Future of Picton’s Canada Day celebration unknown
Administrator | Jun 27, 2012 | Comments 5
While the Picton BIA, Picton Recreation Committee and Picton Canada Day Committee are preparing to stage a grand Canada Day celebration this weekend, the future of the event is cloudy.
“The BIA Board of Management is revising its priorities moving forward and in 2013 Canada Day may not fit into those priorities” said Robyn Molyneaux, of the BIA Board of Management.
“Historically, Canada Day events have not proven to be economically beneficial to the majority of our membership” said Lyndsay Richmond, Director of Member Services. This year, the BIA has been restricted by limited resources and staffing and therefore has only been able to offer services to assist in a co-ordinating role.
The Picton BIA and Picton Recreation Committee have been leading the charge since 2006 when the Chamber of Tourism and Commerce handed over the Celebration to its new hosts.
“The birthday bash takes months of planning and a group of dedicated volunteers to execute and the 2012 Celebration may be the largest we’ve seen yet,” said Roni Summers Wickens, Picton BIA Executive Director. The numbers of community organizations, sports teams, not-for profits and volunteers is increasing annually. Be sure to check out the expanding itinerary of activities at www.experiencepicton.com ”
“Though the Picton BIA has greatly enjoyed its involvement with Picton’s Canada Day Celebration, it is time that another group of passionate people take over to ensure that next year’s celebration is the best that it can be,” said Wickens. “The livelihood of future Picton Canada Day Celebrations rests on the support of invested groups and community members stepping forward to offer their services to the existing committee.
In addition to the administration and coordination of the Celebration each year, the Picton Recreation Committee continues to fundraise for the fireworks finale. With the recent economic climate and the increasing numbers of organizations looking for donations fundraising for fireworks has become a struggle.”
This year the Picton Recreation Committee acknowledges the great generosity of Prinzen Ford Sales and Picton Home Hardware Building Centre for the 2012 fireworks finale in Picton, noting that without the support of businesses like Prinzen Ford Sales and Picton Home Hardware Building Centre community events like Canada Day would not be possible.
Filed Under: Local News
Good to hear you’re on board too Ken. I’ve been a volunteer with this initiative for a few years now.
If you don’t want to lose it, get off the sidelines and volunteer, or donate to the cause
One celebration in Wellington? It seems that Picton is increasingly taking a back seat to Wellington. The town should fight to keep its own celebration and identity) instead of losing yet one more thing to another community. Wellington has a great new arena and the county archives which once were in Picton, among other things. Let’s keep Picton’s Canada Day celebrations
Both Wellington and Picton have major Canada Day celebrations, but I’d venture to say that this is a more important event for Wellington than for Picton and that there is more committed support for Wellington.
It doesn’t make a lot of sense to duplciate this celebration. Why not have just one Canada Day celebration in Welington, with all County groups and businesses providig support?
When the Picton Firefighters did the fireworks they had fund raisers and help from other people. The last few years they spent 8000.00 on the fireworks. County council gave a small donation towards the firework and when the firefighters asked for 500.00 towards them they said NO. That was the last time the firefighters put on the firework show. The Picton firefighter put on the fireworks show for over 25 years at Deil hy park.