It’s a September evening and I’m strolling down the path at our beautiful Hespeler Park in Niverville with my husband, daughter, and mother-in-law. I get goosebumps, as I can’t help but think this is one of those “full circle” moments.
You see, we’re heading to the cute new park by the splash pad so that our Mom/Oma, Emily Fast, can see the Dyck’s Hatchery play structure that was just built a few weeks ago.
For those who may not know, Emily’s father, William Dyck, was the founder of Dyck’s Hatchery in Niverville, now the current site of Wm. Dyck & Sons. Mom has fond memories of working in the hatchery with her father and was thrilled to see the play structure and watch the many kids playing throughout the little buildings that represent her town.
I took a picture of the four generations… the Dyck’s Hatchery structure representing the first generation, William and Anna Dyck.
Then on we strolled to the splash pad. She was wheeled around the water, my husband Carl teasing her as water popped up from the ground. Our 91-year-old Mom/Oma loved it, and I think she was having more fun than the kids!
Emily reminisces about how much Niverville has grown and changed from the small hamlet she grew up in to the bustling town it has become. She doesn’t resent the growth but rather comments about how beautiful the new neighbourhoods and parks are. She also recently went for a tour of the new Niverville High School and commented on how great this new school will be for the kids—though in the same breath she asked us, “Does the little stone school still exist somewhere in Niverville?”
We ended our evening at the newly renovated Country Snacks for some ice cream. As we sat at the picnic table, watching the very busy traffic along the Main Street, Mom commented about how she loves ice cream. One of her favourite memories is eating a brick of ice cream with her Dad after working at the hatchery.
Yup, this is truly a full circle moment!
Thank you, Niverville, for our beautiful Hespeler Park and paying homage to those families who helped shape what Niverville is today.
