Downtown core prospected by racers

 

By Rick Dawes

A local college student has organized a scavenger hunt that challenges participants to brave the city’s core.

Participants took to the streets of downtown Windsor Sept. 21, equipped with maps, checklists and brown paper bags and discovered for themselves some of the city’s hidden gems in the first ever Downtown Windsor Local Treasures Hunt. The 14 treasure hunters had to collect listed items and partake in demonstrations at approximately 19 points of interest, then return to the starting location at the base of Ouellette Avenue. The race started shortly after 11 a.m.

Second year St. Clair College travel and tourism student Paige Vanderbeck organized the event with a $1,000 grant from Awesome Foundation Windsor Essex.

“I got the idea partially when I was at one of their pitch nights and I said I would love to come up with something for this, it would be a lot of fun. And then this idea started forming in my head. I don’t drive, I ride my bike everywhere, I live downtown,” said Vanderbeck.

“We’ve got bike paths, we’ve got sidewalks on the busier streets and a lot of the motorists’ downtown are pretty good about giving people space. It’s more of an experiment to see how (participants) do living downtown, I guess.”

The first to visit all stations and return to the start with their loot would receive a red, mid-1950s Schwinn bicycle, courtesy of the City Cyclery. Second and third runners up would receive prize packages containing items from participating businesses.

“Some people are getting coupons, some people are getting sandwich cards, some people are just getting business cards so they can find the places afterwards after going inside and looking around,” said Vanderbeck.

Participants traveled as far south as Elliott Street West and Victoria Avenue to check off items on their lists, and as far west Campbell Street and Riverside Drive West. The use of bicycles was encouraged during the event, however some participants walked.

Richard Kasoian, creative director at a health and safety company, rides his bike often and came in second place for the scavenger hunt.

“I would love to see more of an emphasis on safety with bicycling, even if it was just a demonstration beforehand, so the people actually understand what the rules of the road are,” said Kasoian.

Michael Cappucci and Elena Saveska were the winners of the red Schwinn.