On Saturday, June 21, 40 members gathered for an exciting evening at the Pond to cheer on the Welland Jackfish as they faced off against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The evening kicked off with Doug Wilford delivering the National Anthem. Throughout the game, the atmosphere remained festive. A few Probus women were spotted laughing and taking photos with the always cheerful mascot Jacques, while others enjoyed classic ballpark fare - hot dogs, popcorn and cold drinks in hand. Though the Jackfish fell short against Toronto, spirits remained high. Some had hoped to witness a bit of history with the debut of the first female pitcher recruited to an all-male team, but that milestone will have to wait for another game.
The weather was ideal for baseball and a joyful group singalong of Take Me Out to the Ball Game echoed through the stands. The night concluded with dazzling fireworks display - an uplifting finish to a fun-filled evening of camaraderie and community.

The Probus members brought the spirit of Mardi Gras to Parkway Social with an evening filled with fun, laughter and friendly competition. For ninety minutes, we immersed ourselves in lively bowling, as the sounds of rolling balls and crashing pins were often eclipsed by cheers and laughter. Dressed in bright-coloured shirts and adorned with vibrant Mardi Gras beads, participants fully embraced the festive atmosphere.  Between bowling frames, we savored delicious nachos, wings and refreshing drinks, enhancing the celebratory mood.
After the bowling games, the party moved to the VIP dining room, where members exchanged stories, raised their glasses to good company and enjoyed the camaraderie that makes Probus events so memorable. After dinner and the presentation of awards, we treated ourselves to a few exciting games at the arcade. Doug and Linda revved things up with some motorbike racing, while Liz took on the challenge of NASCAR racing. I believe Penny and Roy also enjoyed a bit of car racing before trying their luck at deep-sea fishing in search of treasure. Penny and Roy were eager to experience a game of laser tag, but by then, most of the group had called it a night. Undeterred, these two kept the party going, determined to make the most of the evening and Penny's birthday. All in all, the March social event was a striking success, once again proving that our Probus members know how to have a great time.  The energy remained high throughout the evening, serving as a wonderful reminder of how meaningful it is to come together and celebrate life's joyful moments.

The Guided Spirit Walk at Victoria Lawn Cemetery on September 7 was preceded by dinner at George’s Greek Restaurant. With 27 in attendance, the staff at George’s did an amazing job at getting every delicious meal out hot and in a timely, but not rushed, fashion.
Upon arriving at the cemetery gates, our group was greeted at the registration table by Abbey Stansfield from the St. Catharines Museum, who provided each of us with a very detailed program. The walk for that evening was titled “What Good is History?” As we soon realized, the walk was more of an interactive play with our group posing as members of the Board of Trade for St. Catharines and dated back to the late 1800s. All of the characters that took part in the performance were volunteers, who did a wonderful job portraying figures from that period. 
The walk began with the group being introduced to the character “Alice”, the history-loving secretary to Mayor J.B. McIntyre. Alice and J.B. guided the entire walk with characters popping  up everywhere in period costumes to provide the argument for adding a history section to the  Board of Trade’s Year Book, all while providing the group with a history lesson on the city of St.  Catharines.
The weather could have been a bit more cooperative; however, we all enjoyed the double rainbow that followed the brief rain shower, which made our cool evening a bit soggy as well.  Despite the cool, wet, weather, everyone seemed to enjoyed the performance while learning about the history of St. Catharines.