BARRHEAD – Town of Barrhead councillors unanimously approved a temporary closure of a portion of 51st Avenue (or Veteran's Way) during their June 28 meeting.
Mayor Dave McKenzie added the last-minute item to the agenda stating the municipality had received a request from the Red Knights Motorcycle Club to close a portion of Veteran's Way between Main Street and 51st Street to host a barbecue fundraiser for the Grizzly Trail Fire and Rescue Association Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Red Knights International Firefighters Motorcycle Club is, as the name suggests, a motorcycle club for firefighters past and present.
The Barrhead chapter was formed close to three years ago by former fire chief John Whittaker, a long-time motorcycle rider.
The Grizzly Trail Fire and Rescue Association is the non-profit arm of the fire department whose mandate is to support the community and the department by buying equipment, or subsidizing training courses the municipalities could not normally afford.
The barbecue will be part of their annual fundraising charity ride, which is being called "Hollywood Memorial Ride" this year in honour of Carl "Hollywood" Hulsemann, who passed away in 2020. Hulsemann was a volunteer firefighter for 17 years with Barrhead Regional Fire Services.
Coun. Dausen Kluin asked if businesses in the area have been notified about the potential road closure.
Chief administrative officer Edward LeBlanc said he did not reach out to the business community yet, deciding to wait to see if the council approved the request.
However, he noted businesses should not be too surprised as the motorcycle club made the same request last year, which the council granted.
LeBlanc also noted Blue Heron Support Services Association (BHSSA), for the last two summers, asked for and received a similar temporary closure of 51st Avenue in Barrhead between 49A Street and 51st Street to host their weekly Saturday markets.
Coun. Rod Klumph said he supported the request but asked if anything else was happening in conjunction with the barbecue.
Coun. Don Smith, a Red Knights member, said they are asking to close the two blocks to make room for what the club hopes will be dozens of motorcycle riders returning from the charity ride, expected to be sometime between 2-3 p.m. He also noted the fire department usually has a small display of equipment, such as its aerial truck, Tower 6.
Coun. Dave Sawatzky said, as an owner of a Main Street business owner, said he was confident that businesses would welcome the event.
"Traffic is not being impeded. People can still move north and south, and we welcome anything that brings traffic downtown," he said.
Coun. Ty Assaf said he loved the idea, saying his only concern was that he was not sure if the Red Knights had requested to close a large enough area.
"With Tower 6 and all the motorcycles, if you plan to have any type of seating area, that does not give you a lot of room," he said.
Smith replied that the club was confident there would be enough room as they are not planning to have a seating area.
"Anything that brings people to our town, it makes it a little better," he said, adding his thanks to groups such as the Red Knights. "All the effort the volunteers do to put on events like this, they are special to us."
