The town of Eganville, Ontario is bracing itself for an influx of people this Saturday with what is shaping up to be largest homecoming parade ever in the Renfrew County.
“This is unifying the whole village, the whole county- the whole valley,” says organizer Gerald Tracey.
Tracey says the parade will go on rain or shine Saturday- and weather permitting, there could be up to 300 participants as well as up to 200 classic vehicles, and marching bands. He also says if weather is good, there could be between five to eight thousand people lining the streets.
“Melissa and her family will pull up the rear of the parade in a nice horse drawn carriage pulled by nice Percherons horses,” says Tracey.
The parade route starts at Legion Field at 1:30 pm. It will proceed downtown on Hwy 41, turn onto John Street, turn left on Mill Street, down Bonnechere Street, and then circling its way back downtown to the Legion Field. Ontario Provincial Police will be sending officers on motorcycles from general headquarters in Orillia. Bonnechere Valley Township has proclaimed Saturday, September 10 Melissa Bishop Day in Eganville
Bishop hasn’t been home since the Rio Games, instead traveling to Europe for more races. She says she has always felt supported by the Ottawa Valley. “After the race I was inundated by supportive message and people who were so proud that I could represent Canada at this level.”
“I am very proud to be Canadian now,” Bishop says.
Bishop says it still hurts to think about her fourth place finish in Rio, just missing the podium by 3/100ths of a second. She also doesn’t want to focus on the controversy surrounding her race. The 800 meters was one of the most talked about races of the Rio Games. Largely due to Castro Semenya, a South African athlete and her condition known as hyperandrogenism, where the testosterone level is elevated.
you cant always expect to have what you think will happen, I went in there I fully expecting a medal and to come off so close off the podium, I know that things do happen for a reason.
Bishop says she intends on looking ahead to Tokyo 2020, but for now spending time at home in Eganville, and planning her wedding with her fiancé Osi.
