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Swans Return To Victoria Park

The sun is shining and the swans are back in the water at Victoria Park in Kitchener.

"They are certainly a popular mainstay of Victoria Park, and a highlight to many people as they are living pictures," said Manager of Forestry with the city, Josh Shea. "The swans spend most of their year living in the pond at Victoria Park. They've been here at the city for a number of years, way longer than I've been here. Otis longer than Ophelia. And more recently now, they're a pair."

The city announced Otis and Ophelia had returned in an Instagram post Tuesday. In an email, a city spokesperson said they had arrived the day before.

"They're part of our city family that we take care of and look after while they're staying at the park," Shea said.

Otis and Ophelia are adult birds. Shea says they are both at least 10-years-old and says passersby at the park can be able to tell them apart by looking at their size.

"Ophelia is a little bit bigger and then Otis is the male [and] has a different shape on the head of his beak as the male bird."

The birds normally spend the winter at a swan sanctuary in Elora.

"They were welcomed in to spend the winter with some other swans that are cared for by some wonderful volunteers in Elora and then we return them and they go back to living in the park during the warmer season," Shea explained.

Shea says the birds came back a little earlier this year due to the warmer weather.

"We always monitor them and we have staff at the park every day that can check to see what's going on. We also rely on just the members of the public who are passionate about them or watch them or enjoy them who will often let us know if they have any concerns or anything going on."

Shea says it's a bit of a mystery as to why the birds have become so popular throughout the region but isn't surprised that many feel drawn to the feathered pair.

"It's a beautiful space in the water and downtown, you know, and just having them there, I think it's just something to look forward to, something to look for, to enjoy their antics and watch them in the pond."

Timeline Of Victoria Park

A look back at the home ground of Collingwood, from 1838 to 2009.

> Watch club president Eddie McGuire and Heath Shaw address the media during the announcement1838: Land purchased by John Dight in 1838 for 13 pounds 12s an acre (84 acres bounded by Johnston and Reilly Streets between Hoddle Street and the Yarra River).  The land was called 'Dight's Paddock'.

The land was inhabitated by a section of the Wurundjeri tribe consisting of 124 members.

1876: The proclamation announcing Collingwood as a city occurred on the land.

1877: Sold to an Englishman (Edwin Trenerry).

1878:  Trenerry struck a deal with the Collingwood council to spend 250 pounds an acre towards 'the making of the streets around and leading to the reserve'.

1878: The Council called a public meeting at St Phillip's Hall in Hoddle Street to discuss what to do with its share, Victoria Park.  There was an overwhelming argument to cordon a section off for the Collingwood Cricket Club.

1879: Victoria Park was born.

1882: Britannia Football Club played its first matches on Victoria Park.

1889: Victoria Park School opened.

1892: Councilor and parliamentarian W.D. Beazley convinced the council to spend 600 pounds to upgrade the land (level the ground and erect a picket fence) for Victoria Park to be considered by the Victoria Football Association.  The VFA agreed and proclaimed that the Collingwood Football Club could play its 1892 season at Victoria Park.

1897:  Collingwood hosted St Kilda in round one of the first season in the VFL.  The home side won 5.11 (41) to 2.4 (16).

1902:  Collingwood beats Essendon in the first grand final to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of 35,202.  Collingwood won by 33 points to record its first premiership.  Victoria Park hosted the post-match celebrations.

1909: 20,000 turned out to celebrate the opening of the new grandstand.

(Workers putting the finishing touches to the new grandstand.)

1914: Dick Lee took the first 'speccie' to ever be recorded by a photographer, it occurred in round one against Carlton (draw).

1929:  The Ryder Stand was opened and Collingwood went on to record the most successful VFL season in history, winning 18 games straight by an average margin of 43 points.

(The amazing mark taken by 'Dick' Lee at Victoria Park on 25 April 1914).

1940:  The Collingwood Football Social Club was granted a certificate of registration by the Council.

1942:  Victoria Park was occupied by troops during World War II.

1948:  Victoria Park played host to its biggest crowd.  47,224 fans watched Collingwood beat South Melbourne 18.17 (125) to 10.12 (72).

1956:  The Council voted fourteen to one in favour of granting the club a 40-year lease.

1959:  State Governor, Dallas Brooks (Richmond supporter) was invited to open the Social Club rooms (two floors were opened with a third constructed in 1981).

(Bob Rose has a bath in the players' room at a match in 1955)

1966: The Rush Stand was opened at half-time during a match.

1968:  The Sherrin Stand was opened.

1983:  The oval was extended (eastern end) in line with the measurements of the MCG (there was thought the reason for Collingwood's misfortune in grand finals was due to players not accustomed to the ground size of the MCG).

1989: Victorian Premier, John Calin, and Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, were on hand to officially name part of the Social Club area, the Bob Rose Stand.

1990:  Thousands of fans flocked to Victoria Park to celebrate the 1990 premiership.

1999:  The Collingwood Football Club played its last game at Victoria Park on 28 August 1999. 

2009: Club president Eddie McGuire announced that Collingwood will return to Victoria Park to play VFL matches at the venue over the next three seasons.(Collingwood legend Lou Richards waves to the crowd at the celebrations before the final match at Victoria Park.)

Information used to compile this article was taken from Collingwood at Victoria Park by Glenn McFarlan and Michael Roberts.  The book can be purchased from the Collingwood Superstore.

Victoria Park Welcomes Back Leicester's Largest Eid Festival

Muslims will be marking the end of Ramadan by celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr this Wednesday, April 10. People from all different backgrounds and religions are welcome to visit Victoria Park for its annual Eid Festival today.

The non-profit event will begin with an Eid prayer at 9am today, followed by a speech and then a full day of games, food and funfair attractions. There will be ice-cream vans, halal food catering and amusement rides for the whole family to enjoy.

The festival occurs twice a year - for Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. The official date has been confirmed, as moon sighting experts announced the sighting of the crescent moon which marks the end of a month of fasting for Muslims.

READ MORE: Loughborough Eid Prayer In The Park location and time announced

Entry to the event is free. Prayers will start at 9am and attendees are expected to bring their own prayer mat. Festival-goers can expect to enjoy inflatable attractions, food stalls, ice cream and a discounted funfair and the day will draw to a close at 7.Pm

All are welcome from 9am, with prayers expected to last for around half an hour.

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