The Brantford and District Labour Council (BDLC) hosted its 69th annual Soapbox Derby on Monday, September 1, 2025.
This year, a total of 49 participants, ages five to 12, came out to be a part of the end-of-summer race down the Elgin Street hill between Stanley and Rawdon streets.
Cory Judson, president of the BDLC, said he and his team were thrilled to be welcoming the community back to the long-awaited event.
“We’ve got kids and families who have come out to enjoy that last hurrah of summer before school starts and we’ve got just an amazing turnout here today,” he said. “We had a change in location this year, because usually we do it on Icomm Drive, and so we were a little bit unsure if there would be that same kind of enthusiasm but it’s really worked out and this is actually the largest turnout we’ve had in a number of years.”
Judson went on to say that while the plan is to return to Icomm Drive in 2026, it was interesting to see how the two locations differ.
“This hill is certainly a bit faster than Icomm because the curve on that road really slows them down, but so far, so good, and the atmosphere has just been great,” he said.
While several participants were sporting brand new soapbox cars built over the course of the last year, many were riding in cars that have been handed down through the generations, as well as others that had been lent by the Mercer Family and Speed Syndicate Car Club.
Regardless if they won or lost, or even experienced a couple mishaps along the course, participants were all smiles as they lined up behind the ramp to race down the hill, collect their toonie reward at the finish line and head back up for another turn.
Nine-year-old Harvey Wilkins, who was participating in the event for the first time, may have lost his first race, but by the second round, he was smiling ear-to-ear as he cruised across the finish line in front.
When asked how he was enjoying the race so far, Wilkins said he was having a lot of fun now that he had a bit of experience.
“It was a little scary to go down the ramp at first but now I really like it,” he said.“And I like how the hill kind of drops a second time, that’s really fun.”
Later, after all the participants had taken their turns and the four finalists had been chosen, the children took part in one last race to secure their spots.
In the end, it was last year’s second-place winner, nine-year-old Kinslee Carson, who took home first place. Second place went to Marshall Alford, third place to Jack Foerster, and fourth place went to Mason Finucane.
Overall, Judson said he was happy with the day, and to see that derby continues to remain a strong family tradition within the community.
“There were a few years where there was a bit of a lull in participants, but it’s great to see a growing enthusiasm around this event again and it really feels like it’s back,” he said. “Beyond the actual race, what’s amazing is that parents and grandparents are still getting together with their kids and grandkids to work on building these cars and getting them ready for the big day, right? There’s so much work that goes into it, but they’re making great memories that go beyond just this one day, and seeing the look on the kids’ faces, whether it’s their first time or they’ve done it before, really makes all the work worth it.”
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.
