A Double Truck Double

If you can't join them, then make your own…

A "Classic" Weekend

It couldn't have been a more classic weekend in downtown Brampton, Ontario.
The annual Classic Cars and Legendary Stars event brought dozens of four-wheeled oldies to the streets - and a number of "classics" to photograph.

First, there was the classic crooner: Jeff Sommerville, below, singing the classics by Sinatra on the Gage Park stage.

Then there was the classic white wedding - and a wait in the bus shelter for the rain to stop before having photos taken.

A classic wedding smooch for the cameras leaning on a classic green Camaro Z28...

And during another wedding photo shoot: a classic gag from one of the bridesmaids...

Transforming Lives - One Hero At A Time

It may be difficult to pinpoint exactly who the heroes are at Heroes Camp held every Saturday at Bramalea Christian Fellowship church in Brampton, Ontario. But S.J. Lennon has an idea.

The basketball camp - which is free to the public and open to people of all faiths, genders and ages - promotes the development of basketball skills and Christian ideals to three age groups by talented, young professional basketball players and coaches, including those from the Brampton A's team of the National Basketball League of Canada.

Brampton A's head coach David Magley, above left with his son Daniel, started the camp here in Brampton as a Canadian version of the original Heroes Camp begun in South Bend, Indiana, by his brother Pat, and volunteers his time, his basketball wisdom, and his spiritual guidance to the kids who attend.

Lennon, 32, originally from Kingston, Jamaica, and living in Brampton, also volunteers his Saturdays after watching the Brampton A's enter their inaugural year in the NBLC last year.

"When the Brampton A's came to the city I embraced the opportunity to watch professional basketball," said Lennon, a retired semi-pro basketball player. "I felt the need to reach out to Coach Magley to get a closer relationship to the team and the coach and I have grown very close in the last year. We've developed like a father-son relationship to where he asked me to come on board and assist him with Heroes Camp here in Brampton."

According to Lennon, there are a few basic elements to the camp, which runs from 10 am to 12 noon for ages 7-11, 1 to 3 pm for ages 12-15, and 3 to 5 p.m. for ages 16 and up.

"I think it's very important that, one, we reach out to the community and let them know we care and we love them," he said. "And two, that we provide positive role models and figures for people to look at because there is a lot of 'wrong' that is out there they could be looking at and participating in."

"The key element is that this is a Christian basketball programme and that the values that are behind it and running it - the engine that's pushing it forward - are those Christian values."

"I think this is something that's great for all ages," Lennon added. "It's completely free and open to the public - we don't turn anyone away. It's something positive for everyone to look forward to and build on further on down the road."

So, for Lennon, who does he believe the heroes are at Heroes Camp?

"The hero for me is my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, but other than that everyone here is a hero," he explained. "Not only are the parents heroes for understanding this is what you want your children in, but the kids are heroes because they know what this programme is about and they want to be here.
"We've had many kids come back week after week saying how much they enjoyed being here. And of course the staff who are here who give up their Saturday. It's not easy to be here Saturday in and Saturday out to volunteer.

"So anyone who is a part of Heroes Camp is a hero in my books."

Heroes Camp is located at Bramalea Christian Fellowship - 11613 Bramalea Road in Brampton, Ontario. To register, go to bcfchurch.net and click on "Register Here" on the Heroes Camp slide. For more information you can also go to the Brampton A's website or call 905-799-1188.

Lexie Lou - Filly Fantastic

The last time jockey Patrick Husbands rode his way to a Queen's Plate victory was back in 2003 aboard Wando.

So you can excuse the level of excitement from Husbands after his stunning win in the 155th running of the first leg of Canada's Triple Crown Sunday at Woodbine Racetrack.

Husbands bolted from the 14th spot aboard filly Lexie Lou and quickly settled mid-group down the back stretch in the 1.25 mile race, only to outpace the 15-horse field down the stretch for a decisive length-and-a-half victory in just under 2:04.
Husbands received his trophy in the winner's circle and kisses on the track apron as he headed back to the jockey's room, below.

Husbands will now try to repeat with Lexie Lou what he did with Wando 11 years ago - and that is win the Prince of Wales Stakes and the Breeder's Stakes to capture another Triple Crown.
Also joining Husbands in the winner's circle on the day was jockey Justin Stein, below, who brought Alpha Bettor in for the fourth race and Niigon's Queen across first in the fifth.

Husbands' other victory on the day was aboard Jack Pine, below, getting a celebratory shower following the race.

Topping the win column for jockeys was veteran Eurico Rosa da Silva who managed three wins on the day - none better than his win with Overheard in race seven as four horses cruised across the finish line within a neck of winning.
Da Silva gestures to the crowd, below, as he crosses the finish line...

...and earns his stripes, below, as one of Woodbine's winningest jockeys.

Of course, Queen's Plate day at Woodbine isn't all about the racing. There's the fashion, too, and always the hats.

And a chance to pose with a well-dressed model outside the track at the Hats and Horsehoes event.

Family Fun

The Cheltenham Badlands is a geologic area north of Brampton, Ontario, which contains a rare example of exposed soft rock - an area devoid of vegetation and soil that has eroded to form small hills and gullies.

The reddish hue is due to the predominance of iron oxide in the shale that makes up the Queenston Shale formation, a huge wedge-shaped, 300m thick section of earth created during the Ordovician Period stretching from Western New York to Ontario's Bruce Peninsula. The greenish bands in the shale, seen below, are due to ground water changing the red iron oxide to green iron oxide.

The area is very sensitive to human foot traffic and erosion has meant the area is more and more difficult to navigate.

Conservation efforts have been underway for years to restrict access to the area as the Badlands are part of the Niagara Escarpment and the local UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.

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Also part of the day was a trip to Downey's Farm, where it was more than acceptable to bounce around...

...or tear around a track using pedal power.

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