Dawson Trail Dispatch
Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!
Giroux A’s Day: A Home Run for the Community
October 2024
RM of Stuartburn Denounces Possible Decrease in Hours at Border By Dan Guetre
The day was a great success, bringing together families and residents from around the area for a celebration filled with old-fashioned fun and games. Photos courtesy of Kyle Waczko
By Dan Guetre On September 8, the small hamlet of Giroux came alive with laughter, competition, and community spirit as over 60 people gathered for Giroux A’s Day, marking the potential for what could become an annual event. Organized by Kyle Waczko, the day was a great success, bringing together families and residents from around the area for a celebration filled with oldfashioned fun and games. The event, held at the historic Giroux baseball diamond, featured a lineup of classic children’s races, with some adults even joining in the fun. From three-legged races and potato sack dashes to bubble gum blowing contests and wheelbarrow races, the day was filled with nostalgia and laughter.
“This is great! We used to do these games at picnics back when I was young!” was a common sentiment heard throughout the day. While there was no official baseball game, a lively pickup game of scrub was quickly organized, bringing the sounds of bat-on-ball and snaps of catches back to the diamond, a reminder of the rich baseball history Giroux has enjoyed over the years. The field, which has seen many local teams and games, was a focal point, but the true highlight of the day was the strong sense of community that emerged. “This event brought smiles and a sense of togetherness, showing there is a real need for more recreational activities in Giroux,” Waczko said.
Families from the area attended, showing that this peaceful hamlet is home to many who are eager to see more community events and activities in the future. Giroux A’s Day was not just a celebration of the past but a step toward building a more active future for the town. “Let’s start the conversation and see, as a community, what we are capable of accomplishing!” Waczko urged, as he thanked the local businesses and supporters who made the day possible. With the event proving to be a huge success, many are already looking forward to what next year’s Giroux A’s Day might bring.
Following a heads up from the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the RM of Stuartburn says they share the same concerns about the effect “that the reduction in local border hours would have on our residents and region as a whole.” According to the PSAC, Canada Border Services Agency might be planning on reducing hours or closing ports in an effort to save money. The potential reduction of hours and closures comes on the heals of a recent agreement in midsummer between the union’s Canada Border Services Agency employees and the Treasury Board who oversees the Canada Border Services Agency, narrowly avoiding a strike. With this new information coming to light, the RM of Stuartburn has agreed to send a letter of support of PSAC opposing any reduction of hours by the Government of Canada, recognizing that local cross-border travel has a positive economic impact in the region. A few days earlier, the RM of Emerson-Franklin also voiced their concerns.