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Stagecoach ride to Grey Cup to promote Kincardine By Liz Dadson |
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A group of Kincardine residents is planning to take a stagecoach ride to the Grey Cup in Toronto next year to promote the Municipality of Kincardine. Brad Kirkconnell spoke to Kincardine council in committee-of-the-whole Wednesday night (Dec. 14), about the event, slated for November, 2012, to celebrate the 100th Grey Cup. The Grey Cup is more than 100 years old, he said, but the Canadian Football League (CFL) was suspended during the world wars. The Grey Cup game is the most-watched sports activity on television, by Canadians. The proposed stagecoach ride is not the first time such a trek has been organized, said Kirkconnell. In 1961, the first ride was taken by a group of local businessmen in an open fringe-topped surrey, drawn by a lone horse, with the focus of promoting Kincardine. Taking part in this adventure were Jack Reynolds, Don Murray, Bill Splan, John Mitchell, Ron Slade and Cliff Hewitt Jr., who went the distance in the November chill. The surrey had a sign attached to the roof which read: "Industry - Whatever you seek - Kincardine has it." According to the Kincardine History Book, the group left Kincardine after breakfast at the Bruce Inn. About 200 people lined Queen Street to wish the travellers well. The pipe band, one town fire truck and about 20 cars helped them parade from town. People all along the way came out to watch them pass. The CBC sent out a film crew to catch the last part of the journey near Orangeville. The OPP joined in the fun, pulling the expedition over and warning the men that they were speeding. Kincardine's name was seen by about four million television viewers and thousands along the parade route. On the rear of the surrey hung a sign, "Kincardine, where you're a stranger only once." In 1970, the trip to the Grey Cup had a real old-time flavour, with a horse-drawn stagecoach carrying gold and mail, passengers and four outriders all in period costume. Activities were planned along the route - having the stagecoach robbed of its goal bullion by outriders, then retrieved by a posse; a bank robbery in Harriston; delivery of the gold bullion to the bank in Toronto by horse; and an exchange of support and letters from the Toronto mayor. There
was a large rotating crew on this trip, including Mac MacKenzie, Ralph
Bruce, Don Murray, Dave Shewfelt, Bill Splan, Ron Slade, Art Danahay,
John Loomis, Don MacKenzie, Ross MacLennan, and Lee Emmerton. Kirkconnell held up one of the signs which was on the carriage during that trip, which states: "No train, take the stage," because at that time, the train was no longer coming to Kincardine. The stage reached Greenock when it was pulled over by eight horsemen. Masks up and pistols drawn, they loaded the gold and luggage onto a buckboard and headed for the depths of the Greenock swamp, with the sheriff and posse in pursuit. CKNX Television came out to cover the event. The gold was retrieved, and the group then travelled to the Royal Bank on King Street and delivered it. Ron Slade rode his horse into the bank foyer, to the amazement of all. Kirkconnell said the 2012 stagecoach ride will include two previous Kincardine Grey Cup Ride participants: Don Murray and Art Danahy, plus Bob Emmerton whose brother, Lee, was on the 1961 ride. "The CFL is excited about the ride," said Kirkconnell, "and the organizers are encouraging our participation in pre-festival events."
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 Brad Kirkconnell holds up a sign that was on the stagecoach from the 1970 trip to the Grey Cup, indicating the train no longer came to Kincardine He said the vision and goal of the 2012 ride is to bring regional and national attention to Kincardine while at the same time celebrating the 100th Grey Cup - a Canadian tradition. The horses and stagecoach have been secured, said Kirkconnell, courtesy of Ken Bradley. And a letter of support has been signed by "Team Kincardine," including the Kincardine Business Improvement Area (BIA), the Kincardine and District Chamber of Commerce, and the Penetangore Regional Economic Development Corporation. The group is seeking council's support for this venture. The plan is to work out the logistics and a budget, continue to work with the CFL and promote Kincardine, said Kirkconnell. "I
think this is a great idea," said councillor Jacqueline Faubert. "Is
there any way we can incorporate Kincardine tourism into this?" Kirkconnell said the group could distribute tourism material along the way. As for the budget, he said the major cost is signage on the stagecoach. Everyone taking part in the ride is paying his own personal costs. He was unsure of the cost for the trip until the budget is worked out. That draft budget will come to council later. "Maybe you could bring some gold bullion back to Kincardine," quipped councillor Ron Coristine. Council unanimously endorsed the trip. Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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