By just about all accounts Canada Day was another huge success, however if it wasn’t for the last minute support from local residents and business it could have been an entirely different story.
To host the festivities the Canada Day committee spent approximately $50,000, the majority of which came from financial donations and gifts in kind.
In fact the committee received approximately $10,000 in individual donations and another $37,000 in gifts in kind in the days and weeks leading up to the event, according to Pattie Pavlov, general manager for the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce.
On top of this it took an army of 200 volunteers to make it all happen.
“We got lucky this year,” said Pavlov, who is stepping down from her position on the Canada Day committee.
“People heard me whine long enough and loud enough that people were able to step up, but will they always be able to step up to that degree?”
Part of the problem was that unlike previous years organizers failed to receive any of the government grants they applied for.
“When I look back on it there was just some weird way grants were approved this year,” said Pavlov.
“The more I talk to people that would be in the know people were getting grants for things that they would never have gotten grants for before and people who would have normally got grants, such as us, who are hosting the world, nobody got money.”
Despite the lack of financial support from the provincial and federal government, companies such as PSAV, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, K&H Fireworks, Parks Canada, the RCMP and the municipality all donated gifts in kind.
Private donations were also received in memory of Linda Anderson the “Queen of Canada Day” who died shortly before this year’s events. In recognition of her spirit the firework show has been renamed the Linda Anderson Memorial Fireworks.
Pavlov estimates approximately 30,000 to 35,000 visited Jasper to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary, including 1,780 people who showed up for the municipality’s annual pancake breakfast, about 300 people more than last year.
To fill those empty bellies municipal staff used almost 200 kilograms of pancake mix, 56 litres of syrup, 26 pounds of butter, 25 litres of coffee cream and over 1,000 juice boxes.
On top of this it only took 11 minutes to get people through the line.
“There was a blogger who got into line near the school and from the time he got into line all the way around and a pancake on his plate it took him 11 minutes,” said Pavlov.
The Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Achives also recorded a windfall from its annual barbecue and beer garden, said Pavlov.
Reflecting on the day’s events she said she would like to hear from the community about how Canada Day benefits residents and businesses.
“I want to know how does it benefit you or your business or us as a community?” Pavlov said, adding it will help in writing grants next year.
She also welcomed anyone who might be interested in helping organize next year’s festivities to get in touch.
“It’s exhausting, but it’s also rewarding.”
Paul Clarke
[email protected]
