I remember as a child on a warm summer evening when the kids from the neighbourhood would all play out on the street, you would inevitably hear the unmistakable jingle that meant ice cream was on its way.
The "Dickie Dee" guy riding his bike onto your street was one of the best sights of those summer days of past but The Food Truck and Bay Street’s Treats have brought their own back to the Gateway City and on Tuesday night they teamed up with members of the North Bay Battalion to deliver those treats to front-line workers.
Troops defenceman Simon Rose along with general manager Adam Dennis and assistant coach Scott Wray rode the bikes from Memorial Gardens to Princess Street and stopped in to see members of both North Bay’s Fire Department and Police Service, before embarking on their journey to the North Bay Regional Health Centre.
“Its really good to be involved in the community, especially during times like this,” says Rose.
“Just coming out and thanking people for doing what they are doing, these front-line Workers are important.”
“They are the unsung heroes of our community,” says Dennis.
“We wanted to do something to make sure they get recognized and its something small but important as well. And why not ice cream? It highlights the Bay Street Treats which is a great business that’s now back and it's hot out and who doesn’t like ice cream?”
Both police service members and those at the fire department were very appreciative of the gesture and had several questions of genuine interest about the team and the upcoming Ontario Hockey League season.
Dennis says it's nice to know they want to see the team be successful.
"We are such close neighbours and no different than us. The police and the firefighters are a team, in their own right. They have to stick to together and work together and I think it is important that we help each other out and support one another,” said Dennis.
And while players haven’t been allowed to do much in terms of on-ice workouts over the last four months Rose says they have been doing dryland training and using personal at-home gyms, although maybe getting on a Dickie Dee bike and riding around all summer would have been the best training of all.
As Rose says, “They are wicked to drive, but a little top-heavy.”
The evening was sponsored by Financial Advisor Mark Webster with IG Wealth Management.
Everybody wants to give back when they can, certainly during these times as everyone is talking about, we’re all in this together,” Webster said.
“I keep in close touch with Steve Bitonti and the Battalion crew and this was just an idea that came up with Bay Street’s Treats emerging on the market we thought, what better way to say thank you to the first-responders. I’ve got my kids involved here too and it’s a good lesson for them to know that it is important to give back to those people that look after us.”
Community involvement has been a focus for the Battalion and during the hockey season, you would regularly see the players visiting area schools or getting involved in different initiatives such as dropping off the teddy bears, thrown from the Teddy Bear Toss night, at different places around the city.
As restrictions start to ease from the initial shut down, the team is once again able to be more hands-on in what they can do around the city.
Webster says it is important for people to see this team staying connected.
“Since they have been in North Bay, they have brought the community together. It is twice a week that 3,000 people can get together and see each other and support a good cause. The response here has been great and it is nice to give back.”