Support from Cornwall and area has proven crucial to raising upwards of $8,000 for the non-partisan, non-profit Sir John A. Macdonald Bicentennial Commission, the group’s leader reports.
“Our recent Sir John A. walking tour of downtown Kingston led by Hockey Night in Canada’s Don Cherry was a resounding success due in large part to the support our Commission received from Cornwall,” says Arthur Milnes, Commissioner of the Macdonald Bicentennial Commission. “Led by Alain Vachon of Clean All, leading Cornwall lawyer Sean Adams, Cornwall City Councillor David Murphy and Bob Lefebvre of Benson Auto Group, more than 70 people came out to experience Canadian history like they never have before. With Mr. Vachon’s generous donation of $5,000 from Clean All, our Commission is proudly able to report its most successful fundraising walk ever.”
“The walk, personally led by Don Cherry, was a complete sellout. And, Mr. Cherry was touched that Alain Vachon arranged for kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Kingston and Area to be on hand for the event.”
Mr. Cherry led the crowd to various stops in downtown Kingston and shared stories from his own storied life and career to the delight of the crowd at each one.
Many were unaware that Mr. Cherry’s great-grandfather joined Sir John A. Macdonald’s famed North West Mounted Police shortly after it was founded. The hockey broadcasting legend regaled his audience with stories and stayed late into the evening until each and every child on the tour had received an autograph or picture taken with their hockey hero.
“The fast-approaching bicentennial of Sir John A. Macdonald’s birth in 2015 is a winner for Eastern Ontario, our entire province and our whole nation,” Milnes added. “The primary winners will be youth because of the increased awareness of Canada’s rich history this significant national celebration will bring in its wake. And, our whole region will benefit due to the positive impact this celebration will have on tourism. Hats off to Mr. Vachon, Mr. Adams, Councillor Murphy and Mr. Lefebvre for being at the vanguard in Eastern Ontario and recognizing this opportunity so early on.”
Other sponsors include Manulife Financial, Stewart Title, Brown’s Fine Foods and the City of Kingston.
For further information please contact Arthur Milnes in Kingston at (613) 328-5592 or via email at arthur.milnes@sympatico.ca.
