There were lots of volunteers who make the Matilda Pig Roast a success year after year, but here are a couple who were in charge of the main course. From left: Chad DeJong, Chair, Matilda Memorial Recreation Committee and volunteer Brandon Garnier. Tinkess Photo

BRINSTON – It is one of those words that seem so simple yet mean so much. You hear it tossed around quite often, but one thing is for certain, if you want to see community in action, then head out to the Matilda Memorial Park in Brinston for one of their events and you will see just what community means.

On Sun., Oct. 6 the Matilda Memorial Recreation Committee (MMRC), in conjunction with the Iroquois-Matilda Lions Club hosted the 8th yearly Pig Roast. The event, like most of the events hosted by the MMRC, the focus is on family and affordability, and on Sunday that was evident.

The day’s events got underway at 3:00 p.m. with Darren Boyd and Reptile Rainforest on hand to entertain and educate both young and old with the help of many of his interesting creatures.

Also, at 3:00 p.m. Grandma, Mommy, and Me Face Painting began adding a bit of colour to anyone willing to have a seat and experience their artistic abilities.

The Matilda Lions were, of course present, as were a group of young people trying to raise money with a bake sale for the Seaway District High School Prom.

At 4:00 p.m. Gabrielle Salmon added some musical entertainment for the dining pleasure of everyone in attendance.

While all this was going on, you couldn’t help but detect the enticing smell of slow roasted pork. According to Chad DeJong, the MMRC Chair, the cooking had started at around 6:00 a.m. They expected a good crowd, and they wanted to be ready.

“So, we printed about 350 tickets to sell,” said DeJong. “We’re just around 300 right now, and then we do take walk ups and stuff, yeah. And then we have a whole bunch of volunteers. So, some of these extra tickets, we give all the volunteers a free meal for coming out and to thank them for coming out and helping.”

Many of the volunteers are high school students, so this is a great way for them to accumulate some of their volunteer hours.

“This is our eighth year,” continued DeJong. “We started in 2016, and I think I was gone for maybe two of those years when I was living in Alberta, okay, but yeah, it keeps getting easier and easier, and having volunteers, that keep returning and know what they’re doing. It’s very handy.”

The proceeds from the day’s event will go into the recreation committee’s account, and it goes towards different events we do for the public, and renovating this building here, so then it’s able to be used by the public and whoever wants to use it for any event. It just goes towards beautifying the park and putting on events for the public.”

South Dundas Councillor Tom Smyth, who was later joined by Councillor Danielle Ward took the time to check out the renovations to the building. It is always encouraging to see a community take steps to help improve local facilities.

Events like this don’t happen, it takes a lot of effort from volunteers to help it succeed.

“We have such a great community and such just people in this area that just want to help and give, give, give, and all that different stuff,” said DeJong.  “We get the pigs donated to us, and spits are donated. Everybody does a little and it accomplishes a lot, so, then we can raise money for a good cause.

With hungry people starting to gather DeJong and the other volunteers knew they had to get things ready. Just before 4:00 p.m. one pig was ready, and they were starting to work on the other two.

I dare anyone to find a better value than the dinner that was being offered on Sunday. For $20 you would receive spit roast pork, potato, beans, coleslaw, a bun, a drink, and desert. The MMRC treats events like this as a fundraiser, but they also want to make sure it is affordable so that as many people as possible can participate.

There is a saying that says that you need food for the table, but also food for the soul. In Brinston on Sunday, both needs were well satisfied.