As you read this article I am actually flying into Australia to play in the Pan Pacific Games.
The Pan Pacific Games is Australia’s largest sporting event with over 10,000 athletes from 20 countries playing 40 different sports.
It is a Masters event (over 35 years of age) and I play fastball at the competition.
For an event of this magnitude to happen someone had to have a vision and the volunteer time to make it happen.
Here in Summerland we are coming up to the Festival of Lights, a type of special event I had never seen until I moved to Summerland.
All the work done by Christine Petkau, Sophia Jackson and Shannon Brilz of SCEDT and all their volunteers should be applauded as the throngs of people hit the streets for lights, entertainment, food and fireworks on Friday, Nov. 30.
Even on a smaller scale I observed the Pro D Day skate and swim with 100 children.
The party is organized by Ed Casavant, and it can only make you smile watching all the children having so much fun.
Our annual Halloween Haunt, with over 300 children is where all the aquatic staff and a wide variety of community volunteers make this an event that everyone in Summerland looks forward to.
Also each year on Nov. 11 the Summerland Legion host an annual Remembrance Day event at Memorial Park that ensures those who have served our country are not forgotten and are honored.
Next time you are at a special event, remember all the time and effort a group of people puts in to make it happen.
Dale MacDonald has been Summerland’s Director of Parks and Recreation for the last 22 years and in his sporting past has won provincial championships in four sports.
