Canada Day 2012 in Campbell River or “7 Months Of Fun With The Campbell River Canada Day Committee!”

As the title suggests, we’re on the eve of another fantastic day for the whole community of Campbell River and guests with the arrival of July 1st!  As the second part of the title clarifies, it took a few months of meetings prior to the big day to make it all happen!  Enthusiastic, committed volunteers on their own or representing a wide range of organizations and businesses have been meeting in the early hours every Thursday since January at Firehall #1 to make Canada Day happen.  It’s been an honour to witness that dedication to the community and to add my own energy on behalf of 97.3 The Eagle in helping make the Eagle Telus Stage entertainment in Ostler Park a reality.

Now that the day is almost upon us, there is a TON of information to share.  Enjoy the videos of some of the entertainers you’ll see on the Eagle Telus Stage starting at 2:30pm below.  I’ll also provide the link to the full list of entertainers.  A HUGE thanks to BAMM Media for creating the Canada Day committee’s website for 2012.  There, you’ll find the new parade route (and LAST MINUTE parade entry forms!), details on Kidsfest, and much, much more.  Also, share with everyone that it’s FREE TRANSIT til 7pm on Canada Day in Campbell River!

Finally, if you’re ever thinking of putting on an event and want to know how to make it a success, here’s a fantastic article by one of the great new members of the committee, Mark Myles.  HIGHLY recommended read:   MARK MYLES: HOW TO PULL OFF A GREAT EVENT

Without further ado, here are the very informative Canada Day links for the fun this Sunday in Campbell River!

EAGLE TELUS STAGE PERFORMERS AND TIMES

NEW 2012 PARADE ROUTE

QUALITY FOODS KIDSFEST TIMES AND EVENTS

CAMPBELL RIVER CANADA DAY WEBSITE

….and here are some of the Eagle Telus Stage performer videos:

CRUEL YOUNG HEART

THE LEFT

ELLISA HARTMAN

O Canada!!! Fun with the Campbell River Canada Day committee in 2011…

I can’t believe it.  IT’S ALMOST CANADA DAY!  TWO WEEKS from the day I’m writing this post, we’ll be celebrating in Campbell River like no other community.  And like all of them!  From all the exclamation marks, capitalizing, and previous Canada Day videos I’ve recorded and put together over the last several years, can you tell I GET EXCITED about CANADA DAY!?

Well, it’s a HUGE day for the community, and a big day of fun for our city’s guests as well.  In fact, this year’s theme is “From Far And Wide.”

That theme for 2011 sums up how I’ve approached an extra duty this year as a volunteer member of the Campbell River Canada Day committee.  Dave Tabish, a local businessman, father of guitar prodigy Brice Tabish (from past Canada Day entertainers Lymozeen), and all-around neat guy passed the baton to me this year as the person who books the entertainment for the Eagle Spirit Stage in Ostler Park.

Musician Stef Lang and Councillor Ryan Mennie VERY excited about Canada Day 2011!

Through a combination of  a set (and small!) budget from the committee and my contacts with artists and promoters through my 13 years at the Eagle radio station, I’ve had a lot of fun over the course of the last 10 months wrangling the final lineup of entertainers for 2011.   In fact, It’s been a huge learning experience.  Not everything transpired the way I or others thought it would or should.  But what I had envisioned from the beginning that has transpired is this:  I’ve found very exciting, very talented musicians who were willing to lower their fees to come and play for Campbell Riverites and their Canada Day guests and bring us all something we’ve never experienced before.   Musicians like Stef Lang (in the pic above), Chantel Upshaw, and Wil.  In the end,  I believe this lineup is going to provide a great musical experience on par with other years.   It’s also going to showcase some amazing musicians who are very excited to be a part of our city’s big day for the very first time.

The EAGLE SPIRIT STAGE 2011 LINEUP can be found here!

Did I mention it’s a FREE SHOW?

p.s.  I would love to sum up the work of the other incredible, dynamic, tireless Campbell River Canada Day committee members in this post, but it truly can’t be summed up in words.  Check out this link for more details of the day they’ve helped cook up for you this year, and when you see them on the mainstage in Ostler Park at cake cutting time, please give them your thanks with smiles!

The Amazing Makeover of the Campbell River Estuary!

A request for funding at budget time came up regarding the continuing Campbell River Estuary restoration work (specifically Baikie Island). Having lived here since 1998, I misssed what the area along the Myrt Thompson Trail used to look like.

All I can say is…. WOW!!!! What it was… versus what it is now. AMAZING!!! Check it out!