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6 Stouffville Sun-Tribune | Thursday, July 7, 2016 | O Fax: 905-640-8778 Class: 1-800-743-3353 OPINION COLUMNS ith more than 35,000 people at the Strawberry Festival last weekend, there are at least that many stories to tell. Politicians serving pancakes. Kids shaking hands with Doo Doo, the clown who rescued two women from an assault in Toronto last fall. Motorists ignoring no-parking pylons. The usual suspects drinking in public and vandalizing. Here are a few of my favourites: If we were in the United States, there were would be a statue erected in a town square, a street named and a civic holiday held in honour of Cpt. Roy Brown. It was very Canadian and cool to hear people talk about Cpt. Brown, the fighter pilot credited with shooting down the Red Baron, as one of their own all weekend long. The plaque in Cpt. Brown's name being erected at the Church Street entrance to Memorial Park will remind future generations of his contribution. Putting the "memorial" back in Memorial Park. We've neglected that aspect for far too long, Stouffville. And we can thank 12-yearold Nadine Carter for reminding us about Cpt. Brown. Fans of the blues know who Jack de Keyzer is: Juno-award winning singer/guitarist who plays live about 180 times a year, including Nineteen on the Park in 2014. de Keyzer didn't disappoint during his show under the festival marquee tent Saturday night. His band is tight, the solos long and sharp. The dapper sax man in the group is Stouffville's own Richard Thornton. "I live six blocks from here," he said while mingling with fans between sets. de Keyzer and his band are playing the blues festival in Publisher Dana Robbins General manager Shaun Sauve Regional Editor-In-Chief, Metroland Central Joanne Burghardt 6290 Main St. Stouffville, ON. L4A 1G7 www.yorkregion.com 905-640-2612 DISTRIBUTION 1-855-853-5613 Director, Advertising Maureen Christie Director Creative Services Katherine Porcheron Director, Distribution Mike Banville Regional Director, Finance & administration Phil Sheehan Editor in Chief, York Region Lee Ann Waterman Managing Editor Jim Mason jmason@yrmg.com W Clowns, Brown highlight our downtown celebration Tip of the hat to our festival all it sensational. Call it s p e c t a c u l a r. Each descriptive rightfully related to the 32nd annual Strawberry Festival held here last week. Although the weatherman attempted to dampen spirits of show organizers by administering two torrential downpours, the Canadian attitude of determination shone through, resulting in an event equal to anything held before. A tip of the hat to those who gallantly persevered. Examples follow: Switch in sites When Friday's storm struck, town councillor Hugo Kroon was about to unveil two engraved plaques honouring First World War Royal Air Force squadron leader, Capt. A. Roy Brown. With rain obscuring his printed page and the audience fast scattering, a quick switch was made to the marquee tent. There, the commemoration was completed with the dignity it deserved. In attendance was Capt. Brown's granddaughter, Dianne Brown Brodeur Sample of Colorado and Carol Nicholson, a niece from Oakville. John Chalmers, historian for Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame, praised 12-year-old Nadine Carter, a Glad Park Public School student, for bringing the Capt. Brown story to the forefront of Canadian history. "It's largely because of Nadine's efforts we're here today," he said. One plaque will be erected at The Grange course on Rolling Hills Golf Club in Bethesda, where Capt. Brown once farmed and the other in Stouffville's Memorial Park. He referred to the decorated air ace as "Stouffville's adopted son". Nicole Strawbridge concluded the ceremony with a rousing rendition of our National Anthem. `A fabulous place' In a stirring address, C Off The Top with Jim Mason my home town, Thunder Bay, with Burton Cummings, Tom Cochrane and many others this weekend. Wish I was there. Downtown merchants wish they had a fraction of the people who filled Main Street on Saturday shopping from them on a regular basis. It's fascinating to watch old friends meet in the middle of the road and catch up on lost years, like an