50 years is a LONG time!

What feels like an eternity ago, my parents, three brothers and I lived in Toronto on Gaylong Court, just off Victoria Park, just across the cul-de-sac from a family that my parents quickly befriended. We were in the Big Smoke because my father was finishing his residency and hadn't yet begun his practice, a transition that would eventually see us move to Barrie. At the time, Jim and Betty Anne Tough had two children Karen and Michael (with a third, Jennifer, adopted later) but with the tragic passing of Karen in a traffic accident, my parent's help during the grieving created a lifelong bond. The Toughs became our close friends over our lifetimes resulting in our annual gathering highlighted by a Civic Holiday BBQ. 

After we moved to Barrie in 1971, my parents and the Toughs felt strongly that we should make an effort to stay in touch despite the distance between us. We had the space and the backyard pool in our first Barrie home on Varden Cres making it seem proper for us to host, with the annual Barrie Kempenfest Art Festival as the perfect excuse for the Toughs to make the trip northward. As the years passed, the location changed when my family moved across town to Sunnidale Road, it's humongous backyard, and larger pool easily accommodating the growing hoard. By that time, my dad had joined the Barrie Rotary Club, and the XY chromosomes were tasked with working the Rotary chicken BBQ. As time slipped past, like it always does, we inherited others like the Gary Mulroney, Betty Anne's brother, to fortify the ranks. 

My brother Rob, My dad,
Jim Tough and me.

If you grew up in Barrie, you'll likely recall the huge temporary charcoal BBQ pits erected at St Vincent Park, the drool-inducing aromatics wafting along the August breezes, luring hundreds to the north shore waterfront, cold cash clutched tightly in hand, searching in earnest for the source of the intoxication. The secret ingredient wouldn't last two seconds these days ... the chickens were coated in a secret spray whose main ingredient was peanut oil! We would work a hot, sticky, dirty day in the pits before retiring to the Sunnidale oasis to share bevies and stories alike. Eventually the Rotary club shifted gears, turning it's energies to the beer gardens and live band stage in place of roasted chickens, but the tradition continued on Sunnidale, and as our families transitioned to a third and even fourth generation, the impetus to gather became even more unavoidable. 

This past Civic Holiday marked 51 years of BBQ's, or so I'm told. Like the rest of the world, we had to take a 2 year Covid-induced hiatus, but 28-strong hoard came from Simcoe's farthest corners to share laughs, BBQ treats, and the year's news. This year's gathering was hosted by Michael and Trish Tough at their incredible outdoor kitchen and pool in Belle Ewart on the southern shores of Lake Simcoe. Mike and Trish have treated us all with their generosity for the last few BBQ's in part because they love to do it, part because they have the space, and part because my mom sold the oasis on Sunnidale in 2017.

If it wasn't busy enough with 28 humans, this year we added an additional 3 fur-babies to the Tough's Finnick when KP's Zuke, Maddi+Chris' Remi, and Rob+Jen's Howie joined in on the shenanigans. With the numbers swelling, we've all added our culinary talents to the buffet table but the highlight is always the melt-in-the-mouth beef tenderloin thanks to Gary's incredibly huge heart. This year, the host's delicious smoked ribs were a much appreciated addition. We always over eat with h'ordeuvres aplenty through the afternoon, but the traditional offerings like Schwartsy potatoes, delectable Ontario corn, the previously mentioned proteins, and Maid's Cottage butter tarts makes everyone hold their filled bellies as we cautiously squeeze ourselves into our vehicles for the trip home.

As the saying goes, "time waits for no one" and our group is suffering the ravages of time's passing as we lose loved ones like my dad (unbelievably 16 years this September) and we deal with our various afflictions thanks to our advancing age. The grandchildren are now tasked with entertaining the great grandchildren, a natural transition of navigating through the Circle of Life.

51 years is a really long time! It's a badge of honour we wear with absolute pride! 

From the Porter clan to the Tough's, a million thank you's for your continuing friendship, boundless generosity, and warm embrace every August. It is a summer highlight every year!

Who knows how long we can keep the tradition going?