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Summer off to a fantastic start

Past Deadline

Summer time is never boring on the Sunshine Coast.

We are blessed with great weather — well, at least most of the time — and fantastic, fun family events and dedicated volunteers who help to ensure that everyone has a good time.

Summer on the Coast was kicked off in grand fashion on July 1 with a wonderful Canada Day celebration hosted by the merchants in Sechelt and the Sechelt Downtown Business Association. From the parade to the entertainment in Hackett Park, the huge Canada Day cake, vendors and yummy food, everyone that I spoke to said it was the best Canada Day celebration they had ever attended on the Sunshine Coast.

Then we come to July 17 — a milestone day for the District of Sechelt and, most importantly, the Davis Bay Wharf Rats.

For the past few years, this amazing group of residents, volunteers and community leaders have been working their butts off trying to raise funds to enhance and rebuild the iconic Davis Bay Wharf. And on July 17, all that hard work, toil and trouble came to a happy conclusion when the District of Sechelt held a community party to reopen the Wharf.

Since that opening, Davis Bay has been buzzing as residents and tourists alike have flocked to the area to see the new Wharf. It looks fantastic and my hat goes off to everyone involved. It’s a great public amenity that will be enjoyed by this community for many years to come.

Then just last weekend, Gibsons played host to its 46th annual Sea Cavalcade.

It’s no secret that in the past few years the festival has had its share of problems — from lack of volunteers or volunteer burnout to issues with public intoxication, fights and arrests.

But through the sheer will of volunteers like Conchita Harding and her festival crew, they pressed on, made some event changes, added some different events and put on what many are calling one of the best weekends in the event’s long history.

Harding herself marvelled at all the families who packed along Gibsons Way for the parade, took in the activities in Winegarden and Holland parks and the diversity and culture that was shared.

“It’s what makes the Sunshine Coast such a special and unique place,” she said. “Everyone comes and participates, and that is what this festival is all about.”

I couldn’t agree more, Conchita. Well done to all your volunteers and huge kudos to everyone who came out and enjoyed the event in a responsible and respectful manner.

The troubles of the past are hopefully in the past, and our community can enjoy Sea Cavalcade for many more years.

To ensure that the positivity continues around the festival, a survey has been created and the committee is asking everyone to provide their feedback on what worked, what didn’t and suggestions for next year. You can fill out the feedback form on the website at www.seacavalcade.ca.

And while you are doing that, think about volunteering next year. The planning starts in October.

And if you think the summer fun is over, think again. August roars with the Festival of the Rolling Arts, the Festival of the Written Arts for all us literary types, the Synchronicity Festival, Pender Chamber Music Festival and the Pender Harbour Jazz Festival in September.

The summer just keeps getting better and better, doesn’t it?