Port Alberni’s Canada Day parade is in jeopardy.
The Canada Day planning committee is worried they won’t have enough volunteers to stage this year’s July 1 festivities, which traditionally feature a parade on 10th Avenue in the morning and a cultural event at Glenwood Centre at the parade’s conclusion.
Last year the parade was moved to Third Avenue to coincide with Canada 150 celebrations at Harbour Quay, as well as the Tri-Conic ‘Race the Train’ foot race.
“There’s grave concern about the ability to mobilize the 61st annual Canada Day festivities,” City director of Parks, Recreation and Heritage Willa Thorpe said after meeting with the Canada Day planning group last week. “The Women’s Business Network had bailed out the event for the past number of years; they are keen to mentor new volunteers.
“Our issue at this stage is having enough volunteers to make this year run.”
There is another planning meeting set for Wednesday, March 14 at 8 p.m. at Echo Centre. “The event has been running successfully for 60 years, and we’d really like to ensure we see its 61st,” Thorpe said.
“The group is essentially pleading with the community, if we’d like to have a parade and any sort of festivities on July 1, we need the community to step up to make this happen.”
“When I first heard about this two months ago that there was a chance we wouldn’t have a Canada Day parade and activities in our community, I was devastated,” said Coun. Denis Sauve, making a call out to the community during Monday’s council meeting. “It would be a real shame to this community that we lose these opportunities.”
Anyone with questions or who wants to volunteer can contact Pam Craig at pam_craig@outlook.com.