REPORT: HIGHLAND CREEK HERITAGE FESTIVAL - SATURDAY JUNE 17, 2006

-by Greg McConnell

The weather was great this year – the hottest and sunniest we have had at least in the last 6 years! Our Proclamation was read this year by Mayor David Miller, who also participated as a parade VIP.

Several people have remarked to the writer that the attendance this year was ever so slightly off, despite the great weather. There were competing attractions this weekend; a number of diehard soccer fans chose to stay home and watch the World Cup game! Similarly a number attended the football game that afternoon.

Possibly attendance was also affected by the problems encountered with our banner this year. The date numeral sticker that we have simply changed over the past 5 years failed to adhere to the banner, leaving on one occasion the date "June 1"! Did we get calls about that! One repair job failed. Then while it was down for repair a second time, the City advised us we would have to re-apply for a permit (cost: $280) to put it back up..what a schmozzle. So we left it down.

Our publicity this year, handled by Karen MacMillan amounted to our usual circulation of the 2006 poster to the schools, and advising some of the media. The Villager special edition (12,000 printed) was distributed to the three communities, Highland Creek, Centennial, and West Rouge, including Port Union Village. Greg McConnell prepared and circulated a sponsored flyer by admail in the MIC area code (approx. 10,600 locations). The Scarborough Mirror also published a sponsored Heritage Festival page on June 15.

Our parade was a great success again this year! Theresa Smith took on this very time-consuming job, backed by a good group of volunteer marshalls. At the end of the parade, Greg Robertson of Three R Collision, among all his other unsung contributions to the day, donated and made sure the participants all got a hot dog and a bottle of water. Theresa being caught up with the parade, our Vice-Chair Dave Adamson did a great job of coordinating and trouble-shooting in the Village .. even after his nice golf kart broke down!

The entertainment this year was divided between three stages. On Old Kingston in the Village, the parade dais was the venue for the Dukes of Harmony and some of the other parade participants. Around the corner on Morrish, a big stage was set up and hosted about seven or eight local bands. Robert and Jon Hinz organized the entertainment, and Keith Robson, our MC, hosted the village stage. Finally, in the Legion’s beer garden, organized by Addison Currie, we had a Karaoke stage hosted by John Fitzgerald.

The food seems to be getting more varied each year. Along with our regular ice cream, hot dogs, cotton candy and the Legion’s chip truck, we were attended by The Friendly Greek selling souvlaki, M & M Meats with burgers and chicken wings, The Joy of Harvest with fruit smoothies and patties, and our local Italian restaurant, Fratelli’s serving its great pizzas. Dawn Ramchuram joined our committee this year and took responsibility for organizing the food. We are trying to work towards a "Food Court" along Morrish.

Our crafters’ market this year, organized by Connie Cauwenbergs seemed to have slightly fewer participants, but did fill the designated area. The plant sale by the CWL of St. Joseph’s Church, and the other plant vendors, seemed to do a booming business.

Melanie Goldhar and The Lions Club reported that the children’s rides were not as well attended as in the recent past. They pointed out that the view of the children’s area from the Morrish/Old Kingston intersection was blocked, and people may not have seen the area. They did have, however, one very impressive air bounce Tiger Mouth ride that looked like a lot of fun, as well as several others. The Zoo attended with a table of fur samples, and there were pony rides all day. There were other children’s activities at some tables in the play area.

There were some new attractions this year. The Children’s Emergency Foundation had a 5-kilometre run and walk, organized in large part by Lee Rennick. Lee advised there were 82 participants, and one participant raised over $1,000 for the CEF! Well done! We hope the Run will become a regular event at Heritage Festival.

Another new event was a Pet Contest organized by Alicia of our local pet store, Petsotic. I hear that it went well. I had other duties, and only indirectly saw it - in the form of a Burmese cobra being brought to the show by a contestant! And Framing Dames had a bicycle decorating contest for the kids.

For a list of the committee, the sponsors and donors for the 2006 Highland Creek Heritage Festival click here . Without in any way minimizing the consistent and loyal support we have received from all the sponsors and donors, one "special mention" can be made. The CIBC came to our rescue this year with a donation of $2,500, after we received (in October) a bill from the City works in that amount for signage – for LAST YEAR!. Eventually the City officials kindly reduced the claim to nil for last year, and $750 for this year, by reducing the road closure signage to be put up. So we have a budget for that expense for the next three years or so. But we would have hoped the City would have a budget for supporting this kind of general community event – they must have had in the past, because these charges are new in the last two years. Such charges, along with licensing, insurance, and other extensive paperwork and fees, are a somewhat discouraging burden for a volunteer committee.

But we are NOT discouraged! Heritage Festival is going to carry on and expand year by year, because our great communities here in East Scarborough deserve an annual community festival. We hope to see you in the Village next year, on Saturday, June 16, 2007! We’d love you have your feedback from this year, and if you’d like to become involved, get in touch - we need you. In any event, we hope to surprise you next year with some more attractions and another great family day!