We don’t have many parades through Vankleek Hill anymore. For some reason the Police (OPP) have been refusing to block off the intersection at Main Street and Highway 34 (High Street), which is the main intersection… actually the only intersection with traffic lights in town, and the only way the Parade can get to the Fair Grounds. This never used to be a problem.

From what I’ve read in The Review [link], our newspaper of record (and the people who occasionally pay me for my photos), it has to do with changes to the Highway Safety Act, but the story doesn’t go into detail. It does say the changes to the HSA, and the lack of OPP involvement, were the reason the Horse & Buggy Parade, which used to bring hundreds of people to town, has been scrapped for the past few years [link].

I’m not sure how long the Parade has been part of the Fair, but I believe it’s always been there. I know the Horse & Buggy Parade lasted 23-years before the OPP / HSA changes basically cancelled it.

The decision to finally get the OPP involved in the Fair Parade came down to the last minute. Apparently it took a combination of the Mayor, and the Agricultural Board working together to finally get the OPP involved [link]…

…whoever they spoke to, and whatever they said, the OPP were there on Thursday night, blocking off the intersection, and allowing the Parade for the 180th Agricultural Fair to take place.

Which was great, because I would have looked pretty freaking silly walking around Main and Home Streets taking photos of pavement and empty sidewalks.

So… if you’re up for it, click on a photo to get the carousel going. Or not. No pressure.