Latest news with #OwenSound
CBC
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- CBC
Black hiker calls on others to join him on walk to northern end of the Underground Railway
Social Sharing For years, Ken Johnston has hiked Black heritage trails across the U.S., retracing the steps of civil rights pioneers and the freedom seekers who fled slavery and made the long journey north. In 2022, to mark the 200th birthday of abolitionist Harriet Tubman, he trekked from New York City to St. Catharines, Ont., where many former slaves settled, and where Tubman lived from 1851 to 1862. This summer, the Philadelphia-based "walking artist" will continue north, following the path thousands of freedom seekers took to reach Owen Sound, Ont., the northernmost terminus of the Underground Railroad network, after the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act in 1850. And he's looking for people to join him. "Most of my walks have been solo walks, but this is one that I just feel differently about, and I want to open it up," he said. "Doesn't matter if you're white or Black or Indigenous. If anyone who has a love of history and wants to participate, they can come join for one day, one block or one mile." The two-week, 265-kilometre Walk to Freedom will start at the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center in New York on July 19, crossing the Rainbow Bridge into Ontario and continuing north all the way to Owen Sound. Along the way, Johnston hopes to meet with freedom seeker descendants, and explore early Black settlements, such as Negro Creek in Grey County. "All of this is to give people a sensory experience of just what it was like for these freedom seekers," he said. The itinerary for the Owen Sound walk is posted on Johnson's website, and those interested in participating in the initial cross-border walk can register through Eventbrite. The narrative learned about the Underground Railroad, he said, is that freedom seekers made it to the border, crossed, were free, and that's it, Johnson said. "Well, their life went on from there. Some of them were already free. Some of them were formerly enslaved. It's about discovering their life on the other side of the border." Owen Sound's distance from the border offered safety Owen Sound was one of several terminuses freedom seekers landed, along with Amherstburg, Buxton, Chatham, London and Windsor, said Channon Oyeniran, a historian and PhD candidate at Queen's University. After the Fugitive Slave Act, which gave plantation owners the ability to recapture escaped slaves from free states, Owen Sound's distance from the border provided a sense of safety, she said. "I think they found when they got to Owen Sound they were just able to really build a life for themselves and for their families," she said. Many walked to Owen Sound aided by local abolitionists, she said. Newspapers including The Provincial Freemen and The Voice of the Fugitive also helped to find resources and locate relatives. Freedom walk plans to arrive for Emancipation Festival Johnson says the plan is to arrive in the city on Aug. 2 for the Emancipation Festival at Harrison Park. Founded in 1862, the festival runs Aug. 1 to 3, and is now in its 163rd year. It's believed to be the longest-running festival in North America. Frank Thompson of Kansas City, Mo., will be walking with him for the journey. He previously accompanied Johnston from Galveston to Houston in Texas for Juneteenth, and most recently helped him trace the southern route of the Underground Railroad. "Having grown up in Texas and experienced the Juneteenth celebrations there, being able to see a celebration in Canada that predates all of those celebrations, it's one of the things that's going to be a historical touchpoint for me," Thompson said of the Emancipation Festival. What began as a British Methodist Episcopal (BME) Church of Owen Sound picnic evolved over time into a celebration of Black history by the descendants of freedom seekers, and a commemoration of the Slavery Abolition Act and Emancipation Day. The festival features speakers, live entertainment, food, drinks, and educational presentations. Bonita Johnson deMatteis sits on the festival's board and is herself a descendant. She said the Saturday festivities begin at the park with an opening ceremony at the Black History Cairn, which deMatteis designed. There, those gathered take "a moment to regard our ancestors that we are here, and we gonna be here," she said. The closing feature of the weekend is a gospel fest, which is returning to the recently-restored BME Church. DeMatteis said she remembers attending the festival as a child, not realizing it wasn't just a family reunion or church function. "I have two granddaughters, and they know about it, and I hope their granddaughters will know about it. There's no reason why this has to fade off into the sunset," she said.
