With the last of the Christmas lights and decorations still awaiting storage for another year, this may hardly seem like the time to talk about North Vancouver Island’s annual fall fair.
However, the end-of-summer event, which rotates between the communities of Port Alice, Port Hardy and Port McNeill, requires many months of planning and organization.
Therefore, along with a heartfelt Happy New Year wish to our friends in Port Alice, we’d like to offer a chance to step up and bring the Mount Waddington Fall Fair back to your fair village this September.
See, following turns in Port Hardy in 2012 and Port McNeill last year, the fair is — theoretically — scheduled to return to Port Alice this year for the first time since 2011.
One problem is that no volunteers have stepped up yet to offer to help organize and run the fair in Port Alice. That creates a secondary problem for those who have committed to remain involved in the fair and begin their planning without knowing where it will be hosted.
At the close of last year’s fall fair in Port McNeill, Malcolm and Brenda Fleeton announced the next fair was Port Alice’s to host — if somebody in the village will speak up and claim it. But if that does not happen, the fair will bypass the village’s turn and set up in Port Hardy.
Yes, planning, organizing and running the three-day fair is a lot of work. But the Fleetons — and other returning volunteers — have offered to continue to provide consultation, expertise and elbow grease to the effort.
We’re heartened by the promise the Mount Waddington Fall Fair will go on. We’d be downright ecstatic if Port Alice kept its turn in rotation and ensured the fair is held there.
The students of Sea View School are perennial contenders for the fair’s School Participation trophy. This is a great opportunity to show off their efforts in their own community.
And a great opportunity to show off the community to your North Island neighbours. Give Malcolm or Brenda a call at 250-949-7778.