The 7th Annual Canal Days Kite 
Festival was another Grand Success. Organizers were not sure how the day would turn out as the forecast for the day predicted winds to come out of the north to northwest due to a cold front that passed through the area the previous night. This is the worst possible direction for the winds, as they roll over the trees and the hospital buildings.
As in previous years some of us camped over night in our RV's at the park and were ready to go and set up the fields and parking at 5:30 am that morning. The morning was sunny and bright and no rain in site, 
and the winds were coming from the west, but they soon changed to the north. The main body of kiters 
(approximately 100 came out for the day) had arrived by 11:30am setting the stage with their banners and cabanas and flags. A steady ascension of single line kites filled the skies with colour, as the stunt kite flyers were finding it somewhat difficult to put full routine together given the wind direction. The prevailing winds are normally from the southwest after crossing Lake Erie but it appeared this was not going to happen today. Anyway, the stunt kite demos went on despite the wind direction and everyone did a superb job, as the crowd applauded with pleasure.
Much preparation went into making a 400 foot kite arch for the day and we must thank Big Sisters for this and also my wife Donna, who
spent much time into the wee hours of the morning
with myself preparing the diamond kites two days before the event for the attachment to the line. The next morning Donna, Fred and Kevin Taylor, Donna Nelissen and myself spend another 2 hours attaching the kites to the line and then the successful test flight. At about 1:15 pm during the day of the event the Port Colborne's Mayor, Vance Badawey helped launch the arch. The Arch did not fly as well as the test flight, but flew despite the wind direction. Shortly after this launch a mass ascension of single line kites were set aloft with some appropriate music.
At about 2:30pm the wind direction shifted, now coming from the southwest directly from Lake Erie. The shift came a little late, but mother nature has not yet let us down for this event. It was much easier for the individuals and teams to perform their maneuvers now and balance of the afternoon was jammed packed of fun and fly with many kiters and teams adding their name to the long list, to demonstrate some of their flying skills.
Jim Poy has been coming to this event for at least the past 5 years and always volunteers to
perform several times during the afternoon. He flew his dual line kite and also 2 stacks of dual line kites, which he flies by himself. Jim was also was the captain of a team of 3, (Jim, Dan and Debbie) who decided to fly together in public for the first time. Some great kiting experience to be learned, as Jim is also teaching Dan and Debbie the art of kiting.
One of Canal Day's favourite team is "Spirits in
the Wind", who also volunteer and put on several performances during the day. For those new kiters their team is made up of Captain Ron Clawson, Ardith and Charles Quanbury. As always a great performance was enjoyed for all those who watched. As in previous years, Ardith also flew the 2 dual line kites to the tune of "Candle in the Wind" by Elton John. Great Performance, and it was wonderful to see you again at Canal Days.
The crowds were also treated to some new young performers this year Jonathon White and Kevin Taylor who did individual performances. Jon and Kevin also teamed up, flew for the first time to an audience, to a routine they started working on a few weeks before this event. You guys did a great job, keep up the great work. I'm sure you parents were very proud of you.
Three of the Niagara Wind Dancers were also a favourite of the afternoon, with
their performance with their colourful
stacked 12 dyna kites and long tails. This year Niagara Wind Dancers who performed were Al Lee from Dunkirk, New York, Vaino Raun from St Catharines, Ontario and myself. The other 2 members of the team who were unable to join the team were Chris White and Doug Niznik.
Mark Groshens 
and Mike Dinsmore showed the crowds of what is involved with traction and power kiting. The perfect Boogie music was chosen by Donna Taylor, while Mark and Mike rode around the field in their buggies.
Other performances were performed by Jerry Lewithan from Buffalo New York and Fred Taylor of from Port Colborne.
