Fantastic Fathers big event gives families time together

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The Fantastic Fathers annual Family Father’s Day was a popular draw Saturday as about 3,000 people took in various games, shows, activities and sports skills at the St. Clair College Sportsplex.  

The event, sponsored by the Labourers’ International Union of North America Local 625 and St. Clair College, was free for families thanks to sponsorships from a number of organizations, said Steven Brown, who co-founded the event with Seth Perera.  

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“We have a simple goal,” said Brown. “We simply want parents, both parents, moms and dads, to spend as much time with their kids as possible. We found in order to do that, we had to start creating and hosting some events so that there are more options out there for things to do.”  

The event went into hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic but started up again last year and is now more popular than ever. Brown stresses that not all 3,000 people are there at the same time and those who are there have lots to see on the complex floor and in displays and exhibits outside the complex, so there’s always room for dads, mums and kids.  

“When a child has the support of mom and dad together, you’re talking, you’re talking a 70 to 80 per cent less chance for some really bad social pitfalls that could happen down the road,” Brown said. “Teenage pregnancy, high school dropout, drug and alcohol addiction, crime, incarceration, right down to the to teenage suicide. 

“When you have all this support from your family and when you’re out there spending time and strengthening that parental bond, you’re reducing that risk.”  

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The Georges family, mom Karolina and dad Andre Georges, along with children King, 5, and Sophia, 9, took in the event Saturday.  

“The children get to try things,” said Karolina. “I think so many kids could be either shy or parents don’t have the funds to take them to certain activities. Sophia today tried lacrosse. (She had) never tried that, so I might sign her up. I think that’s really awesome for the community.”  

The kids “had a blast,” said Andre. “It’s grown so much, it means a lot to the community.”  

“It gets you out the door,” said Karolina. “It’s free, and you know you’re going to see all your friends. I even brought my dad, He’s 72 but he’s still my daddy and I brought him to the event.”  

Four-time Stanley Cup winner Darren McCarty, who won with the Detroit Red Wings in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2009, signed autographs and hammed it up during the Border City Wrestlers event. Having lived in Leamington as a youngster for 20 years, McCarty said enjoys coming to Essex County support events.  

“It’s to see the (kids’) faces and give back in a community where I grew up for 20 years in this county,” said McCarty. “I’m so familiar with St. Clair College. I used to drive by here all the time when I was a kid, whether it was for baseball or hockey. Any time I can support anything in the county, I’ll be there.”  

bamacleod@postmedia.com 

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