Randy Bachman gets to view Winnipeg landmark during recent visit
Randy Bachman took to the stage at Shaw Park on Saturday night with Burton Cummings for the Unite 150 concert.
But aside from playing a plethora of hits from his storied career as a founding member of the Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, the Winnipeg-born singer and guitarist used the trip to relive in his days in the city.
Last Friday, Bachman posted a video on Twitter touring the Witch’s Hut in Kildonan Park with his son, Tal.
In an email to CTV News, Bachman recounted visiting the park in the 1970s.
“Every day, I’d take [Tal] for a bike ride down Scotia and into Kildonan Park,” Bachman wrote.
Bachman explained after leaving The Guess Who and recovering from a gallbladder issue, he spent a lot of time at home with his wife and Tal. He rigged up a seat for Tal on his bicycle and the two would take an apple to share on their daily adventure.
“We rode [through] the park, the monkey trails near the water and would end up at the Witch’s Hut for our apple feast,” Bachman said.
After, Randy and Tal would visit the McDonald’s restaurant on Main Street across from Edmund Partridge Community School and buy a small order of fries. Bachman said that’s all he could afford at the time. The father and son would eat the snack on their bike ride home.
“We did this daily for years, rain or shine, and even in the light snow.”
Last week, when the family initially visited Kildonan Park, they went past the Witch’s Hut.
“To my amazement, Tal remembered it and said, ‘I wish we could go inside like we used to!’”
The following day, Tal’s wish came true.
Bachman’s friend got in touch with the Witch’s Hut keyholder who agreed to meet them in the park for a tour of the Hut inspired by the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel.
“It was amazing and nothing had changed,” Bachman said. “I do really appreciate the park people who came to supervise.”
He said he started getting emails and text messages from other people who wanted to show their families the Witch’s Hut.
“I think if they opened that up every Saturday or Sunday… they’d make a lot of parents and their kids happy.”
Bachman said Saturday night’s show was a “fantastic celebration and success.”
Bachman Cummings headlined the concert, which also featured performances by Tal, Chantal Kreviazuk, Tom Cochrane, and Fred Penner.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
WATCH LIVE As GC Strategies partner is admonished by MPs, RCMP confirms search warrant executed
The RCMP confirmed Wednesday it had executed a search warrant at an address registered to GC Strategies. This development comes as MPs are enacting an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power, summoning one of its contractors to appear before the House of Commons to be admonished publicly for failing to answer questions related to the ArriveCan app.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Former Sask. massage therapist who sexually assaulted clients has day parole revoked
A former massage therapist who pleaded guilty to a string of sexual assaults has had his day parole revoked.