Several times during
the afternoon
we had Teddy Bear drops which Irving Reid volunteered to look after. A drawn ticket was put up with the parachuting Teddy Bear and was read once the Teddy Bear hit the ground the ticket number was read off and a lucky child won a new stuff teddy bear. We also had several candy drops during the day, whereby we filled a specially made bag, full of candy, and dropped the candies over their heads. The Children under the age of 10 would race all over the place trying to collect as much candy as they could hold. For those children that did not get any, candy was given out separately at the registration area.
A large blue Rok with the Royal Bank's (our major corporate sponsor) Logo on it flew all day except for the few times there was very little wind, when it dropped from the sky and landed in the lake. The kite got a little wet, but no damage was sustained by pulling it out given the fragile frame. Thanks to all those who helped out.
Don Brownridge, president of the Toronto Kite Flyers, also came to enjoy the day. This was his first time he came out to this event, as he is usually at his cottage this weekend every year, but managed to get away to check out how much fun we really do have in Port Colborne during Canal Days. Don helped Bob White out a couple of times by taking over the microphone; Great Job, as always Don. Thank you.
I was able to fly my rev stack during the afternoon and as I began my routine the wind speed doubled and began dragging me across the field at one point it dragged me approxiamtely 20-30 feet. I positioned the stack straight above me, which is usually a resting position, but the winds were so strong the kites began lifting me. Knowing I could easly get in trouble I decided to land the whole stack in a tree so I would not hurt anyone or damage any show cars on the ajacent field. All is well and luckly I did not sustain any injury.
The field events ended at about 5:00pm and almost immediately afterward the winds changed back to way they were earlier in the day (north and north west) It was almost like mother nature changed the wind direction, for the afternoon, just for us.
This year we didn't move the kiters to my back yard but instead booked the pavavilion at the park for the annual Canal Day's Barbeque. Approximately 75 kiters stayed and enjoyed the food. Carlos Simoes from
the Kitchener Wind Climbers volunteered as Head Barbequer and did a super job in cooking up the hamburgers and wieners for the hot dogs to perfection. Michael Graves and his new wife attended and brought a Texas styled Beef and sauce for everyone to try. This and the other food were gobbled up quite quickly as everyone must have been hungry after an exciting afternoon of kite flying. Everyone had a good chance to talk about the events they attended during the past year. Several other individuals brought something, like pop, other food, and desert to help out, and their generocity is appreciated.
During the day 50/50 tickets were sold, along with tickets for Beanie Babies Al Lee donated to this event to help out with the costs. Thank you Al, your donation is greatly appreciated. We would thank all those who bought tickets as well. The 50/50 draw was won by Bev Jack from the Toronto Kite Flyers where $75 CDN and $10 US was won. Congratulations Jack, hope you put the funds to a good cause.
During the months leading up to Canal Days Kite Festival our good friend and one of the organizers Doug Niznik made some metal kite figurines with some steel nuts, bolts, sheet metal and wire. He welded about a dozen of these together to be given away at this event. Each figurine was different which simulated a kiter flying different types of kites, single line, dual line, and quadline. Some of the kites simulated were stacked kites. Great Job and a lot of time was spent on this, and we take off our hats to him for volunteering to doing this. He is an unsong hero in my books!! Doug was unable to attend the barbeque as he was taken to the hospital during the afternoon due to a on going illness, but everyone at the barbeque wished him well and with a speedy recovery. Doug thanks for all your help!!! These figurines were given away to the attending kiters for different reasons, mostly for those who travelled the longest distances in getting to Port Colborne.
Any festival takes a lot of work, time and dedication to put and bring together and I would like to thank all the volunteers, that helped make The 7th Annual Canal Days Kite Festival a Great Success. We could not be able to do this without you. Special thanks goes to the following people: Donna Nelissen, Doug & Marlene Niznik; Bob, Chris and Jonathon White; Donna, Fred and Kevin Taylor, Jennifer Hindson, Derek Jeanes, Lynne Keegan, Donna and Frank O'Neil, Carl and Nicole Bigras.
We would also like to thank our corporate sponsors for helping us out in helping to finance this event.
Page Last Updated: 9/17/99.
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