Pan Am Games Torch Bearing hits Newmarket

Photo by Glenn Rodger Photography

Anticipation had been building up in my friend Danny Philion as the date to the torch bearing ceremony approached. He was confused about what would take place at the Riverwalk Commons in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada prior to his nearby torch leg, but still, he could hardly hide his excitement with it all. Well wishers from everywhere have been greeting him since word got out, with congratulations and the like pouring in like love letters to Bobby Sherman. I think the topper for him was all the supporters that braved the rain and called his name out on the street as he "legged" his part in his wheelchair.

 Afterward, Dan soaked in the atmosphere at Riverwalk Commons, Newmarket's now unofficial town square where the O.L.G. rolled out its slick Pan Am machine, including a mobile stage emblazoned with large flat-screens showing the stage talent which had included everything from aboriginal to U2 cover to Juno Award winners, an array of interactive games depicting Pan Am Games events, and even bingo!

Then, the final torch bearer, Donald Bond, a long time Newmarket volunteer, made his way into the square, slogging his way towards lighting the ceremonial Pan Am Games torch set onstage as the crowd buzzed with excitement, surprisingly, myself included as I caught glimpse of the older gent wading his way seemingly through a sea of equally enthralled, mostly Newmarket, residents.

 I've been a volunteer in Newmarket for over 40 years. I do recommend it. Donald Bond Photo below by Glenn Rodger Photography


I'd sort of promised the OLG media people I'd remain in the media area to capture the final runner and interview him for YOURKnews & Events right after which I did. Prior, I'd also been briefly, accidentally steered into the sandwiches and goodies area for about 5 minutes ( Mmm the freakin' butter tarts were great!), then allowed to keep my food when semi sheepishly informed it was for stage talent only. Ha....After that, I "wangled" my way into the torchbearer briefing area, stating I was Dan's helper, which i did help him to get there, but his sister had arrived by then and I hadn't noticed she was sitting in until I got inside and it had begun. Gulp. Shhhh!

At any rate, it gave me an opportunity to hear first hand how each participant got to be torchbearers. A mixed bag of nominees and applicants it seemed but with one common thread, that of commitment to community, or nominated as such, each now etched in history, but each proud to be one.

Dan in his glory

Dan, I knew, had loved taking part , particularly the opportunity to make people laugh and to try out his latest "sit down comedy" routines on his largest continual audience ever.


" It was great, I'd do it again tomorrow no problem, if I could. I really enjoyed it" Dan Philion

York Region gets into swing of Pan Am Torchbearing

With the Pan Am Games just around the corner, an event that with over 7,000 athletes participating, which will be Canada's largest ever sports games, watch for the torch relay celebrations coming through your York Region Ontario neighbourhood, June 25 or 26. 25th if in Aurora / Newmarket!

M.P.P. picks for torch bearers Dan, Lindsay, & Melissa

With each area seemingly being allotted a number of appointees with no specific criteria for picks made by the various politicians - such as the Mayor's / town's picks - it was a breathe of fresh air to see M.P.P. Chris Ballard choose someone that not only deserved it, but has no politcal attachment whatsoever other than recognising and rewarding community development work.

People that follow my blogs know I'm not a fan of political parties, but believe more in the individual person in each post, willing to work with any party, just hoping to communicate on a person to person level, which is not always achievable. And it was I who connected the two, but not for amorous reasons. No, we'd made a visit to the M.P.P. because Dan was tired of going hungry each month or having to ask for stuff or having to choose between food or clothing or......

Dan's route runs along Bayview@ Primrose@ 6:30 PM June 25

So it wasn't a social visit per say, but it did end with the promise from the Newmarket Aurora M.P.P. to consider what he'd said, and a promise to help him apply for special shoes, which, on the street, cost about $1600 and take months to make, a request we hadn't prompted.

Newmarket Mayor and M.P. join the party..not THE party. Lol

Later, when the nominations for torch bearing came up, they asked me if Dan might be interested to be one, and the rest is history, with his assigned route running on Bayview Ave in Newmarket Ontario starting at Penrose Avenue at 6:30 pm and snaking on past Pickering College. Before that, there will also be a home base party going on at 200 Doug Duncan, the Newmarket Community Centre.

Frankly, in all the years that P.A.C.C. had been involved in the community, Ballard was the first to really directly acknowledge the good work of P.A.C.C., in a way, through awarding Vice-Chair Dan this opportunity, based on his previous commitment to the community mostly through P.A.C.C.. Frank Klees certainly never would have done that, although, at the end of his reign, his assistant did come over personally and shovel his driveway, in heels no less when the local volunteer service kept passing him by a few years back, likely for daring criticize. Now that was impressive.

M.P. Lois Brown engages Dan

As Dan is prone to say, " Hey, I didn't ask to be born this way. I'd love to be able to work. I used to love working on cars".

