A firehas caused significant damage to a portion of the Victoria Park grandstand in Owen Sound. The incident, which occurred likely early in the morning of Tuesday, May 7, 2024, has raised concerns about the future of the iconic structure.
Pictures from the scene depict notable damage to what appears to be a relatively new section of the grandstand, which underwent refurbishment in 2023.
Owen Sound Fall Fair President Kevin Reid confirmed the incident.
"I don't know a whole lot, but we've been told that the fire started on the inside," he said. "We've had some problems recently with break-ins to our storage unit."
Reid also expressed frustration over the incident.
"It's very frustrating to have something like this happen... Some very upset people. We will do our best to bounce back," he said.
The fire's impact on the ongoing "Save the Grandstand" campaign remains uncertain. The campaign, aimed at preserving and maintaining the grandstand, is a significant community effort.
Authorities from the Owen Sound Police Service and Owen Sound Fire and Emergency Services have not provided any comments or updates regarding the incident at this time.