This Week in Photos - February 26, 2026

Soccer club donation – Blessings to You Palmerston donated $1,000 to the Minto United Soccer Club for its youth referee program. From left: Blessings volunteer Helen Meyers, Minto United Soccer Club president Curtis Cox and Blessings volunteers Sharon Stephens and Lucy Greenhalgh. Submitted photo

Pride bingo – Minto Pride welcomed a sold-out crowd of 150 people to the Palmerston Legion on Feb. 13 for an evening of Drag Bingo. Featuring performing drag artists from TroyBoy Entertainment out of Guelph, the night was full of energy, laughs and a little bit of bingo, Minto Pride officials stated. “The crowd was delighted by high-energy performances by Sapphire Poison, Enya Dreams and TroyBoy himself.” Minto Pride officials say they would like to thank the Palmerston Legion, Town of Minto and the supportive crowd that came out for a successful event. Funds raised will go towards their annual Pride in the Park event, planned this year for June 7 at the Palmerston Lion’s Park Pavilion. PHOTO 1: Back row, from left: TroyBoy, Enya Dreams, Chris Fleet and Sapphire Poison. Front: Gansey Veldhuis, Caitlin Hall, Jeremy Bolton and Robin Sharpe. Absent are Minto Pride members Ivy Norris, Mandy-Jo McMurray, Jon McMurray and Gayle Kelley. Submitted photos

Bringing the heat – The Town of Minto, in partnership with Minto Fire, hosted its annual Fire and Ice event on Feb. 16 at the Palmerston and District Community Centre Complex. Originally planned for New Year’s Eve, the event was rescheduled due to poor weather conditions. PHOTO 1: A big fire pit kept guests warm during the cold night while fireworks exploded in the sky. PHOTO 2: Fire performer Steve Goodtime showed off his skills by juggling fire. PHOTO 3: Goodtime performing for Fire and Ice guests. PHOTO 4: The Magic Man pulling out all the tricks to entertain the crowd. Submitted photos.

Giant Tiger aid – Giant Tiger helped Victoria Terrace Public School in Fergus with its Angel Tree Fundraising Campaign over the Christmas holiday and moved the school $1,000 closer to its playground goal. Front row from left: Annabelle Smeltzer, Aubrey Shannon, Grayla Brimblecombe, Maisie Brimblecombe and Jade Hamacher. Second row: Addison Batey, Barrett Wood, Henry Smeltzer, Weston Batey and Nolan Wood. Third row: teacher Kim Gordon, parent council chair Jillia Brimblecombe and Giant Tiger representative Pat Farrell. Submitted photo

Winners – The Ron Wilkin Jewellers Ladies Bonspiel, now in its 45th year, was held at the Fergus Curling Club on Jan. 24 and the winner was Team Smeltzer, consisting of, from left: vice Kelly Stewart-French, skip Sheri Smeltzer, second Shannon Smeltzer and lead Barb Robinson. Submitted photo

Competition – Centre Wellington District High School (CWDHS) hosted the Central Western Ontario Secondary Schools Association’s (CWOSSA) Wrestling Championship on Feb. 23. CWDHS teacher and wrestling coach Dave Ritter was convenor for the event, his last as he retires. Ritter has convened CWOSSA wrestling matches since 2010. The Fergus high school had eight wrestlers competing for the chance to move on to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations’ (OFSAA) provincial wrestling championship next month in Peterborough. PHOTO 1: Elijah Berry. PHOTO 2: CWDHS teachers and wrestling coaches Dave Ritter, back, and Belinda Cox. PHOTO 3: CWDHS Grade 11 student Maxim Kisselev, right, finished second and qualified for the OFSAA championship.

Black heritage - The Guelph Youth Music Centre was filled with music and stories celebrating resilience, culture, and community for the Left Every Voice Concert on Feb. 21. PHOTO 1: JUNO-award winning artist Carlos Morgan. PHOTO 2: Community builder Lauris DaCosta was honoured with Joy in the City’s first Lifetime Legacy Award recipient. Many community members came up to the podium during the concert to laud the Jamaican-born 92-year-old for her significant contributions, including serving as president of the Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region, working as a public health nurse and uplifting Black youth. PHOTO 3: Youth singers, from left, Jasmyne B., Naya B. and Xaria T. Photos by Robin George

Kilt skate – Communities across Canada and Scotland held kilt skates over the weekend, including one at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex in Fergus on Feb. 22. The Fergus International Kilt Skate event was hosted by the Fergus Scottish Festival and included highland dance performances, music from the Fergus and Grand Celtic pipe bands, hot chocolate and Sheena’s Scottish Shortbread. PHOTO 1: Gregory Finney, left, and Malcolm Vella, who travelled from Mississauga to attend the kilt skate, said a similar event the previous day in Toronto paled in comparison to the one in Fergus. PHOTO 2: Blue Bonnet Lassies dancer Pearl Dodds, 9, pulled off some spins on the ice. PHOTO 3: The event kicked off with a performance from the Blue Bonnet Lassies. Kailey Eisen, right, couldn’t help but join in during Brooke Bailey, left, and Maribelle McBroom’s performance. PHOTO 4: From left, Brooke Pembleton, Alex Gerber, Mary MacIsaac, Hannah Pembleton, Lennon Pembleton, Ellea Pembleton, Leiona Speer and Margaret MacIsaac. PHOTO 5: Tristan Huehn, 7, smiled wide and wore tartan proudly during the kilt skate. PHOTO 6: Mary Meads helping Louise Meads. PHOTO 7: Tartans and flags on the ice. PHOTO 8: Sebastian Lung, left, and Merrit Drake did some laps of the ice before playing drums with the pipe band. PHOTO 9: From left, Noah Nicoll, Nia Nicoll and Carley Young show their Scottish pride. Photos by Robin George