The Toronto Blue Jays event taking place June 21 on Walpole Island will be a part of the overall ‘Bkejwanong Summer Solstice Celebration.’
The activities will take place at the baseball diamonds on Austin Road from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on National Aboriginal Day.
“This year’s event will double as the official grand opening of the newly refurbished ball diamonds upfront, but we still plan on having all of the great activities that we had last year,” Walpole Island staff stated in their promotional material.
“Jays Care Foundation will be bringing some special guests, hosting a baseball clinic and games for kids, and will be providing us with all of the hot dogs. They will also be giving us some neat Blue Jays swag for all of the kids that take part in the baseball activities.”
Walpole Island staff said there are no plans for former Blue Jays players to attend on June 21.
However, the Blue Jays mascot ‘Ace’ is expected to make an appearance.
“As another exciting addition, Sportsnet that will be on site filming some of the celebration, so it will be a great opportunity to showcase our community,” Walpole Island staff said in their handout.
“Some of the footage will be broadcast at the Jays away game that evening and will also be broadcast at their home game on June 27.”
The event will feature LIVE music, from Sweet Pea & the Elderberry, Jammers, The Isaac Brothers, Spencer Brigham, Don and Ron Barnier and Walpole Island’s own drum group, Snye Creek.
There will also be free hot dogs, drinks, snacks, inflatables, horse shoes.
Vendors are welcome and there are no fees, they just need to bring their own tables.
Donors from the Jays Care Foundation, Union Gas, South Kent Wind, and the Walpole Island Casino Rama fund and  many community volunteers will also be on hand.
Walpole Island is co-hosting the event with 98.3 CFRZ community radio, the Walpole Island Heritage Centre, the WDSS Future Elders and Enodmaagejig Social Services.
The day will conclude with fireworks up highbanks at 10 p.m.
They are also still looking for more dancers, volunteers and vendors for the day.
If anyone is interested, they can call Aimee Johnson at 519-628-5700 ext. 264 or email her at aimee.johnson@wifn.org.
Jays Care Foundation helps out
Lee Jacobs, who helps coach multiple baseball teams on Walpole, told the Sydenham Current the Jays Care Foundation has been instrumental in helping Walpole Island fix up their baseball diamonds during the past year.
“They have supplied all the funds to do all of the fencing, we’ve already had money to do the infields, now we can play the day after it rains. A couple of years ago, if it rained on a Monday, we weren’t playing again until the next Monday,” he said.
“Everything else that they have given us has replaced our dugouts, our fencing, our canteen area, we’re suppose to be getting more toys for kids, more sitting room.”
Learn more about the Jays Care Foundation, by clicking here.
– Photo credit: Jays Care Foundation
