank you
On behalf of Sharewear and the Elmvale Community Church, we would like to thank the people of Elmvale and surrounding area for another successful Winter Wear Giveaway. Two hundred people came through our doors this past Saturday and left with coats, snow pants, hats, mitts and boots for another Canadian winter.
Without your generous donations, Sharewear would not be able to do what we do. Thank You !!!
Did you miss our winter giveaway? Come visit us at Sharewear, 9 Queen St. E. We have clothing for the entire family. Everyone is welcome AND it’s free! Come take a look for yourself and tell a friend.
By Liz Ross, Ministry Lead – Sharewear
Elmvale Lions Roar
Nov. 13, 2024 – Elmvale Lions give to Shelter Now in the amount of $3,000. They also collected several pairs of boots socks mitts and sleeping bags for their clients.
Nov. 14, 2024 Elmvale lions purchased a wheel chair lift for Adam of Elmvale, ON. Attending the presentation were Lion Jim Elliot, Lion Eileen Elliot, Lion Murray Truax, Adam MacMillan-Mugford, Courtney MacMillan, and Nate MacMillan-Mugford.