Highland Creek Heritage Festival

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 NEED A PARADE SPONSOR:

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. We offer the position of Parade Sponsor for a donation of $3,000, which we have found to be just enough to make ends meet, after our own fund-raising from our "Karaoke Flyer" and local small business donations. If you know of a larger business that might come on board with us, please give me a call. 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.

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, 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!

As mentioned above, Tiiu Kask and associates organized a highly successful community dance last year, and are doing it again, at the Legion hall, Branch 258 at 45 Lawson Road. We anticipate this is going to be a sellout, and suggest you get your tickets early when they go on sale in February!

DOG SHOW -- NEW THIS YEAR!

Liivi Kask has kindly volunteered to organize a Dog Show. There will be fun prizes and a chance to show off your very special canine friends!

VOLUNTEER CO-ORDINATION WILL BE BETTER.

Jerry Dacca, Neil Jaikaran, and a new member, Michael Hart are planning to improve our somewhat off-the-cuff volunteer schedule, so that a volunteer for our traffic barricades, for example, can rest assured of a limited shift and specific times. Of course, we ask you, dear reader, to consider giving us a few hours of your time on the day of the event. If you feel you can do so, please call Tiiu Kask at 416-724-8228 to provide contact information.

This year's Festival promises to be an even bigger and better event than 2011, and we hope to see you there!

December, 2011 -- Greg McConnell

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