Members of the recently created Canada Day Committee met at the George Jowett Hall in Riverside Heights on August 30th.
Up for discussion was budget, evaluation of this year’s Canada Day celebration, and planning for next year’s celebration, including fundraising ventures.
This year’s Canada Day celebrations almost didn’t happen. Luckily for the community, this group decided to come together to save the day.
With a $200 starter donation from the Morrisburg and District Lions Club, the group began fundraising for the event with only a month and a half to the July 1st deadline.
With hard work and help from the community, including shop owners, the group was able to create a great day for everyone.
In order to move forward with next year’s plans, the group decided to sift through the events of 2011’s Canada Day festivities: what worked, what didn’t work, and what could be done differently for 2012.
Keith Robinson estimated that there were 3,500 to 4,000 people at this year’s Canada Day fireworks display. The turnout for all the events was phenomenal.
The agility games for dogs, the Bingo, the music, the barbecue – all the activities were reported to be successful and popular with the crowd.
What could have been done differently?
One member of the group reported hearing complaints of there not being rides for older children.
Linda Robinson addressed this concern pointing out that due to the late notice they were unable to secure the larger rides for 2011. The supplier had already committed the rides for another location on that day.
She went on to report that the 2012 Canada Day festivities will include rides for everyone.
Kim Casselman pointed out that many in the community felt the fireworks display to have been too short; they were good, but short.
This observation seemed unanimous and it was determined that the display should be at least 20 minutes long, which will of course increase the cost substantially.
Here enters the money talk. While the Canada Day event of this year did raise some money for next year, there is not enough to cover the costs for 2012’s proposed activities.
After a very fruitful discussion, it was decided that fundraising would begin this fall.
Working together as a community will, no doubt, guarantee the success of next year’s Canada Day celebrations.
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