CTV News
6 days ago
- General
- CTV News
SIU terminates investigation into man's broken wrist
The logo of the Ontario Special Investigations Unit is pictured in Toronto, April 12, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey The Director of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Joseph Martino, has terminated an investigation into right wrist fractures suffered by a 23-year-old man in Owen Sound. Owen Sound Police Service notified the SIU about a man they had arrested on February 26 who was diagnosed with a serious injury. The SIU initiated an investigation. Based on the SIU's inquiries – including an interview with the young man and video footage that captured part of the incident– Martino was satisfied the investigation could be discontinued. A call to the Owen Sound Police from a man concerned about his roommate on February 21 led police to perform a wellness check. Police brought the man to the emergency room at a local hospital. While waiting to be seen by medical staff, the man punched a wall with his right fist. He was disruptive with emergency staff, so police and hospital security were required to physically restrain the man. During their efforts to control the man, an officer was struck in the jaw. Subsequently, the man was diagnosed with fractures to his right hand. The SIU states that 'no force was used during the restraint process that could have caused the injury.' Further in Martino's statement, he says 'It was apparent the man alone was responsible for his injury, leaving patently nothing to investigate as far as the potential criminal liability of any police officer was concerned.'
CTV News
28-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Girl, 15, found safe one month after going missing
A 15-year-old girl reported missing one month ago has been located safe. Owen Sound police issued an appeal to the public for help locating the teen after she disappeared April 28 from the upper east side. Several social media posts over the past month have expressed concern for her well-being. "We extend our sincere gratitude to the public, media, social service agencies, and various police services for their assistance and dedication throughout the investigation," the police service stated in its Wednesday update. 'The support and vigilance shown by the community played an instrumental role in helping bring Jillianne home safely.'
CTV News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Owen Sound, Ont. man builds Chi-Cheemaun tribute using 92,000 Lego pieces
Owen Sound resident, Ken Reid, has just completed a large scale Lego model of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, a tribute to the iconic vessel that connects Tobermory to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. (Supplied) For 64-year-old Ken Reid, what began as a shared pastime with his wife has grown into a labour of love, for Lego. The Owen Sound resident has just completed a large scale Lego model of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, a tribute to the iconic vessel that connects Tobermory to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. Reid's creation is no toy. Stretching an impressive nine feet in length, 20 inches wide and 30 inches tall, the ship contains an estimated 92,000 Lego pieces, along with 600 minifigures (small figurines), 51 cars with trailers, and 10 motorcycles carefully assembled on board. Lego Owen Sound resident, Ken Reid, has just completed a large scale Lego model of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, a tribute to the iconic vessel that connects Tobermory to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. (Supplied) 'I started building again during the early days of the pandemic. I had all this time on my hands,' said Reid. This was a hobby he and his wife, Ola used to do together in 2016. In 2020, Ola passed away and Reid found that the days grew longer. The endless hours of the pandemic lockdown may have reignited his passion, but it was the 50th anniversary of the Chi-Cheemaun that inspired Reid to begin this ambitious build. Ken Reid Owen Sound residents, OIa Vonrichter (L) and Ken Reid (R) in an undated image on the beach. (Supplied) 'I reached out to the Owen Sound Marine Services, and they were kind enough to invite me on board the real ship. I took dozens of photos, everything from the interior layout to the details on the deck.' Reid said to CTV News. The project, which began in mid-February, practically became a full-time job for Reid. For months, he spent six to eight hours a day, seven days a week meticulously designing and assembling the model, including a full interior. Lego Owen Sound resident, Ken Reid, has just completed a large scale Lego model of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, a tribute to the iconic vessel that connects Tobermory to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. (Supplied) 'It took me three weeks just to figure out how to build the front of the ship. If I couldn't get that right I wasn't going to build the rest of it,' Reid said. Sourcing parts was no small task. As a longtime VIP member of Lego, Reid scavenged Facebook Marketplace and bought bulk boxes of miscellaneous pieces to gather the materials he needed. Lego Owen Sound resident, Ken Reid, has just completed a large scale Lego model of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, a tribute to the iconic vessel that connects Tobermory to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. (Supplied) He even hand-painted sections of the ship and created custom decals using printable label paper he bought from Amazon. The finished model, known in the Lego world as a MOC (My Own Creation) scale and remarkably close to the real Chi-Cheemaun, which can hold roughly 140 vehicles and operates seasonally between the Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island. While the Chi-Cheemaun is his newest piece, it is definitely not his largest project. Lego Owen Sound resident, Ken Reid, has just completed a large scale Lego model of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, a tribute to the iconic vessel that connects Tobermory to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. (Supplied) Reid previously built a seven-foot-long, four-foot-high replica of Toronto's Casa Loma, and his biggest undertaking to date is a 220,000-piece Star Wars mock; a testament to his dedication and passion. Reid estimates more than 1.5 million Lego pieces in his back pocket. He often lets his creations live for a few years before dismantling them to make way for new projects. Lego Owen Sound resident, Ken Reid, has just completed a large scale Lego model of the Chi-Cheemaun ferry, a tribute to the iconic vessel that connects Tobermory to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island. (Supplied) 'I usually build in the winter months. It's a great way to pass the time indoors. I don't know what my next project will be yet,' he said. Now, Reid is considering placing the Chi-Cheemaun model at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery for public viewing, a fitting home for a piece that blends both creativity and local pride.
