It was an exciting day on Saturday, June 24th, as a 13-year-old dream, the Lamont Sports Park in Port Elgin (Saugeen Shores), officially opened with crowds waiting, as under fanfare dignitaries were piped into the park.
Mayor Luke Charbonneau said that the park will not only be a key to the community but to the entire region and that it was all the donors who brought the project to fruition. “As Mayor I am fortunate to get to go to all sorts of events across the community and see the incredible things that people do every day to make this community the best place on earth in which to live. This facility is a testament to the spirit of our community and what can be achieved when we work together. It’s to that spirit that I dedicate today this facility to the community and all the baseball players in Saugeen Shores. May it be a place where we have lots of fun, where we have teamwork and where it represents that anything is possible.”
The project that kicked off the fundraising was the 2019 Kraft Heinz Project Play, when the entire community came together to win the $250,000 top prize that began the ball rolling for the Lamont Sports Park.
“It was incredible,” said Myatt, “how the whole community came together to vote as one. As a result, Saugeen Shores won the top prize in all of Canada. It was remarkable.”
Harold and Chayle Sutherland were also recognized for making the purchase of the land possible. Harold Sutherland emotionally said that he was pleased to see the name of Lamont on the park and that he wanted everyone to enjoy the facility.
There were also two honoured guests who were former ballplayers from Port Elgin and Southampton and who were introduced by Bill Streeter. Streeter who researched the history of baseball in Saugeen Shores introduced Rob Bruce and Doug Huber, now in their late 80s, and unveiled the two interpretive plaques that will have a prominent place in the park.
Among all the major donors who contributed to the park and who were recognized, Bruce Power’s President and CEO, Mike Rencheck said that having grown up in a small town “… all we had was baseball and we played everyday and this brings back all those memories.”
Several of the donors who were recognized were present including the Mowbrays of Mowbray’s Canadian Tire, Kevin O’Brien of Southampton Golf Club, Vanderwerfs of Independent Grocers and many others.
“We thank everyone who donated and the town for its will and foresight to create and build this incredible park for all of Saugeen Shores,” said Pat O’Connor, President of the Rotary Club of Saugeen Shores, that committed $100,000 to the park.
Following the official opening, ceremonial pitches were held at each of the four ball diamonds.
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The Lamont Fundraising Team