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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, December 19, 2006 - Al Ch apionCOun t.ry i'Historic wagon donated to Country Heritage Park Measuring 16 b>' l2feet, the Conestoga wagon is a mirror image of those loaded with household items and pulled b>' horses in the ear>' 1800s. By Stephanie Thiessen CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF he folks at Country Heritage * Park weren't ahle to fit their latesi addition under the Chnistmas tree. In [act, several trees could actually fit inside the highly secretive gift pre- sented to the park carlier this month. When the curtains were pulled hack ai the park's annual volunteer apprecia- lion celehration tn the Gamhrel Barn, visitors found themselves gaping ai a replîca Conestoga wagon. Mcasuring 16 hy 12 [cet, the canvas- covered wagon is a mîrror image of those loaded woih household items and pulled hy horses in the early 1800s. "1 am very pleased that ihîs five- month project is now completed and that this Conestoga wagon is now under the Chnistmas tree at Country Heritage Park," saîd the mastermind hehind the project, Arnold Rife. In a voice shaky wîîh years. Rifle explained how he came up with the idea for the wagon. "l had thought of donating money 10 the park, but decided that presenting a Conestoga wagon would he more hene- hicîal," he said. ltis my hope that ihis wagon wNil be an asset to the park and will help 10 * preserve the herîtage of the Penosylvania Dutch settlers of Waterloo County" Historv 10 he learned Rifc. vho livcs in Kitchcncr, said hus gYrcal, gircal grandiachci came to \\Naicr!ooý C ouniv fri L0 Ianca;ster PnixI.iisin a siioîlac xx a-on. Ntlaiiv school childr-cn and:c sisitors coinî 10 (Country fleriîagc Park cvcrv y cai and this wvagon wxili dIcinonstratc * b theni how our ancestocs camne to ihis couiîns" The wagon was huîlî hy Mennonitc craitsmen - frorn a hlucprînt of the original - in the Si. Jacohs area and! consists of kilo drîcd white ash wood ~aond 18 yairds of whice canlvas. Park gcncial mianager Reg Cressnian saîd the wagon is a tangîie way t0 s each kids who vîsit the park ahout the pioneers and how îhey travelcd. * "its goîog to he a significant piece for the kids," he said, adding vrisitors wAill he ahle to sec it in motion and mayhe even take a ride in il duiing the park's Heavy Horse Field Days. Two additional gifls of $ 10.000 were from Milton-area resident David Pellettcrîo, whos the chair of the Country Heritage Experience Inc. hoard of directors. The Voluntcer of the Year - chosen from amongst the volunîcers --- was also announced. This years award went to Campbellville's Burnett Dennis. Denms is a machinist who took over the machine shop at Country Henitage Park. He helped build the pedal harness horses at the park, just one of his many accomphishments there. "He hclps with mechanical repairs and machincry repairs; whatever we ask of him, hc's preparcd to do," Cressman îold T hc Champion alter the ceremony. A m:an of few worcls, Bumett sirnply told the crowd: "I c njoy working hcrc. SIîcpiîapii Thîcsscit uîn be rcached ci( ,st/îîcssenî@m ilîoncanadiaichampi»t.c<rn. Arnold Rîfe (luIt) prusents the wagon to Reg Cressman, general manager of Country Heritagu Park. Grand Opening New Optometrist in Town Accepting New Patients. DR. RAJESH H~ PANCHAL OD Full Range of GlasseslContact lenses Wheetehair accessible Eveng and weekend appointments available 400 Bronte Street South, Suite 109 Ground Level, near corner of Derry/Bronte Cali now to book an appointment 905-875-1200 IMAIL ENTRIES TO: G1Fr CARO CONTEST, Matroland Media Group, Corporate S"J Office, i0 Tempo Ave., Willowdade,Ontario M2H 2N8. INAME: EMAIL_ J2 YES, 1 wish to receive inforration by email from particpating advertimee orn upoeng specias, contoets, promotiona or avents. Prmembeto inckude youreai addrs. CONTEST RULES: Contest Start Date: Decembar 5. 2006 12pm. Deadiinet or Entiee: January 12. 2007 12pm. Rasidents of Ontario may enter, aacept employeesaend Immediate famuiy membersa end/or persons domiciled with) ut Metroland Printng, Pubflshmng & Oistributkng U.d., the pise eponsors and/or any eruplsyees of their aftiliated companies. Entrants urider 18 muet have parent/guariitie coneent Chances of wlnning the rasdom draw depend on the total number of antries racelvyea. Prizes must ba accepted as presaniad with no caah subsitutions. Prize winners Mîil receive their pnze by the melt. Wissers cessent to having their saes and/or photoa appear in Metroiand Oommnly Newspepers. The decision of the contest judges is final. No purchase nacessery. A limi t ri qualifier par pereon, per household, one entry par a-mail address. 12 prizes eech vaiued et $60000. In order bisa etlgtbe to win. the selectad contestant must correcily answer a skill-testlng question which wtt! ha ,dmnstered upon scl'fyisg the winning entrant. For full conteat mIles vieit conteetsmetrotend.com MW-VI ý ý, !