We’re proud to welcome the Civitan Club of Oakville as a Community Partner of the Mercedes-Benz Oakville Bronte Harbour Classic 5K.
This partnership didn’t start with a sponsorship package or a formal pitch. It started on a Saturday morning at a farmers’ market in Oakville — and it grew from there, one handshake at a time, the way the best community relationships always do.
The Voice You Hear Before You See Him
If you’ve ever walked through the Dorval Crossing Civitan Farmer’s Market on a Saturday morning, you know the moment. You’re still in the parking lot — and you already hear him. A warm, booming welcome that carries across the stalls. That’s Al McMullan.
Al is the heartbeat of the Civitan Market. He runs the Community Hub and shows up, without fail, every single Saturday from May through November — rain or shine. He’s there. Smiling. Energetic. And if you’re part of his crew or helping out that day, there’s a good chance a Starbucks coffee will find its way into your hand — that’s just the kind of person he is. Ready to help, always.
I’ve been to a lot of outdoor events in my life. Trade shows, festivals, markets, vendor expos across the province. I can tell you from experience: the Dorval Crossing Civitan Farmer’s Market is in a class of its own. It is spotless. It is organized in a way that most events three times its size can only dream of. Vendors know exactly where to set up, what the rules are, and how the day runs. And on the rare occasion someone doesn’t — Al and his volunteer crew are there before you even finish the sentence.
That level of care doesn’t happen by accident. And it doesn’t happen alone.
Al is quick to point out that he’s one of three Volunteer Co-Market Managers — the “Three Amigos”, as they call themselves. Kevin Kisil and George Horhota are his fellow Amigos, and the two of them are the quiet engine behind the market: tireless on vendor relations, market logistics, operations, and equipment. The synergy between the three of them — and their volunteer crew — is what makes this market run like it does, week in and week out. Al is the voice you hear. Kevin and George are the reason everything’s already in place when you arrive.
How the Bronte Harbour Classic Found Its Way to the Market
When we were building awareness for the Bronte Harbour Classic in early 2026, we knew we needed to reach Oakville families where they actually gather on weekends — not through ads alone, but in person, in the community.
The Dorval Crossing Civitan Farmer’s Market was the obvious answer. Al welcomed us with the same warmth he extends to every vendor and community organization that walks through the gate. No market fee. No red tape. Just: “Come on in. We’re glad you’re here.”
By our third Saturday at the market, we had spoken with hundreds of Oakville residents, families, and runners — many of whom are now registered for Father’s Day, June 21st. That reach didn’t come from a campaign dashboard. It came from a Saturday morning, a folding table, and Al McMullan telling every person who walked past that there was a race coming to Bronte Harbour.
We owe him, and the Civitan Club, more than we can easily put into words.
What Is the Civitan Club of Oakville?
The Civitan Club of Oakville is a local chapter of Civitan International, a global service organization founded in 1917. Civitan clubs exist to serve their communities — with a particular focus on supporting people with developmental disabilities, funding research into conditions like autism and Down syndrome, and strengthening the social fabric of the places they call home.
The Oakville chapter runs the Dorval Crossing Civitan Farmer’s Market as its primary community and fundraising vehicle — alongside their OLG Charity Bingo partnership. Every dollar earned from vendor stall rentals is donated to local Oakville charities. The market is their way of giving back — and it works. In 2024, market proceeds went directly to:
- Kerr Street Mission — serving Oakville’s most vulnerable residents
- The Darling Home for Kids — specialized pediatric care in our community
- Distress Centre Halton — crisis support now serving the entire Halton Region
- Community Living Oakville — inclusion and independence for people with disabilities
- Nucleus Independent Living — empowering people to live on their own terms
- Oakville Public Library — accessible learning for every resident
- Arthouse Halton — arts and creative programming for all ages
- Challenge Golf — adaptive golf for people with physical and developmental challenges
- The Women’s Centre of Halton — support for women and families in crisis
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton & Hamilton — mentorship that changes lives
A Market Like No Other in Oakville
The Dorval Crossing Civitan Farmer’s Market is the longest-running farmers’ market in the Town of Oakville — and if you haven’t been, you’re missing something genuinely special. Halton TV ran a segment on the market in June 2026 — watch it here and see for yourself what Al and the Three Amigos have built:
It runs every Saturday from 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM, from May through November, at the Dorval Crossing East Plaza at the corner of North Service Rd. W. and Dorval Drive. More than 35 vendors set up each week — fresh produce, artisan food, baked goods, local craft, specialty coffee, local wine, organic farms, and more. The lineup changes with the season, and the regulars come back year after year because the quality is consistently excellent.
Beyond the vendors, the market runs a Community Hub — a free platform for local non-profit organizations to set up, share their work, find volunteers, and connect with Oakville families. No charge. No complicated application. Just a space for the community to show up for itself.
