Orleans Weekly Journal
Published: Friday, May 23, 2008 There's nothing boring about Orléans Over a recent coffee with an old colleague we remarked how marriage and kids have made us real suburbia types. I jostled him about living in Far-haven and he quickly retorted that it was better than B-orléans. But he is dead wrong, so let’s pick the first weekend of June to sample just a smidgeon of what’s happening in our community. Well if you like fairs and getting out to mingle with your neighbours and friends you could venture over on June 7 to the Queenswood Heights Fun Fair and, if you still have some energy left, the annual Blackburn Hamlet Fun Fair runs from June 6 to 8 with entertainment and activities for all ages. Also on June 7 the Orléans Soapbox Derby will take place on Orléans Boulevard hill between Jeanne d’Arc and St. Joseph. This is a great day with plenty of cool soapboxes and loads of junk food (oops, don’t tell anyone) on offer to fill your belly. The Friday night before, Cairine Wilson Secondary School is hosting a celebration for the success of arts with performances and an auction. And a little farther away, the Navan Lions and other local groups are presenting StreetDance 2008. And if you are in the mood for something completely different and need your fix of local sports, then Sir Wilfrid Laurier High School is calling you out on June 7 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. For the first time, the 2008 High School Basketball Showcase will be held in our own backyard. From noon to 2 p.m., the top 40 boys high school basketball players will enter an open tryout for 12 spots to compete in an exhibition game starting at 3 p.m. against a team of Toronto (the big T-dot) high school stars. As a former high school star in Toronto (and average Carleton Ravens player), my heart will be torn on this one for sure. In addition to the game, the afternoon will feature slam dunk and three point shooting competitions which, according to the flier, is open to anyone with hops and range. Hmm, I wonder if I can still drain a few three pointers. But I digress … maybe they’ll let me judge the dunking competition instead? And the best thing about this event is that all proceeds go to the local Sickle Cell Disease Parent’s Support Group. There is an entry fee, but children under eight years of age are free. It would be great if we could pack the gym. More information is available at www.merrickpalmerbasketball.com. This is just a small fraction of what is happening in our community the first weekend of June. Every summer weekend across our community there is an abundance of things to see and do … just check out www.eastottawa.ca for updates and links to many of our great local community groups. B-orléans … not! = = = = = Comments can be sent to Walter Robinson at orleansouttakes@transcontinental.ca. |