The excitement has been building and now, drum roll please, Saturday, the 77th May Day happens in Pender Harbour! The parade marches off at 11 a.m. 11:30 a.m. the May Day Queen is crowned. Poppa Greg Band owns the stage at high noon. The favourite events are back: the five-kilometre run, kids’ fishing derby, Lions Club pancake breakfast, dunk tank, face painting, bouncy castles, food trucks, vendors and display booths, both kids and adult dances and more.
The Harbour Gallery’s grand opening for the season is on May Day. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with fantastic new works on display. June and September the gallery will be open Saturdays and every day July and August.
PODS BioBlitz Finale on May Day will be a wonderful day long event at Earthfair Store featuring guest speakers, science-based activities, and prizes for participants.
A few steps away, at Madeira Park Veterinary Hospital, another celebration for Dr. Rick Smalley reaching a hallmark of 50 years of caring for animals. Come by with your furkid after the parade.
On Tuesday, May 24 at the School of Music, Women’s Connection is pleased to welcome Jane MacDonald, executive director of the Sechelt Hospital Foundation. Jane will cover a range of topics, advising us of any new equipment and procedures that we may not realize are available to us, accessing home care services on the Coast and the COVID rapid response team. Women’s connection will be accepting donations instead of the usual fees. All current BC COVID protocols are in place. The WC is a wonderful way to meet other women. Doors open at 9:45 a.m. presentation at 10 a.m.
Sarah Wray Hall will be open Friday, May 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society invites you to come by to have a look at this beautiful heritage building, explore its history, find out about the many endeavours of the PHLHS and buy a lucky ticket to win the magnificent hand-built canoe.
The Pender Harbour Garden Club is back with their first meeting Monday, May 30, 1 p.m. at the School of Music. Guest speaker is Angela Stearns speaking on the important subject of soil. Membership is $15 or drop in for $5. Members receive a card for discounts at most Garden Centres. Cash or cheques please.
The Bargain Barn Thrift Store saved up six weeks of metal waste and donated it to Harbour Gallery. Four artists brainstormed and June Malaka constructed “The Harbour Gal,” sitting fishing at the gallery’s door creatively repurposed from people’s junk.
More great news from the Bargain Barn! As well as being open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays, for the months of June, July and August the Barn will open 12:30 to 3 p.m. on Fridays.
The first Blessing Box was installed outside the entrance to the Pender Harbor Community Church in Madeira Park two years ago by the Pender Harbour Food Bank. Now two more boxes have been installed one in Garden Bay at the Rotary Park and the other in Egmont at the Community Hall near the Thrift Store. These have been generously sponsored by Sunshine Coast 100 Women Who Care. “Take what you need and leave what you can” is the principle in this effort by the food bank to reach out to folks who find themselves short of food and have lack of transport to the food bank. These community sharing cupboards are stocked with non-perishable food items and hygiene products that are free to those in need. Members of the community are welcome to add to the boxes.
Contact me with your news and info at [email protected] See you at May Day! Wahoo!