CTV News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Man's Lego version of iconic northern Ont. ferry garnering attention
Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Ken Reid's largest piece to date is a seven-foot high, seven-foot long and seven-foot wide replica of Minas Anor from Lord of the Rings that required 220,000 Lego pieces. Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Ken Reid is seen with another of his creations – a Lego replica of Toronto's Casa Loma. Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Ken Reid has been making Lego replicas for almost a decade, but he says his replica of an iconic northern Ontario ferry is getting the most attention. Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. Lego 2 Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. (Photo courtesy of Ken Reid) It took 92,000 pieces and he estimates that on many days, he worked six to eight hours on what was clearly a labour of love. Reid said he and his late wife took the ferry several times over the years and he has thought about making a Lego replica of it for a while. 'I started thinking about it last year when it was (the Chi-Cheemaun's) 50th anniversary -- I kind of missed the boat,' he joked, on the phone from his home Wednesday. Took photos on the ferry 'Then in early February, I started downloading pictures off the internet and I figured, you know, it's been bugging me for a year. It's time to start building it.' Ferry officials let him on board to take photos of the interior of the ferry when it was docked in Owen Sound so he could get everything just right. The hardest part, he said, was the hull. He spent three weeks alone building and rebuilding it to get it right. He uploaded photos of the finished product in May, and it has gathered a lot of media and other attention since then. Lego 7 Ken Reid, a retired baker by trade from Owen Sound, created a nine-foot, eight-inch version of the Chi-Cheemaun between February and mid-May this year. (Photo courtesy of Ken Reid) In addition to radio and TV interviews, he said Science North in Sudbury has asked about displaying it as part of its Lego exhibit, the Chi-Cheemaun has asked to display it, as has the Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound. He said he built it so it could be moved in four sections. He's not sure about sending it all the way to Sudbury, however, and he's unsure how it would fare on the actual ferry, since there's so much movement back and forth. 'The Owen Sound Visitor Centre happens to be at the Tom Thompson (Art Gallery), so I'm kind of leaning towards that one for a while because I've had a lot of interest from people,' Reid said. While he has built models all of his life, he got seriously into Lego replicas in 2016. Reid saw a TV show about adult fans of Lego and was soon hooked. At first, he dug out old Lego pieces that belonged to his children. Now he has around one million Lego pieces in all corners of his home. Reid said he was drawn to making replicas because he liked the idea of being able to enjoy his creation for as long as he wanted, then take it apart and build something new. 'You build a model and it just sits on a shelf forever,' he said. '(With) Lego, you build it, you enjoy it, and after a while, you can change it.' Lego Casa Loma Ken Reid is seen with another of his creations – a Lego replica of Toronto's Casa Loma. (Photo courtesy of Ken Reid) Another of his creations – a replica of Toronto's Casa Loma – also attracted attention. As did his largest piece to date – a seven-foot high, seven-foot long and seven-foot wide replica of Minas Anor from Lord of the Rings that required 220,000 Lego pieces. 'Unfortunately, that one's not movable because a lot of people wanted to see it,' he said. He also did a nine-foot version of the Titanic, which was good preparation for his work on the Chi-Cheemaun. Reid expects he'll enjoy his latest creation for a while before he gets the itch to make something else. 'Yeah, there'll be another project,' he said. 'I usually slow down during the summer on my builds. It's more of a winter hobby. But I don't stop – like, if it's a rainy day, I putter away in here.'
