Latest news with #VictoriaPark
CTV News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘Victoria Park, Home County, inseparable': Home County Festival returns after hiatus
Music fans packed into the centre of Victoria Park Saturday as hometown singer Leanne Mayer kicked off the return of the Home County Music and Art Festival (HCMAF). 'Victoria Park, Home County, they're inseparable,' said Bev Camp, known as the 'Dancing Cowboy' and a fixture at local festivals. 'This is the life of the city, even for a day. Look at the people here from all over. Same as Sunfest, it's the best.' The 49th annual HCMAF returned to Victoria Park two years after organizers with the Home County Folk League (HCFL) paused due to financial constraints. Home County Music and Art Festival 2025 Bev Camp, known as the 'Dancing Cowboy' is a fixture at London, Ont. music festivals (Brent Lale/CTV News London) A year ago, they held a small festival at London Brewing Coop. This year they came back downtown with just one stage instead of five. 'It's a testament to Londoners love of Home County,' said Artistic Director Darin Addison about the large afternoon crowd. 'We normally have five stages, going on all at the same time so there's something for everybody. If they don't like what's on one side, they go to another stage. So we had to be very meticulous about who we put on the stage. We want something that's going to appeal to a broader audience. I think we've done a great job with the lineup.' That lineup included Mayer, a contemporary singer-songwriter, as the opening act. Home County Music and Art Festival 2025 Leanne Mayer of London, Ont. opens the 49th annual Home County Music and Art Festival at Victoria Park on Saturday, July 26, 2025. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'It's an honour to be included in the lineup, especially in a shortened group,' said Mayer, who last played the festival in 2019. 'I've been lucky to get a lot of support from London. Home County is London's gem. Everybody loves Home County, all the Indie musicians, so it means the world to me to be included.' This year, the HCFL was taking donations at the park and asking patrons to also spend money in their beer garden or with the vendors. Organizers will assess this year's festival and then regroup as they look toward planning next year's event. Home County Music and Art Festival 2025 Hundreds of people packed the lawn at Victoria Park for the 49th annual Home County Music and Art Festival on Saturday, July 26, 2025. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'If we get the donations and the turnout, then that's certainly going to be inspiration to bring it back to a three-day festival and next year will be the 50th. The HCFL's new fiscal year begins in September, so they'll start talking about a return to a three-day event. 'We've got 11 months to put it together,' said Addison.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Victoria Park paddling pool in Leamington reopens after upgrade
A refurbished paddling pool is due to reopen on Saturday, following delays getting District Council said upgrades to the pool at Victoria Park in Leamington included non-slip surfaces, improved surrounds, jets and fountains with free-standing shades and benches around the authority said it would be open throughout the school summer holidays and remain open until September."We really appreciate people's patience as we've worked to get the pool ready and open for the summer holidays," said councillor Will Roberts. "It's fantastic to be able to provide this fun, free, family friendly facility in the centre of Leamington."Meanwhile, the authority said it was facing "ongoing challenges" with the refurbishment of the paddling pool at St Nicholas Park in Warwick, having earlier said it would open by the updates will be made in the coming weeks, a spokesperson said."Due to the more complex nature of the construction of the St Nicholas Park paddling pool and ongoing challenges with onsite water levels, this facility will take a little longer to complete," they council did not provide a date for when the St Nicholas Park pool was expected to reopen. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
RNZ News
22-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Foodstuffs commits to rebuilding New World Victoria Park after fire
Fire engulfed the supermarket in June. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi Foodstuffs says it's "100 percent committed to rebuilding" New World Victoria Park at the same site as its fire-damaged predecessor . A massive blaze broke out at the central Auckland supermarket in June, taking more than 10 hours to extinguish and significantly damaging the building. The announcement of a new store was made on the supermarket's social media. "Work is well under way to make our fire-damaged site safe for entry. "Right now, it's still too dangerous for anyone to go inside, but specialist crews and structural engineers are on-site, carefully stabilising the building so we can begin the recovery." "We're 100 percent committed to rebuilding a new supermarket on the same site. Our focus is on getting back up and running as quickly as we can, but safety comes first." The statement went on to say it has brought forward the opening of the store in Point Chevalier to 19 August, which is 5km away. The New World store in Victoria Park had employed more than 180 people . Foodstuffs said it continues to work with affected staff. "To our amazing team, we're continuing to work one-on-one with each of you and are so grateful for your patience and resilience. "Being part of the Foodstuffs North Island co-operative means Foodstuffs have been able to off over 100 roles across 23 Auckland stores, and we're doing everything we can to help our people find the right next step," the statement on social media said.