That’s the Civitan way.
Meet Them at the Bronte Harbour Classic — June 21, 2026
On race day, the Civitan Club of Oakville will be at Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park as part of the post-race festival and expo.
This is your chance to meet Al and the team in person — hear what the Civitan Club does, learn about the charities they support, find out how to get involved, and experience firsthand the same warmth they bring to the market every Saturday morning.
We are honoured to have them with us. Please come and say hello. Learn what they do. Meet the people behind the market. And if there’s any way you can contribute — as a volunteer, a donor, or simply by spreading the word — please do. Organizations like the Civitan Club of Oakville are what community actually looks like.
Race day post-race expo is free and open to the public. You don’t need to run the race to come meet them. Bring your family, bring your coffee (Al would approve), and come celebrate Father’s Day in Bronte.
A Personal Note from the Race Co-Director
I want to be direct about what Al and the Civitan Club have meant to this race.
Building a new event in a community you care about is humbling work. You ask for a lot — from sponsors, from volunteers, from local organizations — and you don’t always get a yes. When Al said yes, without hesitation, without a fee, without anything in return except a handshake and a Starbucks coffee, it was one of those moments that reminds you why you started in the first place.
The market he runs is, genuinely, one of the best-organized outdoor events I have ever attended. Not just for its size — I mean in absolute terms. I’ve walked trade show floors with million-dollar budgets that were messier and harder to navigate than a Saturday morning at Dorval Crossing. The pride Al and his volunteers take in what they’ve built shows up in every detail.
I hope everyone who comes to the Bronte Harbour Classic on June 21st takes five minutes at the expo to meet Al, hear what the Civitan Club is doing, and think about how they can be part of it. That’s what a community event is supposed to do — connect people to things that matter. The Civitan Club matters.
— Greg Kowalczyk, Race Co-Director, Mercedes-Benz Oakville Bronte Harbour Classic 5K
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Civitan Club of Oakville? The Civitan Club of Oakville is a local chapter of Civitan International, a global community service organization founded in 1917. The Oakville club operates the Dorval Crossing Civitan Farmer’s Market, with all vendor proceeds donated to local Oakville charities supporting people with developmental disabilities, families in crisis, and community organizations across Halton Region.
Where is the Dorval Crossing Civitan Farmer’s Market? The market is located at the Dorval Crossing East Plaza at the southeast corner of North Service Rd. W. and Dorval Drive in Oakville, Ontario. It is open every Saturday from 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM, from May through the end of November.
Who is Al McMullan? Al McMullan is the driving force behind the Dorval Crossing Civitan Farmer’s Market’s Community Hub. He is a longtime Civitan Club of Oakville volunteer and organizer — known for his high energy, genuine warmth, and the kind of welcoming spirit that makes everyone who shows up to help feel immediately at home.
How does the Civitan Market support local charities? Every dollar earned from vendor stall rentals at the Dorval Crossing Civitan Farmer’s Market is donated to local Oakville-area charities. In 2024, proceeds supported ten organizations including Kerr Street Mission, Community Living Oakville, The Darling Home for Kids, Distress Centre Halton, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton & Hamilton.
Will the Civitan Club of Oakville be at the Bronte Harbour Classic? Yes. The Civitan Club of Oakville will have a presence at the post-race expo and festival at Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park on Sunday, June 21, 2026. The expo is free and open to the public — you do not need to register for the race to attend. Come meet the team, learn about their charitable work, and find out how to get involved.
How can I get involved with the Civitan Club of Oakville? The best way to connect with the Civitan Club of Oakville is to visit the Dorval Crossing Civitan Farmer’s Market on any Saturday morning from May to November — or to stop by their table at the Bronte Harbour Classic post-race festival on June 21st. You can also reach the Community Hub organizers by email at almcmullan@outlook.com or by visiting oakvillefarmersmarket.ca.
What is the Bronte Harbour Classic? The Mercedes-Benz Oakville Bronte Harbour Classic 5K is a Father’s Day running event at Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park in Oakville, Ontario. The inaugural race takes place on Sunday, June 21, 2026, with a Speak Squad Kids 1K Fun Run at 8:00 AM and the 5K start at 8:30 AM. The event includes $4,000 in prize money, ON Running shoe prizes, and an all-day post-race festival open to the public. Register at raceroster.com.
About the Civitan Club of Oakville The Civitan Club of Oakville is a community service organization and part of Civitan International (est. 1917). They operate the Dorval Crossing Civitan Farmer’s Market — Oakville’s longest-running farmers’ market, open Saturdays 8:00 AM–1:30 PM from May through November at the Dorval Crossing East Plaza, Oakville, Ontario. All market proceeds are donated to local Oakville charities. Learn more at oakvillefarmersmarket.ca.