QCCR hosted a session on Thursdy to generate ideas for events on the Liverpool waterfront and elsewhere. (Rick Conrad)

A food truck festival, a chili cookoff and Movies on the Mersey were among the dozens of ideas for Liverpool’s Privateer Park tossed around Wednesday evening at Queens Place Emera Centre.

QCCR hosted a community meeting to generate ideas for more events on the Liverpool waterfront and elsewhere in Queens County.

Station manager Norm Amirault said he wanted to hold the session after seeing some comments on Facebook about people wanting more to do in Privateer Park.

“And honestly, I’d felt that way myself,” he said in an interview. “You have this beautiful park, and you wonder why there aren’t more activities going on there. 
I always thought if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. … And based on the feedback tonight, there’s a ton of good ideas out there that people really do want to see more activities there.”

About 20 people discussed ideas for a more vibrant waterfront, like holding more seasonal festivals similar to last March’s Light Up Queens Winter Night Festival, more events targeted toward youth, encouraging more performing arts besides music in the park. And there was even talk of a Beatles festival.

Min Smale is the secretary-treasurer of the South Queens Chamber of Commerce. She’s also the chair of the Privateer Days committee, which holds the popular annual festival in the park every June.

She was impressed with people’s ideas.

“I think they’re fantastic, and I think it’s really going to revitalize both the waterfront or Privateer Park as well as some of the smaller, lesser-known venues across Queens.

“I think it was great to see the younger folks come in here and enjoy the conversation. They need to be involved in the music and the entertainment scene here.”

One of those young people was Easton Goodwin. He and some of his high school bandmates were at the event.

“I’m glad I came out tonight. 
Usually, not a lot of people like me come out to this kind of thing. And it’s such a great opportunity, you know? There’s a lot of voices in Queens County that really need to be heard.”

“We definitely do have some highlights, such as the Astor Theatre, a lot to explore there, but also, you know, a group of teens want to hang out Friday night, where do they go? 
So, some spots for people to just explore, hang out with friends, and more opportunities for the youth.”

A couple of roadblocks exist in turning the ideas into reality — finding enough funding and volunteers. 

Deputy Mayor Maddie Charlton told the group that while the municipality can’t fund everything, there could be some money available for certain events.

Amirault said he’ll collect the ideas into some common themes, and then approach some local groups like the chamber to try to get things going.

“Maybe as we talked about bite sized pieces, partnerships, and focus on a few things and do them well. Maybe that’s a reasonable first step.”

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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Photo Ed Halverson

A new program from the Region of Queens aims to bring senior men together to address mental health.

The Men’s Shed program is a chance to socialize in much the same way as people would in a garage or workshop.

Facilitator and Physical Activity Coordinator for the municipality Norm Amirault says research has shown as men get older they have a more difficult time than women connecting with their peers.

“Sometimes older men lose their way a little bit. So much of their identity is tied to their work,” said Amirault. “If they haven’t kept up connections, like with Kinsmen or their church or with whatever, they can, very much, get lost a little bit.”

Each Men’s Shed group decide for themselves their activities.

Many pursue interests such as woodworking, repairing bicycles and music, all with the aim of providing an outlet for men to socialize with each other.

Amirault says after decades of working, many older men are isolated which can lead to mental health issues such as depression.

“The overall impression is that men’s self-worth or men’s self image is often tied to their career and when they retire and perhaps they don’t have as many community things, they tend to lose their way,” said Amirault.

The Men’s Shed movement started in Australia in 2007, spreading to New Zealand, the UK and arriving in Canada in 2015.

The movement has caught on in Western Canada and Ontario and this will be the first Men’s Shed group in the Atlantic provinces.

Amirault says the group will be a men’s only organization but for the first meeting, wives and female friends are encouraged to attend.

“Because often times the males of the species need a little push to get involved in things,” said Amirault.

The first meeting of the Men’s Shed group is Wednesday September 29 at Queens Place.

Due to COVID restrictions, anyone wishing to attend is asked to confirm they are coming in advance by calling Norm Amirault at (902) 354-5741.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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Some of the bicycles handed out during the 2020 Bike Exchange campaign. Photo Credit: Norm Amirault

The annual Region of Queens bike exchange is once again up and rolling for 2021.

Beginning Monday, residents looking for a gently used bike in good working order can choose from one of the many that will be posted on the bike exchange Facebook page.

Throughout the year, the Region accepts donations of used bicycles and turns them over to be repaired before being offered to the community.

Region of Queens active living coordinator Norm Amirault says the first bike exchange held in 2019 was modelled after other similar programs that were successful around the South Shore.

With the help of their partners Liverpool Adventure Outfitters, 18 bikes were distributed in person that first year and that number increased to 25 bikes in 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Amidst COVID increased demand for cycling or bikes, bike parts and bike supplies went way, way up,” said Amirault. “So God love ‘em, they’ve continued to do our repairs and they’ve always done a great job.

Now in its third year, another partner has come on board to sponsor the bike exchange.

The Liverpool Kinsmen club has stepped up to cover the costs of repairing the donated bicycles.

Each bike the Region gives away also comes with a helmet, and the Kinsmen are covering the costs of buying those as well.

In honour of that generosity, the Region has renamed the event the, “Kinsmen club of Liverpool bike exchange”.

The event will be held exclusively online again. Fifteen bikes will be listed to start this year’s bike exchange. Amirault says they have another 15 or so that will be offered up after the initial batch has been distributed.

Amirault said the aim of the bike exchange is to provide people the opportunity to be more physically active but you can’t overlook the positive impacts of a community looking out for one another.

“It’s been really, really gratifying to see a couple of things. People of all ages in our community receiving bikes who might not otherwise have gotten them and it’s been really gratifying to see people, residents who say, yup, I’ll get you a bike and donate it,” said Amirault.

Anyone with a bike they would like to donate to the bike exchange program can drop it off at the Region of Queens municipal office on White Point Road.

To view the available bikes head to the Kinsmen club of Liverpool bike exchange event Facebook page.

Amirault says the bikes will be listed starting at 7:00pm.

To claim a bicycle, simply leave your name in the comments under that bike and Region staff will contact the recipients on a first come, first served basis to arrange delivery.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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