Five year old Cayden of Port Elgin, with help from Southampton Rotary Past President John Conlin and Junior Firefighters, hit the button to activate the Southampton Rotary Accessible Splash Pad July 28.

Hub Staff

Southampton Rotary Club Past-President John Conlin invited a youngster who had the closest birthday to come up and push the water activation button. Five year-old Cayden from Port Elgin was the lucky button-presser with Conlin joking that Cayden had “seen the light” by coming to the Southampton Splash Pad grand opening celebration July 28.

Junior Firefighters joined the ceremony, arriving in style with their vintage fire truck and stood on either side of the splash pad with hoses that went off in the same moment that Cayden pressed the button.

Luke Charbonneau, Deputy Mayor for Saugeen Shores, spoke at the ceremony and brought up a ranking from a recent MoneySense Magazine article which put Saugeen Shores as the 17th best place in Canada. “But you know standing here right now in this park I can’t help but think that that number’s a little low. I can’t think of a better place frankly in the world to be than in this place, in this town and to live here right now. And one of the reasons why this is such a great place to live is because we have citizens and groups who will contribute their dedicated effort and their intelligence and knowledge to do things like this in our community,” continued Charbonneau, adding that one of these “indispensible” groups is the Southampton Rotary Club.

It was through Southampton Rotary Club efforts that the firefighter-themed splash pad came to be. The park boasts in-ground and above ground water features, is fully accessible, designed for children of all ages and all abilities. With support from the municipality, community donations, fundraising events and grants, the splash pad opened earlier in July and donations will continue to be accepted by the Rotary Club in order to reach their fundraising goal.

Tony Sheard, Southampton Rotarian, said the project was designed to mark the 150th anniversary of Canadian confederation as well as celebrate the Rotary Foundation Centennial. “From the time the Town Council gave formal sanction to the project, the [splash] pad was designed, tendered and delivered within a year. I am sure you will acknowledge that Rotarians are truly people of action.”

Weather permitting the Southampton Rotary Accessible Splash Pad will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, July through Labour Day and weekends in September.

Past Rotary President John Conlin gave Cayden a high-five as he accepted his role as official button-pusher for the grand opening of the Southampton Rotary Accessible Splash Pad July 28.

Rotary District Assistant Governor Ralph Sprague cut the celebratory cake that was held by Rotarian Sylvia Sheard and Rotary President Ed Braun.

Deputy Mayor Luke Charbonneau speaking at the Southampton Accessible Splash Pad grand opening July 28.

Once the water was turned on many youngsters splashed around the Southampton Rotary’s Accessible Splash Pad.

The Southampton Rotary Accessible Splash Pad will be open daily until Labour Day and weekends in September.