Oh, how I love the fall fair – it’s the thing that marks the change of seasons for me.
The day can be warm, but the sun lacks the intensity of the true Shuswap summer. The air is filled with the smell of cooking mini-donuts, and the displays are filled with the bounty of the harvests.
When rain marked Friday’s event, I worried for the volunteers and organizers who work so hard each year to put on such a wonderful celebration of our community, but the weather co-operated on Saturday and Sunday, bringing their numbers in line with the previous year.
I’m sure there were sighs of relief all around the fair offices.
A real highlight for me, this year in particular, was the parade – and not just because my daughter made her parade-riding debut along with the Salmon Arm Ice Breakers speed skating club.
I found it very touching to watch the convoy of fire trucks in attendance to help the Salmon Arm Fire Department celebrate its centennial year. From the officers in spit-and-polish uniforms to the blazing red of the shiny trucks with sirens blaring, Salmon Arm truly has a contingent of firefighters that does this community proud. I think it is a testament to the level of professionalism and skill that drew so many other departments to send their own trucks and firefighters to join.
It was fascinating to see so much fire equipment from the past, rolling by, right down to the horse-drawn fire wagons of old.
It is hard to imagine what it must have been like to try and battle a blaze with little more than axes and a thin water hose, compared to the equipment of today, with its multiple hoses, high-rise ladders, high-pressure water power and breathing apparatus for firefighters.
I can’t help but feel for the many members of the volunteers department, many of whom spent the weekend doing fire demos at the fair, only to be called out in the wee hours of Monday to fight this year’s biggest blaze at Pedro Gonzales fruit stand.
By all accounts, they did a remarkable job containing the raging blaze and deserve this community’s thanks for the hours they put in helping to make our small city safe.
Just a reminder about the Terry Fox Run, which goes Sunday, Sept. 15. The event starts at Blackburn Park with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. The run starts at 10 and there are distances suitable for all fitness levels including the 10 kilometres, 4km, 2km. This is an event for everyone, but if you can’t make it yourself, consider helping my personal fundraising efforts.
Donating is easy.
You can pledge me online through the secure webpage at www.terryfox.org/donate and hit “donate to a participant,” which will direct you to find my personal donor page. Tax receipts will be emailed. Or you can contribute by coming into the Observer office at 171 Shuswap Street with cash or cheque in hand and fill out the pledge form.
