A family fair usually means fun for the kids, and the children turned out in droves at the Gambier Island fair last Saturday to dress like pirates, eat sunflower cupcakes and play games in the community hall.
Adults roamed the barbecue, silent auction and beer garden.
The island is sparsely populated, with 125 full-time residents in winter (though that number is dwindling according to recent anecdotal reports). It swells to about 600 in summer. The spirit of community is alive on the island, and all ages turned out for the fair, from the littlest child having her face painted to several seniors with a wealth of island history behind them.
Pat Burton, among them, enjoyed greeting old friends, while Gloria Masse and Joley Switzer sold copies of their Legacy perpetual calendar featuring Gambier's women. The story of Burton's early visits to Gambier in 1955 and her family's subsequent retirement there in 1982 is told on the calendar's January page. Billy Errico Jr. is at work on his third book about Gambier - his first, Miramar, a History of Gambier, was for sale at the fair.
Sheila Weaver, former Gambier resident now living in Gibsons, displayed her nature photography cards. Morgan Campbell (Seven Cedars design) demonstrated how he works with clay to make his decorative tiles.
Louise Potter staffed the kitchen selling sweet treats, while Sharon Moxon guarded the 15 entries on the pie contest table. The contest was once a cherished tradition on Gambier, but it hadn't been done since 2005.
Moxon dusted off the trophy, and after the judging, awarded first prize to Christopher Ashton for his blackberry, sour cream and ginger pie decorated with edible flowers. Lisa Anthony's pecan pie took second prize, and Kathy McTaggart came in third with her shaker lemon pie. After the awards, the pies were sold by the slice and sales raised $350 that goes to the non-profit society that runs the community hall. Similarly, a pop-up book store selling used books for a toonie in what was once a tiny art gallery also raised funds for the hall.
One of the more interesting - and sobering - displays was that of Gambier's fire protection offensive under the watchful eye of Stu Watson. Residents studied carefully a map of populated Gambier areas showing the distance from each home to wells or pumping equipment.
"It's about fire suppression - we show residents how to put out their own fires," he said.
In January, a cabin caught fire, but fortunately a five-person volunteer team, Watson included, were able to reach it in time. With no budget and limited equipment, the firefighters are keeping a close watch on current dry conditions.
Though no big events are planned for Gambier this year, a Vancouver cover band, March Hare, will be performing a Salute to Summer on Aug. 31 from noon to five p.m. More about island events can be found on www.gambierisland.org.
