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Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Youngsters explore city vehicles at annual event
Over 2,000 Brantford-Brant residents attended the fifth annual Wheels on the Pavement event at the Brantford and District Civic Centre on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Hosted in partnership between the Downtown Central, East Ward Echo Place, Holmedale and Eagle Place Neighbourhood Associations, as well as the City of Brantford, the event was held in celebration of National Public Works Week. The event featured an assortment of around 50 city vehicles, big rigs, emergency response vehicles and jeeps from the Brantford Area Jeep and Off Road Club (BAJC) for parents and children alike to explore. 'We have a lot of Public Works employees and their vehicles here today, as well as several other vehicles from the City and local businesses too,' said Sylvia Collins, Chair of the Neighbourhood Alliance for the City of Brantford. 'It's just a great chance for everyone who sees these vehicles on a daily basis and who may be curious about what they look like inside, to see how they work.' Collins explained that the event was originally the brainchild of Jayme Wilson-Belore, and has been evolving ever since. 'Back then, she gathered the fellow neighbourhood hub chairs and said, 'what do you think of this idea?' and so at the time, they came together to get the first one off the ground and then we eventually partnered with the City,' she said. 'That's been a great partnership, because we've been able to be here at the Civic Centre, and we were able to get Public Works involved with all their vehicles so it's been really nice.' As the event got underway, it didn't take long for the youngsters and their parents to start lining up for a chance to explore the various vehicles, honk a few horns and pose for photos. Carolyn Dares, an arborist with the City's forestry department, said the event was a fantastic chance for children to interact with Public Works employees. 'This is a great, interactive opportunity for the kids to check out the vehicles but to also get introduced to different types of careers too,' she said. 'Of course, big trucks attract little children, so it's an amazing event for them; a lot of them just want to climb in and honk the horns, but a lot of them have come up and asked questions about the chainsaws and such too so that's been fun.' Throughout the event, families connected with the many different community partner booths to play games, pick up some goodies or acquire temporary tattoos. Many were sure to also get a balloon animal from Marco the Clown, and stop to watch the Just Dance Line Dancing Community entertain the crowd. A fan-favourite of the day was watching the Alpha Power Lifters pull a Ken's Towing 72,000-pound rotator truck. Organizers were also collecting non-perishables and school-safe snacks on behalf of Gifts of the Heart, a local not-for-profit organization dedicated to addressing the issues of food and clothing insecurity that faces young school-age children. Joe Doolittle and Kat Hill said it was their first time visiting the event. 'There's a lot of stuff going on here for sure, so that's nice,' said Doolittle. 'It's kind of cool too, because it gives them a safe way to come up and approach these vehicles and check them out. The kids particularly liked checking out the fire truck, so that was really fun to see.' Kimberly De Jong's reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
27-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Lakeshore wraps up Public Works Week with appreciation for essential staff
The Municipality of Lakeshore joined communities across North America in marking National Public Works Week from May 18 to 24, 2025, recognizing the vital contributions of staff who maintain local infrastructure and services. This year's theme, 'People, Purpose, Presence,' underscored the cornerstone ideals that motivate public works professionals to serve their communities every day. Meeting the needs of people gives public works its sense of purpose. Often, these professionals never meet those whose lives are improved by their work—because when things go right, few even notice public works is there. Yet, with or without fanfare, they remain ever-present, working in the background to enhance quality of life for all. In Lakeshore, the Public Works Division is responsible for maintaining over 500 kilometres of roads and 100 bridges, along with storm sewers, streetlights, sidewalks, signs, culverts and other safety infrastructure. 'Public Works Week was a time to honour the individuals who ensure our community's infrastructure and services run smoothly,' said Mayor Tracey Bailey. 'Their commitment to excellence keeps Lakeshore safe and connected every day.' The division includes 16 full-time employees, supported by seasonal staff, who often work around the clock—especially during snow events or emergencies. Their work was spotlighted throughout the week on the municipality's social media platforms, offering residents a look behind the scenes. With roadwork and spring construction underway, the week also served as a reminder to motorists to drive cautiously in active work zones. 'The safety of our team members is the highest priority, and we appreciate everyone's cooperation in ensuring our staff get home safely every day,' said Jeff Wilson, Division Leader – Public Works. Residents also expressed their appreciation for the often-unseen work that keeps the municipality running. 'I think we take a lot of it for granted,' said Belle River resident Linda Marcotte. 'When the roads are cleared after a snowstorm or a sidewalk is repaired, we don't always realize how much goes into it. Public works staff really are the backbone of our towns.' National Public Works Week is an initiative of the American Public Works Association. Since 1962, the week has honoured the often-unsung heroes who keep essential services running year-round.
