As Canada celebrates the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, community members, council and staff are starting to plan events within the town.
Clerk Dina Lundy presented a report to council at the Aug 9 council meeting seeking approval of the Erin 150 committee and seek pre-approval for $7,500 in the 2017 budget.
Lundy said the town had asked community interest groups like the Lions club, the Erin Legion and Rotary Club to join the committee.
“We had an enormous amount of participation and overwhelming response from all of the interest groups,” she said.
“It’s actually overwhelming and something that this whole community wants to get involved in and I think it will add to the esprit de corps,” added Mayor Allan Alls.
Eighteen members were added to the committee with an another three to be determined.
The committee also asked for the pre-approval of funds from the 2017 budget. The committee is seeking $30,000 through the Ontario 150 Community Celebrations Program and the town would have to raise 25 per cent.
The grant funding can only be used for new initiatives beginning Dec. 31, explained committee chair Kari Simpson.
She presented a number of activities that are “not set in stone” including:
– youth talent competition ages 10 to 30;
– fireworks in Erin;
– breakfast in Ballinafad;
– walking parade in Erin;
– grand opening of Victoria Park playground and pavilion;
– tethered hot air balloon rides; and
– car rally or geocache activity.
The majority of the events would happen over a three day period on June 30, July 1 and 2, but Simpson said the committee is brainstorming events for the beginning of 2017 as well.
Councillor Matt Sammut, said he was “150 per cent” behind the initiative and asked if the events would be more successful if they happened all at once.
“We thought of that too, councillor Sammut, but we also thought this would be a way that everyone could take the time, if they had it, to enjoy all the different communities,” replied Simpson.
The activities would happen in various communities.
“If there’s nothing else it does, it helps this town feel like it’s one town, and that’s been needed for a long time,” said Alls.