annual high school reunion for the masses. After that storm that rolled through Friday, Saturday at the festival was unseasonably pleasant and non-sauna like. And from a survey The SunTribune did two years ago, we know about 60 per cent of those in attendance are tourists. Get that many people together and there will always be complaints. We'll call them suggestions with an edge. If you have ideas to share, why not get involved? Volunteer. Host or sponsor an event. You can reach organizers through the event's website: strawberryfestival.ca Do it in the spirit of the festival's original organizers, Jim Kidd and Jim Heidema, and folks like Ged Stonehouse and York Region chair Wayne Emmerson who hosted Canada Day events that preceded the festival. See you next year. Jim Mason is editor of The Sun-Tribune. Follow him on Twitter @stouffeditor Roaming Around with Jim Thomas The Hon. Jane Philpott, Minister of Health and MP for Markham-Stouffville described WhitchurchStouffville as "a fabulous place" and the Strawberry Festival as "a fantastic event". "Canada's the best country in the world," she said. Added Mayor Justin Altmann: "We live in one of the finest towns in York Region; one of the greatest towns in Ontario." He praised the festival organization for its ability to bring more than 30,000 visitors to the community each year. Dog shares honours In a unique and popular presentation, a dog, born without eyes, shared its master's 2016 `Citizen of the Year' award. Jim Mason, editor of The Sun-Tribune, presented an engraved plaque to Joanne George of Musselman's Lake and her beautiful canine `Smiley". Honoured too was Wendy Jacksie, the town's Sports Person of the Year. The Hon. Jane Philpott and Mayor Altmann also recognized the platform guests. Best baby Brayden Kwan, son of Amelia Kwan of Stouffville, was the $500 winner in this year's Festival Baby Show held in Memorial Park Saturday. There were 36 entries. The prize was posted by Knowledge First Financial. The event was sponsored by Tiny Bubbles Day Care of Stouffville and emceed by Nada Crupi. Advertising Manager Mara Sepe msepe@yrmg.com Circulation Co-ordinator Daphne Lawrie dlawrie@yrmg.com York Region Media Group community newspapers The Sun-Tribune, published every, Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a whollyowned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. To speak to a customer service rep: 1-855-853-5613 Delivery inquiries: yrcustomerservice@ yrmg.com Delivery issues? LETTERS POLICY All submissions must be less than 400 words and include a daytime telephone number, name and address. The Sun-Tribune reserves the right to publish or not publish and to edit for clarity and space. E-mail jmason@yrmg.com Standing O A standing ovation was accorded Courtney Britton, organist, pianist, soloist and choir director at Stouffville United Church after receiving the `Music Town, Ontario' award at this year's Music Festival. The presentation was made by violinist Matthew Eeuwes, the 2015 award recipient. Young pie champs Joanna Chiara and Arianna Rizi were winners of the Gladys Clarkson Strawberry Pie Contest. Second was Isabella Clarkson, great-granddaughter of the original sponsor. Third was Isabella's mother, Beth Clarkson. In the jam competition Ellen Simpson was first; Dorothy Wagg, second and Steve Downs, third. There were 17 entries. Sitting ducks "All for the kids", said Stouffville firefighter Kevin Chiavatti, one of four dunk tank `sitting ducks'. Other good sports were Derek Mackenzie, John Paull and James Windsor. Without charge, children were invited to dunk the volunteers as often as they wished. Neighbours unite Five minsters; a community choir and a vocal/ instrumental team combined to present an outstanding Festival worship service under the big top in Stouffville's Memorial Park Sunday. Rev. Joan Masterton of St. James Presbyterian Church delivered an inspiring message. Tradition continues The tradition continues. More than 800 enjoyed a sumptuous outdoor beef dinner hosted by the Stouffville Lions Club. It was Yvonne Hurst's final event as president. Her successor is Richard Fronske. Jim Thomas is a Stouffville resident who has written for area newspapers for more than 65 years.