Of course none of that is possible for him now, his disability increasing with each year - when I first met him he could almost do his lawn unassisted, now he has a hard time drinking from a big cup, and so this will be a moment I'm sure he'll cherish, despite the looming hardships. Thank goodness for the Highway 11 Cruisers who include him as a member despite not being able to drive anymore so at least he can enjoy them.


All this hasn't changed Dan's resolve to negotiate a better deal for those like him on disability support though, in fact on Tues July 7 2015, Dan holds his own torch bearing of a sort, his Stroll and Roll to Freedom event which invites anyone who cares to come along, to come stroll, roll, and whatever, from York Region headquarters to M.P.P. Chris Ballard's office, asking that he and those in similar positions as himself, unable to earn extra income, deserve a better deal than the 1% raise proposed when the rates already lack from the Harris years still as successive Liberal governments have never returned them to liveable levels...and a man having to live in socks is enough of a testimony to that methinks.

MPP Chris Ballard introduces Dan Philion

So yea, kudos to M.P.P. Ballard for having the, dare I say, balls, to reward someone despite them having a differing opinion officially on one issue at least, although the M.P.P. did agree at the time that he did deserve a better deal. 

Worthy youth lacrosse cause found outside Magna Centre

As yet P.A.C.C. has not been offered any tickets to the events by the Pan Am Games people, so I don't know that any grassroots group whose mandate is specific to poverty reduction will be attending but it is an event one would hope made accessible to our vulnerable youth and residents.

P.A.C.C. resists grant dollars and relies on goodwill mostly to survive, believing that groups out of the pay loop, are more inclined to stay true to their goals, and not concentrate on fitting into funding models, a lesson heard

Dan attends Highway 11 Cruisers Club's 2014 finale

some time ago by one of the most successful advocacy groups ever assembled - managing to get it mandatory on subways and transit for out loud stop announcements for the blind!

Now that's real change that made a real difference.

Until next time.. Go Dan Go!


TP Out!

Newmarket Torchbearer A Worthy Choice

Congratulations Dan Philion, 2015 Newmarket Torch Bearer

Newmarket resident, Dan Philion, has been chosen The Torchbearer for Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, for the Pan Am Games! Well, not exactly, but he is one of three chosen for the town of Newmarket for his years of contributions to the community.

Before arriving in Newmarket 10 years ago now, as a single dad with two kids, Dan, now 50, had already made a mark in Ottawa setting records for fundraising efforts for muscular dystrophy and was an annual telethon fixture.

Dan works on getting vendor for Int Day to Eradicate Poverty

In Newmarket he picked up where he left off, this time involving himself in the community through volunteer endeavours, from organizing and running tables and events in at-risk communities - including annual BBQ's and 10 years with the annual Friendly Neighbourhood Road Hockey Challenge which has provided 100's of kids free recreation and food and awarded $10,000 in scholarship / award money to youths over that span via the Mike Thornhill Memorial Award, started in memory of a youth from his Mulock Village neighbourhood who was killed outside a Newmarket Tim Horton's donut shop - to sorting damaged packaged food items for distribution to those in need for P.A.C.C., the Poverty Action for Change Coalition. He also participated in York Region's social audit, Behind The Masks, which took over 6 months to organize, hold, and create a report from, for the Region of York and the Ontario Governments to use to reduce the affects of poverty.

Dan, MPP, and fellow torch bearers. Dan's route is on Bayview.

No, he and these causes have not had much attention or coverage over the past 10 years or so, but that does not take away from the direct impact he had in this area and to be recognized as such is long overdue and a great choice by MPP Chris Ballard.

Newly elected Newmarket Aurora MPP Ballard first met Dan, also the volunteer Vice Chair for PACC Poverty Action for Change Coalition, along with Chair Tom Pearson, late last year when the two attended a meet and greet with the MPP.

Philion returns from MPP visit in 2014

The MPP, noticing incidentally that Mr. Philion might need help to access special shoes, later contacted PACC to see if he might be interested in their help to attain some via the system but with their help. Mr Philion was receptive, particularly since paperwork can be especially tough for him and a "kinship" was struck. Although he's not receiving any 'special' treatment in getting these shoes to speed up the process, he looks forward to hopefully having them in place for The Pan Am Games Torchbearing ceremony.

Mr. Philion was surprised and honoured when asked to be a torchbearer, but his first concern was how would he hold it up as Mr. Philion has Muscular Dystrophy, a form of which his muscles degenerate a bit more and more each year. Now he is sometimes unable to drink from a heavy cup.

OLG reaassured Mr. Philion that indeed they had a special attachment to make wheelchair users able to and after more communications about how he needs assistance dressing and therefore would need his torchbearer atire in advance unlike the directives he received which they accomodated...so...he's good to go!

Make no mistake, Dan Philion is no throw-in because he's in a wheelchair, and indeed has earned his worthy choice as a Newmarket Torchbearer for the Pan Am Games.In fact, you could say he's a shoe-in.