City of Brantford is celebrating National Public Works Week with its fifth annual Wheels on the Pavement event, to be held at the Civic Centre from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., on Sunday, May 25, 2025.
Held in partnership with the Downtown Central, Holmedale, Eagle Place and East Ward Echo Place Neighbourhood Associations, the event will feature a host of free hands-on activities for the whole family.
Children and adults alike will have an opportunity to get up-close and personal with an assortment of City and emergency services vehicles that are used throughout the community on a daily basis.
From fire trucks and ambulances to city buses and garbage trucks, snowplows and front loaders, there will be plenty of vehicles for residents to see, touch and explore.
The theme of this year’s National Public Works Week, “People, Purpose, Presence,” highlights the three foundational principles that drive public works professionals to serve their communities. For Mark Jacklyn, Brantford’s Director of Operation Services, the event is really an opportunity for the department to connect with the community and showcase what exactly it does on a daily basis.
“The Public Works commission plays a vital role in keeping the city running safely and smoothly every day. They’re the behind-the-scenes team that ensures our infrastructure is reliable and our essential services stay up and running. From road repairs and drinking water to waste collection, parks and recreational facilities, and traffic systems that keep us moving, Public Works touches nearly every aspect of residents’ daily life in Brantford,” he said in an email to the Brant Beacon. “Wheels on the Pavement is a great opportunity for the Public Works commission to connect directly with the community we serve. It gives staff a chance to showcase the specialized vehicles, equipment, and expertise they use to keep the city functioning, while also building awareness and appreciation for the essential services they provide.”
On top of all the big rigs and services vehicles, families will also have the opportunity to partake in several interactive activities and games with the various community partner booths who will be on-site throughout the event.
For those looking to enjoy a bit of entertainment, there will be a Just Dance Line Dance performance, as well as a truck pull. Alpha Power Lifters will be there to attempt to pull a 72,000-pound rotator truck.
Residents interested in attending the event are asked to consider bringing along non-perishable food items and school safe snacks to help fill a truck. Gifts of the Heart, a non-profit organization that helps feed over 250 children throughout the community, will be there to help collect donations.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
