Creating Community AT Ontario Car Clubs
For car club members, it’s not the type of vehicle that matters most — it’s the people.
By Michael Bettencourt and Sean Deasy | Original photography and videography by David Wile
Every week in summer, members of the Markham Stouffville Cruisers meet to show off their cars outside the Markham Village Community Centre and Library.
For many people, cars are simply a mode of transportation — but for those who love the history, mechanics and iconography of automobiles in pop culture, what they represent carries an emotional resonance.
Enter car clubs. These groups encourage folks with similar automotive interests to gather, talk shop and show off their wheels to one another and the public via “show and shines” — small-scale shows where hobbyists can park and display their classic cars — as well as at cruises and other events. Whether themed by automaker, era, vintage car parts or model, these clubs have the unique ability to bring people together, online and in person. Across the province, they serve as gathering places where friendships are seeded, niche interests are nurtured, and the spirit of giving back to the community is a driving force.
Honouring the past: Barrie Thunder Classics Car Club
“We share a distinct common interest in classic cars and trucks, which often develops into long-lasting friendships.”
(Above) The customized steering wheel on a 1971 Plymouth Scamp. (Left) Barrie Thunder Classics members meet, chat and talk shop at their weekly gathering in Barrie’s Heritage Park. | PHOTO: (LEFT) COURTESY OF BTCCC ©
If you wander into Heritage Park in downtown Barrie on any given Wednesday night between May and September, you’ll likely be met by the sight of roughly 150 classic vehicles, from 1970s Corvettes to 1960s VW camper vans to 1920s Model Ts. They’re all part of the weekly Cruise Nights hosted by the Barrie Thunder Classics Car Club (BTCCC), a local group whose members are as passionate about their vehicles as they are about sharing them with the community.
“BTCCC members are, first and foremost, classic car enthusiasts,” says club media liaison Michael Bartley. “Most own one or more classic vehicles, and being a member offers opportunities to connect with like-minded people.” Like many car clubs, Barrie Thunder Classics supports several local charities through car shows and event fundraisers. This year, they’re donating to the Barrie Food Bank, a local animal shelter, a post-secondary bursary program for youth, and Canadian Blood Services. BTCCC also gives local businesses ways to promote their products and services via sponsorship of car show awards and table space at club events. And according to Bartley, members meet regularly for meals at local restaurants to catch up, talk about projects and discuss plans to attend upcoming events hosted by other clubs. The big draw for many, of course, is a passion for classic cars — and a desire to share that with others. “We share a distinct common interest in classic cars and trucks, which often develops into long-lasting friendships,” says Bartley. An added bonus? The community of experts you can connect with when you join. “The vast scope of knowledge about classic vehicles, restoration, maintenance, repairs, parts and market evaluation is extraordinary and priceless,” he says. There’s also the pleasure that comes from sharing classic cars with the public. “Cruise Night is very well attended, and it’s encouraging to see the wide-eyed youngsters with genuine interest and enthusiasm for these older vehicles,” Bartley says. “These older vehicles represent the very best of prior generations... their ingenuity, skill and craftsmanship. We should make every effort to keep that alive.”
Giving back to the community: Markham Stouffville Cruisers
(Above) The headlight of a 1965 Plymouth Valiant. (Right) Markham Stouffville Cruisers members gather weekly, including at a charity barbecue with the local Lions Club.
“There’s a strong sense of camaraderie within our club.”
Founded in 2008, the Markham Stouffville Cruisers (MSC) is a volunteer-run non-profit based about an hour northeast of Toronto. It holds Wednesday car meets and cruises from May to mid-September at the Markham Village Community Centre. Members get to show off their classic, collectible and special-interest cars from any year. The club is active and, during the warmer months, very busy. In August, MSC hosted a classic car show on Unionville’s Historic Main Street, as an adjunct to the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham weekend. The club regularly adds car show features to popular local events, such as the Stouffville Strawberry Festival and the Markham Village Music Festival. It also participates in charitable events every year, including fundraisers that help members and non-members alike give back to the community. “We assist local charities by promoting and participating [in] their fundraising car shows,” says club president Terry Sutton. MSC events have raised thousands of dollars for community organizations, including the Markham and Stouffville food banks and the Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation. Every year, the group awards two scholarships to local students who are pursuing careers in the automotive sector. And MSC’s annual Motofest, happening this September in Stouffville’s Memorial Park, will benefit the pediatric mental health unit at Markham Stouffville Hospital. “Last year, we received a wonderful thank-you letter from the Whitchurch Stouffville Food Bank following our annual ‘pay-it-forward’ barbecue,” Sutton recalls. “They commented [that] it felt like they were at a family picnic. There’s a strong sense of camaraderie within our club.”
Cultivating lasting friendships: Canadian Volvo Club
“The social aspect is what keeps people coming back.”
(Above) A detail of the dashboard and speedometer on a well-preserved 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. (Left) Canadian Volvo Club members enjoying the 2026 Spring into Summer event, at the Metro West Volvo Dealership in Etobicoke, Ontario. (Below) A distinctive gearshift on a late-1960s Shelby AC Cobra. | PHOTO: (LEFT) COURTESY OF THE CVC
Compared with Porsches, vintage Chevy Camaros and rare exotic cars, the practical, safety-minded Volvo may not seem like a natural focus for car club passion. But the enthusiasts involved with the Canadian Volvo Club (CVC), founded in 1980, would beg to differ. CVC usually hosts three or four events a year in addition to the club’s annual Family Day, held in July in St. Jacobs, Ontario. It’s the largest Volvo car event in Canada, regularly attracting more than 150 Volvos, from vintage cars to the latest range-topping models. Other events are coordinated through Volvo dealerships across the Greater Toronto Area, and this October, the annual Fall Colour Tour will highlight scenic routes around Southern Ontario. With around 100 members, CVC may not be the largest auto club in the province, but president Matthew Boucher says the social connection with fellow members has always been key to its appeal. “The social aspect is what keeps people coming back. Once you’ve seen my car once, you don’t necessarily need to see it again, right?” he says. “I know I’m not the only one to make friends through the CVC. The car hobby will facilitate, but the friendships are ultimately what will endure through the years and succession of vehicles.” Like many, Boucher found the group through Facebook, but it was meeting folks in person in 2021 that cemented his dedication. “We’ve done winter meet-ups where we say, ‘Hey, we don’t care what car you bring, but if you want to hang out, we will be at this location at this time,’” he says. “At that point, the cars really are secondary to the socializing.” While a love of cars may bring people together, it’s not the only thing that keeps them coming back. Across Southern Ontario, car clubs are far more than groups and organizations devoted to the preservation of automotive history, culture and older vehicles — they’re places where friendships grow, new memories are made, and the wider community benefits. CAA
Related stories
Safety Steals the Spotlight at the 2026 Canadian International AutoShow
The Right Way to Wash Your Car, According to an Expert
Pink Theory: How One Woman Is Advocating for More Women in Towing
Creating Community AT Ontario Car Clubs
For car club members, it’s not the type of vehicle that matters most — it’s the people.
By Michael Bettencourt and Sean Deasy | Photography and videography by David Wile
creating community at Ontario Car Clubs
For car club members, it’s not the type of vehicle that matters most — it’s the people.
By Michael Bettencourt and Sean Deasy | Photography and videography by David Wile
Honouring the past: Barrie Thunder Classics Car Club
Honouring the past: Barrie Thunder Classics Car Club
(Above, top) The customized steering wheel on a 1971 Plymouth Scamp. (Above, bottom) Barrie Thunder Classics members meet, chat and talk shop at their weekly gathering in Barrie’s Heritage Park. | PHOTO: (ABOVE, BOTTOM) COURTESY OF BTCCC ©
If you wander into Heritage Park in downtown Barrie on any given Wednesday night between May and September, you’ll likely be met by the sight of roughly 150 classic vehicles, from 1970s Corvettes to 1960s VW camper vans to 1920s Model Ts. They’re all part of the weekly Cruise Nights hosted by the Barrie Thunder Classics Car Club (BTCCC), a local group whose members are as passionate about their vehicles as they are about sharing them with the community.
“BTCCC members are, first and foremost, classic car enthusiasts,” says club media liaison Michael Bartley. “Most own one or more classic vehicles, and being a member offers opportunities to connect with like-minded people.” Like many car clubs, Barrie Thunder Classics supports several local charities through car shows and event fundraisers. This year, they’re donating to the Barrie Food Bank, a local animal shelter, a post-secondary bursary program for youth, and Canadian Blood Services. BTCCC also gives local businesses ways to promote their products and services via sponsorship of car show awards and table space at club events. And according to Bartley, members meet regularly for meals at local restaurants to catch up, talk about projects and discuss plans to attend upcoming events hosted by other clubs. The big draw for many, of course, is a passion for classic cars — and a desire to share that with others. “We share a distinct common interest in classic cars and trucks, which often develops into long-lasting friendships,” says Bartley. An added bonus? The community of experts you can connect with when you join. “The vast scope of knowledge about classic vehicles, restoration, maintenance, repairs, parts and market evaluation is extraordinary and priceless,” he says. There’s also the pleasure that comes from sharing classic cars with the public. “Cruise Night is very well attended, and it’s encouraging to see the wide-eyed youngsters with genuine interest and enthusiasm for these older vehicles,” Bartley says. “These older vehicles represent the very best of prior generations... their ingenuity, skill and craftsmanship. We should make every effort to keep that alive.”
“We share a distinct common interest in classic cars and trucks, which often develops into long-lasting friendships.”
Giving back to the community: Markham Stouffville Cruisers
Giving back to the community: Markham Stouffville Cruisers
(Above, top) The headlight of a 1965 Plymouth Valiant. (Above, bottom) Markham Stouffville Cruisers members gather weekly, including at a charity barbecue with the local Lions Club.
Founded in 2008, the Markham Stouffville Cruisers (MSC) is a volunteer-run non-profit based about an hour northeast of Toronto. It holds Wednesday car meets and cruises from May to mid-September at the Markham Village Community Centre. Members get to show off their classic, collectible and special-interest cars from any year. The club is active and, during the warmer months, very busy. In August, MSC hosted a classic car show on Unionville’s Historic Main Street, as an adjunct to the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham weekend. The club regularly adds car show features to popular local events, such as the Stouffville Strawberry Festival and the Markham Village Music Festival. It also participates in charitable events every year, including fundraisers that help members and non-members alike give back to the community. “We assist local charities by promoting and participating [in] their fundraising car shows,” says club president Terry Sutton. MSC events have raised thousands of dollars for community organizations, including the Markham and Stouffville food banks and the Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation. Every year, the group awards two scholarships to local students who are pursuing careers in the automotive sector. And MSC’s annual Motofest, happening this September in Stouffville’s Memorial Park, will benefit the pediatric mental health unit at Markham Stouffville Hospital. “Last year, we received a wonderful thank-you letter from the Whitchurch Stouffville Food Bank following our annual ‘pay-it-forward’ barbecue,” Sutton recalls. “They commented [that] it felt like they were at a family picnic. There’s a strong sense of camaraderie within our club.”
“There’s a strong sense of camaraderie within our club.”
Cultivating lasting friendships: Canadian Volvo Club
Cultivating lasting friendships: Canadian Volvo Club
(Above, top) A detail of the dashboard and speedometer on a well-preserved 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air. (Above, bottom) Canadian Volvo Club members enjoying the 2026 Spring into Summer event, at the Metro West Volvo Dealership in Etobicoke, Ontario. (Below) A distinctive gearshift on a late-1960s Shelby AC Cobra. | PHOTO: (ABOVE, BOTTOM) COURTESY OF THE CVC
Compared with Porsches, vintage Chevy Camaros and rare exotic cars, the practical, safety-minded Volvo may not seem like a natural focus for car club passion. But the enthusiasts involved with the Canadian Volvo Club (CVC), founded in 1980, would beg to differ. CVC usually hosts three or four events a year, in addition to the club’s annual Family Day, held in July in St. Jacobs, Ontario. It’s the largest Volvo car event in Canada, regularly attracting more than 150 Volvos, from vintage cars to the latest range-topping models. Other events are coordinated through Volvo dealerships across the Greater Toronto Area, and this October, the annual Fall Colour Tour will highlight scenic routes around Southern Ontario. With around 100 members, CVC may not be the largest auto club in the province, but president Matthew Boucher says the social connection with fellow members has always been key to its appeal. “The social aspect is what keeps people coming back. Once you’ve seen my car once, you don’t necessarily need to see it again, right?” he says. “I know I’m not the only one to make friends through the CVC. The car hobby will facilitate, but the friendships are ultimately what will endure through the years and succession of vehicles.” Like many, Boucher found the group through Facebook, but it was meeting folks in person in 2021 that cemented his dedication. “We’ve done winter meet-ups where we say, ‘Hey, we don’t care what car you bring, but if you want to hang out, we will be at this location at this time,’” he says. “At that point, the cars really are secondary to the socializing.” While a love of cars may bring people together, it’s not the only thing that keeps them coming back. Across Southern Ontario, car clubs are far more than groups and organizations devoted to the preservation of automotive history, culture and older vehicles — they’re places where friendships grow, new memories are made, and the wider community benefits. CAA
“The social aspect is what keeps people coming back.”