After announcing last month that they would not be able to mount a Sea Cavalcade in 2019, the society behind the annual festival in Gibsons says it will host a one-day event in August.
Sea Cavalcade Society executives, including president Conchita Harding, met May 1 with Mayor Bill Beamish and Coun. David Croal to discuss the future of the Sea Cavalcade and alternatives for a 2019 event.
In an email to Coast Reporter, Harding said the society “outlined to Mayor Beamish and Coun. Croal the complex and proud history of the Sunshine Coast Sea Cavalcade Society and emphasized the fact that our society is an independent society. And that, as a result, the town or other entities cannot put on events using the Sunshine Coast Sea Cavalcade name.”
She also said the Society will produce a “thank you afternoon and evening for the families of Gibsons on Sunday, August 11.”
The program so far includes a concert featuring popular local acts Nearly Neil and Half Cut and The Slackers, as well as children’s activities and a teddy bear hospital event.
The Town had budgeted some $16,000 to cover the cost of Sea Cavalcade fireworks, as well as committing the usual staff time and resources that go into the event every year.
Beamish said whether the Town organizes anything beyond the event planned by the Sea Cavalcade Society will require more discussion at the council table.
He said the Town has heard from some people who’ve proposed ideas like a Canada Day event and keeping the Keats to Armours Beach swim going.
“We have received several expressions of interest and support for other activities and if council is in agreement on Tuesday evening, I will attempt to facilitate a meeting with these groups.”
Beamish also said that the question of whether there might still be a summer fireworks display remains open.
“I’m not sure our council wants to do fireworks and I’m not sure whether with the number of fires we’ve had right now that fireworks send the right message,” he said.
In an ad running in this week’s Coast Reporter, the society says it’s also gathering a list of past volunteers and is hoping anyone with information about residents who’ve been involved in Sea Cavalcade over the years will email the names and their roles to [email protected] so they can be included in a tribute.
