June 16, 2012 WILL BE..

Our 27th  Year of Celebration

PLANNING FOR OUR 27TH FESTIVAL - JUNE 16, 2012

Your volunteer committee for 2012 was formed in September, and planning is underway for 2012.  We meet monthly on the first Wednesday of every month, at 7pm, at Branch 258 of the Legion.  If you are interested in volunteering, please do not hesitate to come and join us!

The committee for 2012(thus far):

Chairman: David Adamson.  Vice Chair: Greg McConnell

Secretary-Treasurer: Clancy Delbarre  Parade: Vesi Leal

Dance and Publicity: Tiiu Kask     Beer Garden: Lou Koutsaris

Operations:  Jerry Dacca  Crafters Market:  Terry Woods

Entertainment: Rob Hinz  Children's Area:  Heather Moeser

Volunteer co-ordination: Michael Hart and Neil Jaikaran

St. Joseph's Church Representative:  Carlo Vacca

WE NEEDED A PARADE SPONSOR - AND MERIDIAN CREDIT UNION HAS STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE!

Last year, our traditional parade sponsor bowed out.  It was only thanks to an outstanding effort by Tiiu Kask and her associates, (and good weather - whew!) that we squeaked through and  balanced our budget.  Our "Biggest Little Parade in Toronto" features 6 or 7 bands, and is a big draw.  The budget is generally between $7000 and $8000.  News flash - March 26/12 -MERIDIAN CREDIT UNION  has graciously stepped in to help us out as our 2012 PARADE SPONSOR!  Thank you Meridian, and especially, if you are a Meridian customer, do not hesitate to thank our local branch manager, Jackie Meredith, for her support.  Our parade sponsor is given significant mention in ALL our publicity, right down to being named on our letterhead.  We are of course willing to take suggestions from a sponsor as to how to enhance its profile.

OTHER SPONSORSHIPS AVAILABLE!

For a $500 donation your business could be named sponsor for (1) Pony rides for children (2) Village Entertainment  (3) Karaoke Funfest and (4) Community Dinner Dance!  Step right up!  UPDATE: April 14/12: Fleury, Comery LLP will sponsor the Karaoke Funfest.

WE NEED SUPPORT FROM THE CITY AND TORONTO HYDRO

Our local councillor, Ron Moeser, has been a great help to us over the years, but even with his assistance in greasing the wheels, the bureaucratic requirements to hold our event get more expensive and time-consuming every year. It started years ago with the Health Department telling us we could not give out hot dogs and canned pop to parade participants - we needed a food permit, with all sorts of provisos -- as if boiled hot dogs, prepared with normal common sense care for cleanliness, were going to poison the masses.  We now have to provide traffic barriers at significant expense, AND a "traffic plan" prepared by a professional outfit, at great expense. Instead of just asking its qualified staff to assist in this regard, Toronto Hydro requires us to provide an "engineering report" for our small cross-the-street banner, (take a look at it: click here! )  presumably to ensure that it does not pull over the poles on which it is moored.  The traffic department and Toronto Hydro only assist by making requirements instead of HELPING our event.  For volunteers trying to make our community a better place, it is galling to say the least.  However, a bright side!  The TTC and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 were terrific this past year in understanding the street closure, and actually donating a bus and driver for the parade shuttle:  THANK YOU, TTC and ATU Local 113!!  (News just in..they will assist again this year!) Rant concluded.

OUR COMMUNITY DANCE THIS YEAR WILL BE BIG!  (NOTE THAT IT IS ON JUNE 2, 2012)

A Brief History Of The Highland Creek Heritage Festival -by Clancy Delbarre.

The First Highland Creek Festival - by Clancy Delbarre

Recent Festivals Gallery 2001-2011

2012 Festival Poster - click here

Map of Village showing activities areas - click here

2012 Dinner Dance Poster - click here

List of our 2012 Committee, Sponsors, and Donors

2012 Mutt Show Poster - click here

John Robbie's videos of our 2011 Highland Creek Idol!