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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, March 12, 2010 · 10 Eddie walks to honour St. Paddy's tradition By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF As society turns its thoughts to green, Eddie Williams sighs and contemplates his upcoming St. Paddy's Day "stroll" from Toronto to Oakville. Williams went green a good many years ago -- 34 to be exact. Every St. Patrick's Day, for those 34 years, Williams has made the 42-km trek from Toronto to downtown Oakville to continue a tradition originated by Irishmen during Prohibition who made the walk for a pint of green beer. Today, just a few months out of foot surgery, Williams told The Oakville Beaver he does the annual walk because people have come to expect it. He also likes to challenge himself and honour his partial Irish roots. But most of all, he likes to pay homage to the small piece of Canadian history that the original walk represented. The walk dates back to 1922 when the Irishmen made the trip from Toronto to Oakville in search of bootlegged green beer. The "tradition" was first picked up and continued by Charlie Priestman. He was followed by Barney Heard, who made the walk for another 20 years. In 1976, Heard collapsed in Mississauga and failed to complete the trek. Williams responded to a plea from Heard for people to join him the following year, and has carried on the tradition ever since. Williams has walked in all kinds of weather, under all types of circumstances, usually without a lot of fanfare other than some well-wishers and attention from local media. Over the years, the crowd of well-wishers has grown and so, too, has the public's knowledge about Williams' effort. Over the years, others have joined him and will do so again in 2010. Some have made it, others haven't. Williams is the first to note it's not easy. The group leaves Toronto City Hall when the old city hall clock tower chimes 9 a.m. The walkers usually arrive in downtown Oakville between 4-5 p.m., said Williams. They head to Prime Time Sports at 234 Lakeshore Rd. E. While Williams said the view of downtown Oakville is a welcome sight after the long haul along Lakeshore Road, Williams himself, clad all in green, is a true harbinger of spring to those who await his arrival. As always, each year's walk brings a new challenge besides the obvious. Last year, Williams was labouring with a growth on the bottom of his foot. He had that growth removed during foot surgery in late November. Williams, a Hamilton native who grew up in Oakville, said he owes a favour to local Dr. Victor Naumetz who bumped up Williams' surgery from the Feb. 11 date for which it had originally been slated. "If he hadn't done that, I wouldn't have been KAREN NEWMAN / OAKVILLE BEAVER GREEN TEAM: Eddie Williams will, for his 34th year, walk from Toronto to Oakville on St. Patrick's Day. able to walk this year," said Williams, who said it was his first surgery. He took last year's story about his walk, as published in the Oakville Beaver, to his doctor to indicate his need to have the operation timed just right. Still recuperating from the effects of the surgery, Williams admitted he's a bit more leery of this year's edition of the walk, but that, as always, he'll be there until it's completed, no matter how many hours it takes. "Every year, really, I'm nervous. I know how hard it is," he said. Tapping his trusted black boots, which he said have had a few miles put on them in the same walk over the past few years, Williams vowed that if he starts the walk, he will finish it. Williams said he's had some years where he has had to stop and pour blood out of his boots when his feet were injured from the trek, so he's confident, or determined, he'll make it. In fact, while Williams at 58, admits some days are better than others as he racks up the years, he has his sights set on at least continuing the walk until 2012 -- the year that marks the 90th anniversary of the original. Abstract NOW OPEN IN OAKVILLE Crystal Orinoco Eclipse Davinchi Ghalib Abbysinia THE AREA'S LARGEST SELECTION OF IMPORTED HAND MADE & MACHINE MADE AREA RUGS Sealife "I've always started and I've always finished. I keep going because people expect me to keep this tradition alive," said Williams. Though Williams wouldn't change his participation in the walk for the world, he admits it's tough. "I always say there are two good things about it... it's one-way and it's once a year," he laughed. The Home Depot employee who spends most of his days on his feet, said he has been approached over the years to attach advertising, sponsorship and fundraising to his walk. He has invited others to join him and do so, but he himself, keeps strictly to the tradition. "It's not about money, basically it's about the group of Irish guys back in 1922," said Williams, explaining they were members of the Morning Glory Club in Toronto. One such fundraiser is former Oakville-resident Agatha Platiel. This will be the fourth time Platiel walks and her third consecutive year. But for the 72-year-old it's not just the tradition that she's trying to uphold with the walk. She's raising money for Home Suite Hope, an Oakville charity that helps the homeless. Last year Platiel raised $2,800 for the charity. Among others joining this year are former long-time Oakville resident Raychyl Whyte, another participant who has taken part on several occasions, as well as John Hearn and a couple of new faces, co-workers of Williams. Whyte is raising money for Haitian relief efforts. There are always those who just show up to join on the morning of the walk, too, said Williams. But it is Williams who is the pro. "If anything happens to his foot, which he thinks it is, who is going to carry on this tradition that's been going on for some 70 years?" asked Platiel. Each year, Williams, who is proud to wear a green Toronto St. Pat's (now Toronto Maple Leafs) jersey, says he always wears a green sports jersey bearing the number that corresponds to the anniversary date of the walk. This year, he said, is special being 34. That's double 17 -- Williams' favourite number because it is not only his birthday, but the date of St. Patrick's Day. -- with files from Dominik Kurek FREE IN-HOME TRIAL AVAILABLE Enter A Draw To Win A FREE AREA RUG ($400.00 Retail Value - no purchase necessary) OAKVILLE TOWN CENTRE II (EAST SIDE OF DORVAL @ QEW) Mon- Fri 10am-8pm Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12noon-5pm 905.337.1010 1200 BRANT ST @ QEW (IN THE BEST BUY PLAZA) Mon, Tues, Wed 10am-7pm; Thurs, Fri 10am-9pm Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12noon-5pm 905.319.3535 Timeless Treasures...Woven for Generations