CBC
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
The 2025 London Pride Parade is a wrap. Here's how it went.
The sun came out just in time for thousands of Londoners to enjoy a massive display of Pride on Sunday, as the 2025 London Pride Parade marched through parts of the city's core. Advocates, employers, institutions, politicians, and even a horse strode from the parade staging area at the Western Fair District, down Queen's Avenue, all the way to the heart of the city at Victoria Park. On the sidelines, thousands of people clad in rainbow paints, clothes, jewelry and more, blew bubbles, waved flags, clapped and cheered as the parade made its way to the park. Londoner Andera Novak was among the thousands of spectators. After being in the parade last year, Novak is sitting back and enjoying the show this year. "I think it's really great that with the Pride Parade, so many parts of our community are able to come together and just celebrate and be together," Novak said. Novak said it's a totally different experience being outside of the parade for a change, and a welcome one at that. "Especially with the way the world is right now, it doesn't always feel like there is a place in the community for everyone," Novak said. "I think the Pride Parade is the example that there is a space for everyone and there's a space where we can celebrate love and acceptance and just be together." Tannis Baribeau was in the parade, and told CBC News the experience was amazing. "It means the world to me. I think it deserves to be bigger," Baribeau said, adding that turnout seems to be on an upward trend that started when pandemic restrictions lifted and only continues to grow. Much like Novak, Baribeau said events like this are extremely important to the community. "At the end of the day, love will win," Baribeau said. "Please come out and support pride and show your pride, even if you're not part of the community. Make those around you feel safe." Irene Ramos attended the parade this year like she has for years before. "We all get together and it's a lot of fun. The sun's finally coming out and we're hoping we see a rainbow," she said. "There's all walks of life coming together to watch something that's supposed to be peaceful and celebrate people. It's great." Among those involved in the parade itself, were local radio stations, large employers such as Canada Life, and local politicians such as Mayor Josh Morgan and Coun. Corrine Rahman. The London Police Service also had a presence, with Chief Thai Truong taking part in the parade. Here are some more photos showing the sights of the 2025 London Pride Parade.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
P.E.I.'s longest-serving dairy bar celebrates 70th birthday
Island resident Paul Brown was at Victoria Park on Saturday, spending time with his dog, Harley, as 70th birthday celebrations were starting at the Kiwanis Dairy Bar in Charlottetown. Brown remembered visiting many years ago as a kid. He said that the dairy bar is only a few years older than he is. "Congratulations to the Kiwanis, they do such a great job with this dairy bar," he said. "So, it's been around a few years longer than I have, and I've eaten lots of ice cream from there," Brown said the park hasn't changed much over the years. "It's just so nice to see people here enjoying themselves," he said. The dairy bar celebrated its birthday and grand reopening at Victoria Park, offering free hot dogs and low prices for fries and ice cream, at only 70 cents. The renovations are the first major update for the space since the 1990s. Dozens of people showed up to the event, including members of the cadets, firefighters, a member of the Canadian Armed Forces and paramedics. Basil Hambly, a member of the Kiwanis Club and operator of the dairy bar, called Saturday a milestone. "For one, 70 years in business, and two, that it's a service club that the funds … help the community." The Kiwanis Club is an international, non-profit organization, founded in 1915. It serves children around the world. Proceeds from Saturday's event will be used to support the club's charitable efforts. Karla Bernard, the MLA for Charlottetown-Victoria Park, echoed Hambly's thoughts on the business staying open for so long. "I'm coming to celebrate with them and show my support," she said. "I think that's incredible, 70 years … not a lot of businesses, or a lot of organizations can say they've had a project going for that long," Bernard said. "So, I think that shows a lot about the organization and the individuals involved and their commitment to the community." Bernard said the club does a lot of great work in the local community. "It's a service the community loves," she said. "Dairy bars are so unique to P.E.I. "I think it's a special gem that we have in Victoria Park." Longtime volunteers Shantol Clarke volunteers at the Kiwanis Club. "It always feels good to see kids smiling and seeing what we can do in the community and throughout the world, so it's awesome," Clarke said. Clarke said some Kiwanis Club members are part of the different organizations that showed up, like paramedics. "We have some people in our club that actually work in some of these places, so we just asked them to come along and support the community," she said.
