Wrapping up the summer’s centennial celebration events was the community picnic Sunday, which saw families and community members gather at Centennial Park to enjoy a variety of festivities together.
Food, including birthday cake, was served at the picnic, while musical entertainment was provided on a stage set up in the park. Games and face painting were available for children.
Adverse weather in the morning threatened to put a damper on the event, but skies cleared in time for people to gather and enjoy food, activities and entertainment together.
“The weather has co-operated, and the turnout is fantastic,” said Brenda Dale, chair of Sylvan Lake Centennial Celebrations Task Force.
She felt the picnic was a fitting way to end a summer that saw many people from Sylvan Lake and other places take part in centennial celebrations.
After receiving so much positive feedback, she couldn’t be any happier with the way things went.
“The feedback from the community has been great,” she said. “We’ve tried to engage as much of the community as we could, and I haven’t gotten anything negative.
“How could you not like something like this?”
Dale said attendance and community participation has grown progressively at each centennial-related event this year. People enjoying one event were encouraged to keep coming back for more, she feels.
“The people that attended the first event were so happy that they weren’t going to miss the next one, and it just keeps growing. If you feel like you missed something, you’re not going to miss it twice.”
Three years after the centennial celebrations task force came together, Dale said it was “rewarding to see that people are participating and enjoying themselves”. Much help and support has been offered at each event by community members, she added. Local businesses have also offered much assistance.
Sylvan Lake Mayor Susan Samson took in Sunday’s events, and was pleased to see so much community involvement.
“It’s something we’re doing to celebrate 100 years, but quite frankly, I think we should have been doing this every year,” she said. “It’s a wonderful turnout and a very nice experience.”
She also voiced her approval of other centennial-related events that have taken place this year.
“It’s just been fabulous, right from the very beginning with the fireworks, and every month we have something special going on.
“I really think we made an impact. People know that this year was our 100th, and had a lot of fun celebrating.”