For many residents of this community, the years when the Canada Packers dairy processing facility was operating in full swing are viewed as a golden age of local prosperity.
The plant, which produced ice cream, butter, cheese and other dairy products during nearly 100 years of operation, was a major local employer before the it was closed for good on Jan. 31, 1991.
“Over the many years that the plant was operating it was the main employer in the town and many locals worked there either full-time or part-time in the summer rush when the number of staff would double to meet the demand for the ice cream products,” said Dave Mallett.
He is a member of the committee organizing a reunion of former Canada Packers employees in Harriston Aug. 9 to 11.
“The goal of the committee is to invite as many former employees back to the town to celebrate the good times that we had while working there and to see old friends,” Mallet stated during a recent presentation to Minto council.
Former employee Faye Binkley fondly recalls working on everything from ice cream products to powdered milk and butter.
“It was an enjoyable place to work. We all got along,” said Binkley.
Larry Horsburgh worked at the plant for more than 20 years, with stints as ice cream foreman and office production co-ordinator, as well as with the dryer and the creamery.
“We had a lot of fun. When I first started we were in ice cream production and I set up and ran ice cream machines … and we had a lot of fun. The day went really fast there,” Horsburgh recalls.
The reunion will take place Aug. 9 to 11 in conjunction with the Minto Mayor’s Charity Golf Tournament and the 2018 Harriston Street Party.
Events kick off at Pike Lake Golf Centre on Aug. 9, with reunion attendees joining other participants in the annual golf tournament, which benefits local non-profit groups.
Reunion events continue on Aug. 10 with a Canada Packers display by the Harriston Historical Society at the Harriston library from 1 to 5pm.
Organizing committee member Dave Turton said the historical society’s efforts have resulted in an impressive display.
“They’ve done a whack of work gathering stuff up from all the people that worked there and it’s an amazing display,” he stated.
Also on Aug. 10, a Kinsmen Beef Barbecue will take place at the Harriston arena from 5:30 to 8pm. The dinner will be followed by a social time at the arena.
Saturday’s events begin with a breakfast hosted by the Harriston Legion on Aug. 11 from 7 to 11am.
In addition, the Canada Packers memorabilia display will be open at the library, Leslie Motors will be holding its annual main street car show featuring vintage Fords, the Minto Youth Action Council is planning an Amazing Race-style scavenger hunt and the Harriston Downtown Revitalization Committee is arranging for bouncy castles, face painting and other entertainment on Elora Street.
Local merchants will once again get involved through sidewalk sales and other activities downtown and the Harriston Legion will function as a social hub from 10am to 4pm.
The Savour in the Street Pig Roast and local food festival will be held downtown from 6 to 8pm on Aug. 11, followed by a street dance from 8pm to midnight.
The reunion weekend winds up on Aug. 12 with a breakfast hosted by the Harriston Historical Society from 8 to 11am.
Turton said response to the idea has been positive.
“We’re expecting a big crowd. There’s going to be a lot of people coming out of the woodwork in the end just to see what’s going on,” he noted. “There’s a lot of people coming from a distance … Our tickets are going very well and they’re really starting to go lately.”
Turton, who worked at Canada Packers from 1974 to 1988, said the company provided a family atmosphere.
“I think it had a lot to do with the people … everybody just kind of got along it was a small town and everybody was just happy – happy to go to work,” he said.
Committee member Lisa Leslie noted, “It was a strong sense of community. It was a family and it trickled into the community …. just because you didn’t work there didn’t mean they didn’t come to your family business and buy groceries or buy shoes, or buy cars or whatever it may be.
“So when they closed it certainly had an effect on the entire community.”
Turton pointed out another benefit of the reunion planning has been the Cool Cones public art exhibit, which has focussed attention on Harriston’s downtown.
The Minto Cultural Roundtable and the Harriston Downtown Revitalization Committee unveiled the “Cool Cones” outdoor exhibit on June 2.
The project celebrates the Canada Packers Reunion and the history of York Ice Cream production in Harriston.
The public can vote for the People’s Choice award from among 10 cones created by local artists and located around the downtown via the Town of Minto’s Facebook and Instagram accounts or pick up a ballot from local merchants.
“It’s really generated a lot of interest and we’re hoping that we can continue it and maybe next year move it to 15 cones, 20 cones, whatever, because there’s a lot of people downtown,” said Turton.
“You drive down any time of the day and there’s people stopped looking.”
Tickets for meals and reunion events can be purchased online through Eventbrite. For information go to the Canada Packers Reunion 2018 Facebook page or email cpreunion18@gmail.com.
