Message in bottle renews Cargill tradition

May 21, 2026 @ 12:31 pmNews, Walkerton Herald-Times

Gary Napper, “honourary mayor of Cargill,” in full regalia, and Pennie Wilhelm, president of the Cargill District Community Foundation, launch a “message in a bottle” into the Teeswater River, in memory of Brian “Dutchie” Raper. Two bottles containing St. Patrick’s Day messages from Raper have been found in the river recently. One dates back nine years. (Pauline Kerr photo)

CARGILL – This is a story that should begin with, “Once upon a time …” Almost a decade ago, a man named Brian “Dutchie” Raper, who had a touch of leprechaun about him, led the village of Cargill on St. Patrick’s Day to the bridge, and tossed a bottle with a message inside into the…

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Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Pauline Kerr is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter with the Walkerton Herald-Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.