Something was left out of the last Turning Point (in which I was considering the efforts of volunteers). An important connection was not made and, when I woke up to the omission, the paper had gone to press.
Please accept my apologies. I regret leaving you bewildered, but not this opportunity to encore with the Burlington Canada Day Celebration!
Traditional events include a parade, an afternoon of music, and, usually, bingo. Since 2007 marks a special anniversary of the Canada Day party, volunteers have been working to prepare some extra special activities. There will be a community challenge (sounds like it will be hilarious), jelly-eating contest, both a flower arranging and children’s art show and competition, and an evening music stage, featuring The Millet Family, Hughie McDonnell and The Spinney Brothers.
When a community puts its mind to it and applies a little elbow grease, surprising things can happen.
Such is the case with Burlington, located north of Berwick and just west of Harbourville. For 20 years now, this community has celebrated Canada Day - and not just with a flag-raising! Stephanie, who grew up saluting Canada Day at the Burlington Community Centre, says her personal favourite is the horse pull (now she’s taking her children with her), but I think mine is the chicken barbecue (I love to eat!) Both these events run, thanks to teams of volunteers and the generosity of local businesses, all afternoon.
The 2004 Canadian Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating* (mentioned last Turning Point), reveals the average number of volunteer hours given by Nova Scotians is 200 per year. The most usual number of hours donated, however, is more in the neighbourhood of 80. The survey concludes, while nearly half of us Nova Scotians volunteer, just a little more than one volunteer out of 10 do nearly half the work.**
Burlington is no exception. My guess is more than half the community is getting ready for Canada Day company – that would be the rest of us! - at the community centre grounds, and just a small group have been meeting regularly for months, getting the plans in place.
What should have been said in the last Turning Point is, when Dottie, the Tennessee Volunteer, heard about the Burlington festivities, she knew she had to come and thank these folks. After all, her mission in life is to make sure “no volunteer works un-thanked!” She will be emceing the music stages, getting up to her usual idiocy and saying special thank-yous to the volunteers.
What would any celebration be without the special, invited guests (that would be you!)? Dottie sees the audience as essential volunteers for every event and recommends you, yourself, “Be a star, and poke a hole in someone’s darkness.”
Your shining face is all we need to make the day complete! You’ll be happy to make an encore appearance yourself next year.
*
www.givingandvolunteering.ca**extreme rounding–lots of digit specifics in the report!
