About 60 people attended the Welcome Barbecue for Communities in Bloom (CiB) judges Shirley Fowler and Gunther Blasig on July 21.
Originally planned to be held in Reg Conn Centennial Park, the event was moved into the arena due to the wet conditions.
Integris Credit Union/Insurance Services staff and director Robin Fennell cooked the burgers. Attendees brought a variety of salads and desserts.
Following the meal, Clinton CiB Committee chair Susan Swan welcomed everyone and introduced the judges, and Fowler gave an overview of the CiB program.
Mayor Roland Stanke welcomed everyone, including the MARSLIFE research team members.
The judges then presented the first ever Floral Spade Award to Margaret Fletcher and Jake McLean, Bill and Gail Nelson, Evelyn Rickey, Lynn LeBlanc, Sharon Chester and Alfred L'Heureux, and Emily and Al Harvey.
The awards were given to people who put a little extra effort into their front yards to make them enjoyable to those passing by.
The judges toured Clinton that evening and for much of the next day before departing on Friday evening.
MARSLIFE project
The researchers, scientists, UBC students and everyone else involved with the MARSLIFE Project were very forthcoming with information during the entire 10 days they were in the Clinton area.
Daily tours were available to anyone who asked at the Mobile Mission Command Centre in the parking lot of the Cariboo Lodge. Information is also available online at the pavilionlake.com website.
Some teachers were invited to work with the scientists, including David Stoddart School science teacher Gloria Mertens.
An information session on MAPPER, the computer system being used to map the bottom of Kelly Lake was held July 18. Software designer Nick Wilkinson explained how easy it is to use. Go to the website getmapper.com, create an account, Log in and follow the instructions.
July 24 was the last day of sub operations. The subs and barge were craned out of Kelly Lake and Kelly Lake Road along the lake was closed while that procedure was carried out.
The field season closed July 25 and the science and operations teams departed.
The event attracted a lot of media attention from the Discovery Channel, the New York Times, Vancouver Sun and Province, and many more outlets.
Community day
Clinton area residents and visitors to the area were invited to a community day on July 23.
Tours of the Command Centre were held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Then, the activities moved out to Kelly Lake with Environment Minister Terry Lake and Mayor Stanke addressing the crowd. This was in celebration of BC Parks 100th anniversary.
From 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., folks enjoyed a free barbecue and celebratory cake. The organizers may have underestimated the interest in the project and BC Parks anniversary, as the hotdogs and cake were gone by 5 p.m.
Visitors had a chance to meet the MARSLIFE team and view the operations. The barge with two one-man submersibles was parked close to the shore so everyone could get a closer look.
United States astronaut Dr. Michael Gernhardt was on hand to sign autographs. People quickly lined up to meet him and receive an autographed photo.
A four-flight veteran, Gernhardt has logged more than 43 days in space, including four spacewalks totalling 23 hours and 16 minutes.
Once the sun set behind the mountains, the mosquitoes and black flies drove many people to their vehicles. It was fun while it lasted.