OLIVER PAIPOONGE — Over 270 residents took part in Oliver Paipoonge Heritage Park’s third annual Classic Days this weekend.
The popular event featured classic cars, antique tractors, model railroad people and more. Kickin’ It Country with Lady T also held line dancing demos and lessons.
“Unfortunately, yesterday it was pouring rain in the morning, so that kind of slowed things down a bit, but once the rain stopped, (people) started pouring in. It was just as busy yesterday afternoon as it was all day today,” said Jean Mayo, the park’s curator, who was happy with the turnout.
Mayo said it was so rewarding to see people come out to experience the history, as a lot of work goes into the park.
“We have volunteers, but we have some workers as well and we’re always trying to keep it presentable. We occasionally take in a new item, so we change our displays a little bit just to keep it fresh and interesting for everyone,” said Mayo.
The park also hosted a friendly two-day people’s choice competition to get visitors more involved, offering four awards to tractors and novelty cars.
“We had ballots and we put numbers on the tractors and numbers on the cars and the people just went around and chose their favourite one. It could have been their favourite colour, their favourite model. Any idea was good,” said Mayo.
The park will continue its summer operations on Thursdays through Sundays from noon to 4:30 p.m. and will also host a Family Day on July 19.
“We have some games and crafts for kids, Rodney Brown, and it’s just such a fun day... They get to picnic if they want or they can tour. And it’s just all inclusive for $5 for ages 13 and up,” said Mayo.
Katherine Couzelis, a Friends of Oliver Paipoonge Heritage Park director, grew up next door to the park, where her mother volunteered when she was a child.
She said she was always there when she was younger, but believed the park became for many people something that was just there and not something she thought about all the time, until she was invited to come back.
“Seeing it again and just having all those memories… lit this passion… in me again and now being here and seeing how positive this event is... there are so many cars and so many people. I think it’s magical. I think it’s super important,” said Couzelis.
The heritage of places like the park, she added, was also important.
“There’s hundreds of people in… all these different communities and not always can you put yourself into the stories that your family has told you or the way that it was, especially looking here and how big the racing is now in Thunder Bay with the new track,” said Couzelis, whose uncle and older brothers raced in the area.
“Having that connection and feeling proud of this space and being able to share it with those you care about or you tell these stories to, is super important. It’s all about remembering and appreciating,” she added.
Although the nonprofit was established this year, its members have already been working and brainstorming new fundraising ideas for the park.
Their next steps include setting up a Facebook page to be referenced on the park’s page, as well as obtaining charity status to support the museum in its fundraising efforts and to work closely with the park’s board of directors and the municipality.
“The friends’ group’s main objective is to help fundraise for and to keep this here and preserve it because this is the history of where I grew up, so I’m very passionate about it and it’s the same with everybody else who’s on the friends’ group,” said Couzelis.
“But yeah, we want to raise money, we want to spread the awareness and bring tourism here and make sure that everybody knows that it exists. It’s an amazing experience to go back in time like this.”
For visitors who want to support the park, they are encouraged to show their support directly by purchasing items at the general store, participating in various fundraisers and making direct donations.
