Labour Day Weekend in Port Rowan

This was the first year we’ve been around Port Rowan for Bayfest weekend.  Originally called Tomato Fest the event highlights the tomato that was packed and processed here in great numbers at Innes Foods from 1963 – 1981.  According to Down by the Bay A History of Long Point and Port Rowan,   local farmers delivered trailers with up to four tons of tomatoes to the plant.   At the plant on the western edge of Port Rowan, the hand-picked field grown vegetables were canned in four hours.  A large parade and fireworks are among highlights of Bayfest



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Lisa "longball" Vlooswyk drills a 300 yarder.

We were surprised when we moved here that Port Rowan hosted a Canadian Championship.  That would be the Long Drive Championships http://www.internationallongdrivechallenge.com/canadian_nationals.html which is now part of the Labour Day weekend festivities.    We caught the Women’s Final at Stark’s Golf Course where Burlington’s Fareen Samji defended her championship in a close contest over seven time champion Lisa “Longball” Vlooswyk.  Many drives over 300 yards were recorded in the Sunday final.

On the birding front things were  slow at the old Cut Banding Station but staff tell us they should pick up when the cold front comes in later this week.  My niece did get the opportunity on Sunday to hold a Wilson’s Warbler after it had been banded.   


Wilson's Warbler