CANADA DAY AT THE LEGION – Canadian Legion Branch 632 on Taylor Creek Road will be hosting a fun-filled day of family-friendly activities with music and food starting at 11 am. FREE FOR EVERYONE

CANADA DAY ON PETRIE ISLAND featuring a Kids Zone, adult beverage tent, live music, food, main stage entertainment, a giant birthday cake at 1 pm. and a spectacular fireworks display at 10 pm. For more information visit canadadayorleans.ca.

ORLEANS FARMERS MARKET every Thursday from 11 am to 4 pm in the parking lot at the Ray Friel Recreation Centre on Tenth Line Road. Shop the freshest seasonal produce, meat and dairy, baked goods, prepared foods, crafts and more while getting to know the folks who grew and made it.

DJ NIGHT at the Orléans Brewing Co., 4380 Innes Rd. (near the McDonalds) from 7-10 p.m. to 6 p.m. Join us and our roster of DJs every Thursday, and jumpstart your weekend fun, a day ahead!

CUMBERLAND FARMERS MARKET from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the R.J. Kennedy Arena in Cumberland Village with 85 local farmers and vendors ready to showcase their freshest produce, handmade goods, and unique finds! FREE ADMISSION

STRAY DOG BREWING COMPANY presents Crroked Creek live and in concert in their taproom. From Montreal, Crooked Creek effortlessly blends bluegrass and country music genres. Tickets $15 available at straydogbrewing.ca. The Stray Dog Brewing Company is located at 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park.

 

 

Kevin Frost and with his service dog Lewis. File photo

Kevin Frost is at it again. The multi-sport deaf-blind athlete recently won a gold medal competing against able-bodied athletes at a speed skating event in Lake Placid last month.

The Jack Shea Sprints Championships are held every January on an outdoor oval by the Lake Placid Speed Skating Club. The event is open to both Americans and Canadians who compete at various age groups and abilities.

Frost came first in the 500-metre event in the men's Division III category, beating out fellow competitor Jonathan Furminger. Furminger then turned the tables on Frost in the 1000.

Speed skating is one of the first sports Frost got involved in after he was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome in 2002. The condition leads to partial or total hearing and vision loss that worsens over time. He currently has 15 per cent hearing (90 decibels) and eight per cent tunnel vision.

Frost joined the Gloucester Concordes Speed Skating Club the same year he was diagnosed. The former hockey referee was looking for a sport he could do on ice and he always wanted to try his hand at speed skating. It didn't hurt that the Gloucester Concordes train at the Bob MacQuarrie Complex where Frost refereed many of his games.

After starting out in short track, he soon took up long track as well. Competitive speed skating has taken Frost across Canada and overseas where he's competed in Russia, Germany and Great Britain. He took up rowing for five years and track and field before finally focusing on tandem cycling and golfing. He won a silver medal last year in the tandem road race event at the Canadian championships. His goal this year is to finish on the podium in the Time Trial event with his new pilot, Phil Bergeron, who is also a former speed skater.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)