The Canada Day celebration at the 70 Mile House Community Hall property on July 1 was very successful, according to organizer Sally Watson.
It started at 11 a.m. and ended at 4 p.m.
“I thought it was fantastic. I had the best volunteers in the world.”
Watson said around 350 people attended the event and there were a lot of activities for people of all ages.
She said the Kids Games were a lot of fun and kept the young visitors happy and busy. Chelsea Butler and CJ Elliston ran the Kids Games, including a Bucket Toss and a fish pond. They also had three-legged and sack races that were very popular with the youngsters.
Duck Penning, anew event for the 70 Mile House Canada Day celebration, turned out to be very popular with Watson describing the event as fantastic.
The goal was to have the three-person teams, who had to have a hobby horse between their legs, which slowed them down, and they had to get at least three ducks moved into a pen. It wasn't an easy chore because the ducks didn't like being herded around, and a “leader duck” always tried to get the ducks to move away from the herders.
“I had lots of help getting the duck penning organized and running,” Watson said.
She added they got the idea to have a duck penning event last November.
“My neighbour (70 Mile House Post Master) Lisa Schram has 28 ducks.”
Watson added they will have the event again next year, but they will have two groups of ducks because they got tired from being followed around this year.
She noted the tug of wars, which were held later in the day, were also a popular and fun event.
The 70 Mile Volunteer Fire Department members were at the celebration with some of their equipment and trucks. However, the firefighters grabbed the spotlight when they had water balloon fights with the youngsters – a hit that started last year.
It was a welcome event for the participants on a warm day
There was a chili-tasting contest in the Community Hall. Watson said the chilli was pre-made and people sampled the chilli, and in the end, it was determined Dave Hilliard had the best chilli.
Once again the barbecued hamburgers by donation were a big hit and they mostly paid for the food cost that day.
Watson said the two corporate sponsors – the Seventy Mile Access Centre (SMAC) and Dave Go Services Ltd. (Dave Goodwin) - covered most of the other costs.
Canada Day event growing
Watson noted they are looking at adding events to next year's Canada Day celebration.
One suggestion was having a dunk tank. Watson said she would like to see TNRD Area E Director Jim Smith volunteer to sit above the water in the tank while people donate money to throw a ball at the drop lever.
“I did it while I was the director, so I think Jim should do it, too.”
She added the 70 Mile House Riding Arena Committee may put on a precision riding demonstration in the rejuvenated riding arena next year.
Watson made T-shirts for all of the volunteers this year, and said she may sell T-shirts next year as a fundraiser for the Community Hall.
She noted there are 50-50 tickets available for the Community Hall and there is a steel fire pit grill raffle for the 70 Mile Volunteer Fire Department.
