LOCAL HISTORY

Walter (Wardy) Garbedian, who passed away in 1997, presents an alternate perspective on the poker game. His son, Brian, claims that his father emerged victorious, though the exact details and stakes remain hazy Gambling was serious business for Wardy, who meticulously maintained his sobriety during games to stay sharp. Brian reveals that his father supplemented his income from his business, Supreme Music, which involved renting jukeboxes and pinball machines, with his poker winnings.

Allegedly, after winning the ice cream stand, Garbedian relocated it to the Woolco parking lot on King George Road, where the presentday Walmart plaza stands. A newspaper clipping from November 25, 1963, suggests that the poker game took place that year. However, attempts over the years to contact the Becker family, who Brian claims his father sold the business to, were unsuccessful.

With the absence of Koster and Garbedian, the truth behind the poker game becomes increasingly elusive Yet, their loved ones perpetuate the story as they remember it, as do many residents of Brantford. Some suggest that perhaps neither man wished to disclose their poker wins or losses, but we emphasize that the accuracy of the tale matters less than its place in Brantford's history.

According to a 2002 article in the Brantford Expositor, the plaque on Dairee Delite has no connection to the Heritage Act but serves to highlight places of significance in the lives of the town's inhabitants. Although the poker game's veracity remains uncertain, Owner Sarah Disher embraces the enduring mystery, stating, "Maybe the end of the story is the mystery continues. The mystery lives on, right?"

As Brantford's iconic ice cream shop continues to delight locals and visitors alike, the legend of the poker game remains an integral part of the city's folklore, forever intertwined with Dairee Delite's history. After our clocks Spring forward this weekend Dairee Delite located at 10 King George Rd, Brantford, will officially be opening for its 71st season tomorrow from 11am to 9pm. We bet a lot of us will be there!