Patio sports Jays’ World Series-winning turf
— The Canoe and Paddle English pub and restaurant in downtown Lakefield has acquired AstroTurf from the Toronto Blue Jays’ winning 1993 World Series game for its newly extended patio.
Owner Jake Exton said that during a conversation with Ian Knott, a pitcher from Curve Lake First Nation, he learned that Knott had contacts within the business and had bought the turf when the SkyDome switched its surface in 1994.
“He purchased it to build the Curve Lake gym and the lacrosse practice facility for his son,” Exton said. “When we mentioned what we were doing, he said he had two rolls leftover, so we managed to purchase those off of him and we were able to knock off the patio in just over a day’s time.”
Since finishing the patio on Monday afternoon, Exton said the artificial turf floor has received incredible reactions from customers.
“Some come in, see the colour and a number of them notice it right away. A lot of our customers will sort of give us their memories of where they were when the World Series happened,” he said.
Customers have told Exton they were at the 1993 game, or remember watching it on TV, he said.
“Everybody’s been in a great mood coming out to the patio since they’ve been allowed back. It’s (the turf) just added that extra little bit of something special to it, and it has put a twinkle in a few people’s eyes. We’re really proud to add some
more history to this place,” he said.
Exton has gotten into the sport of baseball since moving to Canada from the U.K. about 12 years ago.
“I’ve been down for the playoffs and the Blue Jays, and that’s something you don’t quite forget. It’s definitely very comparable to the experience we have in England with cricket,” he said. “But in terms of how much it means to Canada with it being Canada’s team, that makes it even more special because I don’t think there’s many other sports where the whole country is behind just one team itself.” Exton — who became owner in 2014 — said while the business has lost money as a result of the pandemic, it’s heartwarming to know it is making a difference in the community.
“People care and they take time out of their day to support us and to give us the feedback we need to be a better business.
So this has been really nice to give something back to them in some small way as well,” he said.
Canoe and Paddle’s website is at canoeandpaddle.com/.
Funded by the Government of Canada/Financé par le Gouvernement du Canada.