Here’s what’s happening on the Family Day weekend in Caledon

Rink will be dedicated in honour of Reese Meyer

By ZACHARY ROMAN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Each year, Family Day is a chance for families to spend a little bit of extra time together. 

There are a number of Family Day activities happening from February 17 to 19 in Caledon, including activities hosted by the Town of Caledon itself.

On February 17 at the Caledon East Community Complex (CECC), the Town will host a grand opening ceremony for Reese's Rink, a new outdoor skating rink.

The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. and will honour Reese Meyer, a local hockey player who played for the Caledon Hawks and tragically passed away from cancerous brain tumour at the age of 14. Meyer was an inspiration to the Caledon community, which rallied around him during his battle. 

Caledon Mayor Annette Groves will be at the grand opening for a ceremonial puck drop and said it will be a bittersweet moment.

“I'm proud to drop the ceremonial puck and officially open Reese's rink, a new amenity in Caledon that will provide others with the opportunity to do what Reese loved to do, which was get on the ice and skate,” said Groves.

Meyer's parents and members of his hockey team will be at the grand opening ceremony, and Reese's memorabilia will be available for viewing.

Catherine McLean, Caledon's Commissioner of Community and Human Services, said the new outdoor rink will be a place where Meyer's memory will always remain alive.

“Reese Meyer captured the hearts of the Caledon community with his determination, kind words, and his infectious smile during treatment of a cancerous brain tumour,” said McLean. “The Caledon community really came together to show their support for Reese and his family during his battle — from other teams putting Reese stickers on their helmets and raising money in his name, to donating a bench and a tree dedicated to him on the Caledon trail near his home.”

Also on February 17 at the CECC, the Town of Caledon will celebrate two women born in Caledon who are playing for Ottawa in the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).

From 1 to 4 p.m. the Town will be hosting a watch party as PWHL Ottawa takes on PWHL Minnesota. The two Caledon-born women on PWHL Ottawa are Zoe Boyd and Kristin Della Rovere.

Boyd joined PWHL Ottawa after a successful college hockey career at Quinnipiac University, and Della Rovere joined the team after a successful college hockey career at Harvard University. In their final college hockey seasons, both women were captains of their respective teams. 

Groves said the launch of the PWHL was a historic milestone in women's sports. 

“We are thrilled to celebrate Zoe and Kristin for being a part of this and representing Caledon proudly,” she said. “I encourage residents to come out and help us celebrate their achievement and cheer them on.”

On February 18, the Caledon South Asian Association (CSAA) is hosting a game of “Community Clue” at the Southfields Community Centre (225 Dougall Ave).

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will see residents answering clues about their community for a chance to win a basket of local treats.

On Family Day, February 19, the Town of Caledon is hosting drop-in recreation activities at the Albion Bolton Community Centre, Caledon Centre for Recreation and Wellness, CECC, Lloyd Wilson Centennial Arena, and Southfields Community Centre. More information on these activities is available at caledon.ca/familyday.

Also on the February 19, the Canadian Multicultural Inventors Museum will have a pop-up exhibit from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring innovators of African descent at the Humber River Centre in Downtown Bolton (28 Ann Street).

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on February 17, the Caledon Public Library (CPL) is hosting family fun challenges, and family storytime, at various branches across Caledon. More information is available at events.caledonlibrary.com.

On February 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the CPL's Margaret Dunn Valleywood Branch, the CPL is hosting a mixed media tote bag-making workshop using its Cricut machines. Registration for this event can be done at the above link.