The Sand Bay Association launched its summer season of community activities with its second annual touch-a-truck event on Saturday, despite the light rain that fell on and off throughout the day.
Trucks of all sorts lined the outfield of the Sand Bay ball diamond. The Shawville-Clarendon Fire Department made its presence known with periodic friendly blasts of the fire truck’s horn.
For those perhaps less interested in clambering over the trucks, a temporary tattoo station, bubble blowing and a bouncy castle were set up to entertain.
Barb Shoobert, watching over the busy bouncy castle, said there had only been about two five-minute breaks in the bouncing while she was manning her station.
The raffling off of a summer basket that included a little something for people of all ages ensured everyone had a reason to come out for the event.
Stacey Thomson, president of the Sand Bay Association, said it’s important to have events like this as they give community members a chance to talk and get to know their neighbours.
“It’s important today, to bring everyone together,” said Thomson.
The Sand Bay regatta – an annual event that has taken place on the beach of Sand Bay for generations – is a treasured tradition in the community, but once a year for that kind of get-together “just isn’t enough,” said Thomson.
The volunteer-run association now holds monthly events, like the touch-a-truck, to raise money and offer more frequent opportunities to get neighbours together.
The funds raised by the association go towards maintaining three docks for the kids, beach cleanups, and putting on other community events.
Last year, Sand Bay held its first Canada Day celebration.
“Instead of everyone doing their own thing separately, we now have the opportunity to celebrate together,” said Jackie McBane, vice-president of the association.
“[Now] it’s feeling like when we were kids,” she said, referring to a feeling